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New Construction Condos!

We’re hosting a new construction condo event this weekend! Come out to our open houses at this week’s featured neighborhoods! Cottage Pointe Condominiums and Hunters Creek Condominiums! As with all of our neighborhoods we have taken our homeowners safety and comfort and made them our first priority. Each of these neighborhoods feature homes with adaptable floor plans. They showcase great landscaping and superior care of the common areas.

Hunters Creek Condominiums features duplex designed, attached condominiums. The interiors are constructed with high-end amenities and options. We begin and end with your comfort and luxury in mind. Zero maintenance means you won’t ever have to concern yourself with yard work! You can opt to buy one of our existing condos or design one from the ground up. You’ll want to hurry though. This community is nearing completion! There are only a few sites left upon which to build a new condo.

Our Cottage Pointe Condominiums feature site condominiums. These are free standing homes within a condominium association. There are no adjoining walls between you and your neighbor. This provides homeowners in Cottage Pointe Condominiums a tremendous amount of privacy. The low exterior maintenance lifestyle means you won’t need to worry about yard work. You’re freed up to really enjoy your life. Imagine spending the time you would normally be mowing the lawn… golfing.

Whether you’re interested in Hunters Creek or Cottage Pointe, visit our New Construction Condo Event this weekend! A builder’s representative will be onsite in each of these communities. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions or request a tour of any of our available condos. We will be happy to help you. Visit our Open House page for specific details on times and locations! We look forward to seeing you!

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6 Reasons to build a new house

There could be countless, personal reasons you’d choose to build a new house over purchasing an existing “used home.” Here are 6 of the top reasons our clients have told us:

Reason 1

You choose EVERYTHING! From design to paint colors, to flooring and fixtures. A new/custom home is designed around YOU!

Reason 2

You choose a location where the views suit you. Whether you’re building a new house in one of our neighborhoods, or on land you already own, you can select the view that’s right for you! Imagine waking up to beautiful wooded scenery or maybe your dream includes lakefront property. It’s up to you!

Reason 3

Working with a designer/architect ensures you’ll get the most from both the land and the house design. Maybe there’s a natural slope to the land and you’d like to have a daylight or walk out lower level. Let us help you find the best features of your new home site.

Reason 4

Building a new home means it will be built with the most up to date and efficient products. We’ll use energy efficient building techniques, insulation and appliances to save you money on heating and cooling costs! It will also provide a very comfortable interior environment all year long.

Reason 5

Another reason to build a new/custom house – you won’t have to worry about repairs! A new house has NEW – EVERYTHING! Repairs to an existing “used house” typically are required for three reasons:

1. The home is old enough that things are just wearing out.
2. The house is old enough the systems are no longer up to code.
3. The home has deferred maintenance and it’s beginning to show.

Reason 6

Building a custom home means you can have the floor plan as private or open as you desire. Are you the kind of homeowner who likes a lot of individual rooms or do you prefer the open concept for entertaining? When you’re building a new/custom house, you make the call!

Would you or someone you know like to build a custom home? Give Watts Homes & Construction a call at 269-345-3859 today. We’ll be happy to help!

Low Maintenance Construction!

People building new construction homes have so many options available! One new construction trend that gaining momentum is the “Low Maintenance Movement.” This revolution started with people who’d rather spend time thinking about other things. Not – “Did I seal the counter tops last year, or the year before???” This makes a lot of sense. Consider all of the advances in construction materials and techniques, not to mention technology!

