Family able to overcome home-building hurdles

When Bob Buschbacher was injured in a motocross accident two years ago and left a quadriplegic, life changed forever for him and his wife and two children.

"They say your life can change in an instant, and ours certainly did when Bob suffered his accident," said his wife, Revelina.

When Bob came home from the hospital, the family quickly realized their South Elgin home could not adequately accommodate his special needs.

They began looking for a builder who was willing to build a wheelchair-accessible home within the Buschbachers' price range.

Bob and Revelina thought their problems were solved when they contracted with a builder in the Elgin area. They sold their home and put money down, only to have the builder back out at the last minute.

Devastated and without a home, the family of four moved into Revelina's parents' two-bedroom house in Elgin and began searching anew.

After visiting the 2006 Gallery of Homes, Revelina contacted the site's developer, Wyndham Deerpoint Homes at Tall Oaks in Elgin.

"Within five minutes of talking to the folks at Wyndham Deerpoint Homes, we knew this was the builder for us," Bob said. "Other builders hemmed and hawed at my requirements. But Wyndham Deerpoint Homes had total confidence that their designers could make the wheelchair-accessible alterations, and that their craftsmen could build them out to the company's high standards. There was no hesitation whatsoever."

The Buschbachers selected the Whitehall model and Wyndham Deerpoint modified it extensively to accommodate the family's needs.

The two-story, four-bedroom home includes widened hallways and enlarged entrances. The kitchen features lowered counter heights and a "roll-under" island for Bob's convenience. And instead of doors, the cabinetry is equipped with drawers, making it easier for Bob to manage.

The master bedroom includes a large roll-in shower, a toilet that can be accessed from both the front and sides, and a vanity area that Bob can comfortably roll under with access to outlets.

Inside the oversized garage, there's a ramp entranceway, which will be handy if the family gets an accessible van.

There is also an elevator in the home that was added after Wyndham Deerpoint Homes did independent research unbeknownst to the Buschbachers.

"We had requested a chair lift," Bob said. "Wyndham Deerpoint Homes did their own studies and determined that an elevator would make better sense in terms of lifestyle and longevity."

"Wyndham Deerpoint Homes has gone the extra mile for us, not just with the elevator, but every step of the way," Revelina said.

With the help of a handicapped-accessible mouse and computer technology provided to him by his company, Plainfield-based MEP Consultants, Bob has recently resumed his career working from home as a mechanical designer.

Revelina also plans to work from home part time, running her corporate human resource company, R & R Consulting.

"This is not a special needs home, this is a special home, period," said Revelina of the home the family moved into in August. "It flows with space and light, and is filled with fine flooring, high ceilings, upscale counters and cabinetry, and other architectural details and quality touches."

The couple's children, Chanel, 16, and Tre, 14, are equally excited about their new home.

Bob and Revelina kept the teenagers' needs in mind when searching for a new home, asking that the living room and bathroom area be redesigned to include a computer room for the teens.

"Wyndham Deerpoint Homes has built us more than a beautiful place to live and work. They've built us hope, and they've built our belief in human kindness," Revelina said.

Tall Oaks' 10 floor plans vary in size from 2,000 to 4,100 square feet. Base prices range from $402,500 to $539,750.

The Tall Oaks sales center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. To reach the community, take Route 20 to Plank Road, turn left onto Russell, and turn left onto Winding Hill Drive into the Tall Oaks entrance to the Whitehall model at 163 Winding Hill Drive. Call (847) 289-9600 or visit www.wydp.com.