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Raleigh, NC

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Closet Storage Ideas | Designing Your Closet Space in Your New Home

11-20-09
Stanton Homes - Penny Hull Raleigh NC Custom Home Builders
Stanton Homes - Penny Hull Raleigh NC Custom Home Builders: Builder-Contractor in Raleigh, NC
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  • Office: (919) 278-8070

Closet Storage Ideas for Your New Home

Designing Closet Space For Maximum Organization!

Whether you're working to design your new home, or looking to organize your existing home, you're going to love these closet ideas!

Closet Storage Ideas | Closet Storage Systems | New Homes in Raleigh NC Master Closets

A closet storage system doesn't have to be big or elaborate.

Even a couple of carefully placed shelves and multiple height rods can make a huge difference!

On a budget? Many of these ideas can be duplicated with ventilated wire shelving in place of custom built and painted wood shelving.

The contrasting color on the closet walls is a nice touch too!

Closet Storage Ideas | Closet Storage Systems | New Homes in Raleigh NC Master ClosetsIn a larger closet, a full "built in bookcase" idea can work very well.

It's probably better to use spacious shelves and organize smaller items in baskets or labeled bins that sit on the shelves.

These shelves will hold anything from piles of jeans to folded sweaters.

Closet Storage Ideas | Closet Storage Systems | New Homes in Raleigh NC Master Closets

With a little higher budget available, the sky is the limit. Talk with your builder - we schedule a meeting directly with the trim carpenter to discuss your storage ideas.

Custom built drawers and cabinetry are just some of the options. Drawers are more complicated to build, with more moving parts, so be ready to up the price tag if you'd like to include some custom drawers.

Bring lots of pictures of what you have in mind!

Closet Storage Ideas | Closet Storage Systems | New Homes in Raleigh NC Master ClosetsA window in a closet can be a nice feature - the natural light can make a big difference.

Storage systems can be planned right around the window - whether shelving or hanging rods.

A built in bench or seating area is another attractive option - what a great place to put on your shoes!

Closet Storage Ideas | Closet Storage Systems | New Homes in Raleigh NC Master Closets

Have a large shoe collection? The built in shoe rack on the left is sure to hold them!

This closet is "His and Hers" - an extra large closet, it's divided in the center, with wrap around shelving and multi-height hanging rods.

Closet Storage Ideas | Closet Storage Systems | New Homes in Raleigh NC Master ClosetsEven a secondary closet can stay more organized with a stack of built in shelves.

A long closet can be divided in the center - multi height hanging rods and shelves on one side, a floor to ceiling stack of shelves in the center, and a full height hanging rod on the other side.

Talk to your new home builder about what you have in mind!

Some builders can even customize your closet space further by changing the layout and the wall structure, to incorporate the kind of storage you have in mind.

A little planning ahead can make organizing your new home so much easier!

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Looking for a new home? You may want to check out some of these other ideas!

Top Trends in New Homes | Smaller, Cozier, and More Cost Effective!

Staircases - Ideas For Your New Staircase

Geothermal Becoming More Affordable - How the Tax Credits Work

How Much Does a Septic System Cost? Tips to Keeping Your Lot Affordable

Butlers Pantries - Why You've Gotta Have One (and what is a butler's pantry, anyway?)

Fireplace Surrounds - Types and Trends

Meet the Builder Special Event

5 Easy Steps to Buying a Lot or Land

Top 10 Master Bath Trends

Closet Storage Ideas | Closet Storage Systems | New Homes in Raleigh NC Master Closets

Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area

New Homes on Acreage in Chatham County - New Homes in Chapel Hill AreaStanton Homes makes it easy! We'll guide you through the entire process - select from thousands of different floor plans, and hundreds of different locations. Custom modifications available too!

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more!

Floorplans | Communities | Stanton Homes | Energy Wise | Contact Us

Military Discounts | Accessible Homes | Green Building

Copyright Stanton Homes 2009. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Photos represent a variety of area homes. Stanton Homes is an NC New Homes Builder, with new homes in Angier, Apex, Benson, Bunn, Carrboro, Cedar Grove, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Coats, Creedmoor, Dunn, Durham, Fuquay Varina, Fort Bragg area, Garner, Graham, Haw River, Hillsborough, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Lillington, Mebane, Moncure, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rougemont, Siler City, Wake Forest, Willow Spring, Willow Springs, Youngsville, Zebulon, Alamance County, Harnett County, Johnston County, Lee County, and more!

Closet Storage Ideas - Organizing Your New Home - New Homes in Raleigh NC

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Free Yard Sale Advertising | Find Local Garage Sales Here!

11-19-09
Stanton Homes - Penny Hull Raleigh NC Custom Home Builders
Stanton Homes - Penny Hull Raleigh NC Custom Home Builders: Builder-Contractor in Raleigh, NC
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  • Office: (919) 278-8070

Raleigh Relocation Package

Free Yard Sale Postings

Find Garage Sales Online and on Twitter!

Thinking of having a yard sale in the Raleigh area?

