HOLIDAY LIGHTING

Installing exterior lighting has it challenges at times, but you can minimize these challenges greatly by installing exterior outlets in your soffitts.

Each exterior outlet is only $55. Connect all your exterior outlets to a master switch in an entry closet for an additional $45 and avoid having to venture out into the snow to enjoy your hard work. Just a flip of the switch and your lights come to life. Considering the time and money it will save in the long run it's a bargain!

 

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY? THAT IS THE QUESTION

If you've found yourself on the fence teetering about buying in the current market, your time of indecision has reached its end!

Current interest rates are still low considering everything else happening in our current economy. Waiting to purchase a home will only serve to cost more in the long run. Fuel prices play a huge role in several components of new home building (i.e asphalt shingles, delivery fees, carpeting, etc.). These prices are continuting to increase each month, so the longer you wait to sign a contract on a new home the more you will have to spend. The interest rates and prices are ever changing and won't stay this low forever so buy today! Check out our Available Homes page for current iinventory. YOUR DREAM HOME AWAITS!

GARAGE INSULATION

Most of our 3-car garages are approximately 640 square feet, and to fully insulate will cost a mere $500.00. When it comes to your monthly winter gas bill the cost to insulate your entire garage is minimal in comparison! Don't Forget: The importance of closing your garage doors all the time, especially after you arrive home, but most of all during the cold and blustery winter months. This will help keep your second floor warmer and safeguard against frozen plumbing components!

HUMIDIFIER OPERATION

It's a known fact that houses are made with lots and lots of wood species, and wood is a very tempermental material. It likes to shrink during cold months and swell during warm months. It's similar to our bodies in a way. Most of us use lotion on our skin year round, but especially in the dry winter months to avoid flakyness and cracking. The same applies to your trim work and hardwood flooring. If it isn't kept somewhat moisturized through the winter it WILL crack and seperate. Keep your new home looking fresh and new and be sure to operate your humidifier properly!!!!

Most cracking and seperation that occurr due to improperly set humidifiers are not warranted by your Builder. This is usually considered a homeowner maintenance issue. So save yourself the headache of having to recaulk, paint & stain and REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR HUMIDIFIER! Humidifiers are included as a standard item in all of our homes.

HARDWOOD FLOORING

NEVER use any kind of cleaning solutions on your hardwood flooring. Over time cleaning solutions will leave behind a dulling film/residue and your floors will loose their brilliant shine. Warm water and a damp mop are best for keeping your floors looking beautiful and new! New hardwood flooring needs time for the topcoat finish to dry and harden properly, therefore, please do not use rugs with rubber backing or anti-slip materials under your rugs for at least thirty (30) days after you close on your home. The rubber material will likely stick to the hardwood flooring and ruin the finish in that particular area. This typically is not warranted by the Sub-Contractor or your Builder.

If you really want your new floors to shine and better withstand daily activities, children and your beloved pets for years to come upgrade with an additional coat of polyurethane. Three coats of polyurethane are standard on all of our sand and finish hardwood flooring. Dependant on the amount of hardwood flooring in your home, an additional coat will cost approx. $200-400. If you've ever had to refinish hardwood flooring in a furnished home, you already know what a nightmare the cleanup can be afterward. Prolong the headache of having to refinish your hardwood flooring sooner and go for that fourth coat now!

TOILETS, TOILETS, TOILETS

Most new home buyers don't even consider upgrading their toilets, but it's a worthy investment! If you've ever had an "overflow" and ruined your flooring then you're already familiar with a nasty situation that upgrading your toilets will most likely help you avoid.

Many of the toilets in use today are "low-water" use models, which means they use less water to flush the bowl clean. Unfortunately, in a few circumstances, some of these models do not have adequate flushing power. For example, maybe you have young children that haven't quite learned when enough paper becomes too much paper, or you have a new baby and those wet-wipes somehow find their way to the toilet bowl, or femenine hygiene products are being disposed of in the toilets, or maybe it's just the brand of paper you prefer.

Suffice it to say there are many items and scenarios that can cause serious problems with some of these low-water models.

We realize most buyers prefer to spend their hardearned "upgrade" alottment on items that will get noticed and add luster to the overall home, but upgrading your toilets NOW could save time and money in the future! Approximately, $100 per toilet can greatly increase the odds of avoiding ruined flooring and a plumber's outrageous repair bill.

FYI, wet wipes and feminine hygiene products should NEVER be disposed of in ANY toilet!
Scott's brand toilet paper seems to work best with the low-water model toilets.
Please remember, paper moderation and proper disposal of "other" items are keys to problem free operation.

COLOR PALLETTE

Don't be afraid to be bold with your wall colors!

Most model homes are bold and edgy when it comes to color pallettes for a good reason. They make the home striking, relaxing, fun and memorable.

We highly recommend visiting lots of model homes before choosing your color pallette (inside and outside). It's much easier to choose a color, and feel good about your decision, if you've already seen it on a large scale, such as a wall or an entire room. The same goes for choosing all your other decor. Look at model home countertops, tiles, carpeting, etc. They can be a great refernece, not just for floor plans, but for decor ideas as well. Imitation can be a fabulous complement, so don't be afraid to use ideas you've seen.

We keep meticulous records of our model homes and spec home decor, so if you see something you like don't be afraid to ask. We are happy to share our ideas and styles with you anytime!

We wish everyone the best in building, and look forward to hearing from you soon.