Archive for Education
On The Level: Vacation Planning
Posted by: | CommentsAs the summer comes to a close, many families are planning last minute vacations to escape the reality of fall around the corner. As you leave your home unattended, there are a multitude of things that can be done to protect your property. I have included a few I believe are key factors in protecting your home.
It is best to have your home look occupied. Buy a few timers and set certain lights to turn on throughout the evening. Lights typically deter burglars who are looking for dark entry areas. Be sure to either have a friend or family member collect your mail and pick up your newspaper; or call your post office and local newspaper and have them put on hold until you return. A pile up of mail or newspapers is a sure sign of your home being unoccupied.
Your valuables are called your valuables for a reason. Whether it is sentimental or monetary, nobody wants to part with their valuables. Either take them with you or leave them in a safe or safety deposit box.
Making sure you have set up a service or a friend to care for your yard while on vacation is very crucial to protecting your home. Leaving the yard unattended can give signs of a vacant property. In this market a burglar might even think that the home may have foreclosed, and is hoping to find belongings left behind.
I hope everyone finds these reminders helpful while planning your last minute getaways. Enjoy your last weeks of fun in the sun. Just remember the old saying. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Take advantage of federal tax credits
Posted by: | CommentsTake advantage of the extended and expanded federal tax credits. Qualified first-time home buyers can get up to $8,000 in tax credits, and qualified repeat buyers can get up to $6,500. Deadlines are April 30, 2010 to write a contract, and June 30, 2010 to close. Learn more about this program by reading the NAHB’s Opportunity Knocks brochure.
There may never be a better time to buy a new home than now… with tax credits, low mortgage interest rates and ample inventory. Experts agree that the real estate market has “hit bottom” and will start to improve in 2010, so don’t miss out on this great opportunity.
LifeStyle Builders & Developers is gearing up for a busy Spring by starting construction on a number of new homes. Our goal is to have homes available for closing by the June deadline. Many of these homes are in the starting stages of drawings or construction, so there is still time to personalize the home to fit your lifestyle. At our 2600 sq.ft. Design Studio home buyers can select the exterior colors and materials of their new home, as well as choose from hundreds of interior features and options to design their dream home. But time is of the essence, so don’t delay. For a personal tour of our Design Studio, call Ed Melton at (804) 893-7069. For a complete list of our available homes, please visit the LifeStyle Builders & Developers website.
Happy house hunting!
LifeStyle Builders Now Partnering with Trane
Posted by: | CommentsHey, the train is here! Well, really, it’s Trane… you know, the most prestigious name in HVAC systems! And we at LifeStyle Builders have partnered with them to make our houses more energy efficient, technologically advanced and comfortable. As if there aren’t enough reasons to buy a LifeStyle Builders home already, we just keep adding more!
Check out Trane’s website for more information.
Don’t Let the Heavy Rain and Snow Become a Problem; Helpful Winter Maintenance Tips
Posted by: | CommentsOur homes provide us shelter and warmth from the cold, rain and snow that Mother Nature delivers every winter. This year, Richmond, Virginia has had record high amounts of rain and a snowstorm that dumped more snow in one day than we have seen in 8 years combined! You can easily protect your home investment by performing these few basic home maintenance tasks…
Be sure your yard’s irrigation system is winterized prior to freezing temperatures.If you have not already done this and you’ve been lucky enough that no pipes have burst, we recommend that you immediately turn off the supply valves (often found at the meter) and open the backflow preventer, then call an irrigation contractor to finish the winterization process.
Keep all exterior hose bibs free from freeze breaks. Shut off the hose bib supply valve (typically located in the garage) and open the hose bib valves.
Check/clean gutters and downspouts. The gutters should be collecting water from your roof and safely diverting it down and away from the house. Clogged gutters mean the water will not flow away from the house and will fall right next to your foundation. You should inspect them routinely and remove any blockage. Also, make sure your splash blocks and downspouts are positioned properly to drain the water a minimum of five feet away from your home’s foundation.
Periodically check for leaks. You should inspect your roof for missing or damaged shingles and if found, have them replaced or repaired immediately. Also, look in the attic for water stains or wet insulation. You should check all exterior doors regularly; caulking should be intact under thresholds and around the doors. Be sure weather strips are not damaged and sealing tightly when the door is closed; if not, adjustments should be made. In heavy or driving rains, water may penetrate to the interior, so check them often and immediately clean away any water off floors to prevent damage.
