How will the new FEMA Flood Zone maps affect your Cape Cod home?

What types of renovation can I do without having to upgrade my home to current building codes?

How can I make my new home flood proof?

What is the Wind Borne Debris Zone? Does it affect my Cape Cod Home?

What types of measures, techniques and materials are used to ensure my new home is safe from flood and hurricane damage?

Answers to these and other questions will be shared tomorrow, Saturday, on the radio:

Saturday, 10AM on WXTK, 95.1 FM.

Matt Teague and Jim Hagerty of REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder will share all kinds of great information on the Cape Cod Real Estate Show tomorrow, Saturday. Tune in, call in, and get your questions answered!

REEF on the radio Saturday 10-11AM

http://www.95wxtk.com/

We build dream houses every day. A huge part of our responsibility is designing the floor plan, interior spaces, and exterior elevations of the house around the lifestyle of the Customer. Here on Cape Cod,  the house design can be significantly limited by the building lot. There are myriad variables which may not impact houses in other areas, such as wind borne debris zones, flood plains, etc.

Many times we ask Customers to create “must have” and “would really like to have” lists for the amenities they desire in their new home. Our architectural design team is very skilled at including Customer requirements, while accommodating the regulatory, zoning, and building code limitations. Here is a great list of pitfalls often encountered by people who design their own home. It’s good information, even if you’re working with experts, like REEF.

Mistakes to avoid when building your Cape Cod home

Mistakes to avoid when building your Cape Cod home

Brewster on Cape Cod is a magical place. Here’s a short video of building progress on a beautiful Cape Cod style home. Jim Hagerty, REEF’s lead designer, created a wonderfully open floor plan and great curb appeal in a home that fits beautifully into the landscape and neighborhood. Wes Price, REEF’s field supervisor, is on-site ensuring that quality is in every aspect of the construction.

This beautiful home replaced a dilapidated old cottage. The site itself was challenging, but nothing that the REEF team hasn’t seen before. They are experts at working with challenging situations and exceeding expectations. 

REEF home being built in Brewster on Cape Cod

REEF home being built in Brewster on Cape Cod

Lumber! Not on the tip of everyone’s tongue, but it’s something that is vital to REEF homes. We’re constantly refining and upgrading our materials and techniques. Many modern products allow us to build a better, stronger house at the same cost, and sometimes deliver a savings. This a great example: presently REEF is building a home using a new Georgia Pacific (GP) lumber product.

GP’s new engineered lumber is more resistant to flaws like warping and absorption. It also allows more flexibility in the design, letting homeowners build bigger rooms with more intricate finishing, leaving a professional look, while reducing the number of beams required.

Here’s a short article from GP outlining the benefits of their new engineered lumber, and describing REEF’s involvement:

REEF uses new Engineered Lumber

REEF uses new Engineered Lumber

Super-storm Sandy and other recent water-based natural disasters have catalyzed action by the Fed’s. Last month the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released new maps of flood zones in the USA.  The new maps reflect better data about the effects of waves, tidal surges, storms, and other flooding events. Many homes close to coastal areas and rivers were affected: their projected risk to flooding was increased.

Here is our new report of concerning the new Flood Zone maps:

-New FEMA Flood Zones affect Cape Cod properties

The new flood zone maps will require many homes to secure flood insurance, and those homes moved to more severe flood zone demarcations will experience insurance cost increases.

• Will your property be affected?
• What relief, if any, will property-owners have if they are re-mapped up into a higher risk zone than they were in before?
• For properties that are re-mapped up, will there be major consequences?
• What if my structure is re-mapped up and I do nothing?
• How can I know for certain that I will be grandfathered?
• Does grandfathering end when I sell or convey my property?
• Is my grandfathered lower risk rate jeopardized if I change insurance carriers?
• My insurance agent has never heard of grandfathering of flood insurance risk rates. What should I do?

-New FEMA Flood Zones affect Cape Cod properties

Get answers to these and other questions with our report on the effects of the new FEMA Flood Zone Maps. If you have questions which the report doesn’t address, please don’t hesitate to call us any time: 508-394-3090.

Outdoors is where you’ll find us on Cape Cod in the summer. Spending so much time on the deck or around the garden, why not make it really special? Curtains sewn from outdoor fabric can elevate a porch's contemporary style, and provide an interesting backdrop for a wicker or other seating set. Throw pillows soften a space, and linen panels can be used to create a secluded, intimate space.

Like indoor rooms, outdoor spaces can be made multifunctional by using versatile furnishings like ottomans. Move them around at will to serve as extra seating, as small side tables next to a chair, or even as a coffee table with the addition of a tray perched on top.

Here’s some great ideas to help you make your outdoor cape Cod space even more inviting. And when it comes time to expand or renovate, the team at REEF is ready to help.

Outdoor Rooms enhanced

Outdoor Rooms enhanced

People love to look at Before-and-After photographs of homes we have either renovated or replaced. It’s amazing to watch the transformation from run down cottage to fresh, inviting Cape Cod home. And the Return on Investment can be significant!

Here are really great Before-and-After examples from Better Homes and Gardens magazine. You’re bound to get inspired by these homes!

Before and After Home Exteriors

Before and After Home Exteriors

Additionally, the weather has impacted the Fireworks scheduled for several towns on Cape Cod. There have been postponements and cancellations.  Here’s a link to keep you current:

Cape Cod Fireworks & Parade Schedule

Cape Cod Fireworks & Parade Schedule

If you're interested in real estate on the Outer Cape, then check out Bob's market report. He does a great job of keeping his finger on the pulse of Eastham and surrounding communities.

Here's some examples of what you'll find on Bob's blog:

• 2013 Hands On The Arts Festival - June 15th & 16th...
• New Listing - Wonderful 3 Bedroom Cape On a Quiet ...
• 2013 Cape Cod Baseball Starts Next Week
• Eastham New Listing - Short Walk to Great Pond
• Eastham's May Sales - A Slow Start to 2013
• Eastham New Listing - Pristine 3 Bedroom Ranch
• Photo of the Day - Thank You!
• Great White Sharks Returning to Cape Cod

Eastham Cape Cod Real Estate blog

Eastham Cape Cod Real Estate blog

Many of our Customers like to make the most of every day here on the Cape. Relaxing and “beaching it” are very important! But shows and markets and fairs… there’s just a lot of really fun events all summer long. Keeping track can be a challenge.

Here’s a great events calendar that is constantly updated. Not a lot of glitz, just good real-time info with lots of links. This is a great resource to help keep your Cape Cod time on track!

And when you’re ready to build your Cape escape…just call REEF!

Event Calendar for Cape Cod

Event Calendar for Cape Cod

Summer is here! Soon you’ll be joining friends and celebrating life…probably outdoors. The Cape Cod lifestyle revolves around the wonderful environment we all enjoy during the summer. These are the days we dream about in February! So don’t let visitors and impromptu parties take you by surprise.  Here are a few ways to prepare your Cape Cod home for wonderful outdoor events. Yay Summer!

5 Ways to prepare for your outdoor party on Cape Cod

5 Ways to prepare for your outdoor party on Cape Cod