Blog | Excelsior Homes West, Inc.

Creating an Up North Getaway – The Kroska’s Story

March 26, 2021 by Excelsior Homes

Do you dream of having an up north getaway in northern Minnesota to relax with family and friends? Bob and Lisa Kroska made that dream come true. They own land and previously had an RV parked on their land, but they wanted something more permanent and spacious to enjoy with their family. Excelsior Homes was honored to help them reach this exciting goal!

The Kroska’s Home Story

Bob and Lisa Kroska placed a new manufactured home on their land in northern Minnesota last year. They’re excited about this getaway location for their family. We recently received a message from Lisa sharing how much they’ve loved their first winter having this second home to enjoy and relax.

The home up north has completely changed the dynamics of winter for the Kroska family. They went there almost every weekend this past winter with exception of two extremely cold weeks when they didn’t want to make the trek to get there.

“Talk about the test of all tests on my new home, – 35 degrees ACTUAL temperature on my first winter there…yikes!” – Lisa Kroska

Family Getaway Fun

Their grandkids absolutely love going to the home up north and thank them all the time for buying the house! Their grandkids played in the snow, running, sliding, snowmobiling, and even turned the whole road into a bobsledding course. These are things they weren’t able to do when they just had an RV parked there.

“Our new home has truly been life-changing and I am so grateful. Thank you to you all for helping to change this course of our lives and our land.” – Lisa Kroska

The Kroska’s had a vision in mind for their up north getaway. Lisa shared her appreciation for one specific part of the home that they wanted. “We truly picked the perfect home for us – the back den, aka, the “kids gaming room,” is a godsend, just as we had hoped for when we chose this one. ” It is a bright and sunny, warm and cozy, and a beloved second home for the entire family.

“Thank you all so much – I tell everyone about you – even the lady cutting my hair last weekend who wants one now also, and was going to jump on the internet to pull you up as soon as she got home that night – truly grateful!”
– Bob and Lisa Kroska

Do you have a dream home or cabin in mind? Reach out to Excelsior Homes and we’ll find your solution!

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Popular Home Trends for 2021

February 25, 2021 by Excelsior Homes

Home Trends to Watch

A lot has happened in the last year and people have spent a lot of time in their homes. They are finding new ways to decorate and organize their homes to adjust to varying lifestyles. What was important two years ago may have completely changed. Check out some of the home trends we’re seeing.

2021 Pantone Colors of the Year
Color of the year – There are two colors this year! Pantone selected two colors to highlight for 2021: Ultimate gray (17-5104), a light gray, and Illuminating (13-0647), a bright yellow.
Home Office Space – More than ever people are looking for a home office space in their home. A functional, well-thought-out space to work at home when needed. Keeping a functional at-home school space for families is also a reality.
Natural decor – Plants, neutral colors, earth tones all remain popular.
Wallpaper – Patterned wallpaper has been peeking into more and more homes, it will continue to gain popularity this year.
Functionality and Comfort – People have spent more time at home in the last year than normal. Large pantries are important, comfortable living spaces matter, and having appropriate spaces for Zoom calls, Google Meets and telehealth visits are more important than ever.

Exterior Home Trends

A year of Covid, social distancing, and staying home more than normal has created an even larger demand for outdoor living spaces. People want indoor/outdoor spaces for entertaining and relaxation at home. Do you have the right space for grilling, bonfires, outdoor dining, and relaxing with friends and family? Gardens have also become more popular as people found themselves at home more and looking to create activities and sustainable options.

Porches
Decks
Outdoor Entertainment Space
Gardens

When you’re dreaming about your new home from Excelsior Homes take notes of which styles and functionality grab your attention. Make sure to share that information with us. We’ll be able to help guide you to home options that fulfill your dreams! Take a look at our model homes to get some ideas of what we have to offer at Excelsior Homes.

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Manufactured Model Homes On Display

February 17, 2021 by Excelsior Homes

Highland Signature Manufactured Home, Model Home

New model homes are moving onto our lot for you to tour. We’re going to highlight a few manufactured homes to give you a snapshot of what you’ll find on our model home lot.

New Manufactured Homes on Display

Highland Signature 523A

The Highland Signature 523A offers two spacious entrances – one on the front of the house and another on the side of the house that leads directly into a utility room. Great options for keeping gear and dirt under control.

Home on display is a manufactured home.
3 Bedrooms/2 bathrooms
Cute front entry with bench and hooks
Cozy functional kitchen with appliance package
Double sink in Master Bathroom

Highland Signature 563A

The Highland Signature 563A provides a spacious kitchen, dining, and living area with an additional family room – all perfect for entertaining. The kitchen island will be a common gathering place.

Home on display is a manufactured home.
3 Bedrooms/2 bathrooms
Nice kitchen with spacious island
Large kitchen pantry closet

Schult Riverview 205

The Schult Riverview 205 is a comfortable manufactured home with many quality features. This three-bedroom home includes a master suite with a large walk-in closet, makeup area, and bathroom. The side entry into the utility room includes a bench and great space for a laundry room.

