Winter Wonderland

Winter can be a magical time of year, full of warm memories around the fireplace, great food, and family gatherings. But with all the recent snow and ice we’re passing along some tips to keep your home safe, and give you peace of mind during the low temperatures and storms!

1. Clear your gutters of leaves and debris, so water doesn’t back up and freeze inside the gutters.
2.  Make sure your downspouts are directed away from the house.   When the snow begins to melt on your roof and in your gutters, the water will drain away from your home.
3. Seal any cracks or holes in your outside walls and your homes’ foundation.
4. Keep your attic cool!  When you maintain the temperature of your attic at 5-10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature, you can help protect your roof from ice-dam damage.  This damage occurs when the heat from your home causes snow to melt at the middle of your roof, and then it refreeze at its edges.
5.  During extreme cold temperatures, protect your pipes!  Wrap exposed pipes in insulation, and keep water trickling through them regularly.  Moving water is much less likely to freeze.  You can also leave your kitchen cabinet or bathroom vanity doors open to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
6. Protect your home from flooding.  If snow is building up around your home, remove the snow from doorways, window wells, and walls.  When the built up snow melts, it can cause water damage to your home.

We want you and your home to be safe and warm for the rest of the winter.

Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers).  We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more.  For more information visit our website, Facebook Page or email us.

Build Your Dream Home This Year

Start 2015 with a different resolution, this is the year you build your dream home.  With so many new home designs to choose from, whether you’re a family of four expecting one more, or a couple who would love to downsize, you’ll find the perfect Lockridge floor plan to fit your needs and your budget.

Get started by choosing from over 40 floor plans on-line, then make the house truly yours by picking your options and upgrades right from your Lockridge Account.  Create the home you’ve always dreamed about and get your price quote immediately.   You can share your ideas and price quotes with one of our New Home Consultants when you’re ready, or Ask Helen if you need more information.

 Tips for Designing Your Lockridge Home

Choosing your options and upgrades can seem like a big task, but prioritizing your must-have list up front will definitely pay off in the long run.  Planning the things you need to create your dream home is so important, and Lockridge gives you the freedom to create and change your options until you’ve got the home you want.  That’s the beauty of having your Lockridge Account accessible to you 24 hours a day – get creative, go as big or small as you want!

• A Grand Entry Your front door and foyer are the spaces that welcome everyone to your home.  Whether you want grand or simple, Lockridge has it.  We have 2-story grand foyers with beautiful windows that let in lots of natural light.  Why not add wood or tile flooring to the foyer for elegance and easy clean up when there’s rain, snow or just lots of traffic.  Choosing the color of your door and style is very personal and it’s one of the features that makes your dream home especially yours.  Your Lockridge New Home Consultant can show you color choices and styles.
• Your Perfect Kitchen. From holiday preparation to family meals, so much time is spent in our kitchens. Find your ideal kitchen layout, then choose the cabinets, counter top material, sinks and more. Talk to your New Home Consultant about adding double wall ovens, a cook-top or other gourmet touches.
• Extend Your Living Space  Include an outdoor living space or sun room in your dream home plans. A deck is great place to entertain guests and enjoy your yard. You’ll have more living space outdoors when you add lounge chairs and a dining table to enjoy the sun during the day and watch the stars at night. If you’d rather have some shade, a screened porch is great place to be without worrying about rain, extreme sun, or insects.  A sun room is another option that allows you to enjoy the sunshine no matter what the temperatures are outside.

Don’t Wait to Build Your Lockridge Home—Get Started Today 2015 is your year to build the new home you’ve always wanted. Lockridge is ready to turn your dream house into reality. Contact us or visit your local Lockridge model home to get started.

Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers).  We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more.  For more information visit our website or email us.

