Skip to main content

Deciding where to buy, you’ll be considering location, home size, amenities, features, utility costs, and much more. Yet sometimes the perfect home you’re looking for is actually a townhouse. Townhome living perfectly suits many home buyers; this article shares some of the top reasons why.

#1 Lifestyle Fit

Townhome communities are built with busy professionals, first-time home buyers, and young families in mind. The developers recognize you want to meet your new neighbors and be social, so expect amenities in the community to let you hang out and get to know one another. That could be a dog park, a swimming pool, a gaming room, a gym, or easy access to hiking and running trails.

Saussy Burbank’s own Highland Park townhomes, for example, were built right across from the Johnston YMCA and walkable to NoDa restaurants, entertainment, and the LYNX light rail 36th Street Station. Sorry, they’re already sold out!

#2 Location

Buying a townhome is a good way to get to live in your location of choice without having to break the bank. Developers target desirable neighborhoods and find land where they can create their communities in close proximity to downtown, an entertainment hub, or the hip hangouts.

Our sold-out Bryant Towns residences in Charlotte’s eclectic FreeMoreWest neighborhood gives residents skyline views of Uptown Charlotte and Bank of America Stadium.

#3 Low maintenance

In a townhome, you don’t have to worry about all the lawn mowing, leaf raking, shrubbery maintenance, and other landscaping woes of having a big outdoor area to keep up year-round. While peers with their own home are out repainting the siding or cleaning out gutters on a given weekend, you can be out and about having fun.

Check out the Fall Home Maintenance Checklist and you’ll see how many things you don’t have to worry about with townhome living.

At the same time, you do still have greater control of your home’s interior and exterior than you would in a condo. In condo communities, the HOA decides on upgrades, maintenance, or replacement work (and the cost). With a townhome, you have ownership rights over the interior of the structure and can make your own decisions about the exterior (though you will have some HOA rules to follow).

#4 Cost savings

Townhomes are typically a more attainable housing option. According to Money Crashers, an attached townhome “could cost tens of thousands of dollars less than an equivalently sized single-family unit.”

Yes, you’ll have to pay a Home Owners Association (HOA) fee to take care of the community’s maintenance and amenities. But, these are often lower than you’d find in a condo complex. Plus, you may enjoy lower property taxes than a single-family homeowner.

Having your home attached to the neighbors can also help bring down your utility costs. Plus, when your townhome living is done in a prime location, you may be able to cut your commuting costs dramatically too.

#5 Security gains

In a townhome, you are surrounded by neighbors. This makes it a lot more difficult for someone to do something suspicious without notice. You have a community of people keeping an eye out for one another.

You’ll find townhome communities are often more well lit (again, thank the HOA) than single-family neighborhoods. Some townhome communities also come with security gates for added protection.

#6 Sustainability benefits

If you’re someone who wants to live lean without trying to scale down to tiny home levels, townhome living can appeal to a desire for efficient living. You’ll have the home-owning experience with a more compact footprint. This also helps you save on your carbon emissions from reduced utility needs.

You can also install smart home technology into your townhome to enjoy the advantages of energy-efficient technology that allows you to control everything from climate and lighting to entertainment and security systems – all with the click of a button, no matter where you are.

Finding your townhome living

Of course, townhome living isn’t for everyone. You’ll definitely want to ask about the townhouse rules and regulations and read up on the neighborhood and the community builder to make sure you’re making the best choice. Or read our blog on what to look for among townhomes in Charlotte, NC to learn more.

Saussy Burbank offers quality townhome living in several desirable neighborhoods in the Carolinas. Contact us to find out more today!

 

The future homeowner has been able to play a role in this series’ previous Steps to Building a House. Yet when it comes to putting the bones up, you’re likely to be on the sidelines. It can be exciting to drive up and see the work in progress, but you likely want to leave the framing or HVAC installation to the experts.

We’ve talked already about Picking a Location and Finding Your Builder. Still, knowing what is involved at this stage of the home building process can help feed your excitement about seeing your house take shape. This article rounds up the five steps that happen before you get involved again via the design decisions.

#1 Install footing and foundation

Every house starts with a solid base. You picked a great site already. Your builder has prepared for the construction by acquiring permits and prepping the site. Now it’s time to put in the footing and foundations.

The footing is the bottom of a foundation, generally wider than the foundation wall. The footing is typically concrete with rebar reinforcement located below the frost line. It is there to support the foundation and prevent settling.

