What exactly is “joy gap”? Joy gap is the difference in what your are expecting to feel concerning an event and what you actually feel once that event has occurred. Whenever you are considering a move, whether it’s across town or across the country, there is that excitement/anticipation of setting up a new home in a new location. Of course, there is some apprehension, but for most folks the opportunity to start with a “clean slate” is exciting. So now, you are faced with the decision – do I buy new or used? Or if your timeline allows – do you build your new home from the ground up?
Used Homes – Pros and Cons
Pros Usually in established neighborhoods Quick contract to close time frame (if the house is empty) More inventory of homes on the market to choose from
Cons Did the homeowner disclose a true history of the home to the Realtor? Age of major appliances How reputable was the builder of the home? Were past repairs done by reputable contractors? What sort of pesticides were used outside and inside the home? How energy efficient are the appliances, windows, and insulation? Has the home been pre-treated for termites? What events – sick babies, new puppies, etc are deep-soaked into the carpets and paddings? Older neighborhoods rarely have amenities
New Home – Pros and Cons
Pros All new appliances Up-to-date room layout: no tiny bathrooms or closets Energy efficient appliances and insulation New paint New roof First homeowner Up-to-date neighborhood amenities
Cons Neighborhood may still be under construction, and construction vehicles are coming and going Home may not be ready for immediate move-in Homes may be slightly higher in price
The fact is, we have never know of someone moving into a used home who doesn’t do a deep clean and paint the interior before moving in. We’ve heard stories of a “new” roof being installed over the old. The underlying wood never checked. The homeowners can’t understand why they have leaks with a “new” roof. Or a hot water heater giving up the ghost two years after moving in.
There is a definite joy gap. Tim Costello of BDX explained at the recent International Builders Show that there is at least a 20% difference in the happiness of home buyers based on whether they bought a new home or a used one. As Tim points out, used home buyers always move in with a “to-do” list. New home buyers only have “ta-da”. Used home buyers spend their weekends at Home Depot, new home buyers spend their time ….. however they want.
Core Homes has homes available at every stage of construction – to build from scratch to move-in-ready. Let us help you find one that will make you say, “TA-DA!”
Core Homes Community Updates – December 2022
We had an exciting and busy year in our communities this year! Here is an end-of-year wrap-up for each of our neighborhoods.
Lake Breeze
Wow! What a year for us in the Harrison community of Lake Breeze! We are down to our last available home in Phase II. The beautiful, movie-in-ready home sits on top of a hill overlooking Phase III. It also has a large, flat backyard ready for play dates and BBQ’s. Down the road, Phase III got off to a bang in early 2022 and we now have 15 new homes in all stages of construction. All are available to purchase with lender incentives available to qualifying home buyers. Then – in July – the good folks at St Jude approached us to be the Chattanooga St Jude Dream Home builder! What an honor! The 2023 Dream Home is nearly half-way completed on homesite #124. We can’t wait to invite everyone to tour the home in May and June.
Hawks Landing
What a jewel of a community! We sold out of ALL our Core Homes in Phase III in one year. Plans are in the making for launching Phase IV with larger home sites – some big enough for 3 car garages – in 2023. Stay tuned to HomeLifebyCore.com for the latest information. Preliminary plat map should be coming soon!
River Breeze – Core’s Signature Community
Core’s coastal inspired luxury community sits on the Tennessee River in Soddy-Daisy. Four Design Curated interior site homes are under construction and will be completed in early 2023. Just two more interior homesites are available for semi-custom builds. One bluff side Designer Curated available home will be complete by the new year. Five more bluff-side homesites remain available as of December. All homes have a dedicated boat slip on the private community dock. Summer will be hear before you know it – imagine experiencing the river life every day!
Coming New in 2023
Wind River The long anticipated community will be available for sale in 2023! Great amenities, large wood-tracts, secluded, private location, and private boat docks/slips will make Wind River a “destination” community. Announcements for Wind River will be coming mid-2023.
Other Communities We have other communities in the planning stages in new areas of the Chattanooga Metro Area (look out Bradley Co, here we come!) Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see announcements of all new developments.
We are looking forward to 2023 as we grow right along with Chattanooga!
Maintenance Manual for New Home Owners from PWSC
Who or what is PWSC?
PWSC is the Professional Warranty Service Corporation and is Core Homes’ warranty administrator for all our new construction homes. For nearly 30 years, PWSC has served as a nationally recognized administration leader in the home building industry. Their warranties protect more than 1.7 million homes across the nation.
You shouldn’t ignore or take shortcuts when it comes to maintaining what is probably your single biggest investment and the thing that shelters and protects your family. Even if you are not a Core Homes home owner, download this manual and use it as a tool to keep your home looking great and functioning for many years.
The PWSC manual includes the following:
• Tips for moving into your new home • Regular maintenance schedules to keep big issues at bay • Signs to look for to help identify and fix common home concerns • Charts to track maintenance and repairs • Tips on understanding your PWSC (for Core Homes home owners) home warranty and how to use the policy.
