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Renovations for Retiring Baby Boomers on the Rise

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 40.3 million Americans turned 65 or older in the United States in 2010. That’s nearly 13% of the entire nation’s population. In addition, that number was up 5.3 million from just 10 years earlier, which was up 3.8 million from 10 years before that. It’s clear that America’s Baby Boomer generation – born between 1946 and 1964 – is either at or nearing retirement age and looking forward to their golden years. Add to those statistics the fact that 88% of homeowners aged 65 or older would like to stay in their current residence for as long as possible (AARP), and it’s a sure bet that – while gearing up for the Golden Years – aspiring retirees could use the services of a trusted and experienced renovation company like Atlanta-based Highlight Homes.

There are several reasons a Baby Boomer might want to consider a thoughtfully planned and well-executed home renovation:

1. Home Beautification

When one trades in the keys to their office for the freedom that retirement affords, travel may top their To-Do list. But – unless they plan to pack up an RV and travel all over the country or sail around the world for months on end – chances are they will suddenly be spending lots of time at home. That can be a very positive thing when one happens to love their home. That love of home can be magically rekindled with an exciting gourmet kitchen renovation where they can explore their culinary creativity, the incorporation of a tranquil outdoor oasis where they can enjoy countless mornings gardening and numerous evenings dining al fresco, or the complete revamp of a basement into the ideal spot for entertaining friends where they can host an endless array of casino nights, movie watching parties, and so much more. From a new façade on the exterior to a master bedroom renovation, the possibilities are endless for one’s home to reflect the excitement that surely follows this thrilling new stage of their life.

2. Home Maintenance

If a couple has lived in their home for a number of years, it may be wise to take a look around at possible home maintenance needs in order to fend off any costly surprises down the road. From big projects that might involve the condition of the roof to easy fixes like caulking around windows and door to keep out drafts and moisture, a skilled general contractor or renovation company can provide a top-to-bottom assessment to help homeowners plot out their maintenance projects over the coming months. It can also help them keep an eye on possible problem areas in their home and plan for possible major repairs at some point down the road.

3. Age-in-Place Inspired Renovations

With so many homeowners aged 65 and above desiring to stay in their homes for as long as possible, it may be a smart move to begin looking at “age-in-place” renovations to help them comfortably adjust to the Golden Years and beyond. Handicap accessible ramps along the exterior of the home and stair lifts are at one end of the retirement age spectrum, while mainstream “age-in-place” adjustments like walk-in showers with seating and safety grab bars and conversion of a first-floor living area to a master suite may be forward-thinking options to consider incorporating into the home now rather than later – when it’s an absolute necessity.

If you are a Baby Boomer who is considering a home renovation – whether for Home Beautification, Home Maintenance, or Age-in-Place Inspired – we invite you to call upon the talented design-build team at Highlight Homes. Our home renovation experts will be more than happy to help you assess your “needs” and explore the options to best fulfill your “wants.” Highlight Homes is proud to be a Better Business Bureau-accredited company that is fully licensed and insured. To schedule a no-obligation consultation, please call 678.873.9234, e-mail info@highlighthomesga.com, or fill out our convenient online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes, view our full list of services and sneak a peek at some of our previous projects, visit www.highlighthomesga.com today!

Highlight Homes Plays Cupid with a Few Great Gift Suggestions in Time for the Holiday

While our friend Cupid works his magic with a bow and arrow, the talented crew at Highlight Homes works a little magic of our own with blueprints, hammers, nails, power saws, and electric drills. Cupid has the power to make two people fall in love with one another; we have the power to make two people fall in love with their home all over again. As one of Atlanta’s leading renovation companies, we welcome the chance to help you put the sweet back in your own “home sweet home” this Valentine’s Day.

Gift Ideas for Her…

Walk-in Closet: Make her feel like the glamorous star of her own romantic comedy with a dressing space that’s worthy of a star on the door. Highlight Homes’ extensive knowledge of structural engineering allows us to look at spaces a little differently than your run-of-the-mill general contractor.

Master Bath: Bring new meaning to the phrase “rest room” with spa-inspired additions such as a waterfall tub, hands-free faucets, Italian-tile lined steam shower, surround sound stereo, and elegant lighting. Warning – she may never want to leave this personal pampering place.