Meet the Experts Who Can Help You Design The Gourmet Kitchen of Your Dreams
Posted by: | CommentsRICHMOND, VA (September 21, 2009) – LifeStyle Builders and Developers, Inc., a Richmond based homebuilder, is proud to host a “Meet the Gourmet Kitchen Experts” open house during the 2009 Parade of Homes on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2009 at their model home in Harpers Mill, a new home community in Chesterfield County.
Gourmet food is appreciated and desired for its high quality and artful presentation. The same can be said of a gourmet kitchen, typically constructed with the highest quality materials, such as select hardwood cabinetry with hand-painted finishes, imported tile or stone flooring and countertops, and state-of-the-art appliances, all artfully arranged to create the ideal space for cooking and entertaining.
During this year’s Parade of Homes (sponsored by the Home Building Association of Richmond), visit the LifeStyle Builders and Developers’ model home in Harpers Mill October 3 and 4 to hear the experts give advice about designing the gourmet kitchen of your dreams. Between noon and 5 p.m., experts will be on hand to talk with you about the latest kitchen product trends, proper maintenance and care, and much more. In addition, there will be refreshments and opportunities to win fabulous door prizes.
Design your gourmet kitchen from the ground up… literally. Better Floors, Inc. offers a variety of fashionable floor options to fit your lifestyle. Pre-finished hardwood floors provide a superior performance while keeping up with today’s trends by offering varying widths and species including oak, brazillian cherry, maple, bamboo, walnut and more. Mohawk hardwoods offer a Scotchguard finish that resists most any stain for easy cleaning, even permanent marker! If you prefer the look of tile, Duraceramic flooring by Congoleum is a great flooring solution for the kitchen. This lifetime warranty product is extremely durable, stain resistant, warmer on the feet than tile, and is more flexible to prevent cracking.
Representatives from MidSouth Building Supply advise that when designing a gourmet kitchen, it is important to focus on the functionality and utility of the room in a way that makes it not only a kitchen, but also a comfortable living and gathering space. A kitchen’s cabinetry is much more than just a beautiful color or finish, and includes such features as:
- Plenty of drawers, accessory cabinets and fixtures like recycle bins, cutlery trays, roll-outs, spice racks, and more
- Built-in desk or pantry areas that provide storage and workspace, with the added functionality as furniture
- Enough space to store the “chef’s” tools and ingredients, without detracting from the workspace for creation
- And accessory items such as matching appliance panels, wainscoting, wood hoods, decorative wood and metal corbels and fluted fillers that tie it all together and add visual interest
Capitol Granite & Marble is one of the few fabricators in the U.S. utilizing digital templating and water jet technology to design precisely measured and fitted countertops for today’s gourmet kitchens. No matter how simple and uncluttered or complicated and intricate a kitchen design, this technology ensures a perfect finish every time, while also making granite a much more affordable luxury today than it was 10 years ago. “A trend that some people are drawn to for their gourmet kitchen,” says Mimi Rodrigues at Capitol Granite & Marble, “is to use a more muted pattern granite on the perimeter of the kitchen and install an exotic or variegated granite on their island for that visual ‘pop.’ Also becoming more popular are the quartz products, which are lower maintenance and a great alternative for a homeowner that wants a consistent color pattern.”
No gourmet kitchen is complete without the appliances, plumbing fixtures and lighting, all components that can be found in one convenient location, at your local Ferguson Showroom. Depending on a homeowner’s preference and the kitchen’s design, appliances may be tucked away in an unobtrusive manner or they may be highlighted to stand out as focal points. Plumbing fixtures and lighting are the perfect way to personalize your space, reflecting your individual sense of style and taste. “Whether you are building a new home or remodeling a room, Ferguson Showrooms offer you the largest range of plumbing fixtures, lighting and appliances from quality names in the latest trends and cutting-edge styles.” says Marc Ayscue, sales manager for Ferguson. “Our Showroom Consultants offer the best expertise in the business, as they understand budget planning, design, the building process, and work hard to ensure that the right products are delivered on-time.”
Be sure to visit Harpers Mill to learn more tips about designing your dream gourmet kitchen. To reach Harpers Mill from Route 288, take the exit for Route 360 West (Hull Street Rd towards Amelia), travel approximately 5 miles, turn left on Otterdale Road, the entrance to Harpers Mill is straight ahead, turn right on Longlands Road, the LifeStyle Builders model home is the second house on the left, 15707 Longland Road, Chesterfield, VA.
A Richmond-based and locally-owned company since 1990, LifeStyle Builders and Developers offers an extensive portfolio of award-winning homes with distinctive elevations and innovative designs. LifeStyle Builders is currently building in 10 neighborhoods throughout the Richmond area. For more information about LifeStyle Builders, please visit www.lifestylebuilders.com or call (804) 639-9440.