Home on display is a manufactured home.
3 Bedrooms/2 bathrooms
Open Kitchen with lots of storage
Large Master Bathroom with make-up area and step-in shower
Utility Room with Bench

Interested in touring these manufactured homes or one of our other modular or manufactured homes? Give us a call at 320-587-4990. We’d love to schedule a time for your to visit!

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Welcoming 2021 at Excelsior Homes

February 1, 2021 by Excelsior Homes

2021 has arrived and we’re ready to embrace it at Excelsior Homes, West, Inc. As we rise above the challenges of the past year we’ve learned and grown. Today we’re here and ready to supply you with the best homes with amazing service.

Looking Forward

As we look into the new year we wanted to share a few updates.

Model Homes are open! Appointments to view them are preferred. Simply call 320-587-4990 to schedule.
New homes coming! Watch for more information coming soon on the Highland Kingsbrook homes.
Covid Precautions – We continue to take appropriate precautions to keep our staff and customers safe and adapt as necessary.
View homes online – As always you can view homes online to see photos, specifications, floor plans, etc. This is a great place to start!
Planning support – When you start thinking about a new home you’ll have lots of questions. Take a look at our planning guides and home lots that are available.

As always, we’re here to help you with your modular and manufactured home needs. Give us a call at 320-587-4990 or reach out online. We’re looking forward to helping you in 2021.

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Happy Thanksgiving – Hours Update

November 23, 2020 by Excelsior Homes

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends, family, neighbors, employees, and customers! Wishing you a healthy and happy holiday.

Excelsior Homes 2020 Thanksgiving Hours

Wednesday, November 25: 8am – 3pm
Thursday, November 26 – Sunday, November 29: Closed
Monday, November 30: Resume normal business hours 8am – 5pm

In the meantime, you can reach us at 1.800.547.4990.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Winter Home Preparation Tips

November 16, 2020 by Excelsior Homes

We’ve experienced snow this fall multiple times already, so we figured it is time for a few tips and reminders to help you prepare your home for the winter weather ahead. Temperatures are dropping and it is time to make sure your home is ready! There are a number of things any homeowner should do before the cold, winter weather is here to stay. Check out these winter home preparation tips.

Furnace – Change your furnace filter and set a schedule for regular replacement to allow for the best heating flow and air quality. Having a professional HVAC expert inspect your furnace on an annual basis is also a good idea.
Plumbing – Is your water hose still connected to an outdoor water faucet? Get that disconnected to avoid freezing issues. Make sure any exposed pipes are insulated properly, and if you plan to leave your home or cabin for an extended amount of time make sure you drain/turn off the water and/or keep your home heated to avoid frozen pipes and a big mess.
Windows and Doors – Check doors and windows to make sure they are sealing properly. Cold air can leak in through gaps or bad seals. Replace and update excessively worn pieces.
Roof and Gutters – A well-insulated home with a solid roof will help keep your home warm. Also, check your gutters to make sure those fall leaves and other debris are removed so melting snow has a place to go.
Foundation – A solid foundation provides the base for your home. If you have a basement check for cracks or gaps in your foundation and seal them to keep your home warm and keep out unwanted critters. If you’re in a manufactured home with skirting make sure to check for damage, monitor pipes, and make sure everything is solid for the winter ahead.

Winter home preparation is worth taking some time to complete properly. Looking for a winter checklist take a look at this article for more ideas. You’ll thank yourself this winter when your home stays warms and cozy. A little bit of preparation goes a long way in having a smooth winter.

Holiday Home Decorating Tips

November 4, 2020 by Excelsior Homes

The holidays are right around the corner. Decorating homes for the season is one of our favorite things! There are so many options to fit different styles. You can go classic, traditional, modern, bright, basic, simple, or extravagant. We’re digging up some home decorating tips to get you started!

Holiday Home Decorating Tips

Switch Blankets and Throws – rotate your everyday blankets with some cozy blankets that work with your holiday colors.
Rotate Wall Art – Take down some of your everyday wall art and replace it with seasonal art.
Multiple Trees – Do you normally put up one Christmas tree in your main living area? Consider adding more trees in different areas of your home. Think of using various sizes to mix it up.
Embrace Nature – Make some holiday pots for your front door/porch area. Who said you have to keep those pots outside, bring a couple inside too! Work with natural elements – pinecones, birch branches, evergreens, etc.
Add Light – During this time of year in the midwest we have less daylight, so make a point to add some extra light throughout your home. Think about doorways, stair railings, decorative displays, and any other area that could use some extra brightness.
Add Greenery – Consider a wreath, greens, or swags strategically placed throughout your home. You’re bringing a bit of nature in beyond just a tree.
Choose a Color Theme – You don’t have to stick with the traditional reds and greens. Consider a different color theme perhaps you go with metallics like silver or gold or you gravitate toward soft pinks or a blue theme.
Try Something New – Traditions are great, but if you always decorate the same try something new this year. Switch up a few pieces or try a completely different theme.

It is your home. Choose some holiday home decorating tips you love. Looking for more ideas there are many available online. Start decorating and enjoy the holidays.

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The Kroska’s Home Story

Family Getaway Fun

Home Trends to Watch

Exterior Home Trends

New Manufactured Homes on Display

Looking Forward

Holiday Home Decorating Tips

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