A Dream Realized: The Baldwin Family's Journey Home

Building a custom home is a major milestone. It’s about bringing a vision to life and creating a space perfectly tailored to your family’s needs and dreams. For Chase and Lindsey Baldwin, along with their four children, this journey culminated in their beautiful new Oliver home, a testament to thoughtful planning, a collaborative spirit, and the enduring quality of a Wayne Homes build. We recently had the pleasure of catching up with the Baldwins, who closed on their home in West Central Ohio, about 45 minutes northwest of Columbus, on February 27, 2025.

From Wide Open Spaces to Home Sweet Home

For over a year, Chase and Lindsey had been searching for a home that offered the country living they envisioned for their family. In the competitive Central Ohio real estate market, finding acreage with an existing home proved challenging and often out of budget. “We never planned on building,” Lindsey shared, “but when acreage became available, we jumped on the opportunity to build our family’s dream home in the country.”

This unexpected turn led them to Wayne Homes, a name already familiar to them.

“Over thirty years ago, Chase’s parents built a Wayne Homes split-level home,” Lindsey recounted. “They raised their family in that home, and are now creating memories with their grandchildren in that same home. We always knew that if we ever built a home, we would likely use Wayne Homes because of the great experience they had, even all those years ago.”

This generational trust speaks volumes about the lasting quality and positive experiences Wayne Homes strives to deliver.

While they briefly considered another builder, Wayne Homes quickly stood out. “Wayne Homes was more budget-friendly,” Lindsey noted. “We were very pleased with all the included features that Wayne Homes offered in their base pricing, while also allowing for customizations to the floor plan and design.” This combination of value and flexibility solidified their decision.

The Oliver: Room to Grow

The Baldwins were among the first homeowners to build the new Oliver floor plan, and it proved to be an ideal choice for their vibrant family of six. “We felt like the Oliver met all of our needs without having to change anything about the floor plan,” Lindsey explained. Their love for hosting family and friends made the open kitchen, dining, and living space a major draw. With four children, four bedrooms were a must, but they also desired a first-floor owner’s suite. Chase’s hybrid work schedule made the main-floor office another essential feature. “The Oliver floor plan really checked all the boxes on our wish list!” she said.

Documenting the Dream: An Insider’s Look at The Wayne Build Process

The Baldwins generously documented their entire homebuilding journey on Instagram, sharing incredible photos and videos of their progress. You can follow their story and see their beautiful home come to life at @baldwin_dream_home.

Their Instagram feed offers a fascinating look at the transformation, from the very first day Lindsey and Chase visited the property they purchased to what it looked like just before construction began. They even shared the charming napkin sketch of their house!

Watching their home take shape through milestones like dig day, foundation work, and framing is truly inspiring. The kids even got in on the fun, playing at the property as their new home took shape. The posts capture the excitement of seeing the exterior framed with windows and doors installed, the siding going on, and the interior coming to life with drywall, cabinets and countertops, and beautiful ceiling beams.

Move-In Day and Life in the New Home

Moving a family of six is no small feat, but the Baldwins had incredible support. “Moving a family of six can be chaotic, but we have amazing family and friends that helped us from moving boxes and furniture, to watching the kids,” Lindsey shared. The overwhelming feeling of gratitude on their first night in the new home is a moment that truly stands out. “After a busy day, we put our kids to bed in their new rooms, and I can remember an overwhelming sense of gratitude. We were so thankful to be in our new home!”

Now settled, their favorite part of the house is the deck they added to the back. “After we put the kids to bed, we will go outside, sit on the deck, and watch the sunset,” Chase shared. Lindsey’s personal favorite? “The door that we added to connect the laundry room and the owner’s closet. I use it ALL the time! Ha!” It’s these thoughtful details that truly make a house a home.

A Seamless Experience with the Delaware Team

The Baldwins worked with the Wayne Homes Delaware team, and their experience was overwhelmingly positive. “The entire process was a good experience,” Lindsey stated. “Our first meeting with Julie Hurtt was informative and encouraging. She was so wonderful to work with during pricing and was very patient with us as we asked for quotes and pricing for certain add-on features.”

The design meetings were a breeze for the Baldwins. “I thought that the design meetings would be stressful and overwhelming, but the team at the Delaware office made it an easy process!” Once construction began, their Field Manager, Aaron, kept them well-informed. “He was quick to give updates, advice, and solutions to any hiccups that came up,” Lindsey said. “He kept us updated on everything that was happening, what was coming next, and was always available to answer questions or take care of any concerns that we had. He encouraged us and seemed genuinely happy for our family.”

Future Plans and Making it Home

Even after moving in, the Baldwins are continuing to personalize their outdoor space. “Our chicken coop is almost done and our garden is planted,” Lindsey excitedly shared. Their next big project involves lawn prep and grass, further enhancing their country oasis.

The Baldwin family’s journey is a wonderful example of how Wayne Homes helps families build not just a house, but a home where memories are made and dreams are realized. We recently shared an Instagram reel of their home and the full walk-through tour is also available, so you can see the finished product.

Their experience building in West Central Ohio illustrates the many possibilities available for those looking to build a custom home in the greater-Columbus area. Whether that’s Zanesfield, where the Baldwins built, or Muskingum County to the east, opportunities can be found in every direction. No matter where you’re looking to build, Wayne Homes can help you locate land, evaluate the site (free of charge!), and get you on the path to home – exactly where you want it.

But don’t take it from us…as Lindsey put it, “We would recommend Wayne Homes to anyone considering building a home!” It’s a recommendation we cherish, and we’re incredibly proud to have helped the Baldwin family build their “forever dream home.

Ready to bring your dream to life? Contact us–we’re just a click or call away.

About Wayne Homes

Wayne Homes is a custom homebuilder in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia (see all Model Home Centers). We offer more than 50 fully customizable floorplans and a team dedicated to providing the best experience in the home building industry. For more information, Ask Julie by Live Chat or call us at (866) 253-6807.

Disclaimer: The details of this blog are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change.