‘Tis The Season

 

The holidays are here ready or not, and it can seem overwhelming –  shopping, greeting cards, baking cookies, decorating, parties…  How can you survive the stress, get everything ready, and still make the holidays memorable?  Here are a few tips to help make this holiday a little easier:

•  Make A Plan:   Having a get-together?  Write down the full menu, and include everything from the main course to specialty drinks and dessert. Another tip is to plan your menu around a single star item, then add other dishes that are easy to make or can be prepped ahead of time.
•  Don’t Over-Commit:   there are parties, events, dinners and invitations galore!  Make sure to take time for yourself during the Holidays. Setting aside an evening for just you and your family can help you feel refreshed and relaxed.
• Keep Active: Stick to your exercise program.  You’ll feel better by keeping active, especially when facing the holiday goodies.
• Give Back:  Volunteering your time to help others at a local hospital, shelter or non-profit is a great way to lift your spirits.  Many people are struggling during the holidays and we can help by getting involved and giving time to others, you’ll get a bigger gift in return!
• Bring Nature In: Decorate with natural things this year.  Use fresh holly, bowls of pine cones, and fresh garland to make your home festive and beautiful.
• Get Others Involved: Let the kids help out with baking holiday goodies, and decorating the tree is a great time for family bonding.  If you’re planning a dinner, consider having it potluck style. The more the merrier and it will take some stress off your plate.

This really is a magical time of year!  Don’t worry if something doesn’t go exactly as planned, it will make a fun story to tell around the fire next year.  From everyone at Lockridge, we wish you and your family a joyous and peaceful Holiday Season!

Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers).  We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more.  For more information visit our website or email us.

Cold Temps Are Here

Remember the Polar Vortex that affected most of the country earlier this year?  Well cold temperatures are headed our way again, and we’ve got some tips to get your home ready for winter!

• Gutters:  clean those gutters!  When you remove leaves and other debris you can prevent clogged downspout lines  and help stop formation of ice dams.
• HVAC Check-Up:  a licensed heating contractor can come do a complete system check-up to make sure your heating system is working safely and efficiently.  Change the interior air filters and make sure all the vents are clean and free from blockage.
• Drafts:  check your windows and doors for any cold drafty spaces.  If you find gaps, apply caulking to fill them in, and replace the sweep at the bottom of any exterior door if it’s worn.
• Fireplace:  if you have a wood-burning fireplace it’s important to have the flue checked each winter by a professional.  You can remove logs and ash from the firebox, but remember to dispose of them safely to prevent a fire hazard.
• Ceiling Fans:  reverse your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise, this will create an updraft that pushes warm air down and help make your rooms warmer.
• Exterior Faucets:  drain and shut off any exterior faucets and disconnect your garden hoses.  You don’t want these to freeze!  If you have a sprinkler system, contact a professional to drain the lines of water.
• Smoke & CO2 Detectors:  replace the batteries in all your smoke and CO2 detectors!  Even if your detectors are electrically hard-wired in your home, they probably have battery back-up.  Keep you and your family safe this winter!

We hope these hints help keep you a little warmer and safer this winter!

.Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers).  We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more.  For more information visit our website or email us.

 

Have A Safe Sparkly Halloween

Get creative when you decorate your house this Halloween!  You don’t need master carving skills to create beautifully spooky (or just beautiful) pumpkins this year.  With these tips, you also won’t need to worry about lighting candles inside your decorations.

Plain school glue and some black glitter are all you need to give pumpkins a new and chic Halloween look.  Pick an easy pattern, try a monogram or create the spookiest spider web.

First clean and dry your pumpkin.  Choose a Halloween-themed design or graphic and scale it to fit on your pumpkin.  Print the design on standard printer paper.  Cut excess paper around the image to make it more manageable and tape it to your pumpkin where you want the design to go.  Gently trace the outline of the design with a sharp pencil or pen to make an outline on the skin of your pumpkin.  Check under the paper that’s taped to your pumpkin to make sure the outline tracing is successful.

Simple graphics like the silhouette of a cat, spider or monogram initial is best for this project.

Remove the paper and look at the outline – if you’re satisfied – apply glue inside the outline of your graphic.  Example  –  if you traced the outline of a spider – put glue inside the traced lines to fill in the spider.

Use a spoon to sprinkle black (or other colored) glitter over the wet glue.  Tip the pumpkin to get excess glitter off.  Reapply the glitter until the entire glued area is coated.

Wait until it’s dry – and you’ve got a sparkly and safe Halloween decoration!

.Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers).  We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more.  For more information visit our website or email us.

 

Your Perfect Spot

 

You don’t have to choose between the perfect neighborhood and your perfect home.  Lockridge Homes can help you get the perfect fit.  If you don’t already own property, it starts with finding a lot and buying land.

