Seely Homes LLC, a Bridgeville-based new home builder, received seven 2024 Regal Awards from the Home Builders Association of Delaware at the annual awards ceremony held Friday, May 10 in Dewey Beach. These industry awards come just four years after the locally owned builder finished construction on their first home in May 2020.
The awards were given in the category of Delaware custom builders who complete less than 20 homes per year. Four of the awards were for Best Home Designs:
Best luxury custom home
• Best Luxury Custom Home over $400,000 – a 3,052 square-foot two-story “Willow” home built for the Durham family in Bridgeville;
• Best Affordable Custom home for less than $200,000 – a 1,200 square-foot ranch style “Aspen” home built for Emily Schrock in Greenwood;
• Best Owner’s Suite Design by a Custom Builder – for a home addition/renovation for the Compton family in Bridgville; and
• Best Single Family Custom Home between $220,000 and $400,000 – a custom designed 1,876 square-foot two-story home built for Jessica Read in Seaford;
When Jessica Read’s home was completed, she shared these words with her friends on social media, “It’s hard to find the words to thank all of the amazing people at Seely Homes. Some builders didn’t take me seriously when they found out I was a single mom trying to build a house. I knew Seely Homes was different…she said ‘you go girl!’ They have gone above and beyond for me and have built a beautiful home for my family. I will never be able to thank them enough.”
Seely Homes also won three marketing awards:
• Best Builder Website
• Best Logo
• Best Billboard
Visit www.seelyhomes.com to explore the website, which features the award-winning home designs along with many exclusive Seely Homes plans.
The award-winning billboard is located on U.S. Route 13 Southbound in Bridgeville and boasts “Custom Homes on your lot from $175K!” Seely Homes offers four different home designs for clients to build on their land starting under $200,000.
The awards also help the Seelys build a name for themselves in the building community as a whole, in the early years of their business.
In January 2020, Adrian and Julleanna Seely, leaning on their extensive backgrounds in new home sales and construction, formed their home building company, Seely Homes LLC. They started out working from their home in Greenwood, before opening an office in Bridgeville in fall 2021.
Seely Homes joined the Home Builders Association two years ago and quickly gained respect, earning two Regal Awards in 2023. The awards recognize top performance in home design, marketing, sales and production.
“The Regal Awards give us the opportunity to showcase quality construction on the same stage as some of the largest builders in the state,” Julleanna said. “Most awards were for homes closer to the beach; ours were pretty local. We are proud we can represent quality homes and construction in western Sussex County.”
Julleanna has been in the industry for 18 years and received her Delaware real estate license in October 2019. “People I worked with as a sales rep years ago were congratulatory, some surprised to see us excelling in a business we just built!”
Their friends might have known the couple would succeed. Julleanna had been honored in 2021 by The Delaware Business Times as one of the “Top 40 Under 40” class, which recognizes Delaware’s best and brightest young professionals who are making a difference with their intelligence, initiative and innovation.
Julleanna credits her husband of 20 years for much of that innovation with the business. “Adrian is always dreaming, planning, setting goals for the future. I’m excited to see what’s in store as we continue to grow.”
Adrian has more than 17 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 more before launching out as a general contractor.
Julleanna continued, “Our partnership as a husband-wife team works great due to our different backgrounds.”
The Seelys have the support of family and friends in the building industry. There are three full-time employees – Nathaniel Maynard, Cassie Davis, and Colleen Watson – along with a loyal group of trade partners. Their team activity for May 2024 included closing on three completed homes and expectations to sign four contracts to build more homes this summer – along with many other homes in the process.
“There’s a great rhythm of business happening,” Julleanna said.
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.
The company has quickly developed a reputation for being high quality, reliable and affordable home builders. Their motto is “Better Living Made Simple.”
“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.”
Adrian said, “We have specially designed home plans that are attractive, functional and affordable, designed to meet the needs of families and individuals today.”
For example, the Willow home design used for the award-winning Durham home was modified to add two additional bedrooms, another full bath, storage and a very large bonus room on the second level, affording plenty of space for a blended family with five children. All primary features are located on the first floor, providing comfortable living for decades to come, never having to use the stairs if unwanted.
Seely Homes has no ties to a particular community or development, generally building on land people already own. If they don’t have land, as a licensed Delaware Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, Julleanna is able to help customers find and purchase property and sell their current house if needed.
The Seelys are thankful for the opportunity to be actively involved in their local community in more ways than home construction. Julleanna Seely is serving her fourth year as a school board member for Woodbridge School District. Seely Homes offers a $1,000 scholarship to Woodbridge High School graduates pursuing a construction or business related career in memory of Byron Outten, Julleanna’s father, who was a hard-working and generous local plumber until his passing in January 2022.
Seely Homes is a corporate sponsor of Love INC of Mid-Delmarva and their staff often assists at the Seaford location with providing meals and clothing for the less fortunate in the community.
“If you are looking to build a house or add an addition onto your home, you won’t find a better company to work with,” Jessica Read said. “They are an exceptional family-owned business who are hard-working and honest.”
Need a home built for you, or do you want changes in your existing home? Visit the showroom at 9111 Antique Alley Rd, Unit 3 in Bridgeville, or explore the award-winning website at www.seelyhomes.com, then call Seely Homes at 302-470-5204 or send an email to sa***@se********.com.