The foundation is made of poured concrete also reinforced with steel rods. If there’s a basement or crawl space, that will be poured as part of this step. Otherwise, you may have a slab foundation. After the concrete cures, crews will apply a waterproof membrane and then get a city inspection to ensure they are up to code.

#2 Frame the house

The framing step is literally putting up the bones of the house. This is when you can start to see the home take shape and really begin to visualize yourself there.

Rough framing puts in the floor system, wall studs, and roof trusses. Next, the crew applies a plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing to the skeleton of the house. This sheathing is then wrapped with house wrap to protect from moisture.

Be prepared, your house might be bright green and touting a building company at this point as the house wrap is an opportunity to advertise. It won’t last long, don’t worry.

#3 Put in plumbing, electrical, and HVAC

Happy hand-clapping, now it’s time to install the important systems for your home. This involves several subcontractor crews as different teams will come in to put in your plumbing pipes, sewer lines and vents, water supply lines and bathtubs and shower units, as well as electrical wiring and heating and cooling systems and ducts.

Each of these requires a local inspector to come in and sign off that the work is compliant with building codes.

#4 Install insulation

Needs will vary, but no matter what climate you are building in, you’ll want to put in some insulation. Common options are:

Insulation helps to keep your home at a consistent, comfortable temperature. It also plays an important role in your home’s energy efficiency. Insulation is installed in walls, attics, floors, crawl spaces, ceilings, and basements to act as a barrier for air and/or vapors.

#5 Complete drywall

Drywall is a mold and fire-resistant board made of mined gypsum. Back in the day, plaster was applied wet to wood strips. Now, gypsum rocks are mined, crushed, and mixed with water then poured over a backing and dried to create large, preformed sheets. The drywall panel can be hung to the interior frame of the house with drywall screws.

It is the material of choice for interior walls as it is relatively inexpensive, easy to repair, and can be quickly primed and painted.

What’s next?

The trims, the floorings, the countertops, the exterior and interior finishing touches — a.k.a. the fun stuff. So, you should be looking forward already to our next blog in this series covering those next steps in building a house.

In the meantime, if you have questions about buying a house or where to buy, contact Saussy Burbank’s real estate experts. We’re here to help!

The pumpkins are put away. Some stores are already piping in Mariah Carey’s Christmas crooning. Yes, the holiday season is fast approaching. In that spirit, we thought we’d share some holiday home decoration ideas for the Carolinas.

With the temperate weather enjoyed in the North Carolina and South Carolina neighborhoods where Saussy Burbank builds, we can’t expect a white Christmas. Yet that doesn’t have to stop us from having festive fun with our decor choices. This blog shares some top suggestions for holiday home decor both outdoor and indoor.

Outdoor Holiday Home Decoration Ideas

The clean modern home lines of many new homes in the Carolinas right now are a great backdrop for classic decor. You might take designer Lisa Hilderbrand’s advice to weave together fir, cedar, white pine, and boxwood for door garlands and window wreaths. Red ribbons and white lights can help give this traditional look a rosy glow.

An antique sled or faux skis can also be a way to add charm to your front entrance. If you go in this direction, you might even want to add some faux snow. Here’s a how-to for creating realistic-looking artificial snow. Or dress up that porch area with a mailbox for Santa letters, a cozy plaid blanket thrown over the Adirondack chairs, and red string-wrapped birch logs beside a door adorned with a live wreath.

If you have an outdoor fireplace, you can also make it festive for the holiday season with garland, stockings, lights, berries, mini trees, or twinkling lights. Country Living shares several glowing fireplace ideas to inspire you.

Outdoor columns are another good spot to wrap up garland and lights. Take a look at this Pottery Barn-inspired tutorial for splendid seasonal ornamentation.

No matter what type of home you’re living in this holiday season, you can have fun with a festive spirit. Why not add a ribbon to the front door of your townhome? We like the look of the green one in House Beautiful’s roundup.

Get more front door ideas in this Country Living Christmas Door gallery. For another DIY approach to holiday decor, check out this alternative to inflatables: a red Christmas tree farm truck with greenery.

Indoor Holiday Home Decoration Ideas

If you’re one of those who wants to think of sleigh rides and snow in December, you might turn your downstairs homeowners suite into a cozy space with glistening silver decor. Take inspiration from this Texan blogger’s idea of all white bedding, with silver throws, and a small tree decorated with white lights and silver balls in the corner. If you have a mantel, you can also get some greenery to give your bedroom a serene pine bough scent too.

