“Success in life hinges more on seizing the opportunity than having everything go according to plan,” Ethan Austin says in Give Forward. This statement rings especially true for a local husband and wife team who started a home building business two years ago, just before the pandemic hit.
Adrian and Julleanna Seely are a couple from Greenwood, who have a vision for improving the lifestyle of local families and individuals through building new homes, garages and additions. Their construction company, Seely Homes LLC, was actually born out of a unique opportunity, when a local investor asked for their advice on what type of homes to build for sale on a couple of lots in Bridgeville.
“We got our business license for Seely Homes LLC in January 2020 and started our first spec home right away,” Adrian said. “Then COVID hit. We were worried we’d gotten into something that wouldn’t work out, but the home sold quickly. We finished and closed on it in May 2020, then we sold the second home before we even broke ground on it.”
Stunning Kitchen: The Seely Homes team is excited to demonstrate this all-new kitchen that showcases their included white cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliance package.
The business grew quickly with the increased demand for housing, and the Seelys started building custom homes designed for clients with the couple’s guidance.
“Seely Homes made our home building experience stress-free from start to finish! They go above and beyond for their customers and make sure the work is 110! So glad to have had such amazing people help make our forever home a reality!” shared Sarah Bradley, whose family moved into their customized new home in summer 2021.
“Our partnership as a husband-wife team is really good. Adrian takes care of home construction and business strategy with an eye for detail and quality. I manage client interaction, sales, design of homes and the permitting process. We use our strengths the best we can, and it has worked out really well!” Julleanna said.
Their motto is “Better Living Made Simple.” Julleanna explained, through her experience of selling more than 200 new homes in her career with other builders, she learned the home building process can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Plus, the couple designed their own home, and in the process of having three new homes built for them over the years, learned what they liked and did not like about the home building experience.
“If the process is managed well and customers are guided to appropriate choices, they can experience more excitement and less stress when building a home,” Julleanna said. “We guide you through the entire home building process – selection of the home design, financing options, lot preparation, permitting, construction and completion of your new home.”
She continued, “People can come to us at the very beginning stages of building a house. We have great contacts with surveyors, lenders, soil scientists… Essentially, if you don’t know where to go or how to start, we are a great resource. We have a great list of references for reliable companies we’ve partnered with through the years.”
Clients can select a home lay-out that suits their needs and choose from the home finish packages to quickly be on the path to their new home.
Adrian said, “We have specially designed home plans that are attractive, functional and affordable, designed to meet the needs of families and individuals today. Our home plans incorporate popular features and finishes in sizes and styles that make owning a home as affordable as renting, maybe even less.”
Customers are not limited to those model plans. “Building with us is a personalized experience where we take time to listen and understand your needs and desires,” Julleanna said. “We are open to your ideas to modify our plans or bring your own home plan concepts.”
Seely Homes has no ties to a particular community or development, generally building on land people already own. If they don’t have land, Julleanna is a licensed Delaware realtor able to help customers find and purchase property and sell their current house if needed.
The Seelys started the business in their home, working from an office in the sunroom for a year and a half. Since their three children, now 13, 10 and 6, were often home from school because of COVID-related quarantine and learning changes, it was convenient. But as they continued to meet with more clients, the need for a more professional space became apparent.
“We just opened our new office in Bridgeville at 9111 Antique Alley, Unit 3,” Julleanna said. “We are super excited to be able to better serve our clients!”
Seely Homes is hosting a Grand Opening Event on Tuesday, Dec. 7 from 3 to 5 p.m. that is open to the public.
Their team and valued trade partners completely renovated the 2,000-square-foot office space into a showroom with a contemporary kitchen and multiple displays of products available, from siding to cabinets, countertops and flooring. They installed a variety of new floors in the office to showcase available color choices.
Both Adrian and Julleanna have an extensive background in new home sales and construction.
Adrian has over 15 years of experience in various aspects of construction. He owned a painting business, served as superintendent for a commercial builder, worked as a plumber and installed fireplaces.
Julleanna worked in new home sales for a dozen years before obtaining her Delaware real estate license in October 2019 and starting Seely Homes soon after.
By 2021, the home building opportunities had grown to the point of needing additional staff. They were able to capitalize on the support of family and friends in the building industry. Julleanna’s brother, Cameron, joined the business as sales and marketing assistant, bringing over 15 years of experience in customer relations. They hired her cousin’s husband, Nathaniel Maynard as a project manager to oversee the job sites daily. His extensive construction and carpentry experience has been a huge asset as Seely Homes commits to building more homes.
The Seelys are actively involved in the community, including their children’s schools. Julleanna was elected in July 2020 to serve on the Woodbridge School District Board of Education.
Subsequently, Julleanna was honored by The Delaware Business Times at an Oct. 7 celebration as one of the 2021 Top 40 Under 40 class, which recognizes Delaware’s best and brightest young professionals, all under the age of 40, who are making a difference with their intelligence, initiative and innovation.
She credits her husband of 18 years for much of that innovation. “Adrian is always dreaming, planning, setting goals for the future. I’m excited to see what’s in store in the next three to five years as we continue to grow.”
For now, they are focusing Seely Homes efforts in western Sussex and southern Kent counties. “Our vision is to be part of the positive growth of our community through creating housing opportunities that are affordable for working families,” Adrian said.
You may see the Seely Homes signs while driving around, as they currently have homes under construction in Greenwood, Bridgeville, Lincoln and Milton.
Need a home built for you, or do you want changes in your existing home? Visit www.seelyhomes.com, then call Seely Homes at 302-470-5204 or send an email to info@seelyhomes.com.
