Southern Crafted Homes

Great Reasons to Buy a New Home in Tampa, Florida

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:07:17 +0000

In today’s economy there are many choices for consumers. Homeowners and banks are eager and anxious to dump properties and get out from under their debt burden. This leaves many consumers confused and can drag out the buying cycle and decision making process. Many get aggravated and simply stop looking for a home. But unless a buyer is prepared to spend considerable time and money finding the right home and bringing it up to their standards buying new is always going to be the better choice.

Modern Floor Plans – New homes have the latest floor plans. You’ll find typical ceiling heights are much higher than older homes. With open floor plans, larger master bathrooms, closets, and specialty rooms like man caves, media rooms, and computer niches, floor plans today are designed to optimize space. You won’t need to put in the costly expense of remodeling your home to meet your actual living requirements and lifestyle.

Customization – In a new home, you can customize the home to fit your needs. You can choose the colors, flooring, cabinetry and other options that will fit your tastes not that of the previous owner.

Technology – New homes are designed with today’s technology in mind. You will have ample phone jacks, high-speed data and cable. Security systems can be prewired in as you build your home. Most new homes come with Smart Home technology that allows for versatility and flexibility in making changes to your home as your needs change. Retrofitting phone and cable jacks, installing surround sound, and locating internet jacks can be quite the headache in cost and mess.

Easy Maintenance Materials –Lower maintenance materials allow you to carve out more time and enjoy living in your home, verses doing time consuming projects to maintain its beauty. Today’s building materials are much more maintenance free allowing you time to enjoy your home instead of having to constantly work on it.

Energy Efficient - The more modern a home, the more likely energy efficient equipment has been installed. From energy efficient doors and windows, proper insulation and energy star rated equipment and materials a new home is going to consume less fossil fuels making your overall cost of homeowners far less. And because much of this Green technology also focuses on specifying Green products it creates a healthier living environment for you and your family.

Safety – With modern materials and homes built to current building codes you eliminate the possibility of dangerous building products that may have been accepted in the past. You also won’t have to worry about old plumbing and faulty wiring that doesn’t meet current building codes.

Warranties – When you buy a home from a builder, it comes with a variety of warranties, from structural and mechanical to the warranties that come with the equipment used in your home. All around there is more peace of mind when purchasing new. While a warranty can be purchased with a used home, they typically last a year and only cover certain things. A homebuilder’s warranty is far more comprehensive and can cover certain equipment for 2 years and other aspects of your home for up to 10 years.

Predictable time frames – With shore sales and foreclosures the time from making an offer to the bank accepting that offer is completely unpredictable. Sometimes it can take six months just to get a response. No one wants to be in limbo that long. Homebuilders know how long it takes to build a home and have the scheduling down to a science. They will give you commitments you can count on and if it is a completed inventory home often you can get a closing date at time of contract.

Customer Service – When purchasing a new home there are staff members to guide you through the process whether it is understanding the contract, choosing décor selections, helping you understand the construction process or helping you with your closing. These knowledgeable professionals are there to help you through the intricacies of buying a home. With an existing home you are on your own for many things.

Community – New homes more often than not mean new community. Many new communities feature great amenities where residents can gather and enjoy their neighborhood, get to know each other and create a sense of community.

Quality Control Begins in the Purchasing Department in Your New Home

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:46:11 +0000

Many of you will recall that Chinese Drywall has been a big problem in new homes in the Southeast United States. There has been much debate as to how and why that problem occurred and how the industry could have allowed it but the reality is that quality control must begin in purchasing where the decisions are made about what products to buy and install in your new home. There are so many products out there and manufacturers are constantly introducing new product and technology. But a good purchasing manager will approach any product carefully and do research on it before deciding to put it in your new home. One sure way to get the proper information is to buy American products because American manufactured products must meet strict criteria. Much of this criteria is established by The American Society of Testing and Materials. ASTM is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards. Today, some 12,000 ASTM standards are used around the world to improve product quality, enhance safety, facilitate market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.
At Southern Crafted Homes purchasing decisions are made at the highest level and great care is given to study the various products, validate their performance and ensure that there are no safety issues. ASTM standards are reviewed and product history is researched. You can be sure that when you purchase your new Southern Crafted Home in Tampa that the highest standards of quality will be applied.

