tampa home builder: Tall Ceilings - Are They Worth It?
- 01/24/12 10:20 PM
Whether they are 12’ tall ceilings or full two-story volume rooms, they both make for impressive entrances and spacious interiors for Tampa custom homes. We are asked to design them all the time, but are they really worth it?
In certain style homes, these high volume ceilings really make sense. Mediterranean homes tend to gravitate towards this design element in family rooms, living rooms and dining areas. Many homes, regardless of style, use two-story foyers, since the stairs lend themselves to this design. For all it’s beauty and drama, we often get negative feedback from customers after they have lived … (4 comments)
tampa home builder: It’s Clean Out Your Inbox Week
- 01/23/12 01:47 AM
So how many emails do you have in your inbox? 10, 20, 100? I was talking with one of the folks at the permit office last week and he said he had close to 400 unopened emails. Holy Cow! I think I’d have to go nuclear and delete them all.
I know that I often use my email as a defacto to do list or a way to manage follow up. I realize that it means that I have a lot of emails in my inbox and it’s not the best way to use it, but it works for me. … (5 comments)
tampa home builder: Javic Renovates Offices & Showroom
- 01/19/12 05:35 AM
You may be familiar with the old saying, "The cobbler's kids are always the last to get new shoes". Well after renovating and building homes for other folks for many years, we decided it was time for us to renovate our offices and showroom. So during December, we did just that. The feedback has been very positive. Reception Area Work Area In addition to updating the look and making our space more efficient, our showroom is much improved. In addition to more samples, we have installed new technology to truly make it a virtual showroom. An interactive projector, similar to what many … (0 comments)
tampa home builder: New Florida Building Code Requirements – COMING SOON!
- 01/17/12 09:59 PM
Nothing is more exciting than reviewing the more than 100 changes in the new Florida Building Code. It takes some serious intestinal fortitude to get through, but that's what we live for. If you are considerring a new or custom home in Tampa, here are some things we thing you should know about the changes.
First, any new home submitted for permitting after March 15th will have to adher to the new code. Although there are many changes, the most significant are in the area of energy efficiency and items that deal with wind and storms. On the energy front, the code … (2 comments)
tampa home builder: New Spin on Laundry Rooms
- 01/12/12 12:56 AM
By Missi McCombs, Javic Homes Designer Did you know that the average household does 6-8 loads of laundry per week? The laundry room used to be placed in a spare closet near the kitchen or in the garage. As a custom builder in Tampa and St. Petersburg, we work with our clients to design a floor plan that has the laundry room in more practical locations, typically by the bedrooms. And, laundry rooms today on average have more than 50 square feet of space and are filled with organizational storage, new technology, and great design.
New technology has made washers … (1 comments)
tampa home builder: New Technology Appliances - Get Your Beer Cold in 8 Minutes
- 01/10/12 10:41 PM
There are some really cool new technologies for home appliances being unveiled this week at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas. There are refrigerators that scan your groceries and create a shopping list when you're running low; washers that notify your iPhone when your clothes are done, but how about never having a warm beer or soda again. LGs new "Blast Chilling" technology turns a warm 12 ounce can of your favorite beverage into a frosty drink in just a few minutes. Check it out!
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tampa home builder: Cut Your Energy Costs Day
- 01/10/12 01:05 AM
Finally, we have a day that I understand. January 10th is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day. Frankly, I am getting a bit tired of “green” everything, so cutting energy costs is something that I can sink my teeth into and know that we all want. I Love A Geeky Piggy Bank - Bet It'll Save Energy Costs Beyond the advice of adjusting your thermostats and turning off lights, here are some meaningful ways that we cut energy costs as a Tampa home builder: Appliances: Selecting energy-efficient Energy Star rated appliances is the easiest way to ensure that you’re saving yourself … (3 comments)
tampa home builder: How Technology Has Improved Service & Communication in Custom Home Building
- 01/04/12 10:15 PM
It pretty much goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, that building a Tampa custom home is an exciting and big commitment. So it stands to reason that after the home itself, the most important thing is to make the design/build process - smooth and enjoyable. That’s why we use a variety of technologies that are focused on just that. Here are a few:
Access To Home Information: Whether you are at home, work, on the road or on vacation, each of our customers have access to a secure website with all the details of their home. It provides … (1 comments)
tampa home builder: Get Your Home Ready for a New Year
- 01/02/12 05:16 AM
By Missi McCombs, Javic Homes Designer Have you made your New Year Resolution List? This year, aside from eating better and exercising more, add a few easy steps to get your home ready for the New Year! Everyone has that list of things that just never seems to get done around the house. They may get pushed to the back of your mind or shoved into your junk drawer — but that list is still there. And, what better time to tackle these items than the New Year? Follow these easy steps to prepare your home for a brand new year. … (2 comments)
tampa home builder: Our 2011 Homes
- 12/22/11 02:07 AM
It was a busy year for us in 2011. In spite of what is one of the most challenging business environments for home builders nationally and for Tampa new home builders, Javic Homes had a successful year. Our emphasis of providing the highest quality, energy-efficient homes with first-class service at an exceptional value seems to be what you want. We want to thank all of our homeowners for trusting us with their dreams. We truly appreciate you and never take your committment for granted. To our vendor partners, thank you also. Without you we wouldn't be successful. We wish all of … (0 comments)
tampa home builder: Festivus Day
- 12/21/11 12:19 AM
That’s right, it’s almost December 23rd , known the world over as Festivus Day. If you don’t know about Festivus Day then you’re probably too young to have been a regular Seinfeld viewer. Possibly one of the funniest episodes was George Costanza’s attempt to explain Festivus Day, which was created by his dad in an effort to celebrate the holiday season without all the commercialism.
