A New Year…A NEW COLOR! Yes! It’s here…Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2015! A shade of Blue? Perhaps a subtle Green…Or maybe a striking Yellow?

Are you ready to remodel or simply refresh your Cape Cod home with some new color? How will your personal pallet react when you learn the Color of the Year? Are you on track? Do you even like it?!

Pantone is an important leader in color: matching, blending and developing trends. Find out where color trends are headed...you may jump aboard with your Cape Cod home!

Pantone's Color of the Year for 2015 Cape Cod Homes

Pantone's Color of the Year for 2015 Cape Cod Homes

I’ve lived on Cape Cod for a long time, and maybe I’ve been missing the obvious...but how did First Encounter Beach get its name? Exactly --> it’s where the Pilgrims, in December of 1620, had their First Encounter with the Native Americans! That is so cool!

There are several versions of what transpired on that winter day in Eastham. Arrows flying, muskets firing…wild stuff. There are two monuments to the event at the beach. One is very old and hidden by years of overgrowth. The video will help you find it. What a great treasure hunt!

I can’t wait to get back to First Encounter Beach and find that monument. I’ll close my eyes and go back in time…and try to imagine what it must have been like for both parties on that December day. Just one more reason why Cape Cod is such a special place!

Historic account of First Encounter on Cape Cod

Video of First Encounter Beach monuments on Cape Cod - both of them!

Eastham Chamber describes First Encounter Beach

Cape Cod Home magazine, the premier home showcase magazine on Cape Cod, is featuring REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder. Cape Cod Home, a Cape Cod Life publication, has its pick of dozens of homes to spotlight in its pages. When the folks at Cape Cod Life/Cape Cod Home visited the home REEF recently built overlooking Cape Cod Bay, they knew it would make a great feature article.

REEF replaced a dilapidated old house with a stunning 2800 Square Foot home with commanding views of Cape Cod Bay. High-end amenities, including a gourmet kitchen and walk-in pantry, are blended into a flowing, open floor plan with three suites and three levels of living. Wide pine floors and simple moldings keep the Cape Cottage feel, while the view from the second floor office makes it very difficult to focus on work!

It really is a very special home. Check it out here on Cape Cod Life’s site:

Cape Cod Home magazine features a REEF-Built Home on Cape Cod Bay

Cape Cod Home magazine features a REEF-Built Home on Cape Cod Bay

The Cape Cod community is made better every day by the good work of CapeAbilities. They have been creating opportunity for Cape Codders with disabilities since 1968. Their services range from the Cape Abilities Farm on Route 6A in Dennis, to a Thrift Shop in Barnstable Village, to Cape Cod Saltworks which harvests salt from the waters that surround Cape Cod.

CapeAbilities offers transportation, support and education programs that have enriched the lives of thousands of Cape Codders. It’s selfless endeavors like this that help make Cape Cod so wonderful.

REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder is proud to support CapeAbilities. Their annual golf tournament is an important fundraiser, and we’re happy to help. Have a look at CapeAbilities website, and perhaps you’ll find a way to help too.

CapeAbilities helps make Cape Cod a great place!

CapeAbilities helps make Cape Cod a great place!

Cape Cod Home selected a REEF Home for the front cover of their Summer issue! Inside you’ll find a 10-page feature article on a home we designed, built, and delivered last summer. Needless to say, it’s a beautiful home, with amazing views of Cape Cod Bay.

The Owners wanted to build a “cottage by the sea”, and what a fabulous cottage it is! One of the goals was to make it feel like you were on the beach, even inside the house. An open floor plan, wide pine floors, pebble fireplace surround…lots of details work together to create a very relaxed, casually elegant environment.

The whole team at REEF is very proud that Cape Cod Home chose to feature our work on their cover and in their Summer issue. Cape Cod Home is a very high quality periodical, well written and full of interesting information. The Summer issue is on newsstands today – grab a copy and read about REEF!

Read Cape Cod Home magazine, & Cape Cod Life too!

Read Cape Cod Home magazine, & Cape Cod Life too!

The fallout and confusion catalyzed by FEMA’s promulgation of new Flood Insurance Rate Maps continues. 

Here is a case of a Chatham landowner who applied for a permit to make some changes to their home…in 2007! It is STILL under review!

Certainly this is an extreme case. It highlights the quandary in which town boards find themselves: Building height restrictions are there for a reason. But if a federal agency (FEMA) requires the house to be lifted out of a flood zone, should the height restriction take that flood zone requirement into consideration?

At REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder we help people consider their options every day. The new flood zones have made some projects more challenging, but there is always a way.

If you own a home on the Cape, or are considering buying one, or counsel home Buyers and Sellers, this information is important.

Recent zoning ruling has Cape Cod officials baffled

Recent zoning ruling has Cape Cod officials baffled

You've made the decision: "Let's build our dream home!" or perhaps a simple cottage by the sea. Now what?   Simple.    Hire a builder and get on with the project!

Caveat emptor --> Not all builders are equal!

Once you've made the decision to build, you owe it to yourself to find a builder who is perfect for you and your project.

How do you know which builder is the best fit?

What questions will lead you to the right answer?

Here's a link to our site with a form to get a great list of questions that will help you make sure you have the best possible builder for your project:

Important Questions to Ask BEFORE You Build on Cape Cod

Important Questions to Ask BEFORE You Build on Cape Cod

Yes! It’s time again for fabulous fireworks all over Cape Cod! Every year is another adventure when it comes to watching fireworks on Cape Cod. Some of my favorite summer memories include magnificent fireworks displays. Boats, beaches, village squares – it seems you can see them from everywhere. Even multiple displays happening at the same time!

It’s a trick to keep up with the fireworks schedule. Towns do it on different nights…and you don’t want to miss the fireworks! So here’s a good list of displays all around the Cape. God Bless America!

Cape Cod Fireworks Schedule by Town

Cape Cod Fireworks Schedule by Town

Welcome to Cape Cod Builder's Blog

The importance of utilzing a competent Cape Cod Builder for your construction project cannot be overemphasized.  This will go a long way toward avoiding costly mistakes and unnecessary stress.

A thorough, knowledgeable, thoughtful and skilled Builder., will ensure that your project is designed according to your personal likes and dislikes.  The Builder must be fully licensed and should make certain that each specialty trade is licensed, insured, and well referenced.  References are one of the best ways to assure that you receive the quality and attention to detail that you expect for your project.

Equally as vital as established subcontractor relationships, are the alliances that a G.C. has built with its vendors and suppliers.   These should be long-term relationships characterized by high standards of customer service (including integrity, trustworthiness, and the ability to communicate well), reliability, accessibility, and competitive pricing.

Finally, an above average Cape Cod Builder should:

-be punctual;

-understand the permitting process

-have a mastery of the building code

-ask the right questions;

-listen attentively

-help educuate their clients on products and processes

-And be personable!!