Moving and want to get rid of some stuff? Or just decluttering? Be sure to check out Where to Find Raleigh Yard Sales - Triangle Garage SalesTrianglesYardSales.com! This site advertises yard sales in the Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding cities) for FREE.

It only takes 5 minutes to register, write about your yard sale, and post your garage sale online.

TrianglesYardSales.com also posts to Twitter - talk about being on top of it! (@TriYardSales)

Trying to Find a Yard Sale in the Raleigh area?

Looking for something in particular? Just visit TrianglesYardSales.com, and enter a term in the "search" box. Whether it's "baby", "sports equipment", "couch" or "books", all the upcoming sales with those key words will immediately pop up.

Whether you're new to the area or have been here for years, garage sales just got easier to find.

Raleigh Relocation Information

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Finding Your New Home in the Raleigh Area

Where to Find Raleigh Yard Sales - Triangle Garage SalesStanton Homes makes it easy! We'll guide you through the entire process - select from thousands of different floor plans, and hundreds of different locations. Custom modifications available too!

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more!

Floorplans | Communities | Stanton Homes | Energy Wise | Contact Us

Military Discounts | Accessible Homes | Green Building

Copyright Stanton Homes 2009. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any claims. Stanton Homes is an NC New Homes Builder, with new homes in Angier, Apex, Benson, Bunn, Carrboro, Cedar Grove, Chapel Hill, Clayton, Coats, Creedmoor, Dunn, Durham, Fuquay Varina, Fort Bragg area, Garner, Graham, Haw River, Hillsborough, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Lillington, Mebane, Moncure, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rougemont, Siler City, Wake Forest, Willow Spring, Willow Springs, Youngsville, Zebulon, Alamance County, Harnett County, Johnston County, Lee County, and more!
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Pending Home Sales Rise 6.1% in September

11-17-09
Grayson Hodge
Grayson Hodge: Real Estate Brokerage in Raleigh, NC
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  • Office: (919) 676-9766
  • Mobile: (919) 247-0477
Pending Home Sales Rise 6.1% in September By Ken Sweet FOXBusiness The number of contracts signed for home purchases jumped for the eighth consecutive month in September, the National Association of Realtors said Monday, as home buyers moved quickly to take advantage of the first-time home buyer’s tax credit. According to NAR, the industry group’s pending home sales index rose 6.1% in September, compared with the 0.1% fall in the index that economists were expecting. Pending home sale activity is now 21.2% higher than it was a year ago, NAR said, making it the largest annual increase in pending home sales on record. The index is also at its highest level since December 2006. “What we’re witnessing is a rush of first-time buyers trying to beat the expiration of the tax credit at the end of this month,” said NAR’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. The first-time home buyer’s tax credit was set to expire at the end of this month, but now the program is expected to be extended until April. The Senate approved this week an extension on the program while increasing the income limitation on who can participate. Pending home sales are contracts signed for a home but for which a buyer still needs to complete financing and close on the house. That process can take several weeks. Regionally, Northeast sales slipped 2% in September but are up 16.9% a year ago. In the Midwest, the index rose 8.1%, up 17.8% from a year ago. Pending home sales in the South increased 4.9%, up 22.8% from a year ago. In the West the index jumped 10.2%, and is up 23.7% from a year ago.
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Lowering Home Energy Usage | Reduce Your New Home HERS Score

11-17-09
Stanton Homes - Penny Hull Raleigh NC Custom Home Builders
Stanton Homes - Penny Hull Raleigh NC Custom Home Builders: Builder-Contractor in Raleigh, NC
  • view my blog
  • Office: (919) 278-8070

Raleigh Relocation Information

How To Lower Home Energy Usage

Reduce Your HERS Score in Your New Home

Any home's energy usage can be "rated" by a certified third party Home Energy Rater. Whether you're buying new or buying an older home in a great location, a HERS score will help you understand how much energy your new home requires.

Energy Star Homes NC - New Homes in Raleigh NC - Energy Star BuildersWhat's a Good HERS Score?

A home build to standard construction methods has a HERS score of 100.

An ENERGY STAR home uses 15% less energy, and has a HERS score rating of 85 or lower.

What are some good ways to reduce home energy usage?

Here are some great ways to incorporate energy savings in to your new home.

HVAC Systems

1. Move ducts inside conditioned space.

This isn't always possible without adding more conditioned space to your home, but if conditioned air leaks out of your ducts (and it will), you don't want it disappearing!

Moving ducts inside conditioned space can reduce your home energy rating by up to 5 points.

2. Add a high efficiency furnace.

Moving from an 80% efficiency furnace to a 92% efficiency furnace can reduce your home energy rating by up to 6 points. However, moving from a 13 seer air conditioner to a 14 seer air conditioner will only reduce your rating by 1 point.

3. Add a radiant barrier in the attic.

Adding a radiant barrier like Techshield can reduce your attic temperature by up to 30 degrees in the summer. This will reduce your home energy rating by a couple of points (depending on the total amount of attic/roof space), and could cost as little as $500 or so.

Conditioned Crawl Space

Converting a standard crawl space to a conditioned crawl space will reduce your home energy rating by about 3 points. Not only that, indoor air will be healthier, and floors will work better - seasonal temperature changes can cause gapping and buckling, particularly with hardwood flooring. The crawl space can be one of the most common places for mold to grow.

