Summer Safety Tips

Going away on summer vacation? Enjoy your trip without worrying about your home while you are away. See the tips below on how to keep your home safe and sound while you enjoy your vacation!

1. House Sitter - If possible, have a trusted friend or relative stay at your home to keep an eye on the premises, pick up the mail and water the plants.

2. Hold Mail - Put a hold on your mail so it doesn't give away your absence. Same with your newspapers! Most areas let you put a hold request over the phone or online.

3. Alert the Neighbors - If you have a trusted neighbor, ask them to occasionally check the home to remove any solicitation fliers, packages or debris that could give you away as being out of town. Ask them to take your garbage can to the street as you normally would.

4. Hire Landscaper - If you are going to be away for a while and your yard is likely to get overgrown - this could be a dead giveaway to someone looking for empty houses to target. It's worth hiring a landscaper to make sure your lawn stays trim and tidy.

5. Remove Key - Remove your spare key from outside. Don't leave anything under the mat or behind a fake rock - burglars know what to look for.

6. Keep Quiet - Don't promote your travel plans on social media. Without the proper privacy settings, robbers can use that information to determine when your home will be unattended.

7. Alert the Police - Let your local police know about your travel plans. They can drive by your home just to make sure that all is well and give you some added peace of mind.

Enjoy your vacations this Summer!

Economic Update

The numbers are in and news from the National Association of Home Builders suggests a slow but steady growth in the housing market throughout the first half of the year. Getting off to a slow first quarter, it seems the market is starting to find its footing. Pending home sales reported the largest month-to-month increase this decade, accompanied by strong existing and new home sales. Builders are still reporting shortages in labor but it does not appear to be slowing trends down. While cautious, investors seem to be investing their money in the right sectors that will produce long-term results.

Another report from the Census Bureau estimated residential construction spending increased as well as in the single and multifamily home markets. This information is on the heels of a growth in the labor market with the average unemployment rate falling to 6.1%, down 1.4% from the same time last year.

With just a small stumble with the GDP, but overall positive numbers, analysts are predicting a steady climb for the second half of the year and into the next. Consumer confidence has grown over the past quarter with the Consumer Confidence Index hitting its highest level of 85.2, something not achieved since 2008!  

Overall, economic growth remains slow but steady. Mortgage interest rates remain historically low making this a great time to buy!

Happy 4th!

Looking for family fun this 4th of July? We've got you covered!
Have a safe and happy Holiday from everyone here at Coastal Design Builders!

Patriot’s Point 4th of July Blast
Patriot’s Point – USS Yorktown
4pm – until
Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum

4th of July Picnic on the Water
Spiritline Cruises – Aquarium Wharf loading dock
7:30pm – 10:30pm
Spiritline Cruises

8th Annual Sizzling Southern Celebration
Circa 1886
6:30pm – until
Wentworth Mansion

Summer Lawn Care

Hot southern summers can take a toll on your yard.  Keep in mind these lawn care tips and you'll have a lush green lawn to enjoy all summer long!

Watering - Water deeply and infrequently. General rule of thumb is about 1-1.5 inches per week.  Water early in the morning to prevent most of the water being lost to evaporation. Watering early also gives your lawn time to dry out before evening when fungus and disease can develop.

Mowing - In the summer months - mow high. Doing so will encourage root growth. Longer roots can reach deeper for moisture. Make sure your mower blades are sharp. Dull blades will pull at the grass causing additional stress. Leave the clippings as mulch. This provides a long-release fertilizer for you lawn and additional cooling. 

Following these simple tips will help keep your lawn looking good through the hot summer months.

What are some of your tried-and-true lawn tips?

Moving with Pets

Moving into your new home can be stressful enough as it is - but when you add in pets?  There's another layer of planning that needs to be involved.

Here are a few tips to make the move easier on you and your furry friends.

• Bring moving boxes into your current home early. Allow your pets to adjust to the sight and smell of them.
• Keep pets in the room that will be packed up last so their environment is the last to change
• On moving day, keep pets in a crate or at a friends house while the moving van is being loaded
• Always transport your pets in your own personal vehicle and not the moving truck
• Once you arrive at your new home, don't let the pets run around unsupervised. Start them out in one room and then gradually introduce the rest of the house.
• Quickly put out familiar items such as a food bowl, toys, bed, and litter box.
• Try to layout their familiar items in places similar to where they were in your old house. For instance, the food bowl in the kitchen or the litter box in the hall bath.
• Be sure to update your pet's collars and ID tags with your new address as quickly as possible.
• Your pets will mimic your mood. If you stay calm, it will help them through this transition.
•  Take time out from unpacking to play. Make the move a fun and positive experience!

Have you moved with pets? What tips or tricks worked for you?

Happy Father's Day!

This Sunday is Father's Day and we'd like to take a minute to celebrate all the Dads, Step-Dads, Uncles, Grandfathers and Father figures in our lives!

Father's Day Fun Facts:

• First Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910
• In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson issued a Presidential Proclamation making Father's Day the third Sunday in June
• According to Hallmark, Father's Day is the 5th largest card sending Holiday
• The U.S. Census Bureau says the neck tie is the most popular Father's Day gift
• The official flower of Father's day is the rose

How will you honor the Fathers in your life this weekend?

Housing Boosts SC Economy

The Department of Commerce reported this week that South Carolina's Leading Index of economic indicators rose for the third straight month in April, reaching a seven-year high!

The index reached 101.46 and any value greater than 100 is used to predict economic growth for the next three to six months.

The Real Estate market across South Carolina was a major contributing factor to the increase.  Between April 2013 and April 2014, median home prices increased as well as closings. Foreclosures fell by 19% and the number of home permits increased by 31.9%.

Inventory remains tight as home sales increase and interest rates remain low.  If you're on the fence about buying a new home, act quickly to make the most of your buying power!