Henning Estates is tucked away in a scenic setting yet it just minutes from great shopping, dining, recreation and more.

The beauty of Henning Estates is that it is in a beautiful scenic location yet is just minutes from the conveniences you need and want. From the abundance of national retailers on Randall Road to the many local parks and forest preserves, you’ll find wonderful options throughout Huntley and the surrounding suburbs.

Just take a look at this handy map showcasing all of the nearby shopping destinations, restaurants, golf courses, parks and more. This is just a sneak peek at some of the amenities located within a short drive from Henning Estates. Each box represents something special to the area such as a restaurant, retail store, golf course, school, medical facility, church, park or other unique area attraction.

Over the next few months we will be showcasing some of the more unique area attractions to help you get to know your potential new neighborhood.  To follow our journey as we highlight these local treasures please check back to this blog often, or simply join our Facebook page by clicking here.

Live among nature at Henning Estates in Huntley.

Spring cleaning means much more than just windows! Review our helpful list of spring home maintenance tips and get started today.

Warm spring air and bright sunshine is a welcome retreat from the long, dark months of an Illinois winter. Over the winter months your home goes through plenty of challenging conditions including freezing cold temperatures, icy cold snow, constantly wet conditions and very dry air.

As we start enjoying the blooms of spring and the extended days of sunshine we begin to notice imperfections in our home typically caused by these challenging conditions. Below is a checklist to help you target some of these problem areas and more. Get going on your spring home maintenance today so you can spend more time enjoying the sun this spring and summer!

• If you have a sprinkler system, it’s time to have it turned on. Check to make sure the system is operating properly and that all of the sprinkler heads are in working order. Make sure they are adjusted properly so that water is not hitting the side of your home, your sidewalks or patios.
• Give the lawn some TLC. Rake the lawn to remove branches and leaves left over from the fall. If left on the lawn they can suffocate the grass. To prevent weeds consider an organic herbicide application and to thicken the grass consider an aeration and seed application.
• Inspect your gutters and downspouts. Clean out any remaining debris left behind by the falling fall foliage and make sure the downspouts drain away from the foundation of your home. Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement.
• Look up to your roof. With a pair of binoculars you can spot signs of trouble. Look for shifting shingles, cracked or missing shingles or popup up nails. All of these can be signs of trouble and should be inspected by a professional roofer.
• Inspect your air conditioning unit. Change the filter, check the hose connections for leaks and make sure the drain pans are draining freely. Also, it’s a good idea to clean standing dust off the unit as it can hamper the units’ effectiveness over time.
• Look for signs of leaks. Check under the kitchen and bathroom sinks to make sure the pipes are dry and look for any signs of corrosion or water staining. Also look around the dishwasher, washing machine and hot water heater for signs of leaks.

This is just a small list of spring home maintenance projects. There are literally hundreds of things you can and should check both inside and outside your home to ensure it is in perfect wording condition. Taking a little bit of time to maintain your home every season will save you much more time and money in the long run.

The Illinois Railway Museum has an amazing collection of trains and railroad attractions.

The Henning Estates community is tucked in to nature, yet is just minutes from everyday conveniences and unique attractions. The Illinois Railway Museum and Donnley’s Wild West Town are each one-of-a-kind destinations you won’t find anywhere else.

The Illinois Railway Museum is located in the neighboring town of Union and is just a few minutes from Henning Estates. It’s a true train lover’s paradise created over decades by the efforts of dedicated volunteers. The museum preserves the history of railroading through education and entertainment. Overall, it is one of the largest operating demonstration railroads in the entire country.  Huge buildings house the extensive collection of rolling railroad stock where you can get an up close look at these amazing pieces of history. There are diesel and steam locomotives, electric cars, trolley coaches, rapid transit and street cars, cabooses, railroad crossing signs and much, much more. This unique museum-in-motion operates on two tracks including a 5-mile mainline and a mile-long loop.  Each weekend offers the opportunity to experience rides on various types of trains. Hours and operating schedules for the Illinois Railway Museum vary greatly so be sure to check their website before planning your visit.

Another popular attraction near Henning Estates is Donley’s Wild West Town. The 2012 season will kick-off on May 19 as the excitement of the Old West comes to life in Union, Illinois. The highlight of your visit to Donley’s will be their amazing life-like Wild West show put on by a professional stunt team. Spectators marvel at this reality and thrill of this extravagant western show-down. Donley’s Wild West museum is an expansive collection of cowboy memorabilia, mining tools, Civil War weapons, law & order artifacts and much more.  After a long day enjoying the attractions and sites, relax for a filling meal at the Old West Steakhouse. The menu features mouth watering steaks, baby back ribs, huge sandwiches and burgers, salads and more. A day at Donley’s will be an experience unlike any other.