Looking For Land

Find properties in the area where you’re most interested in living, then get as much information on each property as possible.  That means using resources, or a Realtor, to find which properties are available and if there are zoning requirements, deed restrictions or other issues that might affect purchasing the land.

If this is your first time buying land our Representatives can help point you in the right direction.  Lockridge may also have lots available where you want to live. Other resources include:

• Online Real Estate Sites –  www.realtor.com   www.zillow.com   let you search for land only, by price, size and location.
• Plat Directories – Check your local Chamber of Commerce or county auditor’s website for community plat directories.
• County Courthouse – they can answer land ownership questions, tell you who owns each parcel of land and let you know about local laws.
• Visit the Community – if you want to live in a planned community instead of a more private property go to a community event or visit a dog park in the neighborhood you like.  The homeowners are a great resource and will tell you what they like and don’t like about living there.

Pick Your Location

Choosing your right location is a process. Maybe you already know you want conveniences close by and space for your kids to play, but there are other factors you may want to consider.

• Prioritize – Do you dream of have a gas station, grocery store and restaurants close by? You might not get all of them within a few minutes’ drive, so look at your preferences and prioritize them. If proximity to the grocery store is your number-one priority, start your search around that. When you write down your “must haves” you can narrow your search.
• Your Children – School districts are also a top priority when you have children. Land located in a good school district may be more expensive, but it will raise and retain the value of your new home. Visit greatschools.org to find out how local schools are rated. Their ratings are based on test scores and not the students’ experience at the school, so be sure to read the parent and student reviews on the website too.

The Nitty-Gritty

When you’ve found the property you love, here are some tips that will help you with the purchase and site work costs.

• Property must be surveyed by a registered surveyor, and a plat on file with your County.
• Contact your County office for septic or public utility information.
• Make sure there aren’t any deed restrictions or liens on the property
• Find out if the property is in a flood zone

Lockridge wants to build you the home of your dreams, in your perfect spot.  In some of our areas Lockridge can build on your land or ours.  Ask a local Lockridge Representative for more information or Ask Helen our online representative.

.Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers).  We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more.  For more information visit our website or email us.

Financing Simplified

 

We’ve heard that home is where the heart is, and Lockridge agrees!  You’re going to fall in love with a new home that is built on your land, the way you want it.

At Lockridge Homes we make building a new home affordable, with floor plans and options that fit almost any budget.  For many people the idea of financing the construction of their new home can be a little overwhelming.

Questions we hear:

How does a construction loan work?

How does land financing work?

Can I use VA or FHA financing?

Do I make payments while my home is under construction?

Will I qualify for a construction loan?

The truth is, the answer to these and other financing questions will vary based on your specific situation.  Just like the Lockridge home you picked out is just right for you, the same will be true for your financing.

Lockridge thinks building a new home should be affordable, simple and fun.  That’s why we’ve partnered with several lenders who specialize in on-your-own-lot new home construction and they offer financing solutions that can work for you, including:

Construction loans that convert to your permanent loan once your home is completed.

FHA, VA and other loan programs.

Dedicated mortgage loan specialists who can walk you through each step of the process.

Get started by going to the My Budget section of your Lockridge Account!

Want to know more, or have questions about building a new Lockridge home?  You can Ask Helen our online liaison, contact your local Model Home or like us on Facebook

Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers).  We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more.  For more information visit our website or email us.

 

Moving In

 

Your new Lockridge home is complete and you can’t wait to move in!

If you don’t own a big pick-up truck and have a local sports team on speed-dial, chances are you’re searching for a moving company to help you and your family move into your new home.  But there are so many moving companies, how do you know what to look for and what will help you find the right one?  Here are a few tips to help you narrow down your search.

How long has the moving company been in business?

Experience definitely counts when it comes to moving your worldly possessions!  A good track record will show their ability to move your belongings in a safe manner.

Is the moving company licensed?

Every moving company should have a U.S. Department Of Transportation number.  This is especially important if you are moving from one State to another State.  To ensure your mover’s D.O.T. number is valid, you can search for it on the U.S. Department of Transportation website.  If your move is local or within the State where you live, your mover will need a state license.

Is the moving company insured?

