The Blog

Isn’t it fun to entertain outside? Having a dedicated space, like a patio or deck, for spring, summer and fall gatherings extends your living space and adds a certain fun and casual element to get-togethers.

What makes a good patio setting for entertaining?
• Plan for shade: A roof or umbrella is just about essentials in the hot South. Take a look at how the sun hits your patio and decide what you need.
• Seating and tables: If your space is small, consider a grouping of chairs around a small center table, or a table and chairs for larger spaces.

• Access: Are you going to be coming into the space from inside or outside? Consider adding a paver path to direct guests right to the patio.

• Décor: Add outdoor plants in pots around the patio to set the stage. Plus, colorful plastic ware is readily available just about anywhere to create that casual mood.

• Serving: Having a foldout patio table for serving is a great addition, and you can put it away when it’s not needed. Also, tall metal tubs on stands are a great way to ice down beverages.

• Grill: Be sure you’ve got the type of grill that can accommodate a crowd, and get it cleaned early. Consider adding a smoker for great BBQs.

• Extra seating: it’s kind of a trend now to have rustic benches or vintage metal chairs for extra outdoor seating and these add a cool vibe to your outdoor setting.

• Lighting and music: consider getting your outdoor patio area wired for lights and some speakers.

• For winter gatherings: If you’re ready to take the next step, consider adding an outdoor fireplace. It makes for a great way to get outside during chillier seasons.

• Water feature: Adding a small fountain or pool not only creates a focal point, but the sound of moving water is calming and sets a great stage for guests.

Many of the Regent Home floorplans and communities include some amazing outdoor living spaces. Give us a call and learn more!

A new home really isn’t finished until the landscaping is in. That’s what we think, and professionals who put a dollar value on new homes agree. One university study found landscaping can increase your property value by as much as 12.7 percent. And besides, you want to enjoy it too—it’s beautiful! Here’s how to begin:

Grass—Sod or Seed?
With sod, you’re getting instant results, it can be planted anytime during the growing season, and sod circumvents weed growth. The price tag is higher, from between $.50 and $1 per square foot, and you’re going to have fewer choices in terms of type of grass. Plan for using a lot of water to get it started, but so will seed.

What about seed? It’s cost-effective, about $0.01 per square foot (What? That is cheap!), gives you more options in terms of type of grass, but takes longer to see results, naturally. And, you’re going to have to do more in terms of managing weeds. Also, your window of opportunity is narrower; for instance, September is the best month to plant grass seed to avoid weed germination.

What’s next?

You need to determine a budget. One rule of thumb is to spend 10 percent of your home’s price tag on landscaping. That’s over time and doesn’t have to be all at once. Besides, if you’re doing it yourself, labor has to be considered too in terms of how much you have time to do, and when.

Create an overall design for your yard. Add in when you’re going to plant specific areas and what additional needs you might have, including wiring, irrigation, retaining walls, etc.

Trees should be one of your first investments because it takes a long time to grow a beautiful tall tree. And tree shade will affect what else you do. Identify where you want your trees, and go ahead and get those planted. Be sure to keep trees away from your home’s foundation. A good rule of thumb is this: keep the tree as far away from the home’s foundation as it will grow in height. A 15-foot-tall tree should be planted at least 15 feet away from your home’s foundation.

Next are your foundation plants. Look for types of plants that will give you year-round color and interest. Don’t forget about perennials and ornamental grasses in your plan. You’ll add seasonal flowers for color later, along with flowers in your pots on your front and back porches.

Work in sections of your yard, and don’t be afraid to plan for bigger sections. It will look a lot better to have fewer large sections than for your plantings to be chopped up in smaller groupings. And add depth, with taller plantings at the back, closer to the house, and smaller ones forward.

It’s really fun to get involved in your home’s landscaping. And once you’ve got some traction, step back and enjoy the beauty for years to come.

Get your nails done, grab a specialty burger or pick up a bottle of wine…and then enjoy a leisurely walk back home.

That’s what it’s like living in Burkitt Commons, a mixed-use neighborhood just off Nolensville Road in Brentwood. Just about everything you need is in walking distance at the Village Center of this master-planned community.

We know you ’re looking for a place that fits you and your lifestyle because we’ve done our homework. We’ve spent months researching and designing a unique, walkable neighborhood that is truly different. You’re busy, you’re working, and you want to live in a place that’s convenient, has a lot to do right here, with life’s little headaches taken care of.