Swimming Pool Covers in Your New Home in Tampa

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:23:36 +0000

Florida boasts the warmth of the sun but swimming pools still lose energy in winter. Southern Crafted Homes provides a pool cover for every swimming pool they build for their customers. The cover reduces heat loss, chemical evaporation and helps keep the pool water clean while at the same time lengthening the swimming season. Depending on materials and the amount of time the cover is used, temperature increases of 5 degrees F to 10 degrees F can be expected. Transparent or translucent covers work best because they allow solar energy to pass through and be absorbed by the pool water and they prevent heat loss overnight. This is just one more way that Southern Crafted Homes employs best Green practices.

SOUTHERN CRAFTED HOMES PARTNERS WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:58:47 +0000

Land O Lakes, Florida – December 19, 2011

On January 11th, 2011 Southern Crafted Homes signed a partnership with the United States Department of Defense Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces. US Army Major General Keith Thurgood and Chief Operating Officer, Jim Deitch entered into the agreement to find ways to support returning veterans looking to transition back into the civilian work force. The company has a long standing tradition of supporting the military and almost 30% of its employees are veterans. Deitch served 12 years in the Marine Corps and is a veteran of the first Gulf War. In 2011 Southern Crafted Homes built a home for free for an Afghanistan veteran who is a paraplegic and the company has provided ongoing support to Homes For Our Troops and Support our Troops. On January 5th 2012 Mr. Deitch will join about a dozen other employers in Texas for the All American Bowl where they will meet with the Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, the US Army Chief of Staff, General Chiarelli and several other top Generals to discuss and formulate plans to help transition the thousands of returning veterans into civilian jobs. With the unemployment rate for veterans aged 20 to 24 years at 30%, they are more than double the unemployment rate for non-veterans. This is a leading issue in our country and Southern Crafted Homes is partnering with other like minded companies in trying to find a private solution to this crisis. “These men and women have served us selflessly in this long period of war. It is our duty to help them transition into the private sector,” said Deitch. “The construction industry has a long history of being military friendly and giving preferential hiring status to our veterans. We just want to do our part.”

Employer Partnership of The Armed Forces

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:19:44 +0000

On January 11^th, 2011 Southern Crafted Homes signed a partnership with the United States Department of Defense Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces. US Army Major General Keith Thurgood and Chief Operating Officer, Jim Deitch entered into the agreement to find ways to support returning veterans looking to transition back into the civilian work force. The company has a long standing tradition of supporting the military and almost 30% of its employees are veterans. Deitch served 12 years in the Marine Corps and is a veteran of the first Gulf War. In 2011 Southern Crafted Homes built a home for free for an Afghanistan veteran who is a paraplegic and the company has provided ongoing support to Homes For Our Troops and Support our Troops.

On January 5^th 2012 Mr. Deitch will join about a dozen other employers in Texas for the All American Bowl where they will meet with the Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, the US Army Chief of Staff, General Chiarelli and several other top Generals to discuss and formulate plans to help transition the thousands of returning veterans into civilian jobs. With the unemployment rate for veterans aged 20 to 24 years at 30%, they are more than double the unemployment rate for non-veterans. This is a leading issue in our country and Southern Crafted Homes is partnering with other like minded companies in trying to find a private solution to this crisis. “These men and women have served us selflessly in this long period of war. It is our duty to help them transition into the private sector,” said Deitch. “The construction industry has a long history of being military friendly and giving preferential hiring status to our veterans. We just want to do our part”

How To Drain Your Water Heater in Your Home in Tampa

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:16:02 +0000

Water heater manufacturers recommend flushing sediment from your water heater periodically. How often you should flush your water heater depends on the quality of the water in your area but most experts agree once a year is a good guideline. When flushing your water heater there is a danger of being scalded so be very careful and keep children and pets away during the procedure.

