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Take Care of the Home That Takes Care of You—Tips to Get Your Home Ready for the Cold

October 20, 2022

At Norfolk Homes, we carefully design each of our homes to create a place for families of all shapes and sizes to live, grow and thrive in for years to come—and we’re proud to build homes that are designed to take care of their homeowners. From our smart home technology to our healthy home promise, we know how important it is to own a home that takes care of you in a number of ways—and it can be great to return that idea by taking care of the home that takes care of you, especially before the start of the winter season.

Continue reading to find out the ways your Norfolk home can take care of you and tips to prepare your home for the colder months. 

A home that cares

At Norfolk Homes, we embrace cutting-edge technology and practices throughout our building process, and we’re proud to include energy-efficient components and smart home technology in every single home we build. We’re dedicated to taking every step we need in order to build some of the most environmentally-friendly, advanced homes on the market to not only benefit the environment and our natural resources—but your wallet, well-being, safety and comfort as well. 

Our included features come with a wide range of high-end, top-rated products and appliances to take care of our homeowners, including (but aren’t limited to): 

-Pre-wired for a Wireless Access Point (WAP) so homeowners can consult with our tech experts at MI PRO TECHS to determine the device best suited for their home. 

-3 Wi-Fi Light Switches: Front Porch, Garage Lights, and Kitchen/Dining Area to maximize energy conservation and increase functionality.

-Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat and Garage Door Opener for maximum convenience.

-Skybell Video Doorbell to check on your home, even when you’re away.

-Sealed ducts to allow your home to heat and cool efficiently, delivering maximum performance with efficient energy usage.

-Low-E windows to reduce damaging ultraviolet (UV) light and help you save on heating and cooling costs.  

-Foam and caulk air sealing to limit air infiltration, increasing comfort and decreasing energy usage.

-ENERGY STAR appliances that are certified to save energy without compromising convenience, performance and durability.

-Water-efficient faucets and showerheads that conserve water by imposing usage limits while still delivering a steady flow.

-Minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) 13 HVAC to provide comfortable temperatures without burdening your electricity usage.

Without question, our homes at Norfolk Homes are designed to be more than a place to store your stuff—our homes are designed to take care of our homeowners and their families in order to comfortably, safely and efficiently create a space full of moments and memories that will last a lifetime. And now, with the colder weather approaching—there’s no better time for homeowners to take care of their homes in the same way.

Prepare your home for the coming seasons

There’s no doubt that the fall months bring about an endless array of fun seasonal activities to enjoy, but it’s also important to take some time to prepare your home for the upcoming winter weather. While the below home checklist may not apply to you if you’ve recently purchased a new-construction home from Norfolk Homes—it’s never a bad idea to take care of your home by focusing on preventative maintenance. Here are some tips to take care of your home before the winter weather blows in here in the Ann Arbor area: 

-Keep the cold air out: Especially before the winter weather kicks in, giving the entire exterior of your home a once-over is always a great place to start. For older homes, keep an eye out for any small openings or cracks around your windows and doors, and by simply adding some sort of weather stripping or sealing exterior caulk to these locations—you will be able to cut down on any unnecessary heating costs and ensure that no additional moisture gets into your home.

-Look at your landscaping: During this time, it’s important to give your trees a little extra attention as well. When you’re checking the health of your trees, you’ll want to keep an eye out for any noticeable differences in leaf colors or any dead branches. If you find any trees that are unhealthy, you will want to take immediate action to get them either pruned or removed as this will prevent them from causing any damage to your home if any winter storms come through the area. Additionally, there are beautiful spring-blooming flowers that should be planted throughout your yard in the fall—including the tulip, iris, daffodil, hyacinth and lily.

-Inspect your gutters: This time of year, clogged rain gutters can cause ice dams, which can lead to expensive repairs. After the leaves have fallen, it’s the perfect time to clean your gutters to remove leaves, twigs, and debris. Take out your ladder and clear out the gutters around your Norfolk home—and don’t hesitate to ask for help from a family member or friend, or hire a professional if you don’t feel comfortable.

-Organize the garage: After the hectic summer months, the garage most likely could use some tidying up. Install some shelving or add some hooks to keep your garage more organized and storage-ready for the wintertime—and pull out your fall and winter decorations while you're at it.

Trust Norfolk Homes

For nearly 30 years, our experienced team at Norfolk Homes has made it our mission to build high-quality homes in exceptional communities throughout the great areas of Ann Arbor, Dexter, Chelsea, Saline, Jackson and Marshall—and we’re proud to create homes that take care of their owners and hold a lifetime of memories. 

Now’s the perfect time to move into the home you’ve always dreamed of before the holiday season—especially with our limited-time offer to use your Norfolk Money as you choose. If you’re looking for a carefully-crafted new-construction home in a serene community, be sure to browse through our quick move-in homes throughout the counties of Jackson, Washtenaw, Livingston and Calhoun—and don’t hesitate to give us a call at (734) 336-1912 or fill out our online form today.

Thank you Lisa! It was a pleasure working with you and your great team!

Jim, Realtor