Spring Home Maintenance

Spring Home Maintenance

March is quickly approaching and with it - spring!

Once the chill is out of the air it's time to get back up and outside for some home maintenance.

Here are some items for your list of must-do spring sprucing.

• Change your air filters - do this monthly for best use
• Check for leaky faucets and clogged drains
• Look for signs of pests and take preventative measures before it gets too warm
• Refresh outdoor furniture
• Repair or replace window screens
• Declutter

What are we missing? What will you do to freshen your home for spring?

Roll out the red carpet...

In honor of the Oscars this weekend we thought we'd highlight some of our favorite red carpet fashions - in flooring that is.

Whether is actual carpet you are interested in, hardwoods or tile - here are some of our favorites in flooring trends.

Reclaimed Wood Flooring

Stained Concrete

Bamboo Flooring

CAPS Certification

Park Ridge Builders is a Certified-Aging-in-Place or CAPS specialist.

What does this mean?

The CAPS designation is awarded by the National Association of Home Builders. Builders are required to take three educational courses taught by a NAHB certified instructor.  After successful completion of the courses the CAPS builder must keep up their certification with continuing education classes and credit.

According to the NAHB: "Homeowners want to stay in their homes for the duration. By instituting simple universal design techniques, professional Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists can insure that you live in your home comfortable, safely and independently for as long as you want."

Park Ridge is pleased to be counted among this elite group of builders and looks forward to serving your Aging-in-Place needs.

Housing in Georgia

The map above shows the change in house prices by state from the past four quarters. The latest map was released at the end of the 3rd Quarter 2012.  What you'll find is that home prices in Georgia are increasing.  This is great news for home owners and good motivation for potential buyers to act now before prices go even higher!


The housing recovery is vital to our country's economic rebound and we are excited to see some good news on the state of the housing market in our area.

Lighten Up Game Day

Super Bowl weekend is here and along with it the opportunity to consume more than your fair share of calories...or not?  Believe it or not there are ways to lighten up some game day classics. Here are a few recipes that will please even the pickiest guest - brought to you by EatingWell.com.

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Parmesan Potato Skin Chip

 

 

Ingredients

• 5 large russet potatoes
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. With a paring knife, remove skin and about 1/8 inch of the flesh from potatoes in long 1- to 2-inch-wide strips. (Reserve peeled potatoes for another use.) Toss the potato skins with oil, paprika, salt and cayenne. Place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet; sprinkle with Parmesan.
3. Bake until tender and golden, 25 to 30 minutes.

Chocolate Crunch

Ingredients

• 1 cup Wheat Chex cereal, (2 ounces)
• 1 cup pretzel sticks broken in half, (2 ounces)
• 1/4 cup salted roasted almonds, (2 1/2 ounces)
• 3 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips, melted 

Combine Chex, pretzels and almonds in a medium bowl. Drizzle with melted chocolate; stir to combine. Spread the mixture on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.

The changing look of custom homes

According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune about trends in custom homes, buyers expectations are changing rapidly in three distinctive areas.

"Smart Homes"

Buyers want homes with the latest technology built in.

Examples of smart home features include: home automation of light, HVA, security systems, etc.

"Distinctive Spaces"

The article points out the increased demand for unique spaces that capture the feel of a "custom" home.

Examples include larger than life master baths with sauna type features, multiple body spray units and rain heads.  In the kitchen this means beverage stations, functional islands and a design fit for entertaining.

The last element focused on in the article is not really new - better communication with the builder.

This is an area that Park Ridge Builders prides itself on. We understand that building a home involves building a relationship with the home buyer and we strive to continue to strengthen that process.

It's Time.....

It's that time of year again...tax time.

While it's not necessarily worthy of a Hallmark card, tax time for homeowners has its benefits.

Homeownership allows for certain tax breaks that can make visiting your accountant a little more bearable.

For information on how these tax breaks apply to you and how to best utilize them we've collected a list of articles that we hope will be educational.

6 Tax Breaks Every Homeowner Should Know

Homeowner Tax Breaks

Deductions for Homeowners

What are some of your biggest questions about taxes for homeowners?