Building Your Custom Home – Lot Considerations
Building a custom home can be a fun and exciting process, and one of the first things you’ll decide is where you are going to build the home. Typically, by the time clients come to us, they already have a specific lot in mind. It is at this point that they want to know if the lot is buildable.
Summer Energy-Saving Tips for Your Home
The cost of fossil fuels seems to increase every year; with that is an increase in our electric bills. Many of the items we have come to depend upon run on electricity: cell phones, televisions, laptops, the dishwasher and this time of the year, our air conditioner. To minimize your electric bill, we offer you these energy-saving tips for the summer:
Giving Your Home More Curb Appeal
If the exterior of your home is dated, worn or tired, there are a few things you can do to improve the outside appearance of your home. Not only will these upgrade the curb appeal, they may also increase the value of your house.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
● New Shutters – Add them to your windows to create a nice accent to your siding or other exterior finishes, or replace your old faded shutters with new ones to dramatically improve the look of your home.
● New Siding – Siding is designed to give your home protection from the elements, and new siding can significantly alter the appearance of your home. If you own an older home with aluminum or asbestos siding, replacing it with vinyl siding will improve the look and functionality of your exterior.
● Add or Enlarge a Front Porch – Adding a porch or expanding an existing porch area is one of the best ways to make your home appear more inviting. Depending on the size, it can also create more outdoor seating.
● Replace Your Windows – Replacing your windows is a great investment to make in your home; a variety of options exist to match budget and the performance you are looking for. Often times, replacing windows can lead to decreased utility costs because the existing windows were not properly sealed or maintained.
If the exterior of your home needs updated and you want to talk about your options, give us a call. We’d be happy to sit down with you and find a solution that makes sense for you.
Design Trends for the Master Bath
As important as any room in the house, the master bathroom is most likely where your time is spent at the beginning and end of each day. Having a design and amenities that are practical and relieve stress can be critical to getting your day started on the right foot and ending your day on a relaxing note.
Here are some of the current design trends we are seeing in the master bathroom.
Under-the-Floor Heating: Several methods are available to have heat installed beneath your bathroom floor; some are more cost effective than others. This is a great way to make your master bathroom a cozy and inviting space.
Large Walk-in Tile Showers: The walk-in tile shower is becoming a staple of a custom master bathroom. Benches are often placed into a corner of the shower, and niches can be built into the walls to hold soap and other toiletries. Body sprays and rain-shower and handheld showerheads are often a luxury that customers request to enhance their shower experience.
Vanities with Knee Space and His-and-Her Vanities: His and her separated vanities are still a popular trend, but now they include a knee-space countertop area in between the two sinks. These spaces are built for women to comfortably sit to apply makeup and do their hair, as well as providing the lady of the house additional counter space.
Freestanding Soaking Tub or Clawfoot Tub: Although large whirlpool tubs with tile surrounds are still a popular choice, we are seeing the trend shift to “freestanding” soaking tubs or claw foot tubs. These stand alone in their space and because they do not need a tile deck, they don’t require a lot of extra space.
Toilets in a Closet: Hiding the toilet and keeping it from a visible location when you first enter the bathroom is nothing new and doesn’t need extensive explanation as to why this is desired. But what’s trending today is to completely hide the toilet by positioning it in its own small room or “closet” within the master bathroom.
Which trend do you want for your own master bath? To view more trends and get ideas, visit our portfolio.
Common Exterior Problem Areas
Before dog-days of summer are completely upon us, take a look around your house for at some common exterior problem areas. If you see any of these, make note of them, and try to check at least one off every week. Doing these little things around your house now not only will preserve the exterior, but it will also give you more time to watch football this fall!
Caulking around Windows, Doors, and All Exterior Finishes: Caulk is not designed to last for the life of your home and will eventually break down. This can lead to hidden air leaks and, in certain cases, disastrous results. We recommend checking the caulking on the exterior of your home each year. Our service department is available to do an exterior home inspection and let you know where re-caulking is needed.
Exterior Painting: Wood frames on your exterior doors, porch posts and other painted materials should be painted every 3-5 years to prevent rotting. Rotting door frames is a very common issue that we see and can be prolonged by painting and maintaining proper drainage away from the bottom of the door.
Tree and Shrub Branches: These are often planted close to the house, but as they grow, they can scrape the exterior and cause damage on windy days or completely fall over during a thunderstorm. Keep them trimmed to prevent damage to your property.