Craft Studio: If your sweetie is an aspiring artist or crafter at heart, what better way to say “I love you” than to create a space that is uniquely their own. Be it a sunroom that’s filled with light and paint-and-hot-glue-friendly flooring or a corner room in the basement surrounded with workspaces and storage cabinets, creation of this space is sure to get you a big hug.

Gift Ideas for Him…

Man Cave: If you know a boy who likes to escape to his own corner of the home from time to time, why not make that corner fit his individual tastes and interests. Whether it’s a work room where he can bang around and build things, a place to have the guys over to explore their garage band roots, or his very own version of the bar from “Cheers”, Highlight Homes can help you draw up blueprints for the Man Cave of his dreams.

Outdoor Oasis: With Spring just a matter of months away, backyard barbeques and pool parties are just around the corner. Whether you seek a quiet garden retreat, a high-energy sports and pool complex, or an outdoor kitchen, Highlight Homes can help you create an al fresco extension of the interior of your home that makes him feel like the grill master and lord of all that he surveys rolled-into-one.

Gift Ideas for the Happy Couple…

Master Retreat: Convert your bedroom into a “love nest” you can’t wait to retire to each evening… something that evokes luxury, comfort and warmth. From trey ceilings for added height and hardwoods to add  a timeless opulence, to crown molding to add rich details and a shift in the floorplan to open things up – Highlight Homes’ experience in structural engineering and architecture can help you see your bedroom in a way you never even imagined.

Gourmet Kitchen: Be the stars of your very own cooking show every night! A renovation of the heart of the home that takes an outdated kitchen to a state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen will serve as the inspiration for many a fabulous meal to come. What an awesome gift to give one another – a gift that keeps on giving year-after-year.

Gift Ideas for the Whole Family…

Game Room/Media Room: From a movie theater-inspired media center for endless runs of sci-fi favorites to your very own billiard room/arcade, Highlight Homes can help you convert a bonus room or finish a basement into a living space that will likely become one of your family’s favorite rooms of the house with countless memories to be made.

This list goes on and on!  To get started on your Valentine’s Day shopping with a home renovation from Highlight Homes, contact our design-build team by phone at 678.873.9234, by e-mail at info@highlighthomesga.com, or via our our convenient online contact form.  Given the short amount of time before the holiday, it’s unlikely we’ll be able to complete your project by Valentine’s Day – but we can draw up the blueprints for you to hand over to your loved one, deliver a certificate announcing their special gift to come, or begin construction right away. To learn more about Highlight Homes, we welcome you to visit our website atwww.highlighthomesga.com where you can meet the members of our team, discover our ever-increasing list of services, and view our portfolio online. To stay up-to-date on the latest Highlight Homes news, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and/or sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, The Highlight Homes Herald.

Image Credit: Jonathan Harris – Stockvault.net

As with the arrival of any new year, we are excited about all of the new projects Highlight Homes will tackle, new discoveries we will make, and new relationships we will build with vendors and clients alike. Because there’s no way to know what exciting things 2013 has in store for us, we’d like to dedicate this issue of Shades & Highlights to some of the cool new products and trends that are hitting the market and will likely positively impact the renovation industry:

Pantone Color Report Spring 2013: Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries recently released its fashion color report for Spring 2013. With gorgeous garden-themed hues like Tender Shoots green (PANTONE 14-0446), African Violet purple (PANTONE 16-3520) and Poppy Red (PANTONE 17-1664), it’s evident that color will be in bloom in both fashion and décor over the coming months.

House Beautiful: House Beautiful Magazine writer Mimi Read showcases some exciting, up-and-coming developments in the realm of interior design for her article “10 Home Decorating Trends That Will be Hot in 2013.” We won’t spoil the surprise, but we think she’s right on target with regard to homey kitchens and sophisticated man caves (eh-hem, Highlight Homes can help you incorporate both into your own home!)

enLIGHTenment  magazine: Writer Linda Longo “shines a light” on the latest trends in her interview with award-winning Northwest design firm Neil Kelly for her article “Top 10 Home Design & Remodeling Trends For 2013.” Again, we’re not about to steal Longo’s thunder – but we ARE particularly fond of Top Trend #2: Living in Your House Longer.  As an Atlanta-based design-build renovation firm, that’s music to our ears.