Burkitt Commons allow you to be a homeowner without having to deal with mowing the yard, insurance and how to fix the roof when it leaks. Every home has multiple energy-efficient features, including extra insulation, top-of-the-line HVAC, and LED lighting.
It’s all taken care of! Aren’t those magic words we wish we could hear in other areas of our lives?

Here’s what Burkitt Commons has: three-story townhomes with your choice of a two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. That fourth bedroom is designed to be flex space so that you can outfit it as a home office or media room. Every home has a two-car garage, a wood balcony or patio out back, and granite, stainless steel and crown molding in the kitchen. The exterior finishes are brick and James Hardie® siding, which means the color is guaranteed for 15 years and the exterior itself is guaranteed for 50 years. We built these right, taking care of those little details that mean so much now and over time.

Opening late summer, is the Village Center, with shops like Barrels and Brews liquors, Hoss’ Loaded Burgers and Soiree’ Nail Bar (plus more to come!). On the way to shopping or grabbing a burger, stop by the neighborhood park with a gazebo. The park will have places to cookout and invite friends as well. The entire neighborhood has extra-wide sidewalks, walking trails, beautiful and abundant landscaping and decorative lighting throughout.

And the location is excellent, at the intersection of Burkitt and Nolensville Road, which makes your home very convenient to both Brentwood and Franklin, to get to work, go out or visit friends. Nearby is the Williamson County Recreation Complex, Nolensville’s historic district, Cane Ridge Park and Mill Creek Greenway. You’re also close to Cool Springs, Maryland Farms, I-65 and I-24.

We’re proud of this community, just like we’re proud of our many other communities in the Nashville area, including Lenox Village and Berry Farms. We’ve studied mixed-use developments, we know what works, and we’ve done that again here at Burkitt Commons. We just want you to know we know what we’re doing and we’ve got something special here. Visit today us online at regenthomestn.com for more information.

Building a new home can be a great process that ends with exactly what you’re dreaming of for you and your family. To help you start the thinking process, take a look at some of these key indicators you might just be getting the bug to build:

• You’re driving around on weekends looking at lots and new construction coming out of the ground. Deciding where you want to build and getting a feel for the neighborhood is a great way to narrow the focus. Pay attention to home design, square footage and the location that’s best for what’s important to you and your family.

• You’ve crunched the numbers. Home ownership can actually be much less expensive than renting (especially with the high rents we’re seeing in middle Tennessee these days!), plus it’s also true that a new home can be built for the same price as a pre-owned home. Start putting pencil to paper—or fingers to calculator—to get some clarity on the financial side.

• You’re Googling neighborhoods and looking at blog posts like this one that talks about the new home construction process. That’s great! You’re doing your homework, which is key. The more you know, the better the process of building is going to be.

• You want new. Some people prefer a new home, with everything brand spanking clean and fresh, just waiting for you and your family. It’s true that there are fewer surprises with a brand new home, and watching it go up will help you know what’s there, from the foundation up.

• You’re on Pinterest building boards like never before. It’s really fun to dream about applying your own taste, ideas and design to a blank slate. If you’re dreaming of this type of creative collaboration, it could be a sign you’re ready to build.

• You’re hearing friends talk about building. A lot of people build at least one home, and often more, in their lifetimes. It’s a learning process and can be very rewarding with the right builder and good partners like a helpful mortgage broker and real estate agent.

If you’d like to sit down and explore the idea of building a new home, we’d love to do that with you. Please give us a call, text or send us an email and let’s have coffee!

What’s better than the perfect blend of past and present to make a great place to live? Ideally located south of Nashville, Spring Hill is one of the fastest growing cities in Tennessee. Families choose Spring Hill because of its convenience, affordability, friendliness, and access.

When you visit Spring Hill, you’ll find an excellent range of housing, new retail, and shopping, employment, plus those desirable historic properties which reflect the area’s Civil War heritage and tradition.

Once you’re living in Spring Hill, you’ll find the community a great place to raise a family. The City of Spring Hill is strongly focused on building pedestrian walkways and creating activities-to-get-you-going like the annual late-summer Art Walk through downtown.

