Falcon Pointe is Charleston Home’s newest development. It features two exciting new floor plans and much more.
We’re really excited to share with you our newest development here at Charleston Homes: Falcon Pointe. It’s located at 52nd and Capehart and features two models with brand-new floor plans. The Lexington is a ranch floor plan with 1,683 square feet, and the Richmond floor plan is a two-story floor plan with 2,397 sq ft. We’re going to have single-family lots, villa lots, and a community park to make sure there’s something for everyone. We’ll be here Monday through Thursday from 2p.m. to 6 p.m. and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. We’d love for you to come out and see them sometime.
Today I’m here to provide you with some tips on how to properly maintain your furnace.
You should always check your furnace’s filter once a month. To do that, switch your unit off, remove the magnetic strip, and pull out the filter. Check to make sure that it’s clean; if it’s dirty, replace it so that your unit can function at peak performance.
When you replace the filter, be sure to align the arrow on the filter (marked “Air Flow”) with the ones on your unit so that you know you’re putting it in correctly.
You should also pay attention to the dampers on the ducts that lead to individual areas of your home. If you have a ranch home, these will go to individual rooms on the main floor. If you have a two-story home, there are trunk lines that go up to the second floor and the main floor—both have dampers on them.
It’s very important to adjust the dampers for the season based on your comfort level so that you’re not cooking yourself out upstairs or freezing yourself out on the main floor.
“
You should always check your furnace’s filter once a month.
”
On the furnace unit displayed in the video above, we have a whole-house humidifier. You may have seen these installed in homes during your walk-throughs. These units keep the humidity levels in your home at a comfortable level per your tastes, but are usually kept between 35% and 45% humidity. It’s critical to monitor the humidity of your house—you can’t set the humidistat once and leave it there. Keep a barometer in your house so that you can see what your readings are and adjust accordingly.
During the winter, make sure that your damper on the humidifier is on; that way, the air flows into the unit. In the summer, flip it off to block the air flow. If you remove the cover, you can see the media inside—since both air and water flow over this, it’s possible for it to become clogged by the minerals in the water. Do your best to keep them clean, but if they must be replaced, you can find them at any local home-improvement store.
If you have any questions about maintaining your furnace throughout the year, please look for additional videos within this blog page.
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors can be tricky. Here’s how to properly test and monitor them.
Today I want to talk to you about our smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detector combos. You’ll notice that these units are in place in the ceilings of our homes. Typically, there will be one carbon monoxide detector per floor and the smoke detectors are typically in all of the main living areas and bedrooms. They're all hardwired so that if one goes off, all of them are going to go off.
There’s also a battery backup that’s revealed by a hinged compartment on the side. This is in case any of the wirings get cuts or burns.
We recommend testing each of your units once a month by holding the button for about three seconds. It will then beep for about 10 seconds. When you hear three long chirps, it’s testing the smoke detector and the four short chirps signify that the carbon monoxide detector is on and working.
“
We recommend testing each of your units once a month.
”
Once a year, you should change out the batteries in your battery backup. If you start to hear a single beep every few minutes, that just means that your battery needs to be replaced. Certain batteries last longer than others, but it’s up to you what you want to do.
The detectors twist and pull down from the ceiling. The wiring harness is hardwired and plugs back into the unit. You can plug in a new detector via that harness if need be.
If you have any questions for me about your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Today I want to share some important information about our acrylic tub-shower units.
For those of you who have an acrylic tub-shower unit, here are a few tips to keep in mind when assembling and maintaining them:
The tub itself has a nailing flange around the perimeter, and the drywall of the bathroom butts up to that. The shower walls come in three pieces: First, you install the back piece, and then the two side panels. Those are then fastened to the framing members in the home.
The channels themselves are not designed to be caught; they interlock in such a way that any water that gets into that channel will drain out of the perimeter on the bottom, where the base of the tub and the side walls meet.
That being said, there is a small drip area on the front edge of the tub where the tub meets the front/side panel. It’s about four inches long, and upon installation, that area is sealed up with silicone caulking. You don’t want it to be completely filled with caulk, but you do want some in there.This keeps the water from channelling out the front of the unit, possibly seeping into the drywall and damaging members of the wood framing.
If you ever suspect that water has been seeping into your waters—indicators include bubbled paint or paint peeling off the trim boards—you’ll want to make sealing that four-inch drip area with caulk a maintenance item.