Benjamin Moore’s Tintable Chalkboard Paint: Benjamin Moore is a paint manufacturer that we use from time-to-time in our renovations, particularly on the interior walls. We are curious about the release of their new tintable chalkboard paint (Product # 308), which is “a latex topcoat that turns virtually any interior surface into a chalkboard. It is easy to apply, dries in a matter of hours to a durable eggshell finish, is easy to clean and fully washable. It also is formulated to minimize any lingering odors, making it ideal for a child’s playroom, bedroom or even the kitchen—as a message center for shopping lists and household reminders.” The best part is, there’s no longer a need for the blackboard to be BLACK. This Chalkboard Paint can be tinted to match all 3,300 hues in the Benjamin Moore collection – and with the ability to color match – the possibilities are endless!

Check back every month for a new edition of Shades & Highlights from the design-build team at Atlanta home remodeler, Highlight Homes. To learn more about Highlight Homes and the services we provide, we invite you to visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

To schedule a no-obligation consultation with Highlight Homes to discuss remodeling your home in 2013, call us TODAY at 678-873-9234!

Atlanta Custom Builder and Renovation Blog Listed Among Best Home Building Websites by ConstructionManagementDegree.com

We’re accustomed to receiving kudos and awards for our thoughtfully designed, quality crafted custom homes and renovations at Highlight Homes, and now we’re pleased to have our blog recognized, too! The Highlight Homes’ blog was recently designated by ConstructionManagementDegree.com as one of the Top Construction Sites on the Web.

Launched in Fall 2009, the Highlight Homes blog regularly features original articles about the latest trends to hit the industry, tips for homeowners, renovation and housing market statistics, and company news. Our stories have run the gamut from How to Prepare Your Home for the Winter Months to Ways to Transform Your Home from Ho Hum to Holy Moly, and everything in between.

ConstructionManagementDegree.com’s review reads as follows: “Highlight Homes offers architectural design and home renovation services, and their blog provides information about home buying, green building, renovations, and interior design. Anyone who loves ‘before and after’ photos will love their images of homes in the Atlanta area.”  We wish to say thanks to ConstructionManagementDegree.com for featuring us as a Top Construction Site – Highlight Homes is truly honored to be included among such recognizable names as Builder Online and Building Construction + Design Network.

We invite you to bookmark the Highlight Homes’ blog to stay up-to-date on the latest news and renovation advice from our talented design-build team.  To learn more about Highlight Homes and the services we provide throughout the metro Atlanta area, including Buckhead, Roswell, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Peachtree City, Newnan, and beyond – please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

About ConstructionManagementDegree.com (from their website): Founded in 2010, ConstructionManagementDegree.com is a comprehensive online resource that lists every campus and online construction management degree offered in the U.S. The site maintains this database in an effort to provide students who are considering a career in construction management with an unbiased and straightforward means of assessing their school options. Their resource articles offer students information pertaining to degree plans, career paths, salary information, trends in the field, and more. Their blog also covers a variety of topics that are useful for those already in the field or considering a degree path toward construction management.

Highlight Homes Takes a Closer Look at the Renovation and Home Decor Predictions for the New Year

Warm and Welcoming Wide Open Spaces

This is a trend we’re particularly excited about at Highlight Homes! As homeowners with older homes featuring cramped quarters look to renovation professionals to knock down walls and re-imagine their living spaces, Highlight Homes stands at the ready. Our experience in structural engineering makes us a great fit for homeowners who wish to create warm and welcoming wide open spaces – a terrific option for growing families and/or couples who love to entertain.

Brighter, More Daring Color Palettes

With the release of Pantone’s Color Palette for 2013, paint manufacturers take some cues from these bright and bold hues. While Pantone’s Emerald 17-5641 moves to center stage as the 2013 Color of the Year, other bright and happy shades like Monaco Blue, Poppy Red, African Violet and Lemon Zest have a strong presence in fashion and home décor leading into the New Year.

Go Bold Prints

Home décor often reflects the trends that first appear on fashion runways the world over. This year is no exception as bold prints are on the forefront on both stages. Stripes, polka dots and splashy colorful prints will be all the rage in home accents and accessories.

