The Massachusetts Association of Realtors published its real estate market index, noting that this month it reached an all time high.  The President of the association indicated that this increase was due to improving confidence in the marketplace, and a strong spring sales season. This index increased 86% from April 2011, which is a great sign for people waiting to sell their home.  The dream of many of our customers is to sell their primary residence, and use the equity earned to build their custom home on Cape Cod.  Well, if you have been waiting, now may be a great time to begin the process.

Here is the complete article from Cape and Plymouth Business Magazine:

http://www.capeplymouthbusiness.com/news/show/2359

     This is always a fun question.... and the simple answer is this... if you are doing more than cosmetic work, painting, floors etc... then you should have a permit.   Permitting a project can be challenging for homeowners.  With the various code changes that have occurred over the last few years, even homeowners may require expert help for even small projects.  Anything that involves opening the sheet rock should have a building permit, especially when performing mechanical, plumbing and electrical changes, and definitely when the work involves structural changes.

     Of course, in many areas on Cape Cod, there are other permitting requirements for your home.  Any work outside the home that changes the appearance requires a historic commission permit.  In some towns, there are even requirements for historic approval of landscape changes.  Any time there is a change to the footprint of the home, such as a deck or addition, a site plan must be submitted to confirm that the new work will not encroach on zoning setbacks or property lines.  Many towns do have an express permitting program, which makes permitting small projects like replacement windows, roofing, and siding quick and easy, even in historic districts. 

      So if getting a permit is so difficult, wouldn't it be easier to just do the work, especially if it is inside and no one will see?  The answer is NO!  Often times people will finish attic spaces, renovate or finish basements, or convert areas to bedrooms.  This happens frequently, and often times is not caught by local inspectors.  However, the problems start when the owner goes to sell the home, and the title V septic inspection occurs.  With specific definitions of bedrooms, new, un-permitted finished rooms could be considered additional bedrooms, requiring a full upgrade of the septic system when the house is sold.  This is an expensive and painful process, which is often the cause of failed attempts to sell a home, and reduced purchase prices to cover the cost of repairs. 

If you have questions about permitting your next project, large or small, consult with an expert.  You can contact one of the experts at REEF any time by clicking below!

  Now that the holidays are behind us, many people begin to think about their new home or remodeling projects.  There are many factors that come into play when making the decision to start a large project.  The biggest hurdle for many people  right now is the uncertain economy.

Despite this uncertainty, there are a number of really great reasons to start your project now:

1. Materials are still reasonbly priced, and lumber is at historical lows.
2. Labor market is available and willing to negotiate
3. Banks are still lending at very favorable rates

Thes are just a few reasons, that are covered in our free informational download.  Click the button below to find out more!

   Now that we are in the throes of winter here in the northeast, we wanted to offer some tips on preventing ice dams.  Ice dams are caused when ice forms at the roof edges and gutter line, and prevents the natural flow of water off a roof.  They can cause thousands of dollars in damage as the water flows into the house in an irregular pattern, showing up over windows, in ceilings and running down the inside of walls. 

Amica and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety offer these tips:

• Make sure the ceiling is airtight, so warm, moist air doesn’t flow into the attic space.
• Increase ceiling and roof insulation to minimize the amount of heat that rises into the attic.
• Use weather-stripping around entryways to the attic.
• Seal around attic ducts, light fixtures, chimneys and fans to prevent heat from melting snow.
• Make sure the attic is well ventilated so that any warm air is replaced with cold outside air.
• Clean debris from gutters and drains to allow for proper drainage.

One of the best ways we have found to prevent ice dams, is to use a self-adhereing ice and water shield at all roof edges, valleys and other critical roof / wall intersections. Although it adds some cost up front, it is insignificant comparted to the damage and hassle invloved in repairing the results of an ice dam.  If you are thinking about remodeling, renovating or building a new home, please contact us to talk about ways of preventing this common problem: CONTACT US  

If you have any other questions concerning your home... visit our Ask Capecodbuilder page and let's see if we can help!

This week we have launched a new feature on our website.... REEF's "Ask Cape Cod Builder" page.  There are a lot of questions out there regarding home construction, renovation, design, permitting and remodeling, so we felt it would be a helpful resource for homeowners in need of information.  So if you have a question about your next project... visit our home page, blog or just click here:

 We found this video clip from ABC news regarding the impact of purchasing American-made products on the job market.  The building industry in general is a huge consumer of durable goods, and as such,  a small commitment to increasing the use of American-made products can have a dramatic impact on employment, and the overall economy.  REEF will commit to seeking out American-made products at every opportunity!!

Click here to watch the video: http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_04vzdsr5/uiconf_id/5590821