You can expect to be spending more time as a family in your media room over the holidays too. In an Elle Decor gallery, interior designer Bunny Williams recommends giving your living spaces some extra cheer by accessorizing with ornaments. Those big baubles don’t have to go outside only. You might prop them on a mantel or use a bowl filled with ornamental balls on the bookshelf.

Of course, any room of the house that has a mantel is a prime target for holiday home decorations. You might go all out with the mini Santas or set up a mini holiday town complete with little kid figurines sipping hot cocoa. Or you can dress up your fireplace with one of the many creative ideas offered in this Better Homes & Gardens article.

Here in the South, since we’re more likely to have a coastal feeling Christmas, you might also think about adding cooler blues to your table decor. You can use blue candlesticks in a silver wreath, white placemats, and blue dishes to have a more upbeat blue Christmas place setting.

Adding a snowflake motif inside the home can also help you get in the holiday spirit. You might even get the family involved by choosing from one of these 17 magical paper snowflake craft projects. Little ones might also have fun with this snowman door idea that works on interior doors and even the fridge.

The Gift of a Forever Home

If you don’t have the holiday home of your dreams in the Carolinas just yet, don’t worry. Options abound. Saussy Burbank regularly writes about the top neighborhoods around Charlotte, NC, and Charleston, SC. Plus, we have a series of articles in which our agents offer input on the home buying process.

If you’re in the market for a home, put Saussy Burbank on your nice list. We have been building some of the most distinctive homes in the Carolinas since 1989. These are homes that look great year-round, even with or without the holiday home decor!

Employers today are learning that offering a choice of work environment is appealing in a tight labor market. With more people working remotely, more homeowners are also looking for places that offer convenience and comfort when working from home. Here are the best neighborhoods in Charleston and its surrounding area for #WFH.

The transition to remote work was a necessity during the pandemic. Yet many office-based companies have realized there are benefits and are adopting hybrid models. This is changing a lot about the way we work. At the same time, it’s evolving what people are looking for when seeking their next place to live.

In the Charleston area, there are many great neighborhoods in which you can live happily and work in a hybrid fashion either in your own home office or out and about in the Holy City. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the city has been named #1 in the USA by Travel and Leisure for nine years running.

We’ve written before about the many reasons to move to Charleston, SC:

Now, add to that list these best neighborhoods around Charleston to work from home.

Setting up Remote Work in Charleston

Of course, if you’re right in Charleston, you can easily find a cool place to grab a coffee and set up your laptop. If you need a little help relaxing while working remotely, try Second State Coffee’s lavender latte. This small, modern neighborhood spot is just a few blocks from College of Charleston.

Or work from the speakeasy taproom and courtyard of the Palmetto Brewery, South Carolina’s first brewery located in historic downtown Charleston. On the Eastside, you can try Mercantile and Mash. Found in an Old Cigar Factory, this coffee shop and eatery has free parking, a full menu, and many different types of seating. Plus, breakfast is served all day.

If you are more of a work out in nature type, find a shaded spot in Marion Square. Thanks to Google, there’s Free Wi-Fi in this popular park in downtown Charleston. Or you might set up in the garden or by the marsh of the Charles Town Landing Historic Site.

#WFH around Charleston

In neighborhoods around Charleston, you can also find good places to set up a remote office.

Cross the Ravenel Bridge from Charleston and you’re in Mount Pleasant, which is, unsurprisingly, a very pleasant place for work from home. The Vintage Coffee Cafe is a lap-top-friendly spot with outdoor areas, even a playground if you are forced to do a bring-your-kid-to-work afternoon. Or, if you really want to dig into some work without distractions, get a private cubby with power hookups right at your desk in the Mt. Pleasant Regional Library.

On Johns Island, we’d suggest pulling up a chair to a fresh pulled craft brew at Low Tide Brewing Company or Fat Pig Brewing Co. Or enjoy the proximity to the great outdoors to give yourself a mental break. The water cooler is replaced by watching osprey, owls, egrets, and other native bird species when you live on Johns Island.  Our Kiawah River neighborhood isn’t far from the Johns Island County Park where you can brainstorm that next big innovation while walking, running, and horseback riding through 738 acres of unspoiled nature.