Water Heating

1. Solar Hot Water

Adding a solar hot water heater can reduce your home energy score by up to 10 points - this is one of the most significant places to save energy.

2. Tankless Hot Water Heater

A tankless hot water heater can reduce your home energy rating by up to 6 points. Besides heating and cooling your home, providing hot water is one of the main places energy is needed for.

Energy Star Homes NC - New Homes in Raleigh NC - Energy Star BuildersInterior Lighting

A home energy rater will count up to 90% of your fixtures towards the total home energy score. Replacing all those bulbs with efficient bulbs can get you up to 4 points.

Want to know more about energy usage in your new home? We'll work you through your new home floor plan room by room, and discuss what kinds of changes can reduce your energy usage - and what makes sense from a cost perspective. Contact us today about your new home, or call 919-278-8070.

Find out more about new homes in Raleigh NC:

Green Homes, Tips, and Ideas

Energy Star Homes in NC

Energy Wise Homes - Save 50 to 70% On Heating and Cooling

5 Easy Steps to Buying a Lot or Land in the Raleigh Area

Other Available Land and Lots in Communities

Subscribe to this blog!

Finding the Right Location for Your New Home in the Triangle

Stanton Homes will help guide you through the lot and land selection process, so you knEnergy Star Homes NC - New Homes in Raleigh NC - Energy Star Buildersow you've made all the right moves. We'll do the research for you, including a free lot inspection by one of our experts!

Browse floorplans online, or request more information today!

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more about Stanton Homes.

Stanton Homes for Heroes Military Discount

Copyright Stanton Homes 2009. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any claims. Point Information provided by Southern Energy Management.

Green Homes NC - More Lots for Sale around the Triangle - Home Builders in NC

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"Green" Countertop Options | Green Kitchen Countertops in Your New Home

11-16-09
Stanton Homes - Penny Hull Raleigh NC Custom Home Builders
Stanton Homes - Penny Hull Raleigh NC Custom Home Builders: Builder-Contractor in Raleigh, NC
  • view my blog
  • Office: (919) 278-8070

Green Homes Raleigh NC

"Green" Countertop Options

Choosing a Green Kitchen Countertop for Your New Home

If you're considering green options for your new home or kitchen remodel, your kitchen countertops may be one of your focus areas!

There are many different kitchen countertop ideas that can count towards "green points" during the green home certification process. Here's a brief overview, along with a very general pricing structure:

Green Homes NC - Green Kitchen Countertops - New Homes Raleigh NCTorzo

Torzo is a composite wheat straw material with no added formaldehyde. Torzo is rapidly renewable, 70% pre-consumer recycled content.

The cost of Torzo countertops is roughly 20-30% higher than granite.

Reclaimed Heart Pine Linear Butcher Block

Reclaimed wood can be a great sustainable option. Reclaimed heart pine cost is roughly 30-40% higher than granite.

Durat

Durat is made from 30-50% recycled hard plastics. It looks similar to Corian. The cost of Durat is roughly 50% higher than granite.

Eco-Terr

Eco-Terr is made from marble and granite chips, 70-80% recycled marble and granite with 5% recycled fly ash. Zero VOC. Eco-Terr cost is roughly 50% higher than granite.

Eco by Cosentino

Made from 75% recycled content. It is non-porous and doesn't require sealers, and also is high performance against staining and scratching. Look is similar to Corian. Cost is roughly 75% higher than granite.

PaperStone

PaperStone is a thick, granite-like slab created from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. PaperStone currently costs close to double the cost of granite.

Meld Xposed

Locally produced materials (North Carolina), 25% recycled, about double the cost of granite.

"Green" composite - roughly twice the cost of granite.

Meld EcoX

Created with 70% recycled materials, including local glass. Local material. About double the cost of granite.

Green Homes NC - Green Kitchen Countertops - New Homes Raleigh NCBio-Glass

Made with 100% recycled glass, non porous surface. Roughly three times the cost of granite.

There are a wide variety of options, and some great showrooms to visit in the Triangle to see and touch some of the different kitchen countertop ideas.

Have questions about green home building in the Raleigh area? We'll help!

Find out more about new homes in Raleigh NC:

Green Homes, Tips, and Ideas

5 Easy Steps to Buying a Lot or Land in the Raleigh Area

Other Available Land and Lots in Communities

Subscribe to this blog!

Finding the Right Location for Your New Home in the Triangle

Stanton Homes will help guide you through the lot and land selection process, so you knGreen Homes NC - Green Kitchen Countertops - New Homes Raleigh NCow you've made all the right moves. We'll do the research for you, including a free lot inspection by one of our experts!

Browse floorplans online, or request more information today!

Call 919-278-8070 or visit www.StantonHomes.com to find out more about Stanton Homes.

Stanton Homes for Heroes Military Discount

Copyright Stanton Homes 2009. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any claims. Buyer or buyers agent to verify all information before purchase.

Green Homes NC - More Lots for Sale around the Triangle - Home Builders in NC

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