Landscaping a waterfront home can get complicated, when you consider all of the restrictions imposed by the Conservation Commission. Regulations will usually required "native" plantings for mitigation of the disturbed areas, and there might be a perception out there that  this required work can't result in a beautiful landscape.  Part of what we do here at REEF is spend a lot of time, picking the right team of experts for each project and then planning ahead and working with the local boards and commissions to come up with plans that try to create a balance between respect for the natural environment, and the aesthetic needs of the owner. Here are some pictures of a custom home project we just completed in Chatham.  This home and it's surrounding hardscapes and plantings are an excellent compliment to the natural landscape and look great! 

Our team did a great job finishing this new Custom Home on the water in Brewster.  We were able to move the customers in early so they could enjoy the 4th of July weekend in their new home.  It takes a great team of people to consistently execute our projects with a high level quality and craftsmanship.  It takes and exceptional team to bring those projects in on time (or a little ahead of schedule in this case!) and on budget!  Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen!!

It is great when a plan comes together! This time of year is very exciting for our team here at REEF.  We get to see all of our hard work and effort come together in the beautiful homes that we get the privilege of building here on Cape Cod!  Here are some pictures of a new custom home we are finishing up in Chatham. This is a waterfront home, with very tight restrictions due to our proximity to the water.  Our team of designers, engineers, and contractors really came together to produce fun, open, and tastefully designed  home that meets the owner's spacial needs while still taking advantage of the sweeping views.  Enjoy!

  Investing in the stock market can be risky!  Especially when you consider what is going on globally. If you are waking up today and seeing the impacts of the Brexit vote on your stock portfolio, you might want to find another way to diversify your portfolio. A great investment to consider is Real Estate, especially on Cape Cod.  Market demand is high, for both existing homes and new construction, and with the Baby Boomers swiftly moving into retirement, we are seeing a steady stream of home buyers in the Cape Cod area.  We have also seen high demand for waterfront and waterview custom homes in almost every town on Cape Cod.

When compared to the stock market, Real Estate provides a much more consistent and predictable return on investment.  If you are considering investing in Real Estate, or Building, Renovating, or Buying a home on Cape Cod, give us a call to find out how REEF can help!

Early summer is our busiest time of year!  As you might imagine, many of our proejcts are finishing up now so our customers can enjoy the summer in their new custom home!  Given how busy we are, it is important to take the time to stop and enjoy the craftsmanship that shines through in our homes.  Right now, simple finishes are in demand, especially with waterfront custom homes, where our design team is trying to focus on letting the natural view serve as the focal point, not the finishes.   Here are some pictures of custom homes that we are completing now... Hat's off to our hard working team of builders and craftsmen and women who make this all happen!

 REEF Builders offers complete design build services for custom homes throughout Cape Cod.  More importantly, REEF has an incredibly talented design team consisting of Jim Hagerty, who is also a principal and vice president,  Sara Hamiliton, assistant designer, and Cameron Savela, our draftsman.  Most of the time, they are working through important details and issues related to zoning, building code and other regulatory issues as they pursue permits for our projects, but occassionally, they do get a chance to show off their talents.

Here's a little project our team of expert designers is working on right now. This is a custom contemporary home designed to complement the dunes of the outer cape and capture the stunning sunsets across Cape Cod Bay!

We employ advanced software in all of our design development to allow our customers to better understand how their vision will fit into the landscape, which you can see in this video

If you are considering designing and building your custom home on Cape Cod, come see what our team can do for you!

One of the biggest drivers of construction costs over the last 4 or five years has been new regulations and standards for construction.  The state of Massachusetts has undergone numerous code changes since  2010 and each change has only served to increase construction costs.  The regulatory changes started with the implementation of the high wind zones on the Cape and most recently the building industry has adopted the latest International Building and Energy Codes which totally change the way homes are built when compared to past codes.   When you combine the impact of these changes with material prices that have increased about 25% over the last 5 years, it is easy to figure out why any type of construction work is so expensive. 

The homes we are building now are much more airtight and have much better energy performance than in the past, but at what cost?  Air quality will continue to be an issue in the future, and controlled fresh air exchange will be the key to a healthy indoor environment.

So how do you build for a reasonable cost?  We strongly believe that the key is efficient design and use of spaces and a constant look to the future and new products and materials that can bring the cost back into the realm of possibility.   Partnering with a Design-Build firm such as REEF, will also be important, because of the access to real time cost data and daily interaction with the various regulatory agencies that enforce these new codes.

The National Association of Home Builders recently released a study that shows the specific impact of regulations on new homes.  Did you know that almost 25% of the cost of your new home is directly attributed to regulatory issues?  If you want to find out more, please below

Regulations Add $84,671 to the cost of your new home!

If you are considering building, purchasing or remodeling a custom home on a water front property on Cape Cod, then you should take a moment to download our Waterfront Property Guide!  Building your dream home can be an exciting process, but you want to make sure you can built exactly what you want first!

The regulations involved in building on the water can be overwhelming when you consider the following:

1. Local, state and federal wetlands regulations
2. Special regulations only associated with costal areas
3. Zoning regulations specific to waterfront properies
4. How many bedrooms can the lot support?
5. Can I add on to the existing structure?
6. What size home can be built on your lot?

All of these are important questions that you will need to answer before making a significant investment in your custom home!

The design/build team at REEF can help -

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR WATERFRONT PROPERTY GUIDE