Kiawah Island offers more wondrous natural scenery for your mental break. Plus, if you’re in an industry that likes to get work done on the links, you’ll be right at home on one of the many awe-inspiring golf courses.

At Nexton in Summerville, you can get some exercise in away from your desktop at the Wellness and Amenity Center. Or just get out and explore one of the neighborhood’s miles of trails and pathways over nearly 30 parks.

Work from Home and Love Your Home too

Find out more about Saussy Burbank’s quality homes and custom craftsmanship in neighborhoods throughout the Carolinas. Our new construction homes win awards for Best of American Living and customer satisfaction. When there’s one for Best Neighborhoods in Charleston, SC for Work from Home, we expect to be on the shortlist there too.

New census figures show Mecklenburg is the state’s second-largest county in terms of population. Within the county, Charlotte continues to grow. With the city’s population increasing nearly 20% over 2010, well-established neighborhoods are getting a fresh look. Among these older Charlotte neighborhoods, Commonwealth Park is appealing for several reasons explored in this article.

Commonwealth Park has a lot going for it. One thing of course is the new properties Saussy Burbank has listed! But, sales agent Pam Cook says the neighborhood is also drawing attention because it is so close to everything. “You are a ten-minute ride from Uptown or from NODA, and Plaza Midwood is walkable.”

The Briar Creek/Commonwealth Park neighborhood is also near to the Eastland mall site which is being revamped to become the home of the Charlotte FC training center. “We’re really seeing this side of town, because of its proximity to the existing hip areas, really start to take off,” Cook says.

Ranked #9 in Niche’s Best Neighborhoods to Live in Charlotte, Commonwealth Park appears to appeal mainly to dual-income couples with no kids yet or millennials who want to be near social activities, Cook says. According to demographics, “the population of Commonwealth Park Briar Creek is 3135 with 46% males and 54% females and a median age of 28.”

Plus, Veterans Park is walkable offering young residents a splash pad and sports fields. Chantilly Park, Independence Park, and Midwood Park also provide room for outdoor recreation for all ages. Runners can also take part in the annual Hilly Chantilly 5k through the Plaza Midwood neighborhoods.

Exploring Charlotte Neighborhoods: Commonwealth Park

What will you do when living in Commonwealth Park? So much. You can walk easily to grab a sweet and some coffee from Not Just Coffee Coffeehouse, Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe, or Sunflower Baking Company (their cinnamon rolls are worth the calories!).

Take your work on the road and set up your laptop at Laurel Market or Common Market or, if you can drink and type, Legion Brewing or Resident Culture.

Or enjoy dinner in a church annex converted into Supperland, which has a speakeasy downstairs. Owned and operated by the couple behind NoDa establishments Haberdish, Crepe Cellar, Growler’s Pourhouse, and Reigning Doughnut, Supperland has been well received by critics. Charlotte Magazine concluded, “Supperland has so many thoughtful touches and tempting eats that one visit isn’t enough.”

You can even order drinks from an absinthe fountain!

Another option is The Diamond, a hipster Diner that’s been a tradition in Charlotte since 1945. Right on Commonwealth Ave, the Diamond serves up a comfort-food menu with Greek, Italian & Southern accents.

Over in Plaza Midwood, enjoy Calle Sol Latin Café & Cevicheria. This restaurant promises “a casual atmosphere with lively music and even livelier food. The menu focuses on cuisine from Cuba to Peru but has touches from all over Latin America, based on neighborhood dining spots in Tampa and Miami.”

The original location of Three Amigos is also walkable. Described by The Charlotte Observer as “one of Charlotte’s favorite spots for Mexican food,” the restaurant has just expanded to south Charlotte.

For evening drinks try The Thirsty Beaver. As anyone on social media in Charlotte knows, Mick Jagger went there the night before The Rolling Stones played Bank of America stadium.

On a nice evening, of which there are many in Charlotte, you can also enjoy the panoramic rooftop view at the Whiskey Warehouse.

See Commonwealth Park with Saussy Burbank

Saussy Burbank builds homes in many of the best neighborhoods in North Carolina. Our innovative approach to home design means your home will be distinctive, stylish, and built with the greatest of craftsmanship. Contact us today to learn more about finding your forever home.

When a community snags the coveted “Best in the US” title by the National Association of Home Builders, you could say they’re at the pinnacle of their craft. How could it get better than the best?