Kitchen & Bath Remodels Continue to Reign Supreme

As in recent years, kitchen and bath remodels will continue to make up the largest portion of our business. Homeowners know both represent a wise investment – not only are these spaces well-used by various members of the family, they are spaces that potential buyers will pay close attention to when it comes time to sell. Historically, kitchen and bath remodels represent a strong return on investment.

Let’s Take it Outside

For centuries, man has been drawn to the Great Outdoors. SO why change that primeval pull for 2013? Outdoor living spaces that are comprised of fenced in yards, lavish landscaping, sprawling decks and patios for entertaining, tranquil water features, brick and stone hearths, and deep set living room-inspired seating are still trending extremely strong in the New Year.

One Big Happy Family

As witnessed in the rapidly growing 2012 trend toward dual master suites, the placement of an in-law suite over a detached garage, and the finishing of basements complete with a kitchen and full bathroom all signal a rise in multi-generational living. By creating a space that’s all their own, families are able to welcome senior members seamlessly into the home.

Function Meets Fashion

With more and more homeowners expressing concern over their renovations in the all-important area of function over form, Highlight Homes is happy to announce that function and fashion can go hand in hand. Our design-build team welcomes the opportunity to work closely with the clients we serve to make intelligent choices with regard to things like storage options, material choices and room flow.

A Touch of Glass

In bathrooms and kitchens everywhere, glass is making a comeback. From textured glass backsplashes to colorful mosaics, Highlight Homes invites you to add a “touch of glass” to your home renovation

Time Travelling

While Highlight Homes tends to lean toward timeless, classic designs in the majority of our home renovations, it’s apparent that the trend toward retro looks from previous decades are very solid leading into 2013. With obvious influences from the 1920’s to the 1970’s, Art Deco leads the throwback pack.

Eco-Friendly Environment

As a proud green builder and member of the Green Building Council of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, we’re particularly excited about this continuing trend. From appliances with a five-star energy rating to energy efficient windows and doors to kitchen and bath fixtures designed for water conservation, this is a concept we whole-heartedly embrace. Not only is it good for the planet and good for your family, it will serve as a terrific selling point when it comes time to put your home on the market.

To schedule a no-obligation consultation with our talented design-build team, we encourage you to contact us by calling 678.873.9234, e-mailing us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our helpful online contact form.  If you’d like to stay on top of the latest trends, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and/or “like” us on Facebook. To learn more about Highlight Homes or view a virtual portfolio of our work, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Image credit: © digitalart/freedigitalphotos.net

For the final installment of Shades and Highlights for 2012, we at Highlight Homes feel it’s only fitting to shine the light on a few of the people and companies who had a hand in our continued success this year!  Behind every beautiful and unique renovation we create, there is a broad network of affiliates and collaborators to whom we are incredibly grateful.  To each of them, to our clients, and to our readers – we wish you a very Happy Holiday Season and all the best for the New Year!

Perk-n-Pooch – COMING SOON! – Our latest project has been an exciting one!  Highlight Homes isn’t solely about building incredible custom homes and designing one-of-a-kind renovations.  We have also em”barked” on our fair share of commercial projects. New to the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody area, this coffee house-slash-dog wash will be well-received by local four-legged fans and the humans who love them.  Once they open their doors – if you happen to be in the neighborhood, be sure to visit them at 6690 Roswell Road, Suite 360 in Sandy Springs!  Tell ‘em Highlight Homes sent you!

Sarina Roth of Never the Rock Photography – Our tireless go-to photographer takes the most exquisite magazine-quality photos of our renovation projects. Not only is her amazing work featured on our Pinterest page, but it’s also showcased in a recent article that features Highlight Homes in the AJC!  In addition to commercial work, Sarina also specializes in beautiful lifestyle portraits, magazine covers, headshots, newborn and child photography, and pet portraits.

Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s Green Building Council – For the past year, our fearless leader – Tony Pourhassan – has been proud to serve alongside other builders and renovators who are dedicated to promoting and implementing Green Building practices in the state of Georgia. As both a developer and builder, Tony has long been a proponent of green building and it shows with his involvement in the Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design for Homes (LEED-H) Program, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green Building Program, the Energy Star Program, and the Earth Craft House Program. He was most honored to take part in the White House Energy, Environment and Conservation Roundtable in January 2012.

