Home upgrades that really pay off

Building a home is a fun process. You get to pick each and every facet of your home from window placement to cabinet height to hardware colors. You’ll likely opt to upgrade some items in your home, such as vaulted ceilings or stone facings on the exterior of your home. There’s a lot of options, and with Faber Homes, the possibilities are endless, so what will you upgrade while you build, and what will you work on years down the road?

It’s important to understand this distinction when you go to your preconstruction meeting, as there are certain upgrades that are easier done prior to the home being built and other upgrades that will immediately increase the value of your home. If you plan on moving in the next five to ten years, you’ll want to take your home’s resale value into consideration, so we’ve compiled a list of upgrades that will pay off at resale.

Before you build

Modern or updated bathrooms. Glass shower doors that reveal stone tile walls can really help amp up your home value. Also think about the small things like hardware and faucets. The more elaborate and elegant, the nicer your space looks to you and everyone else. Make a single sink a double right away to make your life (and the future homeowner’s) easier.

Modern or updated kitchens. Recessed lights leave room for families to imagine their own taste in the space, as opposed to large light fixtures that are uniquely your style. Stone or trendy glass countertops add value immediately, and are very simple to design around. You cannot put two layers of vinyl over each other, so if you go for vinyl, make sure it’s a neutral color. Otherwise, we recommend laminate, wood, or tile. A complete kitchen remodel later on will run around $30,000 - $40,000 but might only return $25,000 - $35,000 at resale.

Finished basement. Our Superior Walls make it easy to quickly finish a basement, and our overall familiarity with them makes it a very easy process for us. Don’t feel like messing with private contractors who charge an arm and a leg for upgraded spaces? Talk to a Faber representative about the opportunity to have your basement finished while you build.

Natural lighting. It’s hard to estimate how much natural light will come in through our windows before we are in the house. It all depends on where the sun rises and sets. If a room seems to closed-off to you, more windows can open up the room and bring more light in. This upgrade is much less expensive to implement before you move in.

After you build

Landscaping. We’ve all heard of curb appeal. It’s a real thing! Keep it simple with small shrubbery and flowering plants, and opt for a finished paver or poured polished concrete walkway. Don’t be afraid to spend money on perennials, because they come back year after year bigger and healthier (if you take care of them).

Patios, porches, or decks. At Faber Homes, we aim to not only provide you with a beautifully built home, but also a home that’s in an attractive neighborhood on plenty of land. After you move in, think about spaces for entertaining and where you’d like people to gather. That might mean a deck or patio. According to FrontDoor.com, a 16x20 ft. wood deck will run about $10,000 and you should be able to recoup about 90 percent of that cost at resale. Add eye appeal by including spaces for decorative planters.

Media Room Must Haves

It’s the room in your house for relaxing, dishing up some popcorn and watching movies. Some may call it a man cave, others: a family room. No matter what you call it, every home needs a comfy media room. So get ready to design… here are some tips to make your perfect media room.

 Photo Cred: homeit.com

For basement entertaining, consider light-colored flooring like laminate wood or vinyl. This will help brighten up the space void of natural light, and make the room look larger. For a more masculine look, paint the walls a dark blue, grey, green or even red.

A variety of seating options will allow you to move things around and constantly update your space. Couches for lounging, bean bag chairs for tossing around, and even high-top tables for cocktail parties or watching the football game.

Lighting is another important feature to consider. If you have low-hanging ceilings, consider building fluorescent lights into the paneling, or even track lighting for a more modern look. For taller ceilings, tray lighting can add a special ambiance.

If you’re going for a movie theatre-inspired room, opt for dark furniture, blackout lights, and red window treatments. While a 60-inch television is everyone’s wish, high definition projectors (onto a white wall) can be a better alternative. Toss a starry-night sky mural on the ceiling, a popcorn machine in the corner, and movie posters on the walls and you’re in business.

Don’t forget the kids. Without a designated play area in your home, toys and games tend to pile up everywhere, so square off a section for the kids and keep everything away and tidy so you can enjoy your media room space. 