Well, Nexton plans to show you. The Summerville, SC community, located just 25 minutes from world renowned Charleston, has no intention to hit the brakes on setting a new standard for master planned communities. In fact, you could say they’ve just picked up the speed.

In addition to launching Midtown late last year, they’ve also broken ground on Downtown Nexton, an urban-inspired, uber-convenient mixed-use core for all of Nexton and beyond. In other words, a new destination for retail, restaurants, services, and office space. That’s in addition to at-near-leasing-capacity Nexton Square and Workplace at Nexton, which both house dozens of regional destinations like Halls Chophouse and Poogan’s Southern Kitchen and conveniences like dentists and doctors.

Saussy Burbank has been building homes in the Summerville, SC community since inception, and we’re just as delighted as our home buyers to watch the community grow and flourish. Take a look at the latest below, and then come see if we have the perfect new home for you in the nation’s Best Community.

Food & Dining

This category is always a favorite! What’s better than world-class cuisine and creative cocktails right in your community? Would an amazing butcher tip the scale? New York Butcher Shoppe just opened its doors at Nexton Square. In addition to any cut of meat you can imagine (plus locally sourced seafood), you’ll also find house-made grab-and-go dinners, fresh veggies, accoutrements, butters and cheeses, and soon – an entire section of beer and wine. And a wine club, of course. It “wows” in every way!

Buffalo Wild Wings is also now open at North Creek at Nexton. The famous purveyor of great wings and good times just opened and is already receiving rave reviews. They also boast a fabulous outdoor seating area, complete with several big screen TVs. Football season is surely going to keep it hopping!

In the soon-to-come category:  The Pickle Bar, a new restaurant, retail and recreation concept that combines the growing popularity of pickleball with a bar and restaurant, is opening its first-ever location in Nexton. Conceptual renderings were just revealed, and we’re already counting down to its 2022 opening!

Service and conveniences

The region’s largest and most popular plastic surgery center, Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery & Spa, is now calling Workplace at Nexton home. Helmed by Dr. Schimpf and his talented team, the surgery-center-and-spa encourages an all encompassing approach to wellness. Patients get exclusive access to an on-site gym as well as dietitians and coaches. If you’d like a more subtle approach, you can see the in-house aestheticians for injectables, facials, and more.

Coastal Fertility Specialists is helping families across the region grow via their new location on Brighton Park Boulevard. High pregnancy rates and national patient satisfaction awards make them the leading fertility clinic in South Carolina.

And for those growing their families in different ways, Brighton Park Animal Hospital is providing top-notch care to four-legged friends everywhere.

ICYMI: Atlas Physical Therapy, River Landing Dentistry, Charleston Neurology Associates, Harvey & Vallini, Inc, Holliday Ingram Law, Charleston Surgery Center, and Barre Nation have also opened in Nexton in Summerville, SC in the past year. They join dozens of additional service providers already open in the community.

More to come

Need help with your 6th graders math (no judgement – trust us)? Mathnasium is opening next door to the Butcher Shoppe. A super cool spot to get a haircut and a cold beer – Diesel Barbershop – is nearly complete. And CodFather, Charleston’s only proper fish and chippie, is not far behind. Chances are, by the time you read this, a slew of new and exciting locales will be on the docket at Nexton.

Don’t get left in the dust. It’s time to make this amazing community home! Reach out to a Saussy Burbank agent today to make it happen.

Timing is everything in life. When it comes to real estate, a question potential home buyers are always asking is: “is it a good time to buy a house?” Of course, this depends on several factors. But, in this latest installment of our ask an agent series, we talk with sales consultant Pam Cook about deciding when the time is right for you. An edited transcript of the discussion follows.

Is it a good time to buy a house?

Absolutely, it is a good time to buy a house and for a lot of different reasons:

  1. Interest rates remain at historic lows, which will increase your buying power.
  2. Prices are increasing. That’s a positive because they are probably going to continue to increase and if you buy now, you get to build equity sooner. Waiting it out could put you in a different scenario where you have a higher interest rate and miss out on the chance to build that equity.
  3. If you’re looking to buy, you’re probably renting. Rents continue to increase, so you are paying more in rent and that is not applying to your mortgage and equity.

What factors would you look at to determine if it is a good time to buy a house?

The first factor is your personal financial situation. Do you have the down payment funds? Can you get a loan approval? What kind of loan approval? Are you ready to make the commitment and buy a house?

