Month: April 2013

Shades & Highlights: Things We Like April 2013

Highlight Homes gets a great deal of our inspiration from the homeowners with whom we are honored to work from one project to the next. To keep our stores of creativity overflowing, we often look at the world around us – both within our industry and slightly outside of that box. Most recently inspired by the commemoration of Earth Day, the tragic Boston Marathon Bombing, and the undeniable arrival of Spring in the Southeast, we have compiled the following list of people, places, products, and companies that motivate us to do what we do every day:

Composting: At Highlight Homes, we pride ourselves on being a Green Builder. We are big believers in the mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” and often incorporate those practices in our custom construction and remodeling projects. Composting is an easy way to reduce landfill waste, recycle biodegradable materials to make nutrient rich humus, and  reuse that compost to fertilize the soil in your garden – eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers. Getting started is easy! Purchase a compost bin to collect kitchen waste in the home and begin a compost pile in your back yard on a patch of bare earth lined with straw and twigs to aerate the lawn clippings, yard waste and contents of your home’s compost bin. For more information on how to start composting and what should be included in your compost pile, read this helpful article from EarthEasy.com.

Photo Credit: Brian/Stockvault.net
Photo Credit: Brian/Stockvault.net

Grow Your Own Herb Garden: Another major theme of the Green Movement is sustainability. Once you’ve begun your compost pile, you have the perfect fertilizer to establish an herb garden. These are terrific for fenced-in backyards (to help deter wildlife) and container gardens on decks. Fresh herbs are a wonderful addition to a wide variety of recipes, so this is an ideal project for the eco-friendly gardener who loves to cook. The easiest herbs to grow are basil, dill, fennel, mint, oregano, and rosemary, among others.  For tips on how to grow herbs and great recipes to use them in once they’ve grown, check out this slideshow from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, titled “Easy-to-Grow Herbs.”

Security Cameras: It is unlikely that we Americans will ever forget the eerie images captured of the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects before the tragic events of April 15, 2013. We live in a world where security cameras are placed on nearly every street corner in every major city. They are a modern measure that has not only brought the guilty to justice, but can also serve as a deterrent to crime. In order to keep watch over the ones you love, you may want to consider having security cameras placed near points of entry at your family’s home. Marietta-based Georgia CCTV provides video surveillance systems for homes and businesses throughout Metro Atlanta.

Sunrooms: With the wonderful arrival of Spring each April, so follows the onset of pollen season. That yellow stuff that dusts the windshields of our cars and leaves its mark on the patio furniture in the backyard makes it nearly impossible for many Georgians to breathe deeply without sneezing and wheezing. Still, the grass is greening up, leaves are reappearing on the trees, and flowers are filling the gardens. It seems a shame not to be able to enjoy Mother Nature’s splendor this beautiful time of year just because of a fine yellow powder. Pollen poses an excellent argument for the incorporation of a sunroom filled with windows for the four-season enjoyment of the Great Outdoors.  It just so happens that sunrooms are one (among MANY) of our specialties here at Highlight Homes. To schedule a no-obligation consultation to discuss the incorporation of a sunroom addition at your home, call our talented design-build team at 678-873-8234 TODAY!

Photo Credit:  Chopped Herbs by Brian/Stockvault.net

Highlight Homes Strives to Save the Planet – One Home at a Time

All eyes turn to Earth Day on Monday, April 22 as the world celebrates eco-friendly practices, environmentally conscious events, and an ever-growing network of businesses and organizations that is 22,000 partners strong in 192 countries across the globe. While we at Highlight Homes plan to commemorate this auspicious occasion alongside the rest of the world, we are proud of the fact that we celebrate the concept behind Earth Day 365 days a year.

Longstanding Reputation as a Green Builder and Developer: Highlight Homes has a colorful past – one that includes many shades of GREEN!  Our sister development company, Vesmont, has been responsible for the realization of beautiful, eco-conscious communities featuring walking trails and an abundance of natural greenspace. Highlight Homes itself boasts a number of Green Builder certifications, including Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Building Program, Energy Star and Earth Craft House.

