College Football Viewing Party Tips

You may have noticed that along with a slight coolness in the air something else has arrived – college football season! Whether you consider yourself a diehard fan or just enjoy an opportunity to get together with friends this is a great time of year to open up your new home to guests.

Here are a few tips to help you host the ultimate football get together!

1.     Make sure you get the game! Some TV packages carry different schools and some cable companies charge extra if you want to watch something out of the ordinary. You don’t want to get caught without the channel you need!

2.     Think finger foods. People tend to gather in the kitchen and in the living room where the game is playing. Think of foods that are easy to eat while standing up and holding a drink in one hand. Some examples include: chips and dip, pigs in a blanket, sausage balls, pizza bites, veggies and dip, brownies and cookies.

3.     Prioritize comfort! Have lots of pillows for lounging. Move chairs into the room with the television and clear clutter off of end tables or coffee tables.

4.     Think about the bathroom. Have plenty of toilet paper and hand soap. Add a scented candle for an extra touch.

5.     Don’t forget the music. Commercial breaks, half time, there might be opportunities when music is needed for the background.

How do you host a football gameday party?

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Make Your Home Smell Like Fall

Finally Fall is in the air! Want to bring some of that Autumn smell inside? Smell is one of the most poignant ways to usher in the season – hence the everything Pumpkin Spice craze!  But you don’t have to go down to your local coffee shop to enjoy the smells of the season.  Here are a few ways to enjoy the smells of Fall right at home!

-        Create a simmer pot and leave it on the stove while you’re home during the day.  Fill a saucepan with water and add in some of your favorite scents. Bring it to a boil and then allow it to simmer, filling with water as needed. Some favorite fall combinations are sliced oranges, cranberries and cloves or apple peels, cinnamon and nutmeg. 

-        Diffuse essential oils for a light and natural Fall fragrance. Popular Fall oils include cedarwood, cinnamon, ginger, sage and vanilla.

-        Look for Fall scented candles or aromatic plug-ins – plentiful this time of year!

-        Make your own potpourri with treasures found on an invigorating Fall nature walk! Look for pine cones, acorns or twigs and then combine with cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and cloves.

-        Create your own scented pine cones by rinsing off pine cones you find around your home and let them soak for an hour. Bake the cones on a foil-lined baking pan for 30 minutes at 200 degrees. Place the pine cones in a gallon Ziploc bag and sprinkle in 30 drops of your favorite fall essential oils. Seal the bag and shake till all the pine cones are coated.  Let the pine cones sit in the bag for a week to really absorb the smell.

-        Maybe the simplest way is to let the Fall air in! Open the windows to get stale air out and fresh air in. Just a few minutes can make a huge difference in how your house feels and smells!

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Understanding Building Codes

If you’re looking into purchasing new construction you may have heard the term “building code” come up in your search.  What does this really mean and how does it apply to you?  Building codes are requirements builders must follow in order to protect public health, safety and general welfare.  This includes construction categories such as building materials, design, fire safety, heating and cooling and energy conservation as examples.

The federal government does not mandate building codes across the country, rather local governments oversee building codes. Codes may vary by location depending on weather, land type and state regulation.

Codes are developed or adopted at the local level and enforced by local authorities.  Multiple parties are involved in code development including public and private sectors of the construction industry, government, consumers and professional trade organizations.

If you have questions about building codes in your area contact your local home building association or code enforcement arm of your local government.

More information can also be found at:

https://www.nahb.org/en/nahb-priorities/construction-codes-and-standards.aspx

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Overlooked Home Maintenance Items

Owning a home is an investment of money and time.  Even new homes require regular maintenance in order to keep up them looking and functioning at their best.  Staying on top of home maintenance now will prevent costly repairs in the future.

Here are a few often overlooked home maintenance items that will prolong the health of your new home.

-        Every three to four months clean the aerator at the end of your faucet

-        Clean out the dryer vent that leads to the outside of the home regularly. Lint can build up and lead to safety hazards as well as problems with the dryer.

-        Change your air filters every month to three months as the filters specify

-        Check under sinks to ensure there are no small leaks

-        Dust fan blades and window blinds

-        Clean refrigerator coils to keep this major appliance working properly

Leading up to fall home maintenance items are important to keep in mind as the weather will be turning cooler. Prepare your home by checking the weather stripping around doors and windows, trim any tree limbs that may be too close to the house and have your fireplace checked before first use.

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Hurricane and Storm Preparedness

Hurricane season is underway and it’s important to make sure your home and family are prepared for times of inclement weather.

Keep your family safe by having a storm kit including:

-        A list of contacts – family, public safety, hospitals, utilities and insurance

-        Bottled water – one gallon per person per day

-        A three day supply of non-perishable food

-        Flashlight

-        First aid kit

-        Batteries

-        Garbage bags

-        Moist towelettes

-        Manual can opener

-        Cell phone chargers

-        Cash

-        Matches and candles

Develop a plan by asking yourself the following questions:

-        Where should family go in case of an emergency?

-        What will you do if utilities are shut off?

-        What are the local evacuation routes?

Sample plans can be downloaded by visiting www.nhc.noaa.gov

Protect your home by taking the following steps:

-        If necessary protect windows with plywood boards.

-        Trim back any tree branches that may be too close to your home

-        Confirm your insurance policies

-        Understand how to manually shut off water and gas

It’s important to always heed the warnings of those in the public safety and weather departments. Prevention can go a long way to avoiding disaster.  It’s better to be over prepared then caught off guard when bad weather strikes.

How do you prepare for hurricane season?

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Understanding Home Settling

Over the course of your home’s first year you may notice small cracks or gaps where seemingly perfect walls and floors were before. What causes this change and should you be concerned?

A lot changes in your home over the first year. The materials used to build your home will begin to dry out which can account for minor changes in appearance.

The weight of the home itself will cause it to settle onto the ground it sits on. This can cause small hairline cracks especially over doors and windows.  Nails may pop out of the walls a bit and door frames may shift.

All of this is normal part of the process of owning a home and not a cause of concern about the quality of the home.  However if you have questions be sure to talk with your builder and they can identify any potential issues.

There are a few things you as a homeowner can do to prevent some of the cosmetic changes in your home during the first year.  Try to keep your home at a consistent temperature.  Use fans in the bathroom and kitchen. Invest in a humidifier if you feel the humidity level in your home is leading to additional issues.

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Talking to Your Builder

When buying a new home there are so many things to think about – what style do I want, how big is big enough, what’s my budget?

It’s important to think through all of the aspects of buying a home before you take the plunge.  Your builder is a great resource and can help guide you through the process.

Here are some questions to ask before you get started. Understanding your builder’s process will help you set your expectations for the construction of your new home.

About the Builder

-        How long have you been building new homes?

-        Do you have any references of past homebuyers we can talk to?

-        What is the average build time?

-        Does the sales process go through you or an outside real estate team?

About the Home

-        Can I bring my own floorplan or choose from one of yours?

-        Can changes be made to the floorplan?

-        What options or upgrades can be added?

-        Is there a warranty program?

-        Is landscaping included in the price of the home?

About the Neighborhood

-        Are there HOA fees and what do they cover?

-        Are there any restrictive covenants about what can be in the neighborhood?

-        What are the estimated taxes for this area?

What are some other questions that come to mind when talking with your builder about the new home building process?

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