Do your 3^rd grader’s beginning violin lessons sound like a wailing cat? Did the cops show up at your teen’s garage band practice AGAIN? Or would you just like to get out your old Strat, turn your Marshall Stack to “11” and unleash some screaming guitar solos after the kids have gone to bed?

Maybe your family, neighbors and local authorities would appreciate a sound dampening practice room! Usually constructed in the lower level with special building materials and techniques, sound dampening rooms allow a family member to practice their music without disturbing anyone.

One recent homeowner at our Riverwood community took the idea a few steps further and used the Your Home. Your Way. program to create an entire custom recording studio complete with a large live room for the band, control room for the recording equipment and two isolation booths to record individual parts separate from the band. The recording studio features sound dampening double walls and Acoustiblok® sound isolation membrane on the walls and ceilings.

No word yet on whether the homeowner's recording studio has produced any top 40 singles, but you never know!

1. It's one of the fastest growing counties in the US.
2. It has the nation's highest median household income.
3. It posted dramatic job increases.
4. Its highway system and airport makes it accessible for business or employment.
5. It has an established reputation as an international center for technology, communications and transportation.
6. It has a first rate educational system.
7. It is a family friendly area with a strong sense of community.
8. Its mixed use and town center projects, such as Brambleton, are a perfect compliment for those after a downtown atmosphere.

Here are a few key terms to remember when reviewing the site plan:

Building Restriction Line (BRL): The BRL is the area where the home must be constructed within. 

Easement: This is an area designated on a homesite that permits specific utlilties to be legally installed.

Property Line: This is the legal boundary of the parcel of land. 

Contour Lines: These depict the topography and elevations of the site. The closer together these lines occur, the steeper the slope of the land. Contour lines can also depict drainage patterns.

This short video will cover the basics of reading a site plan when buying a new home. If you have any additional questions, please visit a Winchester Homes' Sales Center.

Winchester Homes New Williamsport Model

Winchester Homes St. Andrews model

I just came across this interesting article about the resurgence of ranch style homes. It especially timely since Winchester Homes just released the new Williamsport ranch style home. The new Williamsport offers around 2400 finished square feet of single level living. Of course you can add additional space be it a finished basement or a custom second floor through their unique "Your Home. Your Way." custom design program.

Winchester Homes has offered the very successful St. Andrews ranch style for many years but created the Williamsport in response to the many requests for a smaller ranch that could be customized to satisfy varied lifestyle needs.

As you will read in the article below, there are many reasons why someone may desire a ranch style home. With the Williamsport or St. Andrews and "Your Home Your Way", Winchester Homes can meet your unique needs and/or desires.

Visit www.winchesterhomes.com to see locations In Maryland and Virginia offering these great ranch style homes.


Back to the ranch; Single-story homes regain popularity among baby boomers, young families

Jim Weiker, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

From tract-house rambler to Palm Springs pizazz, ranch homes were a fixture of the 1950s and '60s.

But by the 1970s, the ranch had lost its luster, giving way to split-levels and, finally, a return to two-story homes.

The single-story home was relegated to niche player -- a modest starter home for first-time buyers or a comfort option for empty nesters.

But the family ranch is making a return, especially in the Midwest, as baby boomers seek a floor plan that suits their age, and young families enjoy the homes' open and airy designs.

"They are definitely becoming more popular," said Linda Parsons, a saleswoman with custom homebuilder Romanelli & Hughes. "People like the open feel of a ranch."

During the 1950s, ranches accounted for almost 90 percent of new U.S. homes. That percentage bottomed out at 43 percent in 2006 and has since risen slightly, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But in the Midwest, the return of the ranch has been far more dramatic: Single-story new homes jumped from 44 percent in 2003 to 52 percent in 2008, the last year for which figures are available.

Although many of those are patio homes targeted at retirees, the traditional family ranch is slowly reappearing.

During the past few years, several central Ohio homebuilders have introduced three-bedroom family-style ranches boasting more than 2,000 square feet.

At Parsons' suggestion, Romanelli & Hughes built a 2,914-square-foot ranch model at Mansard Estates in Galena in 2008. Since opening the model, Parsons said, five of the 12 homes the company has built in the subdivision and neighboring Walnut Grove Estates have been ranches.

Dominion Homes, central Ohio's second-largest homebuilder, also introduced a family ranch home, the 2,230-square-foot Waltham model, as part of its Tradition collection last year in several central Ohio subdivisions.

And Hallmark Homes, which entered the central Ohio market last year, offers its 2,354-square-foot Westport ranch at its Oak Park community in Dublin.

