The Berks Homes Podcast

Hosted by Katie Detwiler and Ben Horning

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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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!

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60 recent

November 6, 2026Episode 6831 min

Ep 68: Designing Around What People Actually Want To Live In

Katie and Ben break down how Berks Homes actually designs its floor plans, from a once one-man process led by their father to a collaborative monthly design meeting pulling feedback from sales, drafting, purchasing, and trades. They explain what truly drives design decisions, starting with the lot, zoning, and affordability, and how personal preference has to take a back seat to what serves the most buyers. The conversation traces how homes have evolved over the years, from mudrooms and walk in closets to work from home flex spaces, and looks ahead at how smaller, more versatile floor plans are becoming the answer to today’s affordability challenges. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Learn more at https://www.berkshomes.com

October 23, 2026Episode 6734 min

Ep. 67: Steady Roots In Shifting Soil

Katie and Ben break down the current housing market headlines, from 7.5% mortgage rates to a slowdown in national builder sentiment, and share what Berks Homes is doing in response. They cover the forces behind the slowdown, rising construction costs, oil prices, resumed student loan payments, and election year hesitation, and explain how today’s market differs from the 2008 crash. The conversation centers on their strategy: controlling what can be controlled, working with trade partners and land developers on costs, adjusting product where it makes sense, and leading with patience and a clear mindset. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Learn more at https://www.berkshomes.com

September 26, 2026Episode 6629 min

Ep 66: Selling Life Improvements, Not Just Homes

Recorded inside the Beacon Pointe model home at Hickory Pointe in Waynesboro, host Brandon talks with Ian Matsko-Entzel, a New Homes Sales Consultant who has been with Berks Homes for over nine years. Ian explains why he sees his role as selling life improvements rather than just homes, and how he builds trust differently with first-time buyers, step-up buyers, and down-sizers by taking time to listen and educate rather than push the sale. He walks through how he helps buyers choose the right homesite and selections without overwhelming them, clears up common financial misconceptions like the belief that 20 percent down is required, and shares moving stories of families buying their first home, including one where two sisters surprised their parents with a home of their own. The conversation closes on what sets the Berks Homes sales experience apart: a family owned culture built on genuine care, trust, and customer service rather than a transactional sales pitch. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Learn more at https://www.berkshomes.com

September 12, 2026Episode 6556 min

Ep 65: Why Land Development Costs More Than You Think

Ben talks with Bryan Entrekin, who leads the On Your Land division at Berks Homes, about what it really takes to build a home on a Homeowner's own piece of land. Bryan traces his path from resale real estate to 20 plus years at Berks, and breaks down the difference between On Your Land builds and select sites, small investment opportunities of three lots or fewer. He walks through the hidden costs buyers rarely anticipate, from clearing wooded lots and drilling wells to utility tie ins that can run tens of thousands of dollars, and explains why getting a professional involved before buying land can save buyers from costly surprises. The conversation closes on the value of communication, patience, and honest expectations, along with lessons from the 2008 downturn that still shape how the team approaches today's shifting market. Contact Katie or Ben if you have any questions or feedback. kdetwiler@berkshomes.com bhorning@berkshomes.com Learn more at https://www.berkshomes.com

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