“
You can apply a non-abrasive car wax to the shower walls in the same way you would on your vehicle.
”
When you’re doing your regular cleaning routine in the shower, be sure to clean that channel out. Over time, the underside of the lip can start to develop a slimy film from the shampoos and soaps you use.
Both our acrylic shower and tub-shower units are very durable. However, when it comes time to clean them, it’s important to use non-abrasive cleaners. Abrasive cleaners, along with scratchy cleaning cloths, can scratch the surface of the units.
The unit itself has a non-abrasive, non-skid surface on the floor of the tub. Never wax or polish it, because that will cause the floor to become slippery, potentially turning into a hazard.
However, if you’re looking to remove some of the hard-water mineral deposits that may accumulate on the shower walls, you can apply a non-abrasive car wax to the walls in the same way you would on your vehicle. Doing so can also help restore the finish to a lustrous, like-new feel. Be sure to use a non-abrasive cleaning cloth like a terry cloth or paper towels to avoid scratching the finish.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be glad to help.
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If
you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own
their first or second home - would you forward this message to them?
We'll be happy to show them our eleven new construction home plans along
with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a
decision that's right for them.
GFCI outlets help keep homeowners safe from electric shocks. Here’s how.
What are GFCI outlets and how do they keep homeowners safe?
GFCI outlets are required by the National Building Code, and they essentially protect you from receiving an electric shock from any faults in your home’s electrical devices. They function by comparing the current on the input side of the outlet to the output current on the neutral side. If you have a faulty blender, for example, and the outlet detects an arc, it will trip the power to it so you don’t get shocked.
“
GFCI outlets essentially protect you from receiving an electric shock from the faults in your home’s electrical devices.
”
You’ll find these outlets anywhere in your house where there’s recurring moisture (kitchens, bathrooms, basements, etc.). In all of our homes, all the bathroom outlets are connected to the GFCI in the master bathroom, and all exterior outlets are connected to the standalone outlet in the utility room. You’ll also see a GFCI outlet wherever your sump pump connects.
If you have any more questions about GFCI outlets or you have any other real estate needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be glad to help you.
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eleven new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
After heavy snowfall this winter, you might be wondering about how you should be taking care of your Charleston Home. Here are some tips from our Warranty Manager to keep everything in check.
Today we’re delighted to be joined by assistant warranty manager Todd Hansen. Since it's been a heck of a winter this year with all the snow we’ve gotten, I wanted to talk to him about some of the questions he’s been getting.
As far as snow on the roof is concerned, this is something that’s more of a concern with older homes. In our homes, we use roof trusses that are actually designed for a heavy snow load. Our homeowners don’t have to be concerned about any kind of snow on the roof, unless we have six or eight feet up there. Most have under a foot, which isn’t anything to worry about.
Another thing we’ve noticed a lot is overflowing gutters and downspouts full of ice. Although some of the ice will melt as a result of the dark color of the roof, he recommends using some heat tape in the gutter to keep water from freezing and help it drain to the ground. It’s important to keep the ends of your gutters clear, however, to make sure water flows away from the foundation of the house. If things are backed up and water flows towards the house, that could make things dicey.
“
We don’t recommend using any traditional ice melt.
”
For ice and snow-packed areas, we still don’t recommend any ice melt. The freezing and thawing will cause driveways and walkways to peel off, which is called spalling. It wears away at the finish a lot faster than it should. Instead, we recommend putting down sand, gravel, or kitty litter to add traction and protect your concrete.
Finally, make sure to keep your garage swept out. You don’t want to spray it out in the winter, so use a broom or shop vac instead. In the spring, we do recommend that you hose out your garage to get any of that salt residue that’s left behind out. We also recommend caulking and sealing your driveway once things warm up.
If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eleven new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
We have some great spec homes available in our area that are just waiting for the right buyer.
Snow is still on the ground, but here at Charleston Homes, we’re ready for spring. With that in mind, today we’re excited to show you some great spec homes available in our area. We have properties in Arbor View, Stratford Park, Pebblebrooke, and other great communities just waiting for the right buyer. If you like what you see, all you have to do is reach out to us and we’d be happy to take you on a home tour.
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eleven new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
If you have a new home, it will start to lose moisture after a few years. In the cold, you need that moisture to keep your home structurally sound.