Keeping Deer Away

If you live anywhere near wooded areas, chances are you’ve seen deer out and about – no matter the season. They’re an annoyance in the winter when they run across the road in front of your car, and they’re a menace in the spring and summer when you’re trying to landscape your property. Before you invest hours of effort into your outdoor abode, there are a few precautions you can take to keep Bambi and his friends away.

Did you know deer can’t stand the smell of humans? We’re not sure why, but we do know that if you sprinkle bits of your hair around your favorite plants, it will help to deter the deer. So the next time you get a trim, bring a bag with you. Deer are also not fans of the taste (or smell) of soap, so take a grater out to your plants and bring a couple bars of Dove out with you.

Deer love hosta, rhododendron, tulips, and roses. They’re beautiful and among the top plants for many homeowners, but unfortunately, deer will be drawn to them like flies to a bright light. Stick to plants with a fuzzy or coarse texture like Butterfly Weed, Bee Balm, or Salvia.

If you must have some of those plants that deer love, you can also try spraying them with hot pepper spray and installing motion sensor lights near where they grow. Both of these remedies are useful in deterring nuisance deer. Sparky can help, too. Allowing your dog to mark his territory (preferably around the perimeter of your property) every few days will help keep the deer away.

If you’ve tried all of these tactics, it might be time for a fence. Deer can clear a 6-foot fence and then feel trapped in your yard (likely causing even more damage). If you can, select an 8-foot fence just to be safe. Be sure to stake the fence into the ground every couple feet, as deer are able to dig if they really want what you have on the other side.

Do you have any other deer-deterring tips to share? We’d love to hear them!

Cost Efficient Landscaping

Landscaping is a daunting task. You know you want flowers, perhaps some shrubs, and maybe even a spot for a garden. But how expensive is it to get the job done? Obviously, it depends on the project, but there are steps you can take to minimize your trips to the store, and maximize your budget.

First, it’s important to start with a plan. Sketch out your landscape design on engineering paper and know exactly what you need and where you’re going to put each item. 

 Once you’ve figured out your ideal design, go and talk to an expert. A landscape architect will run between $50 and $100 per hour, but it may be worth the investment if you’re inexperienced. If this isn’t your first landscaping job, the experts at your local big box home project store can help you price everything out and make recommendations based on your home. It’s also helpful to bring the site plan for your home so you can put everything into perspective.

When you’re set to start making final purchases, do a little research. Sometimes big box stores won’t carry the items you’re looking for, or if they’re not “in season” you may be paying too much. Items such as lumber for decks is often cheaper during winter months, so be patient if you can afford to be.

Shopping online is also another option for saving money.  Shopping is a little more convenient online, and a bit less stressful when you’re able to search for the exact items you need. Just be mindful of shipping costs and weigh those costs against making the trek to a wholesaler or store for the same item.

Dividing up your projects will also allow you the time you need to do the proper research and plan out your investments. This will also allow you to make adjustments to your plans if you need to, before you go out and buy supplies.

As a last bit of advice, be sure to thoroughly check the quality of all products you receive and don’t be afraid to ask about money-back guarantees. Happy landscaping!

Prepping Your Home for Spring

It was a rough winter—let’s face it. As Western New Yorkers, we’re accustomed to the bitter cold and consistent piling up of snow. Many of us enjoy it, and for those of us who don’t, we do our best to tolerate it. We plan for the season’s arrival each year, but we often cannot predict when the season will change over—after all, Groundhog’s Day is kind of a joke, right?

Not knowing when the beautiful spring season will arrive can leave our wardrobes and our homes a bit vulnerable. While we can’t help you with the wardrobe conundrum, we can give some guidance as to how to prepare your home for spring after a particularly nasty winter. 

