The Berks Homes Podcast

Hosted by Katie Detwiler and Ben Horning

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Business of Building Homes. Berks Homes is a dynamic new construction homebuilder rooted in a legacy dating back to 1973. Our mission is to forge enduring relationships through trust, guided by our core values: helpful, humble, aware, and driven. Meet Ben, who brings 19 years of expertise in product development and cost control, and Katie with 21 years of experience, specializing in branding and marketing. As we share insights, stories, and passion for the homebuilding business. Join us on this journey of growth, exploration, and industry networking!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 28, 2026Episode 6427 min

Ep 64: What It Really Takes to Build on Your Own Land

Recorded on-site at an On Your Land build in Mohnton, host Brandon talks with Jake Swiencki Superintendent for Berks Homes' On Your Land department, about what it takes to build a home on a Homeowner's own property. Jake explains how the program works, from site evaluations and permitting to the extended timeline compared to a standard development build, and walks through common delays like electric hookups, unsuitable soil, and municipality requirements that vary widely by location. Using the current build as an example, a large, wooded lot with a steep bank that required relocating the septic system, Jake highlights the unique challenges of On Your Land projects and why realistic expectations upfront make all the difference for buyers. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at https://www.berkshomes.com

August 21, 2026Episode 6346 min

Ep 63: What It Takes to Run a Family Business with Your Sibling

Katie and Ben talk about what it is like to run Berks Homes together. They reflect on very different childhood personalities, how they ended up leading the company side by side, and the shared values around money, trust, and people that make their partnership work. The conversation covers how they divide responsibilities based on natural strengths, handle disagreements without drama, and wraps with a rapid fire round on their differences in decision making and leadership style. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at https://www.berkshomes.com

August 14, 2026Episode 6222 min

Ep 62: More Than Four Walls - Building Homes for Families

In this episode, recorded on-site at Cumberland Preserve Estates in Carlisle, host Brandon speaks with Scott Hardie, Production Manager for the South Central region, about what it takes to oversee many Berks Homes communities at once. Scott shares that he served in the military and worked with young people before joining Berks Homes almost 10 years ago. He explains what a normal day looks like, working with team leaders, work crews, and land teams across 10 neighborhoods and 10 custom home projects spread across a large area. He also shares how he keeps every job site up to the same high standard, how he builds strong, trusted partnerships with work crews through honest communication, and how staying organized helps him manage it all. Most importantly, Scott shares why this work matters to him: helping families move into new homes and building relationships that last long after the home is finished. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at berkshomes.com

August 7, 2026Episode 6130 min

Ep 61: Behind the Berks Homes Brand

Katie sits down with Joe Roslin, Berks Homes' creative director and a 20-plus-year employee, to trace the evolution of the company's brand. Joe walks through the early days of print ads and brochures, the shift to digital and coding the first website, and the messy period of merging two logos before the team committed to the simplified black-and-white identity used today. They discuss the four pillars behind the current logo (simplicity, longevity, strength, and timelessness), how signage and consistency carry the brand into communities, and newer additions like the bunny brand mark tied to the founder's origin story. The conversation closes on why brand consistency matters: it builds trust, and if a company cannot execute on its own brand, customers may question whether it can execute on building their home. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at ⁠berkshomes.com

August 1, 2026Episode 6037 min

Ep 60: How We Stay Locked In When the Market Slows Down

Berks Homes COO Stephanie O'Hara checks in with the sales and marketing team on "Lead, Own, Commit, and Keep Going," the locked-in mindset introduced at the start of the year. The team discusses how it has shaped their approach through a tougher housing market, closer alignment between sales and marketing, more intentional customer communication, and greater personal accountability. They share what has kept them consistent through slow months, how they lean on teammates, and how they have embraced change and new technology, all tied back to Berks Homes' core values and people-first culture heading into the second half of the year. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at ⁠berkshomes.com

July 24, 2026Episode 5938 min

Ep 59: Protecting the Biggest Purchase of Your Life

Katie talks with Jolene George of Capstone Land Transfer about what title insurance actually does and why it matters. Jolene explains how her team searches property records back 60 years to catch unsatisfied mortgages, mechanics liens, boundary disputes, and even deed forgery risks that apply to new construction Homeowners, not just resale buyers. She also flags the rising threat of wire fraud in real estate closings, shares how AI is speeding up the settlement process, and touches on the county-by-county quirks of doing this work across Pennsylvania. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at ⁠berkshomes.com

July 17, 2026Episode 5827 min

Ep 58: Ball Pits, Steak Bars, and Dirt Bike Tracks

In this special family-focused episode, Ben welcomes his children! Bella, Theo, and Juliet join the podcast for a fun and unfiltered conversation about homes, family, and what they think their dad does at Berks Homes. They share their imaginative dream-home ideas, react to the Isabella and Juliet floor plans named after them, and explain why spaces such as the kitchen, basement, backyard, and their bedrooms matter so much. Between plenty of laughs, they also offer surprisingly meaningful advice to new homeowners: make the space comfortable, include the things your family loves, and personalize it without worrying about what anyone else thinks. The episode serves as a heartwarming reminder that a house becomes a home through familiar sounds, shared meals, personal touches, and the people who fill it. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at ⁠berkshomes.com

July 13, 2026Episode 5721 min

Ep 57: Lead, Own, Commit and Keep Going

What does it mean to be truly “locked in”? Berks Homes COO Stephanie O’Hara sits down with several of the company’s newer sales agents to discuss the mindset guiding their team throughout the year: Lead, Own, Commit and Keep Going. The group shares how they are becoming more intentional, adapting to a changing housing market, building meaningful relationships with buyers and continuing to grow through training, technology and teamwork. They also explain why earning a buyer’s trust and understanding their story is more important than simply making an immediate sale. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at ⁠berkshomes.com

June 22, 2026Episode 5646 min

Ep 56: Why Caring About the Details Changes Everything

This episode of the Berks Homes Podcast features a new host, Brandon Raubenstine, the multimedia specialist behind the video content you see from Berks Homes. Joining him is John D'Angelo, Director of Construction, for a conversation that goes deep into what truly separates a Berks Homes home from the rest. The two cover the culture of genuine care that runs through every department and every build, the origin story of JDTV, and what the hardest stages of construction look like for both the team and the homeowner. John gets honest about the imperfections of building homes with hundreds of hands, and why transparency and accountability are what make all the difference. He also reflects on over 20 years at Berks Homes, what has kept him passionate about the work every single day, and how customers over the years have shaped the way he approaches quality and craftsmanship. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at ⁠berkshomes.com

June 12, 2026Episode 5535 min

Ep 55: Land, Strategy, and What's Next For Berks Homes

Katie and Ben are back for a brand new episode of The Berks Homes Podcast, and they have a lot to celebrate! They share an exciting business update on where Berks Homes stands heading into the second half of the year, highlighting the strength of Pennsylvania's housing market and the momentum the team has built. They dive deep into the world of land acquisition, discussing the growing opportunity in the space, the complexities of developing land across dozens of municipalities, and why Berks Homes is leaning into that challenge head on. They also celebrate a standout team member who showed true excellence and has been promoted from VP of Sales to COO, sharing what makes her the right leader to elevate the customer experience across every phase of the homebuilding process. They get honest about the leadership mindset it takes to step into unfamiliar territory, embrace a beginner's perspective, and build something better because of it. Plus, exciting news about the future of the podcast, including a new format and more voices coming soon. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Follow us! https://www.facebook.com/berkshomes https://www.instagram.com/berkshomes https://www.tiktok.com/@berkshomes Learn more at ⁠berkshomes.com