The building and construction industry is changing rapidly, and new products are being introduced to the market constantly.   On Cape Cod, traditional styling, and the old shingle-style homes are benefiting from many of these new products.  Advances in composites and plastics are allowing builders and designers to create homes that are low-maintenance, long-lasting, and still have that traditional Cape Cod style.  New energy efficiency requirements are also driving development of advanced, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems for your new home, and when combined with the latest in insulation and building envelope technology can provide a level of energy efficiency never imagined in the past.  Each year, Professional Builder Magazine comes out with its 101 Best New Products list and this year’s list does not disappoint.   From interiors, to windows and doors, and even outdoor living ideas, this list provides some great ideas for your new Cape Cod Home, addition, or renovation.

101 Best New Products

  As summer makes it's exit and we experience the first round of cool nights here on Cape Cod, our thoughts go towards fall evenings in front of a warm fire.  There are literally hundreds of options on the market for fireplaces for your new custom home, and if you are thinking of building a home, renovating or an addition, you should definitely see what is available. 

 Considerdations for style, fuel type (gas or wood), location, and even outdoor fireplaces are all things to look at when planning your Cape Cod home project.  A nice idea is to have a fireplace in the master bedroom, which can enhance the style, cozy feel and ambiance of your new master suite. Click below to see 50 fireplace designs for your Cape Cod Home

50 Fireplace Designs

  This year, we here at REEF have had several requests for homes designed with two master bedrooms.  This is a growing trend for Cape Cod Homes as one generation moves towards retirement, and looks to design a home that can accommodate either an aging parent or visiting children and their families.  This is not a new concept, but the design can become challenging.  The key is to create spaces that are both private, yet sill provide good access to all of the central features of the home, such as the kitchen, living rooms etc.  Here are some plans from Housingzone.com that show different, dual master designs in both 2 story and ranch-style homes.  This is a great idea for your Cape Cod retirement home, and a sound investment for a new but smart concept in family living. Click to read the article: Dual Master Designs

  So St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, and this year REEF entered its first float in the Cape Cod St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dennis and Yarmouth. We had a lot of fun, and enjoyed seeing a lot of our customers at the parade.  The Parade is generally held the weekend before St. Patrick's Day and runs from our office on School St. in West Dennis, to Forest Rd. in Yarmouth.   Thank you to all of those who participated, and Happy St. Patrick's Day

  So, every year, some new products are invented for the Building, Remodeling and Renovation business.  This year, at the International Builder's Show in Las Vegas, Kohler introduced a shower head that doubles a as a remote bluetooth speaker for your smartphone. Kohler's Moxie shower head has an integral speaker that connects to your smartphone, tablet or other bluetooth device and allows you to listen to your favorite tunes in the shower.  So if you are thinking of building, remodeling, or renovationg your Cape Cod Home, this is a fun, and relatively inexpensive way to add a little excitement to your project.  Here is a video from the Builder's Show!

   Now that we are in the dead of winter, there are still opportunities to do maintenance on your Cape Cod Home.  This is a great time of year to identify leaks, drafts, or other issues that arise with the cold weather.  Some of the biggest potential risks at this time of year are leaks from ice dams, or frozen and broken pipes.  Take some time to walk through your attic and basement spaces and seek out potential drafts and seal them with foam.  Even a small amount of preventative maintenance at this time of year can save you from a very expensive repair! 

If you are heading south for the winter, and leaving your Cape Cod Home unattended, this is a good time to confirm all of your contact information with your homewatch or alarm service company.  Another inexpensive option is to have either a freeze alarm or water sensor installed to quickly identify a potential freeze or leak as soon as possible. 

For more information click here: January Home Maintenance Checklist

  Home automation has come a long way. In years past, we have installed home automation systems that were complicated, labor intensive and cost well over $10,000 for the most basic systems.  Today, with the integration of smart technology, and widely-available high-speed internet, these systems are becoming more popular. Many of our customers leave their Cape Cod homes unoccupied for much of the year, and with an investment of a few thousand dollars, live home monitoring has become a realistic feature that should be considered.  Here are some reasons you should think about adding home automation and monitoring to your next Cape Cod Home project.

1. Real time information about your property
2. HVAC Control and monitoring
3. Safety
4. Available Live Video integration

These systems are all expandable and can accommodate lighting controls, HVAC, security, home theater and even appliance monitoring, and nearly all of them can be controlled and accessed through you smart phone, PC or tablet!

Here is the complete article from Freshome.com: Top 10 Reasons for Home Automation

   Kitchens are a big investment, and probably the major feature of any new home or renovation project.  Trends for 2013 are moving towards durable, natural finishes, open designs that create a more "social atmosphere", and integration of technology and smart design for appliances.  If you are planning your new Cape Cod Home, or designing a kitchen for that long-awaited remodeling or renovation project, you might want to consider some of these ideas. 

Here is the full article from Freshome.com

Hot Kitchen Trends for 2013

   It looks like 2013 will be a good year for real estate and home building, and there are some trends that we have seen over the last few years that will remain popular for 2013.

Here are just a few:

1. Multi-Generational Living - designing for parents or children moving back under one roof
2. Universal or Adaptable Design - planning for convenient handicapped or wheel chair access for an aging population
3. Green / Healthy Home Concept - High efficiency HVAC with fresh air exchange to guarantee a long term, healthy indoor environment
4. Outdoor Living / Courtyards - Private spaces in the back yard area with areas for entertaining, cooking etc.
5. Sustainable Landscaping - Using hearty, drought resistant plants which provide low maintenance and color

These are just a few of the new home design trends for 2013,  for more, click here to see the article from TulsaWorld.com: 2013 Home Design Trends

If you are thinking of building, remodeling, or renovating your Cape Cod Home, then click below to contact us:

   This week JP Morgan Chase stated that they are predicting home price increases of 3% to 9% in 2013. Across the board, demand for housing is on the rise, and consistent growth is expected for the forseeable future.  Low mortgage rates are helping fuel this growth, along with pent-up demand in the market place.  If you are considering building or remodeling your Cape Cod Home, now is a great time to take advantage of an exceptional investment opportunity. Considering demand is on the rise, expect construction costs to rise as well, as labor and materials will increase in concert with the demand curve. Botton line: this is a great time to build and make an investment with solid returns.

Click below to download our Construction Cost Guide: