Wednesday, July 30, 2014
The Grand Tour of Homes concluded July 27th, and the votes are in! Judges have awarded twenty-one honors to five of the Ball Homes models featured on this year's tour. The Hartford II, Hudson, and Monroe, Jackson II, and Albany Revised plans all received awards within their price categories, including five for Floor Plan. Several of our newest model homes were featured on the Tour.
Our Hartford II model in The Enclave at Chilesburg was awarded First Place for Floor Plan, Exterior, Kitchen, and Best Overall in its price category.
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Kitchen of the Hartford II model home in The Enclave at Chilesburg
Our revised version of the Albany plan, which was on the Tour in The Reserve at Bryant Oak, won First Place awards for Floor Plan, Master Suite, and Interior Features, as well as the Overall award in its price category.
The Albany in The Reserve at Bryant Oak
Our Jackson II model in Masterson Place won First Place for Floor Plan, Exterior, Master Suite, and Overall.
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Jackson II model home in Masterson Place
The Monroe model in Chilesburg was awarded First Place in the Kitchen and Floor Plan categories.
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Kitchen of the Monroe model home in Chilesburg
The Hudson model in Glasford was awarded First Place for Master Suite and Floor Plan.
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Master suite of the Hudson model home in Chilesburg
Although the Grand Tour is over, these homes can still be seen during our regular Open House, and any time by appointment. To view these and other model homes by appointment, please contact a Ball Homes Specialist at Milestone Realty Consultants.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Can you believe that the start of school is just around the corner for kids in Kentucky and Tennessee? Pretty soon, you'll be seeing kids with their backpacks getting on those big yellow buses in the mornings.
Here's a list of the first day of school for counties in Central Kentucky, Louisville and Knoxville.
Fayette County: Wednesday, August 13th
Madison County: Wednesday, August 13th
Scott County: Wednesday, August 6th
Woodford County: Wednesday, August 13th
Jefferson County: Wednesday, August 13th
Oldham County: Tuesday, August 19th
Knox County: Monday, August 11th
Loudon County: Wednesday, August 6th
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Summer is in full swing! We've had some pretty toasty days in our area over the past few weeks and as the dog days of summer approach, it's only going to get hotter and humid. As the temperatures rise, so does the need to keep your lawn well watered. But, instead of just sticking a sprinkler in the middle of your yard and hoping for the best, here's some tips on the right way to water your lawn.
1. Water Your Grass Only When It Needs It
If you don't water your lawn correctly, you could run the risk of under or overwatering your lawn, which could contribute to the development of fungus and disease. Some types of grass require more water than others, and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and wind can dramatically affect how frequently you need to water your lawn. Fortunately, the most accurate way to determine whether your lawn needs water is also the easiest: just look at the grass:
·When grass needs water, it will begin to take on a blue-gray tint, and the older leaf blades on the plant will begin to curl up or wilt.
·Footprints will remain on the grass for longer than usual, as the grass won't "bounce back."
When 30 to 50% of your lawn shows these symptoms, it's time to water.
2. Know When To Water
The time of day that you water is just as important as how much you water. Early in the morning is the ideal time to water for most lawns. There's less wind, less hot sun, and your lawn has a full day to dry. Watering at night invites mildew and fungus. In the hot afternoon, much of your water can be lost to wind and evaporation.
3. Water Evenly
Sprinklers are finicky. They don't always put water down equally. To make sure water is going where it's supposed to, place a few empty soup cans around your lawn, and run your sprinkler for about 20 minutes. If water collects evenly in the cans, you know your sprinkler is doing its job.
4. How Long Is Long Enough?
Your lawn needs about 1-2 inches of water per week. Each time you water, you should aim for the water to absorb about 6 inches into the dirt to make sure that the roots of the grass are well hydrated. How long that will take depends on the slope of your yard, weather conditions, and various other factors. The best way to tell is to water your lawn for about 20-30 minutes. After that time, turn off the water and stick an 8-inch screwdriver into the ground. If it goes in easily, you're done. If not, you need to water some more.