Sediment is sand or grit that has gotten into the municipal water mains. It also can be comprised of scale and mineral deposits. Over time your water heater will accumulate this sediment reducing the amount of water your heater tank can hold, reduce the efficiency of the unit and corrode the unit. It can also clog the drain valve.

Cleaning the sediment from your unit is fairly easy but there are some important first steps to remember. If your water heater is gas set the gas valve to “pilot” to prevent the burners from coming on while you are flushing it. If it is electric be sure to turn off the circuit breaker. With an electric water heater if the water level drops below the heating element and the elements come on they will burn out quickly.

Next connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Make sure the discharge for the hose is in a safe area away from pets and children to prevent injuries from scalding. Close the shut off valve to the cold inlet to the water heater. Carefully open the pressure relief valve at the top of the tank by lifting the lever up and leave it in the open position. (Be careful if your pressure relief valve does not discharge into a pan or to the exterior or you will flood your floor).

Open the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater and allow the water to flow through the garden hose. It is recommended you have the water drain into the yard as iron sediment can stain your concrete on your driveway and walkways. If the sediment is clogging the drain valve close the pressure relief valve and turn the cold inlet back on to help power flush it. If this does not clear the drain remove the hose and use a screw driver to break up the chunks of sediment in the drain valve.

You’ll know you are done when the water being discharged runs clear. At this point turn the valve off and remove the hose. Turn the cold inlet valve back on. Open a faucet in the house and let it run until the air gets out of the line. Then you can turn the heater back on and if it is a gas unit relight the pilot light.

Hello To All of Our Canadian Friends Wanting to Buy a Home in Florida

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:19:26 +0000

7 December 2011

To all of our Canadian friends,

We don’t like to brag but it’s a lot warmer here. Canada is so beautiful. The nature is spectacular and there is so much to do. Snow skiing, hockey, lacrosse, horse back riding, ice skating, fishing, etc. But then there is the cold. On the other hand we have golfing, biking, kayaking, boating, horse back riding, water skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling and a myriad of other activities that you can do all year around. Just want to relax? Take a stroll on our world class beaches at Clearwater, Caladesi Island or Honeymoon Key. Lay and soak up the sun. Enjoy our theme parks, zoos and museums.

Oh and we have hockey. Tampa is a great hockey town. With Stanley Cup winners the Lightning and a newly revamped arena Tampa Bay is pumped up for hockey. With Tampa in Conference 2 of the new “East” conference we are now in league with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadians. So come on down and cheer your home team. Or just enjoy the dozens of local leagues from pee wee hockey to senior leagues. Hockey rinks can be found all over the Tampa Bay area. And for those who are not hockey fans you will find plenty else to do.

Tampa Bay is home to thousands of wintering Canadians. Check and you may find that many of your friends are already here. As I write this it is December 7^th and 81 degrees Fahrenheit outside. That’s 27 degrees Celsius. I understand it is 1 degree Celsius in Toronto today.

The weather here is sunny and warm, the beaches are beautiful, and the palm trees are swaying in the breeze. But more importantly real estate is the most affordable it has been in many years and with the strong Canadian dollar the value is incredible. And one of the greatest advantages is if you are looking for a community where maintenance is not an issue you will find exactly what you are looking for in the Devonwood community in Land O Lakes. This gated community has no CDD fees and all exterior maintenance is included in your annual HOA fees including lawn maintenance, exterior pest control, fertilization and the HOA is even responsible for repainting and replacing the roof when it comes time. This is luxury living with no hassles.