"Everyone said we need to build a ranch, ranches are what's selling, and I said if that's the case, we'll build it -- and in the first month we offered the design, we sold three of them," said William Hayes, who oversees Oak Park for Hallmark Homes.

Hayes said the company plans to introduce three more ranch models at Oak Park, an atypical number for the New Jersey-based builder.

"In the Midwest, the ranch seems to be enjoying a resurgence," he said. "We don't see that as much in our other markets."

New family ranches share a single-floor plan and three-bedroom design with their 1950s ancestors, but, as Parsons likes to say, "This ain't your mama's ranch."

"Today's ranches feel more open; they have more windows and don't feel so confined," said William Cornely, president and CEO of Dominion Homes.

Layouts get an update, too.

In the newer floor plans, the master suite is separated from the two other bedrooms, as opposed to traditional ranches, which cluster bedrooms in one wing or down one hall.

The most striking difference, though, is the reduction or elimination of formal rooms: The homes group kitchen, living and dining uses into one large living area at the rear of the house.

"The main focal point of the ranch is around entertaining," Hayes said. "The kitchen is the center; everything revolves around (it). Families just don't use that formal space anymore."

In place of a formal living room, ranches often offer a "flex room" off the foyer that can serve as an office, den, formal living room or media room.

Although some contemporary ranch plans offer open dining areas, others dispense with a dining room altogether. Romanelli & Hughes has built smaller versions of its ranch model that replace the dining room with a larger breakfast room off the kitchen which a homeowner can dress up for big holiday meals.

"Who needs a formal dining room anymore?" Parsons asked. "We're very informal now."

Modern ranches also come with 8- or 9-foot-deep basements that can be finished, taking advantage of the homes' large footprints.

As Parsons quipped, "The best part of a ranch? What you get up, you get down."

The large ranch footprint, however, is a prime reason that ranches slipped in popularity. As an industry rule of thumb, two-story homes are 20 percent less expensive to build because the foundation, basement and roof are smaller, and framing costs less.

Such expenses turn a $300,000 two-story home into a $360,000 ranch.

Charles Ruma, president of Virginia Homes, which has offered three or four ranch designs for several years, said many buyers who say they want ranches end up purchasing a two-story home because they can get more space for their money.

But for other buyers, cost is less important than the convenient layout and accessibility as the homeowners get older.

According to a National Association of Home Builders' survey, 52 percent of all buyers prefer a single-story plan to a two-story. The figure skyrockets with older buyers: 79 percent of buyers older than 55 prefer a single story.

The aging population probably will continue to drive the rise in ranches, although the homes might come in a variety of designs.

Westport Homes is working on a ranch design that will feature two master suites, with the idea that empty nesters might use one bedroom for an elderly parent or for guests, said Jack Mautino, president of the Columbus division.

"Baby boomers are aging differently than prior groups," he said. "They're not looking to go live in a community that's 55 and older. They like their independence, their single-family home. They still want to be outside, with the privacy of outdoor living and a garden.

"What I anticipate is we will see more ranches, maybe smaller ones, as people hold onto their homes much longer."

 

Curb Appeal

Recently I came across this great blog from Realtor Virgina Cassidy of Morris County, New Jersey. If you follow her advise you should increase your chances of a quick and more profitable sale of your existing home.

The majority of today’s buyers (over 80%) begin their search for a home on the Internet.  These buyers modify their search by scrolling through the photos available on major websites such as Realtor.com, GSMLS.Com, WSJ.com and Trulia.com.  The first photo available to buyers searching for homes is most often the exterior photo.  Most home buyers will not look at interior home photos if they deem the home unattractive from its exterior picture.  What this means to sellers is they must make an extensive effort to maximize the curb appeal of their home to increase their chances that  buyers will select their home from those available in their price range.

The best way to determine what needs improvement for your home’s curb appeal is to look at the front of your home from several vantage points.  Pay close attention to what the buyer will see as they approach your front door.  What does it look like as you drive by the home?  Many buyers do a drive-by before making an appointment to see the inside. 

The front door and porch or front steps are what buyers notice first.  Make sure the door is freshly painted, the hardware is polished and the door color complements your home.  The front porch and entry way can be dressed up by flanking the door with matching planters.  The planters should be the correct size for the porch.  Ensure that the planters do not impede with walking to the door or entering your home.  A new or freshly cleaned door mat should be placed at the door to welcome buyers to your home.  As a final touch, nothing says “welcome home” like a beautiful front door wreath complementing the colors of your home.