And don’t worry, you’re in Music Country! Spring Hill offers its own live music experiences like Pickin in the Park, a showcase series outdoors at Harvey Park. Bring your chairs and lawn quilts and settle in for a great evening. Be on the lookout for the County Ham Festival held every fall, with free admission, more great live music, tasty Southern dishes, games, competitions, arts and crafts, a kids’ zone and more. And, for the past nine years, General Motors has been the keynote sponsor of the Spring Hill Pay It Forward Festival, focusing on local support for business and the community. Enjoy fishing, football, soccer, kickball, health screenings, nutrition education and demonstrations, sports clinics, baseball, sack races, relay races, a food court, top-notch live music and entertainment, and much more.

You’ll find Spring Hill’s focus on its authentic heritage refreshing. The town’s history dates back to the days when Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Shawnee people hunted here, and settlers came and stayed because of the beautiful rolling hills and natural springs, building beautiful mansions and churches. After the Civil War and the historic Battle of Spring Hill was over, the city became known for livestock breeding, farming and a commitment to quality education that continues today. In the early 1980s, General Motors chose Spring Hill for the site of a new automotive plant and has proven to be a great partner to the community.

Today, Spring Hill’s population is nearing 40,000. The city is only expected to continue to grow, given its ideal location, great quality of life and convenience to Nashville.

Spring Hill combines the best of small-town living with great activities and a friendly atmosphere!

Check out our Williamson County neighborhoods in Spring Hill, including Shirebrook’s townhomes and Petra Commons with both single-family homes and townhomes. We have the perfect home to meet your needs in Spring Hill. Visit today today to learn more or visit at RegentHomesTN.com.

Spring Hill’s best-kept, brand new secret

We know what people are wanting in a home today, and that’s why we built Petra Commons in Spring Hill on Columbia Pike. If you’re looking to buy, you just have to take a look at what we’ve built here:

• Choose between a townhome or single-family home in a small, close, walkable neighborhood of 79 homes (not too big, not too small!)

• High-end design and finishes

• Williamson County Schools

• Shopping and the services you routinely need right out the front door (walk to the nail salon, the bank or the dentist!)

• Excellent pricing—$240k to $280k on the townhomes. Single-family homes are $280k to $350k.

Plans for this unique neighborhood have been years in the making. As we all know, the whole Nashville-area region is booming. People are looking for a nice home for their busy lives, a choice that really works in a brand new way for what they need. Here at Regent Homes, we’re actively working to build these types of communities throughout the region, and again, once you see Petra Commons, we think you’ll agree that we’ve done our homework.

We honestly believe this neighborhood is something special that fits the bill for what single professionals, young families, and empty nesters are wanting today.

First, let’s talk about the homes. Our townhomes and single-family homes at Petra Commons range in size from about 1,468 square feet to 2,384 square feet, and you can choose from multiple floor plans. Every home is brick, with granite counters, a deep baseboard throughout and nine-foot ceilings on the first levels. You’ll have stainless steel appliances, a combination of hardwoods and carpet and energy-efficiency throughout the home.

Second, let’s talk about the neighborhood itself. It’s all walkable, with wider sidewalks that connect you home to shopping at the front of the development. Abundant landscaping, a neighborhood association, exterior tree-lined streets, a park area with a gazebo and outdoor space for relaxing, barbecuing and recreating. It’s got everything you need to create a close-knit neighborhood that’s going to work for your busy life.

Third, let’s talk about the schools. Your Williamson County schools, one of the top-performing public school districts in the nation, are Heritage Elementary, Heritage Middle, and Independence High School. Heritage Elementary is in nearby Thompson’s Station and provides a far-above-average education for its students, with a very active PTO and high standards. Heritage Middle School, for sixth through eighth graders, has an 8,000-volume school library, two 30-station technology labs and 13 wireless computer labs, just for starters. Independence High School on Columbia Highway provides excellent resources to its students, with three computer labs, eight science labs, a TV production facility, state-of-the-art media center plus a strong focus on academics and developing top scholars and well-rounded students.

Fourth, let’s talk about the shopping and services. We’ve put in two commercial spaces at the front of Petra Commons, so you have multiple choices for shopping and services within feet of your front door. Already in place are Franklin Synergy Bank, Mattress King, Kemp and Rice Orthodontics, Noire the Nail Bar, Absolute Wireless, ReMax Fine Home Sales office and a dentist with same-day services. Three restaurants are currently in play for additional spaces, plus an insurance company, a coffee shop, hair salon and a workout facility. You almost won’t have to go anywhere else to get what you need—a huge time and stress saver.