Wooden Deck Boards: If you notice a board warping, splitting or splintering, take the time to replace it. Steps can be particularly dangerous, as weak boards can cause someone to fall.
Erosion around Your Foundation: Over time, the soil around your foundation will settle, causing low spots around your foundation. These spots are where water can puddle, and water against your home’s foundation can cause greater damage. Fill in these spots with dirt (not mulch) and take special care make sure the soil allows water to flow away from your home.
Introducing Willow Bend Farm Community
Our 2014 Parade of Homes entry is located in beautiful Willow Bend Farm.
Willow Bend Farm is an artfully planned neighborhood community and is cloistered in the beauty of trees and rolling meadows of West Lampeter Township, just minutes from downtown Lancaster. Metzler Home Builders, Inc. and the Charlan Group, the award winning builder/developer team, have transformed this choice, serene Lancaster County location into a neighborhood for community living while preserving and enhancing the natural beauty and park-like setting.
This beautiful community features a mix of single family homes, semi-detached duplex units, and studio series townhomes. There are many plans to choose from, or you can hand pick your own lot and build a custom plan to fit your needs.
Four acres of open space, cobblestone curb and lighted streets along with two miles of walking path make this neighborhood a must see!
Currently, our Sheffield III Model is open for touring as part of the Lancaster Parade of Homes. This 2,460 square foot Craftsman-style home is attractive inside and out. The Parade is free to the public and open now through Sunday – weekdays 5-8 pm; weekends 12-6pm. Stop in and see the charmingly private Willow Bend Farm Community for yourself.
To learn more about the homes currently on the market or to schedule an appointment, visit www.willowbendfarmhomes.com.
2014 Parade of Homes Sneak Peak
This month, Metzler Home Builders will showcase our Sheffield III Model in the 2014 Parade of Homes (Entry #7). This lovely home is located in the beautiful Willow Bend Farm community in West Lampeter Township.
The 2,460-square-foot plan boasts an open-concept first level with hardwood floors throughout the main living area. As you enter the home, a beautiful great room with a coffered ceiling and a custom-stone-surround fireplace greet you. The spacious kitchen and dining area includes a large island, custom range hood, plentiful pantry, and the windows allow a generous amount of natural light to stream through. A mudroom with a corner storage unit serves as a transition area and entrance to the private, backside first-floor master suite.
This two-story home offers three spacious bedrooms on the second floor, as well as a large low-maintenance deck in the back. Four acres of wooded area border the property, which also includes a private walking path. It is a gorgeous location!
Parade of Homes begins this weekend! Be sure to visit this attractive craftsman-style home for yourself during the 2014 Parade of Homes, June 14-22 at 307 Weatherfield Place, Lancaster, PA 17603.
See our Parade of Home entry here (this link has expired) or get more details about the Willow Bend Farm community here.
Smart Home Safety Tips for Summer
The home is a sanctuary for your family, and there is nothing more unnerving that realizing that your home has been broken into. According to the FBI, there were over 2 million burglaries in 2010 – a decrease of 2 percent when compared to the year before – and although crime is a serious concern, our homes and neighborhoods are safer than ever before – much in part to awareness and the preventative steps we are taking.
Still, summer is a season when homes are burglarize the most. The weather is nice and many families go on vacation. Additionally, because people are in and out of the homes more frequently – for strolls or a quick errand – they often get lax in securing their home.
Here are a few things to remember this summer to keep your home belongings and family safe:
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Never allow strangers in your home, even if they look hurt or in distress.
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Most contractors, such as HVAC or pool companies, will wear uniforms and/or show up in a company vehicle. If they are a smaller firm where their employees don’t have those items, they will present you with a business card and notify you ahead of time of what to expect when they show up to your home for the pre-scheduled appointment.
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When you go for a walk or leave your home for a quick errand, take the time to secure your home. Lock your doors, put your garage door down and close and lock any sliding doors or windows that can easily be entered.
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When you leave for vacation, make sure you tell a trusted neighbor. Ask them to pick up your mail, paper and other items that can make an unscrupulous person quickly see that you are away. Put your lights on timers so your homes looks lived in.
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Invest in a safe to store valuable items such as jewelry and important documents. You may also want to consider buying one that is flood and fire proof.
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One of your homes easiest entry points is the garage. Keep your garage door closed at all times and lock the door that leads from the garage into your home.
