As Thanksgiving approaches, it's only appropriate to say what we can be thankful for on the Northern Neck:

Four Seasons:

 It's no coincidence that thousands of people decide to retire in the Northern Neck. The mild climate gives the Northern Neck four full seasons and in each season, a new beauty. Whether you're on the shore to watch a summer sunset, driving through the fields at harvest time, cozied up in a winter snow storm, or smelling the first blooms of Spring. The seasons aren't too long and they're not too extreme.

I'm thankful for four seasons.

The Water:

The weather is great but most people are attracted to the Northern Neck because of the water. There are several aspects to the thousands of miles of coastline that we can be thankful for: beautiful bridges, marshland that provides habitat to hundreds of species of wildlife, boating, beaches, and spectacular views.

I'm thankful for the water.

Wildlife:

The mixture of brackish river water and fresh inland water makes the Northern Neck unique in it's array of wildlife. It's not unusual to see deer and turkey in the evenings or possum and raccoons at night. Occassionally you might get a glimpse of a fox or coyote but you'll always see the turkey vulchers scavanging for their next meal. At water's edge, you have the chance to see herron, eagles, and other water fowl as you watch fish jump at bugs on the water. You may also get the chance to see falcons dive in the water after fish. Wildlife is definitely thriving on the Northern Neck! 

   
I'm thankful for Wildlife.

Small Towns:

The Northern Neck has one town (Colonial Beach) with a population over 2,000 people (3,500). These small towns thrive by showing genuine hospitality to visitors to the area. From Farmer's Markets to Festivals to Fairs; these small towns have the home town feel irreplaceable to residents. One unique aspect of the towns here is that there is an emphasis on retirees and vacationers. So there are shops, restaurants, golf courses, and other ammenities specific to tourists and retirees. 

I'm thankful for small towns.

At this time of year we can all take a moment to recognize the things we're thankful for and find ways to express that gratitude. Living in a free land with great weather, water, wildlife and towns makes the Northern Neck one of the best places to live! 

There are many advantages to building a home on a lot rather than buying a home on the northern neck. Why should you look for a Lot to build on in the northern neck rather than an buying an existing home? 

1) Your house is truly, your house. You can tailor the floor plan, kitchen layout, color themes, and window design to your specifications. All too often someone buys a home and says, "We really like this house except..." When you build your own house, you'll be able to say, "I love my house, no exceptions!" One example is the kitchen. Kitchens have been traditionally smaller in size, but as we now socialize more in the kitchen, you can talor the layout to your needs.

2) No need to renovate. The costs involved in renovating an existing home are already tied into your house. Rather than re-roofing, re-painting, putting in hardwood instead of carpet - tile instead of laminant, you work with your builder to build the home the way you want it, where you want it. 

3) Fewer 'bugs'... literally and figuratively! There are no hidden problems, mice, bugs, mold, etc. and the possibility of these future problems is reduced as well. Some homes have inconvenient Waterfront properties can be more prone to some of these problems that are very avoidable by building a new home. 

4) Efficiency. Homes today are built much more energy efficient than ever before. Your energy costs can be significantly reduced by building a new home. Also, there will be less repairs costs; the appliances, pump, well, HVAC, and roof won't need repairs for years. 

5) Security. Most builders of new homes will offer a one year warranty incase something isn't built to specifications or there is a malfunction. This significantly stabilizes your monthly costs for the extent of the warranty and in the next five to ten years.

Building a home can be a great experience that makes your dream home a reality. To find out more about building a home on the northern neck, or to check out what Packett Properties has to offer, visit The Landing At Totuskey Creek. 

Framing your new home is an exciting time as the home will seemingly rise from dust. Framing a house usually takes a couple weeks (depending on the size of the house and size of the crew). So each day, you'll see it grow. This is the first time you'll also get to 'see' the house actually come to fruition. 

Interestingly, framing hasn't changed very much over time. Old homes have many of the same framing concepts that we use today. While the materials (wood, sometimes metal) haven't changed, the tools have. You'll still see a hammer on the construction site but framing is much faster because of the development of nail-guns, air compressors, laser balances, and other technologically advanced tools.

 A good carpenter should not be over looked when building your home. After a house is built, it will shift, settle, and adjust; this adjustment will take 3 to 5 years to occur.  If you've used a good carpenter to frame the house, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches as cracks and splits in the walls and ceilings will be minimal, if non-existent. If you don't use a good carpenter, you'll spend thousands of dollars in repairs well after the home is finished. Do some research to find a good contractor that takes pride in their work.                                       

"The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining" - John F. Kennedy (1962)

If you make a good decision when you first build a home, then you won't have to repair the roof that often. There are many different roof options you should consider so we'll review a few.

1) Good 'ol Shingles:

'Regular' or 3-tab shingles have the least amount of cost when roofing. They're made of asphalt, light (in weight), and rectangular. They usually get the job done for 15-20 years. As with all types of roofs, if you live in a harsher climate, the longevity goes down. If you don't want to be on your roof very often, this isn't the option to consider.

Architectural shingles (above) are a higher grade asphalt shingle that includes some type of reinforcement (usually fiberglass). These shingles are rated to last 25 to 30 years. They are also thicker and have a 'textured' look that covers up minor imperfections. These shingles will cost you about 25% more than regular shingles.

2) Metal

Metal roofing is a major upgrade from shingles. A metal roof is rated at 50+ years. They are more wind/water resistant and save an owner in heating and cooling costs. Many roofs are also made of recycled metal. There is a signifcantly larger upfront cost but you probably won't re-roof your home during your life time with a metal roof.

3) Others

There are several other ways to roof your home: Clay, Tar and Gravel, Wood Shingles, etc. but because they are less common in residential real estate this post won't review these.

Happy Roofing!