We know you’ll have more questions so please get in touch with us and if you’re out and about, just stop by and take a look. We are expert in building these types of communities; our experience includes Westhaven and Berry Farms. We can’t wait to show you Petra Commons!

Buying your first home is both an exciting and a nerve-wracking process, so make it easier on yourself by doing some thinking and planning ahead of time.

Here are some key aspects to consider when buying your first home:

• Define your ideal home. Look at location, size, and style that fit the needs of you and your family.

• How much do you want to spend? Clearly, a new home is one of the biggest investments you’ll make, and it will require a significant portion of your monthly income. Give this some good thought.

• How much can you afford? Your mortgage lender will also help you determine this answer.

• Plan for unexpected expenses. Things will come up, so think about setting aside a percentage for surprises.

• Check your credit score. Lending institutions look at credit scores, so check yours early. If you see any issues, work to get those cleared up.

• Ask questions about a good mortgage lender. This professional can be a great resource and partner throughout the process and can help cut down on the stress on the financial side. Ask for referrals and talk to several before you make a decision.

• Save up for a down payment. You’ll need cash to put a down payment on your home, and how much depends on multiple factors. It’s always good to have a little extra set aside, so it’s never too early to start saving.

• Find a good real estate agent. This individual, along with the mortgage lender, is another key partner for you in the process and can help answer many of the dozens of questions you’re going to have. Rely on them.

• Don’t forget closing costs. This will be a factor in your cash savings, so get an idea of this and start saving.

• Create a system to track your paperwork. Keeping yourself organized will help you pinpoint what you need quickly and reduce your stress throughout the process.

We’d love to be a resource for you as well as you start thinking about and planning for your first new home. Give us a call anytime, and we’ll be glad to start the conversation!

It’s a good idea to formulate a list of questions as you work on selecting a builder for your new home. Here are a few to get your thinking started.

•  Why are you the best builder for me? Asking this question will stimulate good conversation about your builder’s strengths, and should stimulate some good questions from your builder about your wants and needs. Hiring the right builder is the most important decision you’re going to make, so choose wisely.

• What’s the process for building a home? This is a key question to talk about with your builder. You’ll want to get a general overview of what will happen over the next weeks and months because building a custom home is a long process, and it’s going to require a time commitment from you.

• What is my role going to be throughout the construction process? Get some ideas from your builder about what will be required from you regarding design selections and turnaround time. The process will move slower at times and faster at others, so it’s good to be thinking ahead.

• What will be the communication process between you and me? I can’t overstate how important this is. Lack of communication leads to a host of problems, perceived and otherwise. Will you talk once a week, regardless? Will your conference call or email? Understand the parameters and intent from the start.

• Should we hire an interior designer? This is a critical question to discuss fully with your builder. A great designer can be an excellent partner with you and your builder throughout the process, and can greatly reduce the time constraints on you. Of course, it’s an additional cost, so get clear about roles and responsibilities early.

• What style and size will work best for you and your family? Often, size is driven by where you build, but think about whether you want the largest home or the smallest home in your area or neighborhood? Also, style of home is a practical matter that takes your tastes into consideration, not to mention repurposing the furniture and possessions you already have!

• How will we handle mistakes during the process? These may be mistakes you make in terms of design selection or potential mistakes you identify by the builder. What’s going to happen when this happens? Good to have an idea on the front end.

• What can you afford? How will you handle decisions that change the total cost? Clearly, how much money you are spending on possibly your largest investment in your life is a key consideration. Often, what starts out as “the price” ends up being larger. What’s the best way to handle this? Talk with your builder and get that person’s advice about this important consideration.

• How long will the construction process take? What can and will cause delays? You’ll need to have a pretty good idea from the beginning about a target move-in date, but be ready for delays.

• Is there a better time of year to start a home build to get it done faster? Weather, as you know, is always a factor. Learn what might work best for you and your builder’s situation.

We’d love to be the builder of your next new home, and love sitting down with people to see what might be possible. Give us a call anytime!

Learn about our construction process online at RegentHomesTn.com

How to organize your current garage or tips on organizing your garage in your new home

If you’re like many people, you have room for just about everything in your garage…except your car. Most of us are prone to dumping things in the garage when we don’t know what else to do with them, telling ourselves “we’ll deal with it later.”

Guess what? Later is here! If you’re in the mood for getting-ready-for-spring, organizing your garage is a great way to start. Here are some handy tips:

• Gather the right supplies, including heavy duty trash bags, a box (or five) for donations, a strong vacuum like a shop vac or a big broom, a hose for washing out the entire garage (plus spraying high for cobwebs) and a catch-all basket.

