Outdoor living spaces, and especially decks are used almost every day in the summer.  At REEF, Cape Cod's Home Builder, we are often called in to look at expanding or updating old tired decks for summer use. There are a number of great products available to update your deck ranging from a simple coat of paint, power washing, or new decking surfaces.  One of our favorite products is AZEK decking, which is extremely durable, looks great, and is available in a variety of colors. 

Here is an articl from decoist.com with some more ideas for renovating your deck for summer:http://www.decoist.com/2012-06-21/how-to-update-your-deck-for-summer/

Summer is in full swing on the Cape! If you are going to spend another summer in that tiny, cramped, tired, and hot little cottage, you might want to consider a new cottage by REEF.   REEF offers complete design and construction services for remodeling, new construction and renovation work.  We also have our Cottage Collection which is a series of plans designed specifically for small lots.  So if you love where you live, and but you need more space, or just a new, energy efficient and low maintenance home, a project with REEF might be just the answer.

Click below if you want to learn more about our affordable Cottage Collection

Here is the link to our cottage collection:Cottage Collection

    REEF, Cape Cod's Home Builder is a design and construction firm, and as such, we are constantly looking at the design trends nationwide for new and fresh ideas.  Whether remodeling, or building new, a smart design that meets  your aesthetic,  lifestyle, and budget needs is always the ultimate goal. Here are some new designs that national production builders are using to spark new home sales.  Although some of these designs may not fit in your ideal Cape Cod neighborhood, many of the concepts and floor plans could be used in your next project.  Take a look !

http://www.housingzone.com/design/5-design-concepts-spark-new-home-sales

   The summer is a great time to get ahead on some important home maintenance.  Energy efficiency improvements, exterior cleaning and repairs, and pruning and landscaping are all smart investments in the summer. It is also a great time to schedule your heating system cleaning and maintenance for the year.  Don't get caught in October or November on that first cold night with a broken furnace or boiler. Also, there are still a lot of incentives available for energy efficiency upgrades like insulation, doors, and windows, and new heating and cooling equipment.

If you would like to find out more about the incentives available, please contact us:

Here are some other maintenance tips from msn.com: http://realestate.msn.com/july-home-maintenance-checklist

    Wishing you and your families a safe and happy 4th of July this year. 

   Creating a great home office has become a regular request over the last several years. Whether remodeling, renovationg or building a new custom home, the home office has become one of the most sought after rooms in a home.  Over the years we have seen a move away from things like formal dining rooms and living rooms.  With the ability for most people to work remotely in a home office environment, and investment in a well-designed and efficient home office makes sense. 

Here is an article from decoist.com with some more inspiration for your next project: http://www.decoist.com/2012-07-02/tips-for-creating-an-efficient-home-office/

   Good news from the Cape Cod Real Estate market this month. Single family home sales increased 27.1% in May when compared to 2011. This signifies the 11th straight month of increased homes sales in Massachusetts. Builders, Realtors, Bankers and others are excited to see consistent month over month gains.  So does this mean we are out of the recession? Well, probably not, but it is just another indicator of consistent positive news in the market place.

Click Here for the Cape and Plymouth Business: Real Estate Sales Up - May 2012

    REEF, Cape Cod's Home Builder is a first class design, construction, renovation and remodeling firm.  We have recently completed an extensive kitchen renovation in Brewster, and the results were fantastic!  A kitchen renovation is a very common project for us, and probably one of the few projects a homeowner can do that adds immediate value to the home.  Think of us next time you are considering a kitchen renovation or remodeling project on Cape Cod.

Here are some photos of kitchens we have completed:

     Here is an article from Cape and Islands Home Remodeling magazine about a cottage that REEF built a few years back.  It talks about our design and construction process, and has some great pictures of the results. 

http://www.homeremodelingmag.com/article.php?id=9

Yesterday, the Indonesian Naval Traning Ship, the KRI Dewaruci arrived at Mass Maritime in Bourne.  This is a 180' sailing vessel launched in 1953 and is used as to train Indonesian Naval Cadets.  This tall ship and several others are participating in the Tall Ships Challenge 2012 in which 25 tall ships will take part in races and maritime festivals starting in Savannah, GA and ending in Nova Scotia. 

Here is a site where you can track the live locations of each ship as they make their way up the east coast!

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/tsc2012.phtml