5. Know When to Stop Watering
You can water carefully and properly, but if the water isn't absorbed, your efforts are wasted. Watch out for water running off the grass and into your driveway or street. If that happens, turn off the sprinklers and let your lawn absorb the water for about 20-30 minutes before turning back on again. And this goes without saying, but aim your sprinklers to water just the lawn. That's the part that needs the moisture—not the sidewalk or street! Slight adjustments to your sprinklers can save a lot of water. Ideally, you shouldn't water your sidewalk, patio, street, or driveway at all.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
You've just moved into your new Ball Home--congratulations! Now's the time to show it off to your friends and family by throwing a fantastic housewarming party. Here are a few things you can do to ensure your event is enjoyable for both you and your guests.
Come One, Come All
If you're having a party, you've got to make sure people know about it. You can find unique invitiations on Pinterest or Etsy. If you're the creative type, try your hand at making your own.
Let Them Eat Cake
No party is complete without refreshments. Make sure you have enough food and drinks at your soiree. To keep costs down, consider grilling out hotdogs, kabobs, or chicken, and make side dishes for people to graze on during the party.
Take a Tour
The whole point of having a housewarming party is to show off your new digs! Give your guests a tour of your new abode. Try to split up the tours between you and your spouse or significant other, that way, you'll both be able to enjoy the party, and keep people from wandering around by themselves.
Dress It Up
If you're having people at your house, dress up the outside with planters on your front porch, or string lights across your patio. Another thing to keep in mind is annoying backyard pests, like mosquitos. If they're a problem in your backyard, keep citronella candles burning, or consider having bug spray handy for your guests.
Be A Good Neighbor
If you're brand new to your subdivision, this party might be one of your first introductions to your neighbors. Start your relationship off on the right foot by letting your neighbors know you're having a party. You may even consider extending a neighborly invitation and invite them to your party to get to know them better. If you aren't considerate, you run the risk of initiating bad feelings between you and your neighbors.
Do you have any other tips for the perfect party? Let us know on our Facebook page!
Thursday, June 5, 2014
More than half the population will be taking a vacation this summer. According to FBI statistics, the number of home robberies increases 10-18% during the months of July and August. Before you head off on your much-needed time away, don’t forget to take proper precautions to keep your home safe while you’re away.
1. Stop Your Mail
Nothing screams “We’re not home” like a pile of unopened mail in your mailbox. Put a hold on your mail at the post office, or ask a trusted neighbor or family member to come by a few time while you’re away to pick up your mail. Nothing deters burglars more than having someone come over a few times a day. Plus, they can water your house plants too.
2. Make Your Home Look Lived In
When you’re home, the blinds open and close, the cars go in and out of the garage, and the lights go on and off. When you’re away, the normal routine stops. Help create the illusion that you’re still home by investing in a light switch timer that turns your lamps on and off at certain times of the day. Leave your curtains or blinds exactly as you keep them normally. Move your expensive items, like cash or jewelry, out of plain sight if they’re visible from the window.
3. Pull the Plug
Unplug your television, toaster oven, coffee pot, and computer while you’re away to protect from power surges and save on your electric bill. Even while off, many of these electronics still use electricity. Disconnect your automatic garage door opener as well, so that burglars can’t open it with a universal remote.
4. Remove the spare key
Collect any spare keys hidden around your house. If a person decides to burgle your house, the first place they’ll look is under door mats, in a potted plant, or around the door frame. Instead, give a copy of your key to a trusted neighbor or nearby friend for emergencies. Make sure the key doesn't have any identifying marks on it, like your name or address.
5. Keep It To Yourself
In today’s social media world, it’s so easy to post about upcoming vacations, photos of yourself at the beach, or check-in at a vacation resort. Unfortunately, it’s not just your friends and family that can see those posts. Would-be burglars can easily check social media sites to see who’s home and who’s away. The less information you put out there, the less likely it is to reach the wrong ears and eyes.
Do you have anything you would add to our list? Let us know on our Facebook page!