When you buy one of our new homes, there is typically a lot of moisture in the home at first and it takes a while for it to dry out. However, by the second or third winter you have in the home, things will start to dry out. It’s important that you are aware of this and that you take steps to control the humidity in your home during the winter. We’ve got some things for you to look out for today that will assist you in the process.
The first thing to look out for is the settling, or drying out, of your drywall, your trim, and your wood floors. When it gets colder, the wood will start to shrink and you might see a little gap in some of the floorboards. If you have a wood floor, you don’t want your moisture reading to be any lower than 45%. If it is, you may have to invest in a humidifier.
Another thing to keep in mind in the winter is to make sure you turn on those exhaust fans when you shower. Their purpose is to help eliminate moisture content in the house. The excess humidity that comes from hot water isn’t good for the materials in your home. Too much humidity can cause damage if it sticks around too long. Let that exhaust fan run for an extra 15 minutes after you turn the shower off.
“
Wood tends to dry out
and shrink in the winter.
”
As the weather turns colder, you’ll also start to see some shrinkage cracks on your tile and backsplash on the counters. The backsplash has a caulked joint that can separate a bit as things dry out. You might also see some hairline cracks at the top of your ceiling. Doors may stick or rub a bit. The key to combatting this is controlling that humidity level in your home.
Finally, let’s talk about your HVAC system. The warmest areas in your home will be the areas nearest to the furnace, or the upstairs if you have a two-story home. The rooms that are furthest away from the furnace will be cooler in the winter months. As a homeowner, you will need to fine-tune and tweak the system to your liking and needs. You can close vents in some of the warmer areas to allow air to move to other parts of the home.
If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eleven new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
We’ve got two great new floor plans to introduce today, each of which have some amazing features.
Have you heard the news? We’ve got new floor plans to introduce! The first is a two-story called the Richmond, and the second is the Windgate. Both of these great new options can be viewed on our website (www.charlestonhomesomaha.com), but we also encourage you to visit our model locations in Pebblebrook or Arbor View. To see my full message about these floor plans, watch this short video.
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
The Pebblebrooke neighborhood is developing right before our eyes. Here is what we have now and what is coming soon.
Today we are standing outside in Southwest Omaha in the Pebblebrooke subdivision, and it is really neat to see so many developed lots going up.
Phase one of Pebblebrooke has about 75 lots with a number of homes being built, and phase two will have even more lots, around 120.
“
Pebblebrooke already has 75 lots, with another 120 coming in phase two.
”
If you are looking for a new home in Southwest Omaha, we would love for you to take a look at some of our model homes here in Pebblebrooke or in Arbor View. If you have any questions for us or want to book a showing, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email anytime. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
In the past couple of months, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about carpet. Today, we’ll be going over a few key points you need to know to best maintain any carpet.
In the past couple of months, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about carpet. To best address them, we decided to reach out to our carpet installers: Imperial Tile. According to them, the most important thing you can do to maintain your carpet is to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. A lot of people complain about their carpet matting down, but vacuuming at least once a week should prevent this from occurring altogether. Also, don’t vacuum in the same direction and pattern every time. This will help your carpet stand up to foot traffic and will prevent it from becoming worn down. Using a vacuum cleaner that will work well for your specific carpet is another way to maintain it. High-quality vacuums can be adjusted for height. If you have a thicker carpet, you’ll want to raise your vacuum to a higher height setting. The opposite is true for short carpet. So, what about actually cleaning the carpet? First, stick to a professional cleaner and have your carpet cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Rug Doctors and household steam cleaners can actually do more damage than good, since they can de-laminate your carpet.
.
“
The most important thing you can do to maintain your carpet is to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.
”
Additionally, rugs can help to protect your carpet and keep it clean. Rugs are good for decor and for the longevity of your carpet. Placing rugs in areas where people enter your home and need to wipe their shoes is always a good option. When a carpet does get dirty or a spill occurs, the best thing you can do is to get the stain out right away. Dish detergent and a little bit of water will go a long way. Blot at stains with a white cloth, since colored cloths can transfer pigment to your carpet. And remember: never scrub at a spill or stain. You can find more information on removing stains here. Some wear and tear is to be expected, though. Depending on the activity that takes place in your carpet, you may start to see some rippling or relaxing of the carpet over time. If you move furniture often, this is likely to occur. Different kinds of carpet tend to relax more than others. This has nothing to do with an installation defect. But, relaxing of the carpet is covered under our warranty for the first year. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
Thinking about selling your home and buying a new one? This is a great market to do it in.