Throughout the year the Illinois Railway Museum and Donley’s Wild West Town each offer special events such as the Railways’ “Day Out With Thomas the Train” scheduled for August 17, 18, 19, 25 and 26. On June 9, Donley’s will host the 37^th Annual Phonograph & Music Box Sale. Mark your calendars and make plans to visit these special destinations this Spring or Summer. During your visit to the area please stop by Henning Estates. We’ll be happy to give you more pointers of places to visit and things to see in the area.

The South Haven ranch floor plan features a spacious kitchen open to the great room.

Easter is hopping right around the corner! Many families have a tradition of treating themselves to a fabulous Easter Brunch at a nice local restaurant. The Easter Brunch tradition is wonderful, if you can afford it that is! With prices ranging from approximately $30 – $60 per person, Easter Brunch can make a big dent in your wallet. With a little careful planning you can create a fantastic Easter meal for a fraction of the cost and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home.

Imagine having a gourmet kitchen equipped with high-end Maytag appliances, a spacious open floor plan where family and friends can gather, and an elegant formal dining room with plenty of room for a lovely table dressed with the fancy china! The ranch floor plans at Henning Estates offer all of these features and more.

All of the floor plans feature spacious gourmet kitchens including an eat-in breakfast area plus a separate formal dining room. The popular South Haven floor plan boasts an amazing island with plenty of seating for four, or possibly six, guests.  Every home includes upgraded stainless steel appliances including a Maytag oven, dishwasher, microwave and a cook-top. The refrigerator is an extra so that each homeowner can select the model they like best. Your new home at Henning Estates will have everything you need to create the ultimate Easter feast for much less than you’d otherwise spend taking the whole family to a restaurant. Plus, you can leisurely spend the whole day enjoying each other’s company in your beautiful new home.

Most folks consider ham a must-have for the Easter table. Do you have a favorite ham recipe?  Maybe you’ve never made a ham before! We hope we can inspire you to create your own fabulous meal this year. Take a peek at these delicious sounding ham recipes we discovered on the Martha Stewart website:

Traditional Baked Easter Ham
Glazed Ham with Apricot Mustard
Marmalade Glazed Ham
Pineapple Mustard Glazed Ham
Honey Orange Baked Ham
Bourbon Glazed Ham

Whatever your plans are for Easter, the team at Henning Estates wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday!

March 23, 24 and 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Henning Estates of Huntley.

• Friday, March 23
• Saturday, March 24
• Sunday, March 25

Hours for this special event are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
We look forward to seeing you and showing you around this beautiful new home!

The most common use for a finished basement is a recreation space for relaxing and spending time with friends and family.

Did you know that the ranch homes of Henning Estates come with a full, 9-foot ceiling unfinished basement included in the base price of the home? Many of the other nearby ranch home communities either do not offer basements at all, or charge extra for a basement. You can rest easy at Henning Estates knowing your home will already include this valuable feature plus you can choose to completely finish it at the time of construction.

Finishing a basement space adds instant value to your home yet it can be a challenging task if taken on years down the road. It is much easier to finish the basement during the initial construction phase plus the associated costs will be less by doing so. Hiring contractors to come back later to finish up a basement will typically end up costing more than if all the work is done early on.  Plus, by finishing the project early you avoid paying extra in material costs which are always on the rise.

Some of the popular uses for a basement include recreation rooms, craft spaces, home offices, theater rooms, exercise rooms and guest suites. All of these uses offer homeowners wonderful options to utilize an otherwise under-utilized space and to add valuable living space. Finishing a basement typically results in a 70% return on investment, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report.

Finished basement space in a ranch home is particularly attractive and is typically larger than that in a traditional two-story home. The footprint of a basement typically follows that of the first floor of the home meaning a ranch home with 2,500 square feet will have a similarly sized basement space. Imagine what you can do with all that extra space! The options are endless and the associated costs are well worth the investment.

The Rockport is the largest ranch home available at Henning Estates with over 2,350 square feet.