  

1. Get up there and inspect your roof. Check for loose or warped shingles and make sure your gutters are all in place and unclogged. Remember – April(ish) showers bring May(ish) flowers, so you’ll want to make sure your home is protected.
2. Clear debris away from drains outside. Again, with the rain on your doorstep, you’ll want to be sure there’s proper flow away from your home.
3. Check your window and door seals. These can really take a beating over the winter, so examine the exterior caulking on all seals to be sure they’re still watertight.
4. Patch up cracks. You’d be surprised how damaging ice and snow can be, especially on your driveway and sidewalks (and if you hire a plow service). Patching up cracks will prevent further separation and will also keep water out.
5. Check your home’s grading. With snowdrifts, uneven snow melting and other elements, your yard may not be sloped properly, and could therefore put your foundation at risk. Roll out your lawn if need be, to prevent sitting water.

Don’t wait too long to inspect your home’s condition. Do you have any other tips to share on prepping your home for the spring season?

Designing Your Bathroom

When you build a new home, you start completely from scratch. With Faber Homes, you even have the ability to change our floor plans based on your needs. Not a fan of sharing a sink? Make it two. Don’t like to reach down to your counters? We can raise your cabinets and countertops. You can even upgrade windows to add more natural light to your bathroom space. But what are some of the other aesthetics you should take into consideration when you schedule your preconstruction meeting and design meeting at our Claridge Design Centre?

  

Functionality. Ultimately, you need a functional floor plan depending on how many people will use the bathroom, and how often those using it will do so simultaneously. Also keep in mind, by International Residential Code, toilets must be at least 15 inches from any other bath fixture, wall or other obstacle. Always try to leave 24 inches of clear floor space in front of the shower, to ensure you have enough room to enter and exit safely. For roomier floor plans, you can always opt for taller toilets, wider doorways or even curbless showers.

Create a color palette. This might sound like an after-construction tip, but in reality, understanding what colors you’re working with will help you design the space. Keep your color palette consistent by choosing hand and bath towels in similar shades found in your wall coverings (paper or paint) and window treatments. Being too matchy-matchy will keep your bathroom looking one-dimensional. Instead of matching colors exactly, select colors that are just slightly off from one another.

Lighting. We mentioned perhaps choosing larger windows for your bathroom to bring in natural light, but if you’re a fan of even more privacy, there are ways to bring the best light in your bathroom. For example, choose diffused lighting or fixtures with frosted-glass, as this will mimic natural light best, and allow you to see yourself in the most flattering light among true colors.

Bring your ideas to preconstruction and design meetings and our experts can help you decide how to implement your ideas to create the best bathroom in your brand new home.

Choosing the Right Carpet

Chances are, you’ll likely have to select carpet in your new home. It might seem like an easy task, but choosing carpet is very important. Carpeting provides a soft, plush spot for children to play and even a slip-free surface for animals in your home. There are different textures to take into account, varying colors, and designs – so where do you start?

With these top five tips on choosing carpet, we hope to help you select the best option for your family’s needs.

1. Skimping on carpet padding. This may seem like a trivial tip, but you’d be surprised how another quarter-inch of padding can transform the feeling of your carpet. According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, the cushion not only helps to buffer sound, but also provides increased insulation. As a general rule, select a cushion with no more than 7/16-inch thickness, and no less than ¼ inch thickness.
2. Keep maintenance in mind. Homeowners with dogs, cats, and kids should always avoid shag carpets, as they can harbor hair, dust and dirt, and they’re also much more difficult to keep clean. If family members routinely wear shoes indoors, lighter colored carpets probably aren’t the best choice.
3. Texture. In high-traffic areas, selecting carpet (and rugs) that are darker and have patterns will help to conceal tracks. In those high-traffic areas, it’s best to stick with level loop or high-density loop carpets, while multilevel loop carpets are best in medium-traffic and low-traffic areas.
4. Don’t forget about the staircase. Your staircase will get a lot of wear as perhaps one of the highest-trekked places in your home. Choosing a thinner carpet may mean you’ll see the unsightly backing when the carpet finally does wear in and curl over the step. The best choice for staircase carpet is one that is a woven wool, as it is the most durable.
5. Dust mites and allergies. If you or someone in your family is overly-prone to allergies, both indoor and outdoor, carpet may not be for you. Depending on where the allergy-affected individuals spend the most time, vinyl, tile or even laminate flooring can provide a sanctuary. Bedrooms can be a good place to replace carpeting with another option.