Sounds reasonable, right? After all, didn’t this year's Black Friday holiday sales start an entire day early on Thanksgiving Day?!?! Yet the Festivus Day rituals from this Seinfeld episode are really what makes it all come together. There is … (2 comments)
tampa home builder: Why Does It Cost More Per Square Foot To Build A Small Home?
- 12/19/11 01:00 AM
It’s not that there’s some big conspiracy among home builders in Tampa to price gouge folks that want to build a smaller home. It really comes down to math. I’m not about to drag us back to algebra class, but hear me out.
In every new home there are high-cost areas and low-cost areas. An example of the high-cost areas are the kitchen and bathrooms. The low-cost areas are the garage and patios, while the bedrooms, dining and living areas are in between. When it comes to smaller custom homes, the difference between a 3,500 square foot home and a 2,500 square … (5 comments)
tampa home builder: What’s the Difference between Manufactured and Real Stone?
- 12/12/11 08:46 AM
Regardless of the style of home, we frequently use stone on both the exteriors and interiors of our custom Tampa homes. You’ll see it on columns, fireplaces, accent walls and other locations. Most Tampa builders, including ourselves, utilize manufactured stone, but what are the differences between manufactured and real stone?
We all know what real stone is, but what is manufactured stone? What may come to mind is vinyl replicas that were used 25 years ago, but these products have changed dramatically over the years. Very simply, today’s manufactured stone is fabricated by pouring mixtures of stone, concrete and polymers … (1 comments)
tampa home builder: Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
- 12/05/11 09:52 PM
Robert Frost may have been on to something. In many of the infill areas of Pinellas and Hillsborough where we build custom homes, fences are key to defining property boundaries, as well as adding architectural character to the home and definition to landscaping.
There are so many fencing options that we can’t cover them all, but here are the fencing options frequently used in our Tampa custom homes: Wood Fences: Sure they may seem bland, but there are a lot of styles – spaced picket, shadow box and board on board. Depending on how much privacy you want will often … (3 comments)
tampa home builder: 5 Ways to Stick to Your Custom Home Budget
- 11/28/11 09:56 PM
With few exceptions, prospective home owners ask us whether they will exceed their budget. They all have spoken with friends who have experienced a lot of difficulty staying on budget or have told them to plan on spending 10% more than what they budget. As a Tampa homebuilder, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are the 5 ways that will help you stick to your custom home budget.
Identify All the Pieces of the Cost Pie Most folks know that the largest pieces of the pie for a custom Tampa home are the … (6 comments)
tampa home builder: What's the Difference between Clay and Concrete Tile Roofs?
- 11/22/11 12:47 AM
Tampa new home builders design and construct a lot of Spanish and Mediterranean homes. Largely because it’s a very desirable style for our area and homeowners want it. A key element of this style is the barrel tile roof. We are asked regularly what the difference is between concrete and clay tile roofs, so here’s the summary.
Before we discuss the difference, it’s important to note that both are very durable, fire-resistant and heavy. This weight requires the roof trusses and structure to be designed for the additional weight load. The differences fall into five categories: Color – Both come in … (2 comments)
tampa home builder: What’s the Difference between Design/Build and Design-Bid-Build?
- 11/15/11 09:44 PM
When it comes to delivering a Tampa custom home, there are two methods – Design/Build and Design-Bid-Build. At Javic Homes, we support both methods, but we are occasionally asked what’s the difference. Here are some of our thoughts.
The Design/Build method is where the design and construction services are contracted through a single entity known as the design/builder, who is typically a general contractor. The Design-Bid-Build method consists of a Designer or Architect to do the Design and a seperate Builder to do the construction. Design/Build relies on a single point of responsibility, which minimizes risks for the homeowner and … (1 comments)
Pretty disappointing news, since this Sunday, October 23rd, is Mother-in-Law Day. It’s essentially Mother’s Day for the MILs. Yet the survey wasn’t all bad news. Apparently we are okay with our mother-in-law watching our kids. A whopping 64% trust them for this duty. All of this got me thinking. What can I do as a Tampa home builder for mothers-in-laws? … (3 comments)
tampa home builder: Decrease Your Chance of Roof Leaks with Peal & Stick Underlayment
- 10/18/11 10:48 PM
Yes, we’re back to another exhilarating home building topic. If only we could talk about beautiful cabinets, counters and flooring all the time. Sadly, there is a lot going on with your new home or renovation beyond those areas. Not many Tampa home builders spend much thought on the underlayment or membrane under the roofing shingles or tile. Here’s why you should.
Water is the main enemy of new homes in Tampa. Although plumbing leaks are a big source of these issues, keeping the water out of the home is just as important. Roof leaks are the most common entry point. So how can … (3 comments)
tampa home builder: Tampa Bay in the Fall is Great!
- 10/17/11 11:42 PM
Ok, maybe not today, since we have an 80% chance of rain, but every other Fall day is GREAT! Seriously, what’s not to love?! This really is the perfect time of year in the Tampa Bay area. I'll concede that the leaves aren't going to be changing colors and dropping, but that always seemed overrated and a lot of clean up. Here's my rationale on why this is the best time of year in Tampa.
Hurricane season and the wet humid days of summer are wrapping up. Late October and November are the best. There is still a lot of … (0 comments)
Whether they are 12’ tall ceilings or full two-story volume rooms, they both make for impressive entrances and spacious interiors for Tampa custom homes. We are asked to design them all the time, but are they really worth it?
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