You can also verify the company is insured on the U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s website.  It’s never a good idea to use a moving company without a license number or insurance.  Check with the mover to see if your personal items are covered by their insurance during the move.  You should also check with your insurance to see if your homeowners or renters policy covers your items.  If your items are not covered, consider getting supplemental moving insurance.

Does the moving company have a Better Business Bureau rating?

Visit the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site in the moving company’s area to see their rating.  You’ll also be able to read any complaints and see how the company resolved the issue.

How many people will be on the job (your job)?

Ask if the movers are going to wrap and protect your furniture to prevent damages and how long will it take to pack your belongings.  Also ask if you’ll be charged for overtime if it takes longer than the original estimate.

These are a few important questions to ask  and help you determine the company that will best fit your moving situation.

Want to know more, or have questions about building a new Lockridge home?  You can Ask Helen our online liaison, contact your local Model Home or like us on Facebook

Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers).  We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more.  For more information visit our website or email us.

Going Green Makes Cents

Going green doesn’t mean lots of green spending.  There are simple and effective ways to be environmentally smart without spending a fortune and you’ll see a big return on your investment!

New homes are by nature more energy-efficient than older homes but to boost your green-ness, start with the little things.  We recommend starting with your light bulbs.

Swap incandescent light bulbs for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)  This can be a 10 minute task depending on how many family members you can recruit to help out!  CFL bulbs are an easy way to conserve energy and save money over the long-term.  While CFL bulbs initially cost more than regular incandescent bulbs, they only use 25% of the energy a regular incandescent bulb uses to deliver the same amount of light.  That’s an energy-saving of 75%!  Plus, CPF bulbs can last 10 times longer and emit less heat.  When you see lower electric bills, be inspired to make other energy-efficient changes!

Low-Flow Shower Heads  have really evolved over the last 5 years.  The older versions cut down on water flow but also reduced water pressure, which meant rinsing shampoo took a lot longer than normal.  Now, you can save water while showering with plenty of water pressure!  Low-flow shower heads can cut down water used for bathing by 50 – 70%!  You’ll save on your water bill and conserve natural resources.  These new version shower heads are easy to install, available at local home improvement stores and start under $20.  Look for WaterSense Certified products.

Programmable Thermostat can return more to your home than you might realize.  If you don’t already have one, installation is relatively easy, economical and immediately beneficial.  These thermostats can be set and adjusted to your schedule, cutting out wasted energy and lowering your utility bill.  They help homeowners save lots of money every year and can help lessen the amount of greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere by cutting down on HVAC usage.

Properly Sealed Homes (like a new Lockridge home) can save you a fortune.  Older homes develop gaps and cracks over time near windows or doors that need to be sealed to keep warm or cooled air inside.  Sealing these spaces from both the interior and exterior with caulk or foam filler can quickly make a difference in your heating or cooling bill.

These are some small and relatively easy things you can do to save money and the environment, and a new Lockridge home is more energy-efficient by design.

Want to know more, or have questions about building a new Lockridge home?  You can Ask Helen our online liaison, contact your local Model Home or like us on Facebook

Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers). We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more. For more information visit our website or email us.

 

 

New Dreams, New Ideas, Your New Lockridge Home

 

More and more customers are discovering how affordable building a new home can be! At all Lockridge Home Locations our team members are working with customers to select floor plans, choose interior and exterior details, and create their perfect home.

While our Model Homes are open so you can see all the possibilities for your own new home, Lockridge also gives you the tools to find your floor plan, pick your options and fit it all into your budget – at your convenience!  Our website and your personal Lockridge Account is open 24 hours a day so you never have to wait to find, price, and customize your new home.

This summer visit a model home:

• Tour a complete new Lockridge home
• Touch and feel our quality stick-built construction
• Talk to our experts about building your own new Lockridge home

We’ll also host Open House events this summer.  That means more chances for you to ask questions, meet the team, and experience everything you might have in your new home.

Want to know more, or have questions about building a new Lockridge home?  You can Ask Helen our online liaison, contact your local Model Home or like us on Facebook

Lockridge is an on-your-own-land new home builder in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. (see all our Model Home Centers). We offer a full service website that allows you to choose floor plans, get complete price quotes, get prequalified for a mortgage, and more. For more information visit our website or email us.