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Burley's House
It has been three years since Diane and Bernie Burley moved into their home in the Highland Estates in Huntsville and they are still thrilled about their new abode. Nicknamed the Ambassadors by the developer Paul Evans, the couple continue to rave over the experience they had in finding and building their custom home.
“We were the first to buy a lot here,” Diane said.
With a cottage on Penn Lake, Bernie spent a lot of time on the Deerhurst golf courses. One day in 2008 he noticed surveyors and thought that if he were to ever move out the city, this is where he would like to live.
“I went into the bush and talked to the surveyor and he mentioned Paul,” Bernie said. He tracked Paul down and found him in a home under a sink. “That was when I first realized he is really a hands on builder,” he said.
Paul and Bernie hit it off and started discussing lots to purchase and view lines and tee box directions as the home backs onto the Deerhurst Highlands Golf Course. However, during this entire time Diane didn’t want to move away from their home in Etobicoke.
It wasn’t long though until she came on board and the couple were soon creating sketches and designing plans for their new home.
“Paul helped to tweak the plans,” Diane said. “It took them five months to build the house and Paul was bang on with his timing.”
The Burley’s have nothing but great things to say about the entire building process. According to the couple, whatever they wished, the builders bent over backwards to try and make it happen. For example the stairs were done differently than originally envisioned. When Bernie said he wasn’t happy with the design, the stairs were changed the next day. “It felt very accommodating and very flexible,” Diane said about the experience. “Our wish was their command.” Completed in November 2010, the finished home has two bedrooms and two baths with great views from every room. “There is lots of living space,” Bernie said. And with a full basement, it is the perfect place to ban the grandkids to with all their toys.
Since moving to Huntsville, both Bernie and Diane have created a very active life for themselves. Diane started to play golf two years ago and Bernie plays hockey in the winter. They are both members of the Huntsville Probus group and Diane volunteers at Huntsville Hospice. Even though the building is complete, the Burley’s said Paul is still there for them. “We had a power surge and Paul was here making sure everything is ok. He wants his residents to be happy,” they said.
With six families now living in Highland Estates, Diane and Bernie say they are still proud to be ambassadors.