So I invite you to visit us and leave the arctic breeze behind you for the sunny, warm weather of the Florida Gulf Coast. I look forward to meeting you. Visit us at www.southerncraftedhomes.com

Jim Deitch

Chief Operating Officer

Southern Crafted Homes

SOUTHERN CRAFTED HOMES WINS BIG AT AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2011

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:02:40 +0000

Tampa, Florida – December 7, 2011
Southern Crafted Homes won big at the 2011 Awards of Excellence Banquet taking home Best Web Site and Best Social Media Program. But the real news was in their sales. Jimi Gillespie, sales counselor for their Stonegate community took the Gold Medal award in the Gold category for top sales with almost $10 million dollars in sales. Ron Schulte, sales counselor for Devonwood won an award for the Million Dollar Circle award with $2 million dollars in sales. Significant was that this accounted for only the first five months that Ron was with the company. “We realized a 33% growth in sales volume based on units in 2011 over 2010,” said Jim Deitch, Chief Operating Officer. “Much of that has to do with the talent of our team and our marketing efforts combined with a great product. ” The company saw an almost 9% growth in their average sales price as consumers continued to make changes and add options to their homes. The company is known for its flexibility in customization and thousands of design option choices. Southern Crafted Homes builds in three North Tampa communities and also will build on buyers own lots.

Owning a Second Home in Florida

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:31:38 +0000

There has never been a better time to own a second home in Florida. American’s who live in the northern climates and Canadians know that this is the time of year when the warm tropical climate of Florida is so appealing. With prices at all time lows, those who regularly visit may find that now is the best time to purchase a home rather than continue to have the expense of renting homes or staying in hotels for extended stays.

But there are things to consider when making this choice. Because of the heat, sun and rain in the summer months, homeowner maintenance is extremely important. Whether it is simply maintaining the landscaping and irrigation, ensuring that there is fertilization and pest control, or repainting and reroofing, owning a second home has additional costs that must be accrued for. The luxury villas at Devonwood in North Tampa offer the perfect balance of a new home with carefree low maintenance living. The gated community has no CDD Fees and features a pool, cabana and gazebo with an adjacent park.

All homeowner maintenance on the exterior of the home is taken care of by the homeowner association including mowing, edging, weeding, fertilization, pest control, and replacement of plants and turf when necessary. In addition the HOA accrues money for the replacement of roofs and repainting of the exterior of the homes. Additional savings are realized through low utility bills. Each villa is certified by the EPA as Energy Star Certified and by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) as a Green certified home. The homes are 46% more efficient than homes built before 2006 and 29% more efficient than newer homes built after 2006.

So if you are choosing a second home in Florida go with a home that you can truly enjoy rather than one you have to sink money into and work to maintain. The Florida sun is calling. Visit Southern Crafted Homes at Devonwood or one of our other North Tampa communities.

New Homes Versus Resales in Tampa

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:32:57 +0000

Thinking of buying a used home in Tampa? Most people generally know buyer beware when buying something used. Most Realtors will recommend a home inspection. Many lenders require it. But home inspections are generally not invasive inspections and a lot can be left to chance when it comes to things like what is behind the walls and above the ceiling. One such area to be concerned about is the duct work. Older duct work had exposed fiberglass fibers that accumulated dust, particles and mold. For people with allergies, chemical sensitivities and children this should be a big concern. After all if you do not have evidence of the proper maintenance schedule on the air conditioning system how will you know what the air quality is going to be like. Some will tell you that duct work can be cleaned or treated and while this is true often times those doing the cleaning are using chemical biocides or sealants. Caution should be taken here as there is little evidence that these products are effective and little is known about adverse health effects. According to the EPA no chemical biocides are currently registered for use in internally insulated air duct systems.

New homes have new technology and one of those new technologies is sealed ductwork. Owens Corning Flexible Duct Media Insulation is sealed on both the outside and inside with the fiberglass core encased in liner. It provides better thermal performance while helping optimize air quality. Southern Crafted Homes uses Owens Corning Media Duct as a standard feature in their homes proving just one more example of how the company provides better lifestyles.