If you’ve got all that in place, then interest rates going up or down or prices going up or down don’t really matter. If you’ve got the ability to buy, you are going to reap the benefits of building equity in a property. Real estate has shown to be a good investment because it builds equity over time. Plus, you benefit from the tax incentive where you get to deduct your mortgage interest.

Does the right time to buy vary by region or by buyer type? Or does it depend on the kind of home the buyer is seeking?

Not really. I go back to whether the buyers’ personal situation makes buying a good fit for them. There are always going to be things in the market that are in flux.

One Saussy Burbank sales agent used to tell buyers: ”Prices are going up – it’s a great time to buy; Prices are going down – it’s a great time to buy; Interest rates are going up – it’s a great time to buy; Rates are going down – it’s a great time to buy!”

One of the things affecting the market right now is a low inventory of available homes. There is more competition to get a home, so prices are being bid up. That can be a put-off, but it’s not a reason not to buy because you are going to get in and build equity.

The shortage of inventory is one of the things that makes new homes attractive to a buyer because it means there are more opportunities to buy in that area they are interested in.

Are there any red flags the home buyer should look out for in deciding whether it is a good time to buy?

Everyone is afraid that what happened in the great recession of 2008-2010 is going to happen again. Yet there were completely different factors in play. There was mortgage fraud and too much inventory. Now, we have the opposite problem. There is low inventory, and lenders have tightened up their policies.

Otherwise, if you can’t get a pre-approval or your personal circumstances are changing you may not want to over-extend yourself. Finally, if you have doubts about the location, it’s not a good time to buy there.

What are your top three tips for someone thinking about buying a house?

First, I know it’s the cliche for real estate, but location is key. They are not making any more land. Compromise on your floor plan or your finishes, but don’t compromise on location.

Second, do your research into different neighborhoods that interest you. There is so much information available today that buyers can really find out a lot on their own.

Still, third, I’d recommend engaging a knowledgable real estate agent active in the industry. Finding a good agent is really helpful to most buyers. It can help them navigate the market and the buying process.

Why should someone buy Saussy Burbank?

We are an experienced builder that has been building high-quality homes for over 30 years. You want an experienced builder that has a good relationship with contractors and vendors and has quality people building your house.

Saussy Burbank also builds new homes in the most desirable locations with communities coming soon in the hot Charlotte neighborhoods of Commonwealth Park, Elizabeth, and Madison Park or in the suburbs of Fort Mill, Marvin, and Davidson.

Our hallmarks are our architectural detail, our style, our porches, and our energy efficiency. We’re going to give you a warranty and stand by what we build; we’re going to give you a beautiful home.

We approach things differently. As a smaller, locally-owned builder, we are able to be a little more nimble and reactive to the market both with our locations where we build as well as our plans and our design. That allows us to give the buyer a much better customer experience. That’s always our end goal; we want the buyer to be happy with their home.

 

With the wacky weather we’re seeing across the country, it’s easier to miss the change in the seasons. Still, even if it doesn’t yet feel like Fall where you are, September has arrived and your fall home maintenance checklist comes along with it.

Saussy Burbank doesn’t like adding to your “honey-do” list, but taking consistent care of your home helps you keep your house in tiptop shape. You’ve found your forever home, after all. You don’t want to risk damage that could lead to costly repairs. Especially not if it starts with something you can catch and fix early on using our fall home maintenance checklist.

Seal any leaks

It’s time to get walking and caulking! Take a tour around the outside of your home looking for any cracks between the trim and siding. Check also around your window and door frames. Seal up the spots where pipes and wires enter the house. All this can help you minimize moisture damage. Plus, you’ll save on energy bills too.

Survey your roof

While you’re on a walkabout, take a look at the condition of your roof as well. Yes, we had you doing in other seasons too. But, you never know when a thunderstorm or fallen tree or pesky rodent is going to damage the roof. Look out for:

Another way to get a good look at the roof? Take a gander while you’re up there cleaning out your gutters to remove leaves or twigs that could cause blockages.

Protect your foundation

While you’re outside getting work done, take a look at your drains. Make sure that gutter drains are pointed away from the foundation. A downspout extension is very affordable and easy to add on, and it’s worth it to protect your foundation from moisture.

Weed anything sitting right up against your foundation and also prune back plants and tree limbs to avoid damage to your exterior during winter storms.