• Empty out the entire garage. Yes…get it empty. Pulling it all into the driveway and sorting, organizing and tossing will help tremendously, plus it gives you a chance to really clean.

• Do a basic cleaning. Give the floor a good once over with a broom or shop vac, and then wash it with the hose. As you’re emptying and cleaning, begin the decluttering process by tossing anything you know right off the bat needs to go in the trash or donate pile. This step not only gets rid of a percentage of what’s there but also has the added bonus of giving you an immediate sense of accomplishment.

• Then, critically eye your garage space and establish zones for permanent storage. Use vertical space and make sure dangerous items (like chemicals and sharp tools) are stored in a locked cabinet if children are in the house or have access to your garage.

• Mount a slat wall or pegboard wall that is accessible to hang and organize smaller accessories, adding as many hooks and small baskets as you need.

• It really helps to outline tools on that wall with a marker so you know where the tool goes at a glance and can easily identify when a tool is missing.

• Find a spare chest of drawers and turn it into a workbench. Thrift stores and even your attic are good places to look.

• Create extra space and store bikes vertically or hang them from the ceiling.

It may take all day on one spring Saturday, but you’ll be set for a while because you’ve tossed, sorted and set up better systems for your garage items. Helping you enjoy your homeownership is our commitment to you. Take a look at http://regenthomestn.com/about-us to learn more about who we are.

The clean slate of building a brand new home is certainly appealing. And, you might be surprised to learn that value is also on the side of the new home decision. Let’s unpack the specifics of new home value proposition as compared with existing home value proposition.

• You did it your way. One of the best things about building is getting the finishes you want. Paint colors, appliance choices, countertops, flooring…when will it ever be exactly your choice in an existing home? Want a master bedroom on the first floor? Large his and hers walk-in closets? High ceilings and a luxurious master bath? Sitting room with a fireplace or French doors opening to the pool? Now is the time to decide what you want and include it in your new home build.

• Save your cash. When you’re building a new home, the extras are financed into your new mortgage. When you buy existing, you’re going to be coming up with another way—outside the mortgage—to finance upgrades, renovations and repairs.

• Energy savings. Investing in an energy-friendly home is likely to be a better long-term investment. New homes have a tighter-sealed building envelope that helps prevent conditioned air—cool air in the summer, warm air in the winter—from literally going out the window and through the cracks like in an existing home. This can be a huge cost savings for years and years of paying energy bills for the new homebuyer.

• Greater comfort and indoor air quality. Today’s new homes meet stringent energy standards and codes that weren’t required in the past. Your new home will have high-performance energy efficiency with state-of-the-art ventilation and air filtration. You’ll be more comfortable all year round and the air you breathe will be of much better quality compared with that of an existing home.

• Home warranty, no surprises. Many new homes come with a warranty which can save lots of money down the line. One new home owner put it this way: “I won’t have to replace a roof or air conditioner for at least a decade.” In a new home, warranties begin from the closing date. Appliances generally have a one-year builder’s warranty as well as a manufacturer’s warranty. The thought of getting a home where the major things are covered for anywhere from one year to 20 years gives most of us a lot of peace.

• Updated construction and safety codes. In an existing home, inspections often reveal structural, electrical, moisture and other significant issues. You want to be sure the home you move your family into is built to last to the latest construction and safety standards.

• Environmentally up to date. Many new homes come with energy certifications covering everything from roofs to appliance packages, while often, existing homes were built to lower standards. As times change and technology advances, these innovations are folded into upgraded building and environmental codes.

• Fire safety. New homes often include fire safety features not present in homes built years ago. For example, today fire retardant is used in carpeting and in the home insulation.

• Financing. New home buyers may be able to take advantage of mortgage financing perks. Negotiating points, closing costs and buy-downs are factors to ask questions about to save money and get the best possible financing.

• A brand-new community. This may be one of the most overlooked benefits of buying new instead of existing. When families move in to a subdivision at the same time, lasting bonds of friendship and neighborliness can be formed right away. Everybody’s new and looking to make new friends. Plus, many new neighborhoods offer amenities like swimming pools, dog walking trails, neighborhood retail and restaurants that existing communities may not have.

When you’re ready to build, we’ll walk with you through every step of the process. Take a look at our home building process. We want you to have the home you’re dreaming of!