Here at Highlight Homes, we’re familiar with the concept of “true loves” giving the gift of a stunning home renovation to their spouse and the other members of their family. After all, a professionally crafted and beautifully imagined remodel is a gift that keeps right on giving.  In the event that you find yourself stuck trying to figure out what to give your loved ones this holiday season, we’ve come up with a few suggestions. 12 to be exact…

1. 

   Kitchen Renovation: “Spice” up the look and feel of the heart of your home – a great gift for the spouse who loves to cook and entertain (not to mention, it’s a renovation that often equates to a good return on investment when it comes time to sell.)

2. Bathroom Remodel: Rather than allow it to live up to the name “necessary room,” why not transform your master and/or guest bathroom into one of your favorite rooms of the house – a relaxing luxury retreat with spa influences.
3. Basement Finishing: Need more space to spread out?  A well-done basement finishing could be a gift the whole family can enjoy. Consider it a blank canvas and imagine all of the possibilities!
4. Outdoor Retreat: While it might be cold and dreary outside right now, come springtime – the Great Outdoors will be beckoning.  From a new swimming pool or water feature to the incorporation of a stacked stone hearth or outdoor kitchen, now is the time to build a unique open-air oasis for entertaining and relaxing.
5. Sunroom: If you love to LOOK at the outdoors, but don’t necessarily enjoy the sweltering heat or pollen that accompanies spring and summer in Atlanta – a sunroom might be the ideal solution for enjoying the scenery during all four seasons.
6. Man Cave: It’s a trend that doesn’t appear to be going away.  Men like the IDEA of having their own spaces, even if it ends up being shared with all of the other members of the household. Look to his favorite sports teams and hobbies for inspiration, and we’ll help you pull something unique and special together for that man in your life.
7. Home Theater: Another popular trend that continues to be a box-office smash, the home theater is great for families who love to watch movies together and host fun theater-themed gatherings.
8. New Façade: You may LOVE the interior of your home, but the exterior could use a little help. A brand new façade could completely change the look of the front of your home – like an extreme makeover.  If you’ve always wanted a rocking chair front porch, this could be the perfect answer!
9. Room Addition: Between growing families and aging parents, it can be easy to outgrow the current rooms of your home. Rather than put their beloved home on the market and hunt down a larger house, more and more homeowners are opting for a room addition. From building a top floor onto a ranch home or detached garage, finishing an attic space, or constructing a new room onto your existing floorplan – the Highlight Homes’ team has the structural engineering expertise to add a new living space to your home that looks as though it has always been there.
10. Home Maintenance Overhaul: While it may not be as exciting as a home renovation, a home maintenance overhaul will give you and your spouse something we ALL want – peace of mind.
11. Whole Home Renovation: In the event that you live in an older or outdated home, you may not want to stop with just one room. A whole home renovation may contain several elements of the aforementioned remodels – giving your entire home a fresh new look.  It’s a great way to fall in love with your home all over again!
12. Gift Certificate for the Home Renovation of their Choice: Highlight Homes is happy to send you a gift certificate to go towards a future home renovation.  A great stocking stuffer idea!!!

As our gift to YOU, Highlight Homes is giving away a $500 gift card to Home Depot, Lowes, or Bed Bath & Beyond to new clients who sign a contract* for a home renovation before December 31, 2012!  HURRY before this offer comes to a close! To order a gift certificate or schedule a no-obligation consultation, we encourage you to contact us by calling 678.873.9234, e-mailing us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our helpful online contact form.  To learn more about Highlight Homes or view a virtual portfolio of our work, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.

Trends can be very exciting!  Sometimes they virtually reinvent the way we view a home renovation – for example, the incorporation of earth-friendly elements and products in recent years, and sometimes they are merely a flash-n-the-pan fad – as seen in the 1970’s with shag carpeting and avocado green appliances.  Highlight Homes was thrilled to embrace many of the design trends of 2012 by incorporating them into the homes of our clients. While we look ahead to more exciting changes for 2013 in the design and renovation universe, we also pay homage to the trends of the past year – all of which we believe are here to stay.

