Cape Cod Custom Builder | REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder (20)

Top Tips to prepare your Cape Cod home for Winter

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Oct 21, 2015

We all know it's coming...Summer was great...Fall is wonderful...and ol' man Winter is on his way. How will your home fare the storm season? I know I'll be stowing the porch furniture soon.

Nationwide has a great site with Winter Preparation Tips:

Nationwide Insurance Tips for Cape Cod Homes

Here's some Top Tips from the NAHB:

To help prepare your home for the winter weather, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelers has provided home maintenance tips that are designed to increase energy-efficiency and decrease the chance of emergency repairs.

Check for gaps in insulation or crawl spaces that expose pipes to cold air and the risk of freezing and bursting.
Have your heating system checked by a licensed technician before cold weather requires daily use.
Block drafts around doors, windows and baseboards with weather stripping, window film and caulk to control heat loss.
Install storm doors and windows to improve energy-efficiency and keep drafts at bay.
Get chimneys cleaned by an experienced chimney sweep to prevent the risk of a fire from buildup or blockages.
Spray door locks with powdered-graphite lubricant to prevent freezing and sticking.
Set ceiling fans to rotate clockwise to force rising warm air back towards the floor.

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Tags: cape cod custom homes, custom home

Wellfleet Oyster Festival this weekend on Cape Cod!

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Oct 14, 2015

There are many great events on Cape Cod, but the Wellfleet Oyster Fest is a must! It happens this weekend, October 17 and 18, 10AM - 5PM.

Jim Hagerty, our VP and lead designer, takes his family every year. "I love the great food and drink at the Winslow Tavern. And the kids love all the activity at the Oyster Fest".

The oyster shucking contest is a highlight (The Shuck-off !). Arts and Crafts are on display, jugglers, Cape Cod African Drums, skateboard competition, spelling bee, tennis round-robin, cooking demonstrations, dance party - all in Wellfleet!

Here's all the info and schedule for one of Cape Cod's best events:

Wellfleet Oyster Fest info and schedule

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Tags: Wellfleet Oysterfest

Great Bar Design Ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Oct 07, 2015

We all know that the kitchen is the "heart of the home", but what about after dinner? Many of our Customers request that their home design offer multiple living areas, including a place to mix and enjoy beverages before and/or after a nice meal.

Of course there are myriad ways to handle the needs of a home bar, with built-in cabinets and wine coolers, or perhaps a simple space for a classic antique table. Recently we included a beer tap in the wet bar for a Customer. Sometimes the requirement will roll into an outside space.

In any event, here are some great ideas to get the bar out of the kitchen, and satisfy the needs of entertaining in your Cape Cod home:

Great Bar Design Ideas for Cape Cod homes

Wooden work table bar for a Cape Cod home

Great Bar Design Ideas for Cape Cod homes

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Tags: New home

"Inspired by the Bay" on Cape Cod

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, Oct 01, 2015

For our Customers, every project is special. Of course! What could be better than a home designed around your lifestyle, with special amenities you just for you, delivered on time, at a guaranteed build cost well within your budget.

Every once in a while, one of our custom homes gets noticed and recognized for the easy living and gracious amenities it offers, not to mention the million dollar view! What makes homes like this so special? Take a moment and enjoy:

"Inspired by the Bay" takes you to a Cape Cod beach house...

Million Dollar Cape Cod Bay view by REEF Builders

"Inspired by the Bay" takes you to a Cape Cod beach house...

Historic look, Modern spaces and amenities by REEF Builders

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Tags: remodeling, design, Home Decor, REEF, chatham

The shortage of Subcontractors may affect your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, Sep 24, 2015

The past few years have been active ones for quality custom home builders on Cape Cod. Certainly the team at REEF has been busy. Many of our Customers are enjoying their first home building experience with REEF. Their Cape Cod home has been a dream, and it’s our pleasure (and responsibility) to make that dream come true.

Frequently we find that our Customers have little understanding of how many different trades are involved with actually building their home. Excavation, foundation, framing, insulation, plumbing, electrical, siding, roofing, cabinetry, windows, doors, tile, trim, plastering, painting, alarm systems, irrigation…the list of various experts involved in the construction of a single home is startling to some folks.

