2021 is here and a lot has changed over the last year!  The Covid Pandemic has created unprecedented demand for real estate, remodeling, renovations and new construction services here on Cape Cod!  As you may have heard, the high demand for lumber,coupled with manufacturing delays and logistical challenges has caused a marked increase in the cost of building materials since August 2020.  

REEF has been tracking building material costs since it's inception in 1985, and based on our tracking, the total material costs for a home (wood framing, siding, roofing, windows etc. ) has increased somewhere around 20-30% since August, and it may continue to rise until this summer!  

   Now- this does not mean that the total cost of building a new home has increased by that same percentage, as the material costs only make up about 10% of the total project costs. That being said, we will see a 2-3% increase in the total cost of construction this year! Given these dramatic changes over the last several months, we have updated our construction cost guide so consumers know what to expect for their upcoming projects. 

Click  here to download a copy!

2021 Construction Cost Guide for Cape Cod

2020 was one crazy year for real estate on Cape Cod, with a frenzy of activity from April until December due to the pandemic.  Now that the dust has settled a bit, existing for sale  home inventory is at an historic low, and we now have many clients looking for raw land to build on here on the Cape.  For many, purchasing vacant land can be a daunting experience, especially when you consider the multiple regulatory layers involved in even the most simple building project.  

There are always several questions people ask us when they are considering a land purchase here are some of the most common:

1.  Is the property "buildable"?
2. Do I need to get a perc test?
3. How long does it take to get a building permit?
4. Do I need to get a building permit before I buy the property?
5. How long does it take to build a new home?
6. How much does it cost to build a new home?

In response to these questions, we have put together a guide to buying land on Cape Cod which you can download here:   Guide to Buying Land on Cape Cod

After you have found your ideal piece of property to build on, and before you make an offer we would highly recommend downloading our cost guide:  Cape Cod Construction Cost Guide

All too often we have potential building customers contact us after they have purchased a vacant parcel of land only to find out they can't afford to build their dream home, or even worse, that the property they purchased is in fact not buildable!   If you are considering purchasing land on Cape Cod and you want to work with a true team of building and real estate professionals for your purchase, REEF can provide exclusive property search and buyer representation for your purchase. 

Here's a look at the current land for sale on Cape Cod today!: Cape Cod Land Search

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to present a 3D tour of one of our custom home projects on Cape Cod Bay.  This home was designed and built by the REEF team, and underwent an extensive design and permitting process, primarily driven by the environmentally sensitive nature of the site, and of course the owner's aesthetic and living space requirements. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the ability to tour this home in a 3-D virtual environment is worth way more than that!  Let us know what you think!

If you are considering designing and building your custom home on Cape Cod, consider the REEF Builders Team, with over 35  years in business and over 1500 custom home projects completed on Cape Cod

Designing and Building beautiful custom homes has been our passion for over 35 Years. Come see what the REEF Builders team can do for you. From expert real estate services to help you find your ideal building site, to a comprehensive design and seamless construction process. You've been visiting the Cape your whole life, isn't it time you stayed?

We are proud to present exterior photos of our latest waterfront custom home project overlooking Cape Cod Bay! This home sits on a quiet hillside in East Dennis, with sweeping 180 degree views of the bay. 

This project was designed to take advantage of the views afforded by this incredible location, with a 3000sf , 4 bedroom main house and a 600sf , 1 bedroom guest quarters and office above the detached 2 car garage.  The site was very challenging, with wetlands on 2 sides and limited room to build, but REEF team was able to design around these limitations and the results speak for themselves.   The rear of the home features a large deck, patio, fire pit, and a hidden roof deck over the screened porch area, all designed to take advantage of the views.  We were even able to get a water view out of the walkout basement!

If you are considering  designing and building a new home or major renovation on Cape Cod, please consider the REEF Builders team for your next project.

The Barnstable Town Council will be voting on August 20th to confirm that short term rentals are allowed by right in the town! There has been a strong movement to ban short term rentals entirely, and this vote is critical to preserve Cape Cod as we all have come to know and love it!

Vacation rentals are vital to our economy and have been a way of life in every town on Cape Cod. However, changes in the industry - including the need to address safe rental protocols during the pandemic - do necessitate addressing some issues caused by these vacation rentals.

We need to hold accountable those who do not follow the rules and disrupt our neighborhoods. But, also push back against against those who seek to disrupt our traditions and say vacation rentals are not welcome.

To find out more about this critical issue click here:Protect Cape Cod Vacation Rentals

It's been a about 14 months  our last construction cost guide was published, and 2020 has been a challenging year so far!  We were a little reluctant to release the updated cost guide this year given the current economic uncertainty associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, but as things are moving back closer to normal, we felt the timing was right.  We have had a busy year this year so far and demand for high quality design, construction and renovation services has remained strong in 2020.

This guide provides realistic cost per square foot numbers that can be very helpful if you are planning on building your new custom home on Cape Cod.

One important note: REEF Builders is a design / build company, and has been for over 30 years.

So when we talk about construction costs, we are including all the important and necessary factors for an overall project. The REEF team will handle all site and architectural design services, engineering and survey, and complete construction services through landscaping and beyond if needed.

We specialize in challenging sites, especially those involving wetlands, flood zones, or waterfront conditions that can initially appear to be a difficult barrier to building. REEF can help make the entire building process predictable, so you can make informed decisions about your new Cape Cod Home!

"You've been visiting the Cape your whole life, isn't it time you stayed?"

Here's our 2020 Construction Cost Guide!

If you are thinking of building or renovating your home on Cape Cod with the REEF team, you can stay in one of our new homes, now available for weekly rentals!

Cape Cod Summer Rental by REEF

Here's the next phase in the design process of our Cape Cod Beach Cottage project. We have moved from line drawings to a full 3-D exterior rendering so our customers can get a better sense of the overall massing, style and feel of the new design.  We will continue to develop this model and look at siding, roofing and window options.  There is no better way to get feel for a design than a highly accurate 3-D Rendering.   If you are thinking of building your new home on Cape Cod, consider the design / build team here at REEF Builders, with over 1500 new home and renovation projects completed on Cape Cod.

If you are looking to remodel or renovate your existing Cape Cod home, or if you are considering building a new home on Cape Cod, click below to download our Cape Cod Construction Cost Guide, with cost per square foot data for all types of projects.

Here's a preview of a fun cottage project that we are working on. We are often asked to design very compact and highly-detailed projects to fit in the various old cottage neighborhoods found near the beach communities on Cape Cod. This classic beach cottage is designed to fit on a small, 5000 sf lot near Barnstable Harbor and Millway Beach on Cape Cod Bay. This home will have about 1400sf of living area, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths, all in a very efficient design. The exterior of the home will feature metal roofing, board and batten siding details, and exposed rafter tails, reminiscent of classic Cape Cod Cottages built in the early 1900's. Our design team did an exceptional job incorporating all of these these important details in a very small package!

If you are looking to remodel or renovate your existing Cape Cod home, or if you are considering building a new home on Cape Cod, click below to download our Cape Cod Construction Cost Guide, with cost per square foot data for all types of projects.