Aerate & Fertilize

About three weeks before your last lawn mow of the year put down your fall fertilizer to keep your grass looking great. According to Family Handyman, “Fertilizing in the fall provides energy and nutrients for the grassroots as they multiply in cooler weather before the grass goes dormant. The roots store food for the winter as well, which gives the grass an initial growth spurt when it emerges from dormancy in the spring.” All that in those little green blades!

Aerating is another task to do more than once a year, but Fall is a key time to get this done. Rent a lawn aerator to make sure you’re not just putting holes in the ground but actually pulling out plugs of soil to help give roots room to thrive.

Stow your lawnmower

Teenagers rejoice! The lawnmower is going in the garage or shed. Before stowing the mower and leaving it until next spring, first put it on its side to clean away any accumulated grass or other gunk. Also, if you’re using a gas mower, you should look into using a fuel destabilizer in the tank to avoid the gas in the tank deteriorating (which can damage internal engine parts).

Disconnect your hoses

Any garden hoses attached to outdoor faucets should be disconnected before the first cold snap of the season. That makes this one a priority — you don’t want to get caught off guard.

Why detach the hoses? Any water in the hoses could back up into the faucet or pipes and freeze, expand, and crack the faucet or pipes.

Similarly, if you have a sprinkler system, you’ll want to drain it before the cold sets in as the irrigation lines could freeze, That could cause pipes to freeze or sprinkler heads to crack, which will be costly come spring.

Check your furnace & fireplace

Moving inside, pay attention to the things that are going to be keeping you warm when the cold weather comes. You know heating season is coming, so get on your HVAC company’s check-up schedule now. On your own, you should already be changing your furnace filters every quarter, but here’s your fall home maintenance checklist reminder to do that too.

Look into the fireplace to see if there are any blockages. Check for cracked fireboxes or missing bricks or mortar. If you haven’t had your chimney professionally cleaned recently, it’s a good idea to do so. Cleaning takes care of creosote and soot buildup in the chimney which can ignite and cause fires (and not the kind you enjoy with a glass of wine from your sofa).

Clean your humidifiers

You’re going to be using humidifiers more in the heating season, so get them cleaned up and ready to go. You don’t want mold spores or other bacteria being pushed out into the air indoors.

Check the attic

Up to the attic you go, if you have one, to check that insulation isn’t covering any of the vents. Also, look for evidence that any birds or rodents have gotten in since you were last up here. Seal any gaps that critters might use to take advantage of the coziness of your home in the coming months.

Now if you want to create a welcoming home for your pets, that’s another story. Check out Creating an Inviting Home for Your Furry Family Members.

Home maintenance is only part of having a home you can be proud of year-round. Partner with Saussy Burbank to enjoy high-quality craftsmanship in modern homes throughout the Carolinas.

 

Will it reach a perfect 10? 

Nine years ago, when Charleston first landed the top spot on Travel & Leisure’s Best Cities to Visit in the USA, we were proud. Eight years ago, still brushing our shoulders off. Seven, six, and five years ago? Maybe a little gloating. And now, we’re still proud but not at all surprised. Because the truth is…Charleston IS the best city in the USA!

Tourists flock to the Holy City for the food, the beaches, and the rich and enduring history. And many, it turns out, find the draw of a southern drawl too strong to resist and end up making it home. For good. At Saussy Burbank, we’re often among the first people a new family chats with as they decide to make the Lowcountry home. We get a lot of questions about weather (hot, sometimes wet, mild winters, worth it in every way), educational opportunities, activities around town, and inquiries about day-to-day living in the Charleston region. But more often than not, it’s not if they’ll move here, but when? 

And to that we say…now! We have homes available in both Nexton and Kiawah River, two highly celebrated communities that encompass different aspects of Charleston living. Nexton is a nationally acclaimed and best selling community in Summerville that has emerged as one of the region’s favorite places to live, work, and hang out. On the other end (lifestyle and location-wise), Kiawah River is a quiet, riverside village connected to nature through the incredible natural landscape and the farmland that surrounds it. Together, they capture the best of Charleston living and allow us to serve a variety of home buyers.

We invite you to explore them both online, and then come have a chat. We’d love to give you an insiders look at what it’s really like to live in the Charleston region, and help you find a home perfect for your family and lifestyle. And make it soon – you’ll want to be here when we celebrate 10 years as #1!