Green Building Council Logo - HLHActive Participation in Green Building Council of the Greater Atlanta Home Builder’s Association Since 2011: Our fearless leader and founder, Tony Pourhassan is honored to serve on the Green Building Council alongside other esteemed Atlanta home builders and renovators to promote green building practices throughout our industry. Just last year, he took part in the White House Energy, Environment and Conservation Round Table as the council weighed in on a very important subject that impacts the entire nation.

Solid Promotion of the Ultimate Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Concept: As one of Atlanta’s premier renovation companies, Highlight Homes continually promotes the concept of “reduce, reuse and recycle” by encouraging current homeowners to remodel rather than move into a new home. Our design-build team devotes a terrific amount of energy to designing and building both custom homes and home additions that reduce energy consumption and material waste. We place products that aid in less energy consumption in every home we build or renovate, and all construction debris is disposed of through recycling. Many of our renovations and custom homes boast energy efficient windows, doors, appliances and plumbing.

We invite YOU to celebrate Earth Day with us – no matter the time of year!  To schedule a no-obligation consultation, contact the Highlight Homes team by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com or filling out our convenient online contact form. Learn more about our Green Building Practices by visiting the Highlight Homes website at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Our Earth Day Gift to You!!!  Sign a Contract with Highlight Homes during the month of April, and You Could Receive a $500 Gift Card to Pike Nurseries, Lowes or Home Depot to Help You Beautify Your Little Corner of the Planet*!

* Good for contracts of $10,000 or more; Highlight Homes is not affiliated with Home Depot, Lowes, or Pike Nurseries. Offer Expires April 30, 2013. Must mention offer at time of consultation.

Rise in Sales of Existing Homes Means Good News for the Remodeling Industry

Image courtesy of smarnad / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of smarnad / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In February 2013, the national real estate market showed a marked rise in existing home sales from the previous year.  February was representative of a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.98 million sales of existing single-family, condominium, townhome and co-op homes – up nearly half a million at 460,000 units from the year before1. Regionally, the South is leading the pack with a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.72 million sales of existing homes as of February 2013 – up 190,000 units from the year before. The West and Mid-West are tied for second with 1.06 million sales of existing homes and the Northeast is in a distant third with 520,000 sales of existing homes as of February 20132.

With the sale of existing homes on the rise, chances are – demand for reputable and skilled remodeling companies will follow suit. Often, with the purchase of an existing home comes the need for anything from basic home maintenance to major renovations. For instance, a house that was purchased out of foreclosure may have fallen into a state of disrepair and could require a few fixer-upper tactics in order to make it home sweet home for the family who will be assuming ownership. On the other hand, even a home that has been well-loved and excellently maintained may be an excellent candidate for a home renovation in order to make it reflect the needs, wishes and collective personality of the new homeowners.

If you and your family are purchasing – or have recently purchased – an existing home and you have a number of home maintenance and/or remodeling projects in mind, it’s likely that you’ll want to get on a good renovation company’s calendar right away.  Highlight Homes – an award-winning luxury custom home and renovation company based in Atlanta – is currently taking appointments for consultations and booking projects through Fall 2013. We specialize in basic home maintenance, as well as:

  • Whole Home Renovations
  • Room Additions
  • Architectural and Design Services
  • Kitchen & Bath Remodeling
  • Landscaping & Ponds
  • Decks & Porches
  • Sunrooms
  • Basement Finishing
  • Home Theaters
  • Outdoor Living Spaces & Kitchens
  • Man Caves
  • …and So Much More!

Our talented design-build team can be reached by calling 678-873-9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com or by filling out our convenient online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you soon!  In the meantime – if you’d like to learn more about Highlight Homes and the services we offer – please visit our website at www.highlighthomesga.com.

References:

http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_details.aspx?contentID=55761

http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_details.aspx?contentID=68179

Image courtesy of smarnadFreeDigitalPhotos.net