White Kitchens

According to the color experts at Pantone, white exudes an impression of “clean and pure” – both great elements for any kitchen. White also adds a light and airy feel to the heart of the home. It takes on the role of a splendid neutral that works well with a rainbow of colors. Black and white together often exude a sense of luxury, shades of neutral and white can have a calming effect, and brights with white can add an air of playfulness to any room. Whites can come in a number of hues – from the striking snow and white whites to a richer ivory or eggshell white. When dealing with confined areas, white can help make a small space look larger. It can add a chic vibe to a contemporary kitchen or a romantic feel to a more traditional room. Highlight Homes witnessed a major uptick in the requests for white and ivory cabinetry over the classic cherry and oak in 2012. One of our favorite renovations of the year was a striking white kitchen remodel in Newnan.

Spa-Inspired Bathrooms

While this one is not a new trend for 2012, it is one we saw virtually explode over the past 12 months. No matter what you call it – lavatory, washroom, powder room, toilet, little girl’s/boy’s room, outhouse, potty, privy or the john – the number one trend that continuing to sweep the nation in bathroom remodeling is the transformation from a “necessary” room into a luxury retreat, something more worthy of the title “REST”room. By incorporating elements one might find in a spa – oversized soaking tubs, shower conversions into steam chambers, soft lighting paired with tranquil neutral walls, elegant fixturing, European tile flooring and more – more and more homeowners are able to view their bathrooms as a place of relaxation and peace… a place where they can wash away the stresses of the day, calmly gear up for the day ahead or get all dolled up for an evening on the town.

Outdoor Hearths

Perhaps one of the hottest trends out there (no pun intended), the outdoor hearth offers the ideal focal point for any outdoor living space.  It can be as simple as a firepit surrounded by multi-colored Adirondack chairs – perfect for roasting marshmallows and swapping ghost stories, or as dramatic as a towering stacked stone fireplace with mantle – the showcase piece for the entire backyard. Outdoor hearths not only create atmosphere and add an air of romance to your oasis, they can be practical additions by enhancing the light and warmth of the space – increasing its enjoyment to all four seasons.

Dual Master Suites

An unusual request we’ve been hearing more and more from homeowners is the development of a second master suite in their home. This space could be used by friends who wish to co-own a home, as a spacious bedroom/apartment for aging parents, as guest quarters that will secure one’s title as “hostess with the mostest”, a second bedroom for a spouse who snores, or a special space for a family member who is combating a terminal illness.  No matter the reasons behind it, early study show that this trend could prove lucrative for the homeowner when it comes time to sell.

If you are considering a kitchen or bath transformation, wish to warm up your outdoor living space, or hope to re-envision your home’s layout by incorporating a second master suite, we encourage you to contact the experienced design-build team at Highlight Homes. We can be reached via e-mail at info@highlighthomesga.com, by phone at 678.873.9234, or through our convenient online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes, view a complete list of services we provide, and sneak a peek at our online portfolio, we invite you to visit us online!

With Thanksgiving so close, we can taste it – each member of the Highlight Homes family reflects on our many blessings for which we are most thankful. We are thankful for the chance to do the work we love and the wonderful people for whom we are blessed to serve. While we normally devote our monthly “Shades & Highlights” article to people, places, companies and trends that inspire the design and implementation of our custom home construction and renovation work, we would like to take this opportunity to shine the light on a handful of local charities that inspire us in a completely different way. This holiday season, let’s give those less fortunate than ourselves something for which they can be truly thankful:

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Christmas House 2012 – Now through December 9, 2012 (Closed Mondays through Wednesdays, plus Thanksgiving Day) – Located at 4475 Dudley Lane in Atlanta’s highly revered Chastain area, the 2012 Christmas House showcases the work of some of the Southeast’s finest designers. Tickets are $20 and proceeds benefit Atlanta institution, The Alliance Theater, which relies on the generosity of donors to continue to provide “exceptional education programs that reach aspiring teenage playwrights, educators from over thirty-five Georgia schools, acting students of every age and over 70,000 school children each year.” Shuttles to the Christmas House are available from the Chastain Horse Park at 4371 Powers Ferry Road .