Henning Estates is putting the finishing touches on their newest ranch floor plan.  The Rockport is the latest ranch home added to the already popular line-up of ranch homes at this luxurious community in Huntley.  This new floor plan has been under construction over the winter and is now ready for visitors as the team at Henning Estates finishes up the final phase of construction.

The Rockport is one of four ranch floor plans available at Henning Estates and is the largest home with over 2,350 square feet, all on one level. Set on a spacious 1/3 acre homesite, this home is base priced in the low $400’s. Henning Estates is known for offering unique ranch floor plans with soaring ceilings, open concept designs and high-end features both inside and out. The Rockport offers all this and more with three bedrooms and two bathrooms plus a full basement with a nine-foot ceiling. The spacious great room and formal dining room are highlighted with a vaulted ceiling and large windows letting in beautiful natural light. The modern design of this home creates the perfect space for entertaining family and friends.

An abundance of cabinetry and countertop space makes the Rockport kitchen a dream come true for the home chef. The included package of upgraded Maytag appliances features a stainless steel oven, dishwasher and microwave plus a convenient gas cook-top. Attention-to-detail is evident in the smart layout of this gourmet kitchen.

The large master suite offers homeowners an elegant retreat with plenty of space for furniture. A spa-like master bath features a large corner soaking tub, separate shower, private water closet and a dual sink vanity. There is plenty of storage in the spacious master closet.

All of the ranch homes at Henning Estates are set on a spacious 1/3 acre homesite with scenic nature views. Homeowners enjoy overlooking open prairie spaces, mature woods or scenic wetlands. The peaceful country-like setting on the far west side of Huntley gives Henning Estates a private and relaxing feel yet it is still just minutes from everyday conveniences.

The line-up of ranch homes at Henning Estates also includes the popular South Haven model with 2,260 square feet, the Brunswick with 2,023 square feet and the Newcastle with 1,803 square feet. Base pricing, including homesite, begins in the upper $300’s. The South Haven and the Newcastle are available to view as fully decorated models.

Rock Creek Builders designed the Henning Estates community to make the most of the scenic natural surroundings and has designed each unique ranch home to appeal to the most discerning homebuyer. With included features such as hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances, solid surface countertops, a full basement and a landscaped 1/3 acre homesite, it’s easy to see the amazing value included with every home at Henning Estates.

The South Haven at Henning Estates is the perfect home for entertaining thanks to a dramatic, open concept design.

With 2,260 square feet, all on one level, the South Haven model offers ranch living at its finest. The open floor plan design gives this popular Henning Estates home a feeling of grandeur and luxury.

Upon entering the elegant foyer it’s easy to see what makes the South Haven perfect for entertaining.  A spacious great room opens to a gourmet kitchen with formal and casual dining spaces also nearby. The entire space features an airy cathedral ceiling and a long wall of windows brings in beautiful natural light. The smart-designed kitchen boasts a huge island with seating for at least four people. The high-end Maytag appliance package includes a stainless steel double oven, microwave, dishwasher and a gas cook-top.

The abundance of entertaining space is rivaled by a fabulous homeowners’ suite. The spacious master bedroom is a relaxing getaway with a soaring cathedral ceiling and plenty of space for furniture.  With nearly 265 square feet, there is ample space for a king size bed, dressers and even a little sitting space as well. There is a large walk-in-closet plus a spa-like master bath. The master bath features a large corner soaking tub, a separate glass enclosed shower with a bench seat, an extra long vanity with two sinks and a private toilet room. Homeowners of the South Haven will enjoy relaxing after a hectic day in this luxurious master suite.

Other features of the South Haven include a second bedroom and bath tucked away at the other side of the home for privacy.  There is also a large home office off the foyer which could be used for a wide variety of purposes from an office or den to a hobby room, a television room, a craft room or even a play room for grandkids. Another wonderful space is the “drop zone” and laundry room located just off the garage.  The drop zone features a spacious closet and offers an optional planning desk. It’s a nice space to keep a wide variety of items such as golf clubs, gardening supplies, dog food, sports equipment and all those random items everyone has in their junk drawer. Off the drop zone area is a separate laundry room with a convenient utility sink.

The South Haven also comes with a full, unfinished basement with 9 foot ceilings, included in the base price of the home which sits on a spacious 1/3 acre home site. The decorated South Haven model also features the optional sun room which is a wonderful space to curl up with a good book or watch the sun rise with a hot cup of coffee.

Visitors to Henning Estates will be treated to seeing this amazing home fully decorated. Stop by today for a visit to see what makes the South Haven so special!