If you’ve been considering buying a new home at any point in the near future, now might be the time to act. Right now, we are seeing building costs start to rise in the wake of the damage caused by recent hurricanes in Florida and Texas and the wildfires in California. We’re anticipating that there is a pretty significant increase coming, but for now the costs remain relatively low. You can build a house now for much less than it would cost once these building costs start to rise.
.
“
This is a great market for move-up buyers.
”
If you need to sell your home in order to buy a new one, this is a great market for that too. Inventory is low, so there isn’t much for buyers to choose from. You can help your home stand out in this market, get a great sale price, and move into something bigger and better. It’s also a great time to write a purchase contract with a move-in date this spring. These are just a few of the reasons why you should consider buying a home this fall. If you have any questions for us, don't hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. As always, we’d love for you to come and check out our model homes in Gretna and Elkhorn.
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
Colder weather is setting in with fall and winter just around the corner. At this time of year, there are a few key ways you need to be maintaining your home in preparation.
With fall arriving soon and winter on the horizon, it’s time to talk about the ways you can prepare your home for the later seasons of the year. Taking care of your home during fall and winter months is an important part of year-round maintenance. First of all, caulking and sealing your driveway is very important—especially before winter. When this is done, a penetrating sealer is applied to the garage floor and driveway in order to prevent road salts or brine from seeping into your concrete. Winter weather means that salt and brine will collect on your tires from the road—a driveway that isn’t sealed properly will absorb these materials and eventually sustain both cosmetic and practical damage. Caulking the control joints, especially on homes facing north or east, is going to allow you to keep moisture from collecting beneath the slab of your driveway. If too much water collects and freezes beneath your driveway, it can result in a process called frost heave. Frost heave occurs when an increasing amount of ice grows to the point where the above layers of ground, in this case concrete, are lifted. This can cause the driveway to crack and even become unlevel next to the garage floor. There are also things you can do to maintain your yard in the fall and winter months. September is a great time to apply a fall fertilizer as well as an overseeding of the yard. Rye, a fescue/bluegrass mix, or just straight bluegrass are all great options for most yards. Right up against buildings, such as along the foundation of the garage, you may notice dirt settlement. To fix this, you could either pull back the sod, apply dirt, and relay, or you could simply cover it up by reseeding over the top of the problem areas.
.
“
Taking care of your home during fall and winter months is an important part of year-round maintenance.
”
Insects will also become an issue during the cooler months. Be sure to spray for any insects trying to find their way inside your home. You could either seek professional help or purchase an over-the-counter spray yourself. Spiders are the pest that people primarily look out for. One of the best places to spray is between the foundation and siding, since that is where spiders and other pests will often find their way in. If you have access to a pressure washer, clean the siding of any spiderwebs. You can also achieve this with a regular garden hose. Remember to be especially careful when doing this on vinyl siding, since the layers could peel and disconnect. After your house is clean and dry will be the best time to do a perimeter spray for insects. You can treat your lawn to repel bugs, as well. Additionally, make sure that all the proper areas on and around your home are tightly sealed. This will prevent larger pests like rodents from entering your home. Make sure patio doors, garage doors, and other similar features are properly sealed. If your house is equipped with wooden fences or decks, consider sealing these as well. Gently power washing your deck before you apply any stain can help to restore the natural vibrancy of the wood. If you don’t own a power washer, you can also use a deck wash from any local hardware store in conjunction with your garden hose. Fireplace vents are another place to check before fall and winter months arrive. Check for bird nests here and in exhaust and fresh-air intake pipes. It is important to remove any nests from areas like these. You could use a leaf blower or garden hose to help remove the smaller pieces from the vent. Finally, clean the coils of your air conditioning unit. Rinsing out any possible debris will help them to stay in better condition. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
We realize the importance of those who serve the public and want to honor them by offering them a discount.
Here at Charleston Homes, we realize the importance of those who serve the public: the military personnel, police officers, and firefighters who put their lives on the line every day to serve our community. We want to honor them by offering a $1,000 discount on newly purchase homes that will be applied at the time of closing.
“
We realize the importance
of those who serve the public.
”
We hope you will appreciate this gift, as we appreciate everything that you do for our community.
If you have any questions about this discount or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, give us a call. We’d be happy to help!
Know anyone who's interested in building a home?
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.
