Wednesday, November 28, 2012

An Interview with Cottonwood Canyon Builder Bruce Rieke- Why NOW is The Time to Build!



We hope you had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends!  Whether you were able to celebrate with family and friends in your beautiful, custom built Cottonwood Canyon home in Lenexa KS or you are looking forward to the holidays in a Cottonwood Canyon home in the future; it’s always a great time of year to reflect back on all we have to be thankful for as well as a time to look forward to the future.

As we look ahead to the future of Cottonwood Canyon, we see new builds on the horizon and a building momentum to this up and coming golf course community in Lenexa!  In fact, if you’ve been considering building a custom home on one of our stunning 125 lots located on the Golf Club of Kansas; now is the perfect time to do so!

We recently spent time talking with one of Lenexa’s most reputable builders, Bruce Rieke of B.L. Rieke Custom Home Builders, regarding the current state of custom home building and what the future holds for creating the home of your dreams.  As one of the most active builders in Cottonwood Canyon, we’ve seen first hand how Bruce works with clients and proceeds through the entire home building process.  

With his reputation preceding his outstanding work, we wanted to share with those of you considering a custom home build his perspective on the market, why now is the time to build and a few tips from a trusted source about the home building process. 

When asked about the possibility of construction costs rising, Bruce jumped right in with his answer.  “No question about it,’ noted Bruce, ‘construction costs are already going up.”  He continued by talking about the shortage of experienced labor, which means all facets of the building process are rising in cost.  

Manufacturers also play a part as supplies are by order only and there’s limited inventory.  Lumber mills and other suppliers have closed down plants to cut down on their costs and to be able to raise prices on installation, drywall, etc...  It’s a game of supply and demand.  For example, there’s a current drywall allocation which allows drywall companies to only make a certain amount, which forces prices up.

“In the next year, 2013-2014 and for sure by the end of 2015, we’ll see an increase in home building by 20-30 percent,” said Bruce.  “Because companies are working to stay open right now and not really making a profit, along with the rising costs of supplies, builders will have to continue to raise their prices.”  Even within the next six months, new codes will be put into affect which will raise prices anywhere from $6-10K per home.  As you can see, now is the time to build in Cottonwood Canyon!

The good news?  Mortgage rates are currently at an all time low and costs are still fairly low.  

If you are considering building your custom dream home in Cottonwood Canyon, we wanted to share with you these four tips that Bruce provided about finding the right builder... they’re worth repeating!

1. Reputation- A good reputation is imperative when it comes to a builder.  Ask around and find reviews to ensure their work is solid and other clients have been pleased with their home building process.

2. Relationship- You’ll be spending a lot of time with your builder as they work with you to make your dream home a reality.  Make sure your personalities fit and they’re someone you could work with.

3. References- Don’t be afraid to ask a potential builder for references, and make sure to follow through with checking them!  

4. Review- Take time to review their work.  Whether you spend time on their website to view homes they’ve built, or you take the opportunity to drive by the homes; seeing the finished result will give you a good idea on if they’ll fit your needs and style.  Here at Cottonwood Canyon, we have a few model homes open that we invite you to come by and tour!  You’ll be able to see the ins and outs of the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into our homes.

We hope this has been helpful and has provided you with the boost needed to take the next step in designing and building your custom home at Cottonwood Canyon!  Please feel free to contact us anytime to get started!



Cottonwood Canyon Community Team

Monday, November 12, 2012

Create An Eco-Friendly Environment in Your Cottonwood Canyon Home!


It’s been a beautiful fall season in Lenexa Kansas and residents of its newest golf course community, Cottonwood Canyon, have been enjoying the outdoors.  Whether taking advantage of the ideal location on The Golf Club of Kansas, strolling throughout Cottonwood Canyon’s picturesque setting or using the walk and bike paths at the nearby Streamway Park Trails, those living in Cottonwood Canyon have been soaking in this season’s beauty.

Yet, now that the days are getting shorter and the crisp fall air lets us know that winter is just around the corner, we’re finding ourselves cozying up in the warmth of our homes.  As the Cottonwood Canyon Community Team, we know that those living in this pristine golf course community are settling in to their well built, custom homes.  In fact, many are enjoying their first cool weather season in their new home!

If you have built your dream home in Cottonwood Canyon, you know that our builders use only the finest and most eco-friendly materials available.  We believe that quality should not only be good for you, but for the environment as well!  So, how can you maintain that “green” atmosphere in your Cottonwood Canyon home during the cold season in Kansas? 

Here are just a few ways you can conserve energy and “go green” in your home!

1. Use Your Fireplace- It’s amazing how a fire in your fireplace can heat up a room instantly! Consider lowering your thermostat on cooler evenings and lighting a fire instead. You’ll instantly feel cozier in the midst of chilly Kansas winters.

2. Unplug- Not using an appliance? Unplug it! The Department of Energy notes that, even if appliances are not being used, they are still using energy. 40% of electricity used for your home electronics is used when they’re turned off, but still plugged in. Getting in the habit of unplugging will prove to be a smart habit in the long run!

3. Program Your Thermostat- Setting your thermostat to lower temperatures while you’re away from your Cottonwood Canyon home or while you’re sleeping will automatically help reduce energy used, as well as costs! 

4. Use the Sun- During the day, be sure to leave blinds and curtains open to let in the sunlight and natural heat. At night, shut them to help “trap” the warmth.

5. Bundle Up- Feeling chilled? Instead of turning up the thermostat, throw on a pair of socks or an extra layer. These small choices to not turn up the heat can really add up in energy savings!

6. Switch our Your Lights- From lamps to the Christmas tree, all of your lights can be changed out for energy efficient LED lights! With the sun setting earlier, you’ll be using your indoor lights more often. Also, the festivity of the season’s decorations can spike energy bill. LED Christmas lights can cut back on costs and energy usage.

As you find warmth and comfort in your Cottonwood Canyon home, we hope you take a few minutes to see which ways you can create an eco-friendly environment in your custom built home.  You’ll enjoy knowing that you’re doing your part to keep Cottonwood Canyon the beautiful, “green” environment that it is!

From all of us here at Cottonwood Canyon, we hope you have a great Thanksgiving next week with family and friends!

Cottonwood Canyon Community Team