Beginning with the exterior

1. Beginning with the exterior, one more popular “low maintenance” option isn’t “high -tech” or even new. Brick homes have recently increased in popularity. They are definitely low maintenance, particularly when compared to wood siding, which may eventually rot, or even vinyl siding, which can experience color fade over time. Brick maintains its integrity, color and has the added bonus of being difficult to blown down…
2. Metal roofing is not only a very stylish option, but has become virtually maintenance free! Some metal roofing products are polymer coated to ensure their vibrant color and finish will hold up against the most harsh weather conditions and last, far longer than a traditional shingle roof.
   3. Composite decking is a very low maintenance option. Today’s composite materials have come a long way from their beginnings and now have a superior aesthetic as well as fantastic durability! It doesn’t rot, chip or fade and only needs minimal cleaning. In most cases, dirt can be removed with an average garden hose. This deck option can even be given an anti-microbial coating so mold doesn’t stand a chance!
3. The latest low maintenance idea in landscaping is “weather sensing irrigation systems.” This technology actually waters the lawn like a regular sprinkler system, but does so without your needing to do anything. It gathers local weather data and adjusts itself to water just the right amount for your specific landscape needs! Weather sensing irrigation not only makes watering the lawn a “no-brainer,” but also helps to conserve water! The only maintenance issue is an annual drain of the irrigation lines, which you’d have to do with a regular system anyway.

Moving Inside

People are rethinking the idea of “low maintenance” inside the home too! Laminate flooring has recently been redesigned to resemble plank flooring, but is far less expensive and far more easily installed! It’s a great DIY project for most homeowners! Its realistic wood texture and appearance and its tough, water resistant clear-coat mean it requires virtually no maintenance after it’s in place. Just sweep and/or dust mop and you’re good to go!

6. Finishes that might take up too much time with cleaning are being altered to give the same long lasting durability and good looks, but with far less effort. Stainless steel for example, with its shiny finish is being eclipsed by “Black Stainless Steel.” It has a matte finish and doesn’t show fingerprints, but still has that high end feel of traditional stainless!
7. And of course, the counter tops… Quartz counter tops are surpassing granite in popularity. Granite needs to be sealed, and re-sealed every so often, Quartz doesn’t require sealing or even deep cleaning!

Popular Features

Exterior

Board and Batten exteriors are a very popular “new house” trend. It is frequently paired with a more standard looking horizontal vinyl siding. The mix provides a contemporary/cottage or farmhouse feel.

Patios & Decks have always been popular. Now they appear to be a new homeowner “must have!” With the majority of our “devices” being mobile, we’re spending more time with them, outside… Patios and decks are the perfect place to catch up on emails, text friends, relax with an e-book or even entertain.

Kitchens that include the out of doors. Having a kitchen/dining room with a view is great. Having a kitchen/dining room with access to the patio or deck is better. Much better! It is one of the most requested design elements of 2019.

Interior

So what’s popular on the inside of today’s new house?

Open concept floor plans are preferred to their more traditional, sectioned out counterparts.

Finishes

Color in cabinets. White cabinetry is still the favorite of our clients. Recently, we’ve seen color incorporated into kitchens and baths with painted cabinets. Some folks select painted cabinets for an entire room. Others have opted for one cabinet (typically an island in the kitchen) to anchor and accent the room with color.

Stainless is still on top. Stainless steel is still the most requested finish for appliances.

Counter tops in quartz. Manufactured quartz countertops have become all the rage. Quartz is a great alternative to granite. It’s very durable and allows for endless color selections. We are also still seeing a lot of granite installed in our new house s.

Brass is back! We’ve seen a recent uptick in the selection of brass fixtures over the previously trending “silver and/or nickle” tones.

Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring  or “LVP.” This is an excellent option for areas of the home that would do well with water resistance. It is frequently selected for the kitchen and bathrooms. That being said, it has been well used as the flooring option throughout the entire house. It comes in a variety of widths, colors and finishes.

The “smart-house” effect.The rise of the smart house is not exactly new. It’s just that now it’s become the norm. People want their homes to be as connected and convenient as their devices. It’s no longer enough to have a programmable thermostat, it must also be capable of learning your personal routine, in order to better serve your needs. The refrigerator can now send you a note when you’re out of milk. The oven turns itself on and off; and everyone of them is in contact with your virtual assistant!

All that really matters when building a new house is what YOU need to be happy. Give us a call today at 269-345-3859. We’ll be happy to help.