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

Windows are bigger than ever today. They play an increasingly important role in helping our customers maximize the value of their home by welcoming light, opening vistas, and creating interesting, inviting spaces. There are myriad options, from decorative to functional. Some of the energy efficient models may even qualify for energy rebates. Many of our customers build or re-buld their homes around views of Cape Cod Bay, Vineyard or Nantucket Sound, marshes and bogs. Here are some great ideas for using windows to create truly special spaces.

Factors to Consider when Choosing Windows

  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

Here are some fresh and cost-effective design trends to consider for your Cape Cod home. Kitchen Entertaining with a View, Multi-Generational Living, and Green Elements are all getting a lot of attention. This is good information with a return to simplicity.

Eight Design Trends, Fresh and Simple  

Many customers are including home generators in their construction specifications. Events like Super Storm Sandy have heightened awareness of the benefits of being ready for natural disasters. Cape Cod is not immune to hurricanes and other big storms. Here's what you need to know about home generators:

Generator is a Smart Investment for Cape Cod Homes

   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

Bob Sheldon is a local Realtor who does a great job of analyzing the market in Eastham. The consensus is that markets are improving, and Bob’s quantitative work reflects that too. Numbers don’t lie: the Real Estate market is rebounding. If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, wondering about buying, selling, or building, prices and values are on the climb again.

Eastham 2012 Year-End Real Estate Report

In some areas the housing recovery is accelerating, adding upward pressure to home prices. With interest rates at historic lows, and real estate inventory starting to move, it may be time to get off the sidelines and find your dream home.

Could you get priced out of the Real Estate market?

We are constantly receiving inquiries about land on Cape Cod, where to buy, what's buildable, etc. In repsonse we've just published an informative guide that will help many people better understand the oppoprtunities and caveats of buying land on beautiful Cape Cod.

It's a great time to buy. Let REEF help you build your Cape Cod home.

Our Customers owned a cottage in a beautiful location. The southern exposure over Bass River was and is a million-dollar view. We designed a home to take advantage of the location, and maximize the enjoyment of the surrounding natural beauty. The views in this video were never available from the original cottage. This beautiful home, now in mid-stage construction, will be a great place for summer fun or year-round living.  REEF: 508-394-3090 every day