Our business model allows us to select the best craftspeople for the specific job, as well as those delivering the best value for the work. One of the challenges on Cape Cod is available resource. Because REEF always has multiple projects underway at different stages of completion, we keep quality tradespeople busy, which allows us to schedule effectively, and guarantee delivery.

That said, the number of tradespeople required and employed by the home building industry is astounding. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) keeps track of such information, which is very enlightening:

How many Subcontractors does it take to Build your Cape Cod Home?

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7 Ways You might be Ruining your Wood Floors on Cape Cod

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Sep 16, 2015

What do you love most about every room in your Cape Cod home?

The wood floors? Me too!

Wood floors are probably the most singularly popular part of the custom homes we design and build. Everybody has different interests and preferences, but wood floors are a common "Yes!". Even older homes often have stunning wood floors, sometimes with a fine patina gained over decades of use.

And they take a beating. Hardwood floors are long lasting, handsome, and sensible. Simple steps will keep them looking good for generations to come. But watch out for these common mistakes, because they can ruin your beautiful floors in no time:

7 Ways You may be Ruining your Wood Floors on Cape Cod

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How can REEF Builders guarantee the price before construction begins?

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Sep 09, 2015

Many of the folks I talk with are incredulous that REEF Builders guarantees the build cost and the occupancy date of their new homes. “How can you do that?” is a common question.

At REEF the Design – Build process is very carefully managed, and the cost of every process and fixture is captured. REEF invests a lot of time into understanding the conditions at the site, as well as developing comprehensive design specifications with and for the Home Owners. Ensuring that there are “no surprises” is crucially important to exceeding Customers’ expectations.

Watch as Brewster Home Owners share their experience. This brief video helps explain why REEF Builders consistently exceeds their Customers’ expectations, whether a simple cottage or oceanfront estate:

Cape Cod Homeowners describe their experience with REEF Builders

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Cape Cod Homeowners describe their experience with REEF Builders

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Tags: cape cod waterfront homes, renovation cape cod, construction costs on cape cod, coastal building, cape cod custom builder, cape cod custom homes, new home on cape cod, Construction Costs, Real Estate Investment, cape cod home|natural gas|cape cod real estate|cap

Best Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, Sep 03, 2015

It’s back to school, and back to work! You’ll be gone from home for most of the day… We don’t like to think about it, but crime is never going to go away. The nicer your Cape Cod home, the more it is a target for unsavory types.

Every home we design and build includes a security system. They don’t have to be expensive to be effective. But what if your home is already built? What’s the best security system for you?

Here’s some great research into residential security systems, what works, and what doesn’t. Over 60 hours of research went into this report, and the findings are easy to understand:

Best Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

Control Panel family Qol resized 600

Best Security Systems for your Cape Cod Home

Intrusion Sensors family resized 600

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Off the Grid --> Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Aug 26, 2015

Ready to get “off the grid”? Tired of paying high electricity rates, and wondering if the next storm will take out your power? Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units are gaining popularity around the world. The technology is not entirely new, but the application is changing the source of electricity and heat for many forward-thinking homes and offices.

CHP units use natural or propane gas powered engines to produce electricity, while channeling the heat by-product to warm hot water or heat interior living space. The result is economic savings, reduced environmental impact, and energy independence.

The units are compact, quiet, and clean. This short video will get you up to speed on CHP’s – part of the solution to the world’s growing energy needs, and an interesting alternative for your Cape Cod home!

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Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP" target="_blank">Off the grid --> Power and Heat your Cape Cod home with a CHP

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Laundry Room ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Wed, Aug 19, 2015

The Kitchen may be the heart of the home, but the Laundry Room pumps out the clean linen and clothes. Let’s face it, you probably spend more time in the Laundry Room then you’d like. The summer clothes line is handy, but there is no replacement for the washing machine. Virtually every REEF designed and built home offers a 1st floor Laundry, some of them with a view!

With a little creativity you can create a Laundry Room that even the kids will enjoy. Here’s some great ideas to take your Laundry Room from dingy to dynamite!

Laundry Room ideas for your Cape Cod Home

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