Bring your concerns and design ideas to your Claridge Design Centre meeting and our experts will make sure to accommodate all of your flooring needs.

Selling Your Home

You’re ready to build a home but there’s one thing standing in your way: your current home. It’s sellable, yes, but could some upgrades help you get it on and off the market quickly? Don’t worry, there are ways to increase the value of your home without breaking the bank.

Some of the best upgrades you can make to your home are undoubtedly the kitchen and bathrooms. Unfortunately, these are often the most expensive rooms to upgrade. A full-blown kitchen upgrade can cost upwards of $40,000, and a bathroom remodel can cost more than $10,000.

Replacing a sink and/or bathtub can be a very expensive endeavor. Instead, these items can be resurfaced for a fraction of the cost. In the same vein, cabinets do not have to be replaced. With a fresh coat of stain or paint, cabinets can take on a whole new personality.

Another way to save is with tile counters, walls, and backsplashes. These surfaces often just need a good deep clean, followed by a re-grout. You’d be surprised how much the appearance will change and improve—and for a much lower price tag to boot.

Don’t forget about the exterior. Curb appeal can make or break first impressions. Rent a power washer or even hire a professional cleaning service to clean the exterior of your home. If the weather permits, a fresh coat of paint can greatly reduce your investment dollars and can really improve the appearance of your home.

Some other smaller tips that help to sell your home quickly include:

• Clear out cluttered rooms and remove as much furniture as possible. This will help the prospective homeowner visualize how their environment will look. This goes for closet space, too.
• Steam clean carpets and furniture and wash walls. You may think your home smells fresh and clean, but you also live in the home and are used to its odors. Often times, people with pets or who smoke do not realize how their home smells.
• Bright rooms are inviting. If you’re able to put up a fresh coat of paint in dark rooms—do it. Learn to love white walls for a little while. Also, open blinds and let the natural light in.

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

What are your New Year’s Resolutions for 2014? Planning to lose some weight? Perhaps visit family more often? Donate your time to charity? These are all great resolutions, but don’t forget about your home!

A recent article on HGTV cited five great resolutions for your home, and we just had to share them:

1.  Streamline the stuff. We all become subject to a little clutter, especially after the holiday months – so why not declutter your home in the New Year? By scheduling regular purgings of your cabinets, basement bins, and under the bed crevasses (don’t deny it!), you’ll be able to live a cleaner, more organized life. Imagine being able to find that thing you were looking for, without having to spend an hour looking for it.

2.  Make it safe and sound. Now that you’ve worked hard to declutter your home, it’s time to make sure it’s a safe place to live. Maybe it’s time to replace fire and CO2 alarm batteries. Also, did you know lint backed up in your dryer could be a fire hazard?

3.  Shrink your bills. It doesn’t take much to lower your energy bills each year, so start with some of these easy to employ tips:

          a. Install fluorescent bulbs

          b. (Unless you suffer from outdoor allergies) dry some of your clothes outside on a line

          c. Turn off power strips during the day

          d. Switch off lights when you leave a room

          e. Give composting a try

4.  Work out a weekly system for keeping your house clean. This is one of our favorites, because it’s an easy way to give everyone in your home a share of the duties in keeping your house clean and wonderful. Throw dishes in the dishwasher every night, put dirty clothes in hampers and not on the floor, and hang clean clothes in the closet every night. On a weekly basis, try focusing on one type of cleaning each week. Maybe one week it’s fingerprints on surfaces, and the next it’s windows and mirrors. Remember – divide and conquer!

5.  Get your place ready for entertaining! So maybe you did decide spending more time with family is on your resolution to-do list – so how about having them over more to your own humble abode? Even the smallest upgrades can make your home feel more inviting, such as a fresh coat of paint, adding a few plants to keep the air fresh, and rearranging furniture to be more conducive to conversation.