The front yard and planting beds should also be addressed.  Make sure your grass is mowed and all yard debris is removed.  Trim bushes and make sure trees and bushes are not blocking the front of your home.  Buyers should be able to see your home clearly from the street.  Make sure the positive features of your home’s exterior are visible.   Trim work, window moldings and architectural details should be visible to help sell your home. 

Look at your home at night as well as during the day.  Make sure the home has sufficient lighting to the front door.  Many buyers visit homes for sale in the evening.  Polish the light fixtures and replace worn-out bulbs.  Make sure the path to the front door is visible and clear of any obstructions.  Check that stepping stones in your entry path are not tripping hazards.

Finally make sure your front door opens and closes easily.  Your home should give the appearance that it is well-cared for.  Struggling with the lock or needing to use extensive force to push the door open does not give a good first impression of your home.  Buyers establish their impression of a home within the first few minutes.   A beautiful exterior enhances their view of your home and gets buyers ready to be impressed after they walk through your front door.

Before you list your home for sale, speak to a Realtor who understands home staging and curb appeal.   Making the effort to be sure your home shows at its best is worth the trouble. 

Visit Winchester Homes website at www.winchesterhomes.com.


 

KITCHENS
 
1. Traditional is the New Contemporary
Traditional will continue as the most popular kitchen design style in 2010, with contemporary following closely behind, while the Shaker style is seeing a surprisingly strong resurgence. Shades of whites and off-whites will be the most common kitchen colors in 2010, while brown, beige, and bone hues will also be popular.

 2. Cherry on Top
 Cherry will remain the most popular wood for kitchen cabinetry, followed closely by maple, while alder increases in use. As for the finishes placed on those cabinets, medium natural, dark natural, glazed, and white painted will all be common. Other colors of painted cabinetry and light natural finishes are in decline, however, as are distressed finishes.
 

3. Floored by Tile
Ceramic and porcelain tile, as well as natural stone tile, remain popular kitchen flooring options, but hardwood will dominate the kitchen landscape more than ever in 2010. For countertops, granite continues to be the most popular option, but quartz will nearly catch up in popularity. For backsplashes, ceramic or porcelain tile and glass will serve as the primary materials.

4. Flexible Faucets
Standard kitchen faucets will become less standard in 2010 in favor of more convenient models. Pull-out faucets continue to increase their market dominance, while pot filler faucets will also become more prevalent. Kitchen faucets will most often be finished in brushed nickel, followed by stainless steel, satin nickel, and — surprisingly — polished chrome.
  

5. Undercounter Refrigeration
French door and freezer-bottom are the two most popular styles of refrigerators, and side-by-side refrigerators remain a popular option. A surprising trend is the extent to which undercounter refrigerator drawers are being used in the latest kitchen designs. Perhaps even more surprising is that undercounter wine refrigerators have been recently specified by half of kitchen designers.
  

6. A Range of Cooking Options
The tried-and-true range continues to serve as the workhorse for cooking, although the combination of a cooktop and wall oven is beginning to overtake it. Gas will maintain its position as the most popular type of cooktop over electric, although induction cooking continues to gain in popularity due to its energy efficiency.
 

7. Dishwasher-in-a-Drawer
Standard dishwashers, with the traditional door that pulls from the top down, will once again be easily the most common type in 2010. However, an increasing number of dishwasher drawers will be installed in kitchens this year for their convenience and their ability to wash small loads of dishes in each drawer, thereby saving water and electricity.
 

BATHROOMS

1. In With the Old, Out with the New
Traditional will be the most popular design style in bathrooms in 2010, as contemporary designs will be a distant second, followed by the Shaker style as an even more distant third. Beiges and bones will be the most common colors used in bathrooms, followed by whites and off-whites, and then by browns, indicating a somewhat subdued color palette this year.
 

2. Ceramic and Granite
Ceramic and porcelain tile will be the dominant flooring materials in bathrooms this year, while natural stone will continue to prove popular as well. Though increasingly popular in kitchens,hardwood flooring won't become common in bathrooms in 2010. For vanity tops, granite will remain king, with quartz and marble also proving popular options.
 

3. Simple Fixtures
Perhaps more than ever, the most common color for fixtures will be white. Bisque and off-white will be the only other fixture colors at all common in new or remodeled bathroom. For sinks, simple undermount models will be most popular, followed by integrated sink tops, drop-in sinks, vessel sinks, and pedestal sinks.
 

4. A Nickel for Every Finish
Faucet finishes in the bathroom are similar to those used in current kitchen designs, with brushed nickel continuing to lead the way in 2010. Polished chrome and satin nickel will also be incorporated into many bathrooms, just as they had been throughout 2009. These faucet finishes will be followed by bronze and stainless steel.
 

