Do you love your Cape Cod garden? How do you achieve a low-maintenance landscape that’s full of color? When should you transplant perennials? How do you get rid of unwanted grass without adding chemicals to the soil?

Gardening is a passion for many of our Customers. Some are retiring to the Cape and just getting to the point where they have time to spend in their garden. So how does one get started? And how do you get timely answers to the myriad questions that pop up?

The Garden Doctor always has great tips and info: How to keep grass out of your garden? Use newspaper under the mulch. It improves the soil's structure as it decomposes…Brilliant!

Here are more tips from the Garden Doctor:

Gardening Tips from The Garden Doctor

Gardening Tips from The Garden Doctor

June 15, 2014

The Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing it's 20th Annual Main Street Father's Day Car Show, on Sunday, June 15th. The show is always very popular with approximately 350 cars lining both sides of Main Street. Police have estimated crowds of 60,000, making this show one of the best-attended family auto events in New England!

Father's Day Car Show Special Guest: Wayne Carini of TVs Chasing Classic Cars. He will be available for autographs starting at 11am.

Hyannis Chamber of Commerce car show info

Video of Cape Cod Father's Day Car Parade

I don’t think we’ve ever had a Customer to whom the kitchen wasn’t very important. Regardless of age, budget, gender or lifestyle, the kitchen is always a major part of our design mission.

But how do you make it fun? Isn’t every kitchen pretty much the same? How do you keep it fresh? Here’s some teasers: 

Quartz is the new Granite.
Drawers rather than drawers.
Induction ovens.
LED lights.

This is a great guide with A Dozen Ways to make your Kitchen Sizzle!

Make your Cape Cod Kitchen Sizzle !

Make your Cape Cod Kitchen Sizzle !

Many of the new homes we build, and renovations we undertake, are located in or near flood plains. The new FEMA Flood Insurance rate maps have focused attention on these areas. Property Owners have many questions about how to protect their property.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection ( DEP) works to help protect coastal areas. They are very concerned with permitting new structures near the coastal bank. Erosion or destruction of the coastal bank compromises the very resource which naturally protects us from the devastating effects of major storms. So the DEP regulates shore side activity very closely.

Here is some good information from the DEP on how to protect coastal property from major storm damage. The site also offers links to lots of other information and resources. Of course you can always call us here at REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder. We’re happy to help.

Protecting Coastal Property... by Mass DEP

Protecting Coastal Property... by Mass DEP

Virtually everything REEF does is regulated by the Building Code. The Code is getting tighter and tighter. And Town Building Inspectors are required to enforce the Code. This protects homeowners’ interests, and is designed to ensure the safety of residential structures.

On July 1, 2014 a new Building Code will go into effect. It will improve the energy efficiency, and reduce the energy consumption, of residential structures.

It is projected to increase building costs by 3% to 5%. Significant.

What changes will be implemented by the new Building Code?
How will it affect your project?
What percent change in heat loss is projected?
What cost will it add to my project?

REEF has developed a summary of the changes required by the new Building Code. A helpful guide to answer most questions:

2014 Building Code affects all Homes on Cape Cod

2014 Building Code affects all Homes on Cape Cod

REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder has been awarded “Best of Houzz” 2014 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential design and remodeling. The Cape Cod design/build firm and other honorees were chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

REEF Builders on Houzz.com

REEF Builders on Houzz.com

The “Best of Houzz” award for 2014 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on responses from homeowner Houzz members who rated their experience working with building professionals. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the Houzz community.

REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder was named “Best of Houzz” for Customer Satisfaction. “We take great pride in our work here at REEF. Our goal is to ensure a very high quality, stress-free experience for our Customers. REEF offers creative design and superior craftsmanship delivered on-time and at-budget every time. We are honored both by the wonderful comments that our clients posted on Houzz and the special recognition from the Houzz community,” comments Matt Teague, President of REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder.

“Houzz provides homeowners with the most comprehensive view of home building, remodeling and design professionals, empowering them to find and hire the right professional to execute their vision,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder among our “Best Of” professionals for customer satisfaction as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

About REEF Cape Cod’s Home Builder
REEF is an award-winning design/build group serving residential clients located throughout Cape Cod. The company is a full service design, permitting, and construction firm, providing clients with single-source accountability, streamlined project delivery and maximum value. REEF’s Pricing and Delivery Date Guarantees ensure the quality of their Customer’s experience, with peace of mind throughout the process. The company designs homes around their Customer’s lifestyle, maximizing the opportunity offered by the individual land parcel, and respecting the project budget. REEF also performs whole house renovations and additions. Visit www.CapeCodBuilder.com for more information.

About Houzz
Houzz (www.houzz.com) is a leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, ‘advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.5 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality

Everybody I know is looking forward to spending a lot of time outside…but it’s still cold! The frost is gone, but the chill in the air still remains. How do you enjoy an evening beverage with friends, without enduring the chill?...FIRE PIT!

Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits have become very popular with many of our Customers. They have become a design component which is on the “must have” list in the first design meeting for many of our custom homes. It is a natural gathering place after the sun sets, and the Cape Cod fun continues.

Quiet talks, marshmallow toasting, campfire stories around which memories are made…these are all benefits of a carefully planned fire pit. Here are some great ideas for fire pits and outdoor fireplaces. Let us know where you’d like to have YOUR fire pit!

Fire Pit ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Fire Pit ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Fire Pit ideas for your Cape Cod Home

We’re home builders. Every day we are focused on designing and building beautiful custom homes. So Easter Eggs…? These are really cool Easter eggs! They’re amazing! And fun to make.

I remember growing up on Cape Cod, and the first signs of Spring…the daffodils, the warmth returning to the ground, ice no longer under my feet, frogs beginning to peep, the lake unfrozen. And then…Easter! It was a pretty big time at our place. And the Easter Egg Hunt was always huge!

Here are some really different new ways to make some wonderfully fun eggs for Easter. Drizzled, chirping chicks, metallic dipped, puffy paint…crazy! Welcome Spring !!

Get Creative with your Cape Cod Easter Eggs

Get Creative with your Cape Cod Easter Eggs

Outside living in on everyone’s mind. Cabin fever is rampant after such a long, cold winter! Living outside means enjoying the breezes and fresh air regardless of the weather…that’s where the porch comes in handy.

Front, side and even rear porches sometimes become a focal point of our custom homes. It seems our Customers often spend more time outside than they do inside! So exterior spaces are very important. But how do you make a porch a graceful and utilitarian extension of the living space?

Here are some great ideas to pique your creative juices. Refreshing or upgrading your porch may greatly enhance your enjoyment of your Cape Cod Home.

Charming Porch Ideas for your Cape Cod Home

Charming Porch Ideas for your Cape Cod Home

FEMA's new Flood Insurance Rate Increase has caused much anxiety and confusion in areas in and around the new flood maps. Real estate values and purchase transactions for homes in the new flood zones have been significantly impacted. The effect on insurance premiums has been drastic for homes in flood zones.

It is obvious to many that FEMA did not properly analyze the effect on these areas, and their economies, before promulgating the new flood maps. Legislators have been banging the drum for relief for months. Finally there is some relief, if only temporary. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act was recently signed into law:

The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act repeals FEMA’s authority to increase premium rates when a property is sold. It also refunds the excessive premium to those who bought a property before FEMA warned them of the rate increase. The bill limits premium increases to 18 percent annually on newer properties and 25 percent for some older ones. The senate approved the bill on March 13, and the House of Representatives March 4.

Here’s a link to more information:

Obama signs Flood Insurance Relief Law for Cape Cod

Obama signs Flood Insurance Relief Law for Cape Cod