Atlanta Community Food Bank – In its 33^rd year, the ACFB acquires more than 35 million pounds of food and groceries each year, which is then distributed to over 600 non-profit partner agencies in 29 counties throughout Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.  Needless to say, they can’t do this alone. They require the assistance of volunteers and donors in order to feed Georgia’s hungry month after month. To make a secure online donation, plan your own food drive, or learn how you can volunteer to help, visit the ACFB website.

Atlanta Day Shelter for Women & Children – This “place of hope” for homeless women and children in Atlanta relies heavily on donations in order to provide food, clothing, education and support nearly 100 people in need on a daily basis year-round. A donation of $25 can purchase a state of Georgia birth certificate and legal identification for a woman applying for a job, a donation of $60 can feed a family of 3 for a week; and a donation of $100 can pay the deposit on an apartment. In addition to monetary contributions, the Atlanta Day Shelter is also seeking donations of new unwrapped gift items such as clothing, gift cards, toys and more for its Christmas project. Last year, the Shelter was able to provide more than 1,700 personalized gift bags and this year, they hope to do even more.  With your help, they can!

Habitat for Humanity – Did you know that nearly 2 billion people around the world live in slum housing and over 100 million are homeless? Habitat for Humanity takes a global approach to providing decent shelter to those in need in hopes of eradicating poverty.  Habitat for Humanity is continually seeking donations of materials, volunteers to aid in the construction of homes for homeless victims of everything from natural disasters to war, and monetary contributions to fund their efforts worldwide. Since the organization’s founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built over 500,000 homes and helped more than 2.5 million people all over the planet. A portion of their current efforts is devoted to helping the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Click here to donate directly to the Disaster Response Fund to aid our neighbors in the Northeast and victims of similar disasters.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE HIGHLIGHT HOMES FAMILY TO YOURS!

Image Credit:  TOOLS  © Muharrem Kartal | Dreamstime.com

Highlight Homes Follows the Lead by Performing More Renovation Projects than Custom Home Construction in 2012

There was a time when Highlight Homes was all about new home construction. It wasn’t merely the bulk of our business, it WAS our business. As the housing market began to shift in 2007 and 2008, we saw the need to adapt or suffer the same fate of many other fine homebuilders in the Atlanta area who are now extinct. Turns out the gamble paid off. While home sales in Atlanta are finally back on the rise – showing an increase of nearly 12% in year-over-year sales in September 2012 (National Association of Realtors®) – remodeling continues to perform strongly, particularly in the South where Highlight Homes is based.

As we make our way to the end of 2012, the clear winner in Highlight Homes’ project book would have to be home renovations. According the National Association of Home Builders, the same holds true for many renovators and general contractors across the nation as the Remodeling Market Index (RMI) showed an exciting rebound in third quarter 2012 to levels reminiscent of 2005.  The latest RMI showed marked improvements in current market indicators, which include maintenance and repairs, minor additions and alterations, and major additions and alterations. In a recent press release, NAHB Remodelers Chairman, George Moore, Jr. indicated that home owners are once again investing in their houses as home prices begin to stabilize.

Most importantly, future indicators – such as calls for bids, proposal appointments, committed work and project backlogs – showed a significant rise in every region, climbing six solid points in the South – its highest level since 3^rd Quarter 2005. As more and more homeowners make the choice to stay in their current homes and the housing market continues to stabilize, we believe there will be an increased confidence in the age-old practice of viewing one’s home as an asset. While the recovery has been slow – and is far from over – we are pleased to report that these are all good signs.

Highlight Homes invites you to follow the trend with us!  Why wait to take care of that much-need repair or much-anticipated change? We can work within your needs and budget to help you transform your home into something you LOVE again. In addition to basic home repair and maintenance, Highlight Homes specializes in:

• Kitchen and bath remodels
• Whole home renovations
• Outdoor living spaces
• Water features and landscaping
• Basement finishing
• Room additions
• Decks and patios
• And so much more

To schedule a no-obligation consultation, we encourage you to contact us by calling 678.873.9234, e-mailing us at info@highlighthomesga.com, or filling out our helpful online contact form.  To learn more about Highlight Homes or view a virtual portfolio of our work, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.