MC Custom Homes

Summer Maintenance Tips for your Home

admin_mcch243o2s — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 23:59:13 +0000

The summer heat can be harsh on all exterior things on and around your home. The hot sun can take a toll on things and overtime can cause premature fading, peeling, and discoloration of your doors and asphalt as well as make your landscaping look like a dry dessert if not taken properly care of. So here are a few tips to maintain the appearance and longevity of your home during these harsh summer months.

Be sure to sealcoat your driveway every 2 years, doing this is usually inexpensive and adds longevity to your driveway by reducing the amount of cracking as well as improves the overall appearance.
For any stainable or Fiberglass front doors be sure to varnish them every year! Doing this is super important to reduce the amount of cracking and peeling. If you keep up on this it makes it much easier each year since you shouldn’t have to strip and refinish it. We recommend using a varnish or oil based paint.
Be sure to water your parkway trees, bushes, and landscape buffer. We recommend watering them every 3 days, 1/2 hour each with steady water. If the weather gets hotter water every two days. Keeping up on this will keep them alive and prevent the need to have to have them replaced.
Fertilize your lawn a minimum of 3 times throughout the Spring/Summer months. Grass needs nitrogen and other nutrients to feed it during the months of its active growth. Its simple fertilizing your grass is like feeding it, a fertilized lawn will be healthier, thicker, and have less weeds!
During the summer months your air conditioner unit is usually working overtime! Make its job easier by keeping it clean and clear of debris. This will help it to operate more efficiently keeping your home temperatures and your electric bills down!
Check to make sure your window wells are clear of debris and the drains are clear for efficient drainage.

Summer is a great time to slow down, enjoy the weather, and cherish all the new memories you create with your family in your home! Have a fun and safe summer!

Sincerely,

The MC Custom Homes Team

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10 Tips To Get Your Home Winter Ready

admin_mcch243o2s — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 18:47:48 +0000

Here at MC Custom Homes we always try to inform our homeowners how to be proactive when preparing for the cold Chicago winters. So we put together a list a 10 easy things you can do to prevent any un-expected problems.

1. Remove outside hoses- Leaving hoses on outdoor spigots during the winter can cause the pipes to freeze and burst.

2. Program your thermostat-Programming your thermostat to lower automatically at times when you’re not home or asleep can significantly lower your heating bills.

3. Replace filters- Regularly changing your filters in your heating and cooling systems can improve efficiency and lower your bills.

4. Insulate windows- Even though most people dislike the look of putting window insulation up in your home doing this can keep up to 70% of your homes heat from leaking outside…. and keep your money in your wallet.

5. Clean your gutters- Keeping your gutters clean will allow the water to flow freely and prevent icicles and ice blocks from forming.

6. Flush your water heater- Particles and sediment can collect in your water heater over time making it less efficient. Flushing it out cleans it out and helps it to function at it best.

7. Clockwise ceiling fans- We’ve all heard that “heat rises,” right? Putting your ceiling fans on clockwise will help to push the ceiling heat from the ceiling down to the floor. This helps to more efficiently heat your home.

8. Flush Sprinkler System- Be sure to flush your sprinkler system before it gets too cold! If the water is left in the pipes it can freeze and cause a pipe to burst, so make sure this is done before the first freeze.

9. Insulate garage doors- Insulating your garage door will not only keep your garage much warmer, but it will also act as a barrier from outside noise.

10. Prepare for snow with salt and shovel- Purchase a shovel & salt ahead of time to prepare for the first snow!

Be sure to get most of these things done ahead of time to keep your home warm and cozy, and prevent any cold related problems from occurring. Have a safe winter and stay warm!

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7 Things to Consider When Building a New Home

jsctek_4vpcff — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 00:00:19 +0000

Have you always dreamed of building a new home? There is nothing like a “NEW” home! You can pick out every little detail to make it exactly what you want, everything you’ve dreamed of! As great as that sounds, it can also be overwhelming, stressful & time consuming if you aren’t prepared. We’ve created this blog to provide some guidance and allow you to make this an exciting and enjoyable experience! Here are some tips and tricks.

Watch the Market: It’s so important to go out and look at a bunch of different properties before making any decisions. Download a real estate app and watch all the listings in the areas you’re considering. Make it a new hobby for you!
Compare Builders: Read testimonials! Ask for referrals from people you know. 75% of our business here at MC Custom Homes is from referrals. It’s the best compliment we can get! Also, compare what materials are being used; usually if a builder is less expensive there’s a reason. Cheaper usually isn’t better when building a home!
Future Plans: Even though you may not have children or pets at the time you build, think about how long you’re planning on living there. If you’re considering having children, pets, or family members moving in, be sure to consider all factors such as yard size and fence policies, number of bedrooms, and storage space.
Location, Location, Location: Think about where you work and its proximity to your home. Long commutes get old quick! Look at highway accessibility, nearby schools, hospitals, churches, shopping, and gym’s.
Budget: Just like planning your wedding it’s easy to get caught up in wanting every option. Have a budget in mind and prepare for some unexpected things along the way such as extra electrical outlets and added lighting. With MC Custom Homes, we include most of those things, but many builders do not. It’s always smart to put aside a little extra in your budget just in case. We always say if you’re working with a budget consider how easy it is to add after closing when choosing which options you would like to do.
Living Space: Sit down and thoroughly review your floor plan. Look at its functionality whether you’re living alone, a family of 5, or approaching retirement there are many things to consider. You may have a large family or a ton of friends and need a great open space for entertaining. You may want a functional mudroom and organization area for all those backpacks, or if you’re getting up there in age consider having a first floor master bedroom.
Energy Efficiency: Ask about the projected energy rating of the home. Be sure your builder is using high quality windows and HVAC equipment. This is an important factor to help save you money in the long run.
Stay Organized: From your first meeting create a spreadsheet to keep track of each option, and get a folder to hold all your paperwork. This will keep you organized and help you stay on track with what selections need to be made and when. Proper planning pays off!

By asking the right questions and staying organized building a new home can be a fun and enjoyable process! Good Luck!

MC Custom Homes Team

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Meet the Builder: M.C. Custom Homes Is a Great Southwest Chicago Builder

jsctek_4vpcff — Tue, 02 May 2017 00:00:22 +0000

An article by Siegle’s Cabinet Center: At Seigle’s we are proud to have so many devoted customers. It tells us we are honoring our philosophy to Deliver Value, Keep Promises, and Be the Best. We recently spoke with Krystl Constantino, Director of Sales & Marketing. We’ve been doing business with M.C. Custom Homes for over 30 years. Read more…

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