I recently came across a great blog by Coral Gundlach of Virgina based Fall Properties.

According to Ms. Gundlach, the residential real estate market all over Northern Virginia is booming. Houses priced right and in good condition are selling fast. Houses that are not priced right and not marketed properly will not enjoy this success.

According to Ms. Gundlach, here are some of the top mistakes you (Your Realtor) can make when selling your house;

Too few, or lousy pictures in the MLS
Good pictures are essential, and lots of them. You can’t take an unprofessional picture with bad light and expect people to want to go see your house/listing. Include details, please: Room dimensions, directions, community information, condo/HOA amenities and inclusions, distances from public transportation, schools, details details details! If there’s a field in the MLS, it needs to be filled out. If you see houses not selling in this hot market now (and yes, there are many in every market that don’t get sold), if it doesn’t have an incurable defect, it’s because they are not being presented properly on-line. Ask your agent to show you the links to your listing and make sure they are not slacking.

Difficult showing instructions
Make it easy for your prospective buyers and their agents. Don’t plan on cooking big meals a lot at night and cozying up for a relaxing evening at home. Live lean, eat out, visit your friends a lot. If you have pets, make it easy for them to leave the house when someone wants to see it, and keep it clean and free of dog/cat odors. Barking dogs in cages, pee pads and stinky litter-boxes really distract a buyer from seeing your home’s best features.

Price it too high
Now in this market with such high demand and low supply, any seller is bound to want to push the limits with asking price. That is perfectly fine, but keep in mind that appraisers are being more conservative than ever, and often come in and shatter transactions with their opinion of value. If you price your house way off the charts high, and get no showings or a bunch of low-ball offers, listen to what the market is telling you. It speaks the truth.

Not staging or recognizing the power of decorating
This is more important than ever, and does not have to break the bank. Clear out your clutter. Donate to Goodwill, call one of the many junk removal places, borrow a friend’s garage, just get it out of your house. Hire a professional stager or a Realtor who will include it with his/her services. Nothing will help sell your house better than great decorating taste and a cozy, happy lifestyle on display.

If all of this seems overwhelming, it’s not if your Realtor does the heavy lifting and guides you through the process. Our Sales Managers at Winchester Homes can help you avoid these mistakes help you find a Realty professional such as Coral Gundlach in your area.

Visit www.winchesterhomes.com or www.camberleyhomes.com to get the latest information and help you find the home of your dreams. Winchester Homes builds new home communities in Maryland and Virgnia. With Winchester Homes "Your Home. Your Way." program, you can design your new home to match the way you live.

The hose bib is the faucet located on the outside of your home. In the winter when the weather gets colder, the water inside the tap and pipes can freeze causing damage to your pipes. Gary, from the Winchester Homes Warranty Department, walks through how to properly maintain your hose bibs to prevent them from freezing.

1. Located the hose bib valves in your mechanical room. Turn them to the off position.
    
2. On the outside of your home, remove any hoses and turn the hose bib water supply valves to the open position. (Leave them turned on throughout the winter)
    
3. Return to the mechanical room and remove the bleeder caps to drain them of any residual water.

1. Large kitchens with islands - it's no surprise that kitchens are still the number one feature that people look for in a home. With Your Home. Your Way., customers can make a  kitchen to suit their lifestyle needs. Increasing or changing the island shape, changing cabinetry configuration or expanding the room are a few of the things that can be done through the program.
2. Energy efficiency - green building is the buzzword these days and everyone is looking for ways to save energy and the environment. The Design for the Ages program offers a full range of energy efficient options for customers to choose from. They can go as big or as little as they want when it comes to green features...the choice is theirs.
3. Home office/studies - telecommuting is a popular thing around Maryland and Virginia so a home office is very important to customers. Most of Winchester's floorplan include an office on the main level; however, Your Home. Your Way. can create this space wherever the customer needs it. Maybe it is a second floor bonus room turned into an office instead of the two story foyer or family room...or an extra space carved out in the lower level. There are few limitations with Winchester Homes.
4. Main floor master suite - Universal Design is a popular topic these days, and main floor owner's suite are a part of this subject. People of all ages want ease of living. Winchester offers several first floor owner's suites floorplans, and with Your Home. Your Way., customers can turn create this space in most of our available floorplans.
5. Outdoor living - people are adding extra living space to their home through the creation of outdoor living spaces. Winchester Homes can assist customers in designing this space. Whether it is a simple deck off the family room or an entire patio with built in kitchen, Your Home. Your Way. has the resources to create that perfect outdoor living area.