Thursday, January 16, 2014
Ball Homes has released the final remaining homesites in Chilesburg Landing and Chilesburg Trace. More than 70 lots have been released for sale within the two communities and they offer 49 different floor plans, including selected Villa and Traditions plans. Lots typically range from forty-five feet to sixty feet, with homes ranging from 1500sf to over 3500sf. Homes include two car garages or larger, three to five bedrooms, with many flex room and loft options available. Prices start at $169,950 in Chilesburg Trace and $209,900 in Chilesburg Landing, at time of release.
For more than a decade, the Chilesburg subdivision in Lexington has been a flagship community, boasting the first Ball Homes model village, as well as one of the first communities built with newer design trends, including boulevards, open spaces, pocket parks, and walking trails. With the subdivision amenities and the award winning floor plans, many homeowners have wanted the opportunity to live in such a desirable neighborhood. "The demand for the Chilesburg subdivision remained strong, even during the softening of the market," said Realtor Mike Wheatley, the Sales Team Manager for Central Kentucky. "Home values in Chilesburg remained steady, and in some cases even appreciated, even as other markets remained stagnant or depreciated."
To learn more about Chilesburg Landing or Chilesburg Trace, visit an open house or contact a Ball Homes Specialist.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Have you made your New Year’s Resolution list yet? Like many people, you may have added “Get Organized” to your list of things you’d like to accomplish this year. One place that many people have trouble getting organized is the family drop-zone; a central place in the home where family members (sometimes literally) drop their keys, bags, mail or other important documents. Many of our homes have built-in drop zone areas , like the Glenstone or Livingston floor plans. However, if that area isn't organized, the accumulation of everyone’s stuff can get overwhelming! By getting (and keeping) your family drop zone organized, you can make sure everyone gets out the door in the morning quickly, while still keeping your home clutter-free at the end of the day.
When you're preparing to tackle your family drop zone, ask yourself these two questions.
Do I use this item on a daily basis?
If the answer is no, find another place for it. Only keep must-have items in your drop zone so that you keep it from becoming a dump-zone!
How can I better utilize this space?
After you’ve cleared out all the unnecessary items out of your drop zone, look at the space itself. Is there something you can add to make the space more efficient?
• Place a decorative bowl on the counter to hold your keys, or mount hooks on the wall to hang bags or purses.
• Get a basket for each member of the family to hold shoes, gloves, or scarves.
• Put drawer organizers to good use by holding pens, pencils, stray paper clips or stamps.
The final step in keeping your drop zone organized is to commit to keeping it maintained. When you come home from work, don’t just drop all the mail in a giant heap. Pledge to sort everything into its proper place. Involve your kids in your efforts too. When they walk in the front door, make sure they know that their shoes and bags need to be put in their bins or hung on the wall instead of dropped on the floor or the counter.
Do you have a family drop zone that you plan on organizing this year? Let us know on our Facebook page!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
When working with your Design Consultant to choose the interior finishes for your new Ball home, choosing a countertop can be a stressfull decision. But it doesn't have to be that way! Here are a few tips from our Design Consultants on choosing the right countertops for your new home.
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1. Don't choose on looks alone.
As tempting as it is to choose strictly on looks, durability, maintenance, and of course cost should be the leading factors in the type of countertops you choose for your home.
2. There are a few things to keep in mind.
Material: Every type of material has its advantages and disadvantages. Some etch more easily; others are highly durable. Some resistant to water; others stain easily. Investigate the different kinds of stone and what works best for your needs.
Color: One of the wonderful features about this natural stone products is that no two pieces are alike. The samples in our Design Studio do not begin to show the color, movement, and variation that they will have in a large slab, so there is always the possibility that the actual color of the stone will vary up to a full shade in your home. That is part of the innate beauty of the product and what enables our buyers to further personalize the look of their new home.
3. Use available resources to find what you like.
There are many different ways to find a countertop that will be perfect for you. We would recommend starting with websites like Pinterest or Houzz to get ideas on what style you like and what look you'd like to achieve. You can also visit any of our Model Homes to get a first hand look at the various materials we offer in a real home setting. See how a large slab of your favorite countertop looks with other kitchen colors. Find a countertop that matches what you've been envisioning for your home.
Friday, January 3, 2014
If you’ve been outside today for more than a few minutes, you know that it is COLD outside! According to local weather reports, it looks like it’s only going to get worse as the weekend progresses. As temperatures drop, there is a greater need for you to take care of the pipes inside your house. Even in new construction houses, pipes run the risk of cracking and breaking, leading to water damage and costly repairs. Here are 4 things you need to do to prevent broken pipes in your house.1. Locate your water shut off valve.
If you haven’t done so already, make sure you know where your water shut off valve is located in your home. Many times, it’s located near your water heater. Familiarize yourself with how to turn off your water quickly, just in case you do have a busted pipe.
2. Check your thermostat.
If you’re going to be away for a few days, don’t set your heat any lower than 55 degrees. You want to keep at least a little bit of heat circulating in the home so that your pipes don’t burst while you’re away.
3. Open your cabinets.
When temperatures drop below freezing, it’s a good idea to leave your cabinet doors open to allow warm air from the house to circulate around the pipes. This is even more important if the pipes are on an exterior wall.
4. Turn on your water.
If it’s extremely cold outside, turn on your faucets to allow a small trickle of water to come through the pipes. This will keep the water running in the pipes and keep it from getting frozen. If your sink has separate hot and cold faucets, let both of them drip. If there’s just one faucet, set it to medium so that both the hot and cold water lines are both activated.
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Monday, December 23, 2013
Now that you've moved into your new Ball home, you're ready to add your own personal style to it. There's furniture to arrange and cupboards to fill, but don't let winter weather keep you from putting your personal touch on the outside of your home. There are things you can do right now to add curb appeal to your new home and add "you" to your new abode.
Knock, Knock
Your front door makes the first impression for your house. Make it shine with a new wreath or door mat to greet your guests, like this DIY welcome mat from bottosblog.blogspot.com. If you have a porch, add a decorative bench or rocking chairs. Create symmetry with topiaries or sconces flanking the doorway.
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Light Up the Night
Attract attention to your home even after the sun has gone down. Install decorative lighting in your landscaping or along your front walkway. The bright side (no pun intended) with installing outdoor lighting is that it provides safety and security as well as looking great. Here's an article from the designers at HGTV on working with landscape lighting.
Stop and Smell the Flowers
Plants and flowers can bring instant color to a dreary landscape. Because planting in the winter can be tricky, install ready-made planters or window boxes. Keep your shrubs trimmed and freshen up the mulch to keep your garden areas from looking overrun or tired-looking. Eventually when the weather warms, you can define your landscape with edging stones to add more color and texture to your garden beds.