Last week I posted part of the evolution of a home that REEF is building here on Cape Cod. The blog received a lot of attention. It seems many people are interested in watching the metamorphosis of an old, rundown cottage into a modern waterfront or water view Cape Cod home. The home I featured last week overlooks the dunes on the north side of the Cape, and Cape Cod Bay.

Here’s another REEF project with southern exposure over a beautiful bay and river in Dennis. It’s the small one in the center of the first photo, right above the red and green buoys. You can see that the neighborhood has grown up around the old cottage. The scene is pretty tranquil now, as the photos were taken in November through January. However this area is alive with small boat activity in the summer, which will provide for endless hours of quiet enjoyment.  I’ll update the blog photos as construction progresses. The kitchen and living area, as well as most of the bedrooms in the home, overlook the water. It will be breath taking. Stay tuned…!

Creating special spaces for our customers is one of the real joys here at REEF Builders. Lots of time and attention is paid to bathrooms. A Master or Guest Suite, or Cape Cod Cottage is not complete without comfortable, pleasant bathrooms. A bathroom renovation is an exciting task. But before jumping to choosing the latest tile or bathtub design, there are some less exciting things to consider so your project turns out just the way you dream it. Because renovating a bathroom can be overwhelming, time-consuming and costly, here is a simple 15-point checklist to make sure that your project stays on track and the renovation runs smoothly.

15 Point Checklist for your new Cape Cod Bathroom

   There is so much literature out there telling people what they should do in their new home or renovation project, but not a whole lot if information talking about what they shouldn't do.  Customers hire a Custom Home Builder to create their dream home, especially when building a new home on Cape Cod.  But often times, customers try too hard to incorporate all of the design tips they have seen throughout the years.  Here is an interesting article that covers mistakes people make when designing their kitchens.  The kitchen is probably one of the most important spaces in a new custom home or renovation project, and a well designed kitchen will be an inviting space that can have timeless style and great functionality.  Just some things to think about for your next project. 

Here is the full article from Yahoo! : http://shine.yahoo.com/at-home/biggest-kitchen-design-mistakes-160000075.html

   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

   The Warren Group recently published their Massachusetts Real Estate sales statistics for the month of March. Sales are up an notable 20% from March 2011 marking the 9th consecutive month of increased sales.  So what does this mean to REEF, a custom home builder on Cape Cod?  It provides clear indication that demand is increasing, and that the market is supporting sound investments in real estate.   If you are thinking of a new home, or remodeling project, you should probably take steps to start the process now.   As demand increases, there will be corresponding increases in material, labor and other costs.  These indicators coupled with the pending building code change in July can only lead to increased costs for consumers. 

Here is the article from the Cape Cod Times: http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120424/NEWS11/120429886

     There are several key home features that we have found almost all buyers seek... 1st floor bedrooms, open and functional living spaces, room for expansion, and of course value.  As a custom home builder on Cape Cod, we serve a broad marketplace, from young families, to couples seeking to build their retirement home, so it is hard to find a plan that works for everyone.  We came across this article from Housingzone.com which highlights 6 very popular home designs.  The appeal of these plans ranges from smart design, well planned living spaces, and of course curb appeal.  There are some really great ideas here that you may want to work into your next home project. 

6 Best Selling Home Plans

If you are looking for a custom home on Cape Cod, or if you would like to discuss some of these ideas for your next project.... please click below to ask one of the experts at REEF.