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Don’t leave ladders and tools unsecured outside. These items can be used to gain access to your home.
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Look at your shrubbery around your first-floor windows, and if you don’t have any, you may want to plant a few. They can deter a robber from entering your home – especially if they are thorny.
This summer, relax and enjoy the warm days, but also realize that break-ins can be avoided when you take some precautions. Get more home and neighborhood safety resources by visiting the National Crime Prevention Council’s website.
The Benefits of Building Your New Home
The National Association of Home Builders has proclaimed June as National Homeownership Month, and to kick-off this month-long event, we wanted to provide you with some obvious – and not so obvious – benefits of building or buying a new home.
The Obvious Benefits
There are many obvious benefits of building a new home instead of purchasing an existing one. Here are a few:
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The science of building a home has improved greatly over the years. Today, new homes are built with a higher energy efficiency rating than older homes – even those that aren’t all that old.
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Home technology is incredible. Every year, new technologies are being incorporated into homes – from the ability to monitor your home from your mobile device to behind the walls features that improve how we live within the home.
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Floor plans have become more open – and attractive – in new homes.
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New homes come with warranties. In addition to the builder warranty, there are warranties on many of the products within the home. Together, this gives home buyers a peace of mind that you don’t get by purchasing an existing home.
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The ability to select your appliances, flooring, paint colors, cabinetry, exterior finishes … and more make building a new home very attractive.
The Not-So-Obvious Benefits
There are a many not-so-obvious benefits of buying a new home that customers have shared with us. Here are a few of our favorites:
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When you build a home in a newer community, like Willow Bend Farm in Lampeter Township, you get the benefit of meeting others who are new to the neighborhood, too. Often it is these connections that form strong bonds of friendships for decades to come.
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Many desirable amenities are built into new neighborhoods. For instance, Willow Bend Farm has wooded areas with walking trails, sidewalks, a community building and is located close to several golf courses. Many other neighborhoods across Lancaster County boast similar niceties that older neighborhoods don’t have.
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There are many advantages of being a first-owner of a home. Everything is clean, and you don’t have to worry about stripping tired wallpaper from the dining room or repainting to suite your tastes. Outside, you can enhance the landscape by planning flowerbeds and gardens the way you envision.
If you are considering buying a home, we invite you to attend the BIA’s Parade of Homes where we’ll have one of our Willow Bend Farm homes on display. The Parade runs June 14-22, weekdays from 5-8pm and weekends from 12-6pm. It is free to attend.
Visit the Parade of Homes website to see all the details on our home in Willow Bend Farms.
Summer Cookout Safety Tips
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and across the country, families and friends will gather to cook out, enjoy the warmer weather and visit with each other.
Grilling is one of America’s favorite pastimes. Not only does it make for easy meal prep, but it also keeps the home cooler during the warm summer months. But the grill can also be dangerous, so keep these cookout safety tips in mind this summer.
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Before you begin grilling for the summer, check the propane tank to make sure it is properly connected.
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If using a charcoal grill, make sure that the lighter fluid and matches are stored in a safe place after the coals are lit.
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Move the grill away from the side of your home and deck railing. The heat from the grill can melt vinyl siding and could also cause a fire. Additionally, never use a charcoal or propane grill indoors or in enclosed garages or patios.
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Place your grill on a flat surface so it is stable and can’t be tipped over.
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Keep children and pets away from the grill. It is natural for everyone to congregate around the chef while he is cooking the burgers and hot dogs, but make sure that everyone keeps a safe distance away from the grill so they don’t get burnt.
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Don’t wear loose clothing around a grill.
Another favorite pastime in Lancaster County is gathering around the fire pit during the evenings. The kids toast marshmallows while the adults share stories and plans for summer vacations. Open fires can also be dangerous, so please keep these safety tips in mind:
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Observe “burn warnings” in your area. Townships will post notices when it is too dry or windy to burn.
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Build your fire pit in an open area – away from dry grass, leaves and overhanging trees. You don’t want windborne embers catching things on fire.
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It is better to keep your fire small so it stays controlled – just a few logs at a time.
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Keep a bucket of water and a shovel close to the fire, just in case. These will also be handy when you are ready to extinguish the fire for the evening.
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Never leave fire pits unattended.
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When you are ready to call it a night, take extra care to make sure the fire is completely out before heading indoors.
Read more of our blog articles for home tips and inspiration.