If you aren’t a Core Homes home owner, visit our available homes page on our website for new homes available in all stages of construction. If you would like to build from the ground up – visit our home plan page to search through nearly 3 dozen home plans. One will certainly fit your wants and needs for a fresh, new home!
You love your new Core Home. We and PWSC do too!
20 Kitchen Organization Ideas To Maximize Storage Space Discover genius kitchen storage ideas
Temps are finally cooling a bit and thoughts are turning to pumpkin spice and cozy nights by the fireplace. Since you will be spending more time in your home, it’s time to spend some thought on optimizing your kitchen spaces. We found 20 great ideas from our friends at Architectural Digest.
Written by Elizabeth Stamp and Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest. Originally published May 19, 2020
Get your kitchen cabinets and countertops decluttered once and for all with these smart and easy kitchen organization ideas. If it feels like you never have enough storage in the kitchen despite tons of drawers and cabinets, it may come down to how you’re storing things. All the storage space in the world won’t help if the items inside of it are totally disorganized.
Discover the best kitchen storage organization ideas that will help you make the most of your storage space and even create more. Try out these genius tricks to corral clutter and store cooking essentials to make your kitchen more functional and less chaotic.
1. Toss and consolidate First things first: throw out everything that’s well past its expiration date, dirty, or stale. Do a deep clean of your refrigerator and cabinets (including the one under the sink).
2. Store utensils in a cutlery tray You separate your forks, knives, and spoons, so why not your cooking utensils? Store spoons, spatulas, and whisks in separate containers so you never have to dig through a tangle of tools to find the right one.
3. Install hooks to hang mugs Mugs are essential for morning coffee, but they take up shelf space and don’t stack well. A simple solution is to install hooks under a shelf or cabinet and hang mugs by their handles.
4. Get a cutting board that fits over your sink Counter space is always at a premium, but there’s an easy fix: Get a cutting board that fits over the sink to create an extra space for chopping. Many have built-in colanders to help make prep a breeze.
5. Decant bulk items Get organized with plastic bins or large glass jars. Decant bulk items into containers to keep ingredients neat and visible.
6. Add extra storage space to the side of your fridge Besides being very, very easy to install (just…stick it there), a magnetic shelf is also, of course, removable.
7. Install a pot rack Take advantage of vertical space by adding a pot rack to help store all those pans sitting on the stove or taking up space in your cabinets. If you have low ceilings, consider installing it over the kitchen sink.
8. Add dividers for lids, baking sheets, and pans If there’s always a loud clattering or an avalanche of lids whenever you open the cabinet door, it’s time to organize those pots and pans. Install a few pan dividers and stack pots and lids within the cabinet. You can also organize baking sheets and pans by placing the dividers perpendicular to the shelf.
9. Use risers to get more storage in each shelf Take advantage of that empty vertical space by placing risers in cabinets. This will help keep items separated so you don’t have to try to pick something out of the middle of a huge stack.
10. Get a drawer spice rack All you need is a super-shallow drawer—and these perfectly ridged spice storage inserts from IKEA—and poof! You’ll never lose sight of your spices again. As a bonus, it fits those standard-size spice jars from the grocery, so no need to put them all in new containers.
11. Hang your stemware This bartender’s solution keeps your stemware stored in style. You can hang it underneath a cabinet and showcase your wine glasses, or you can tuck it away inside for hidden storage.
12. Mount your dish rack Spare what little prep area you have on the counter by adding a shelf above the sink for air-drying—even better if it’s actually a designated dish rack that props them upright.
13. Add a magnetic knife bar This is a great alternative to a knife block, and another solution that saves counter space.
14. Bring in baskets and bins If you can’t keep things out of sight, at least keep them organized. Invest in some pretty baskets and containers to keep items on the counter uncluttered.
15. Make use of cabinet doors The inside of your cabinet doors is filled with storage possibilities. Install hooks to store pans, lids, or serving and measuring spoons, or add a slim rack to stash pot lids or boxes of foil and plastic wrap. Sure, you might have to inch back the contents of your cabinets just slightly, but you’ll be happy to do it when you open the door and see this supremely organized situation.
16. Add rolling shelves The downside of deep cabinets is having to practically climb in to get what you need from the back. Install rolling shelves with low sides to keep items organized and easily accessible.
17. Put a miniature lazy Susan inside a kitchen cabinet Add a small-scale lazy Susan to the inside your kitchen cabinets. You can use it to corral spices and oils, or add it below the sink to store cleaning products.
18. Upgrade your fruit basket This three-tiered fruit basket hangs from your ceiling—leaving you valuable counter space below. Plus, when the fruit is suspended, it gets more air circulation to help it ripe.
19. Line your shelves Kitchen organization ideas aren’t just about creating more storage space—you also have to consider how to make the space fuss-free and easy to keep clean. Enter shelf liners. In addition to protecting your cabinet shelves, they can also brighten up the space. Shelf liners come in just about every color and pattern you can imagine, and are available in adhesive and non-adhesive styles.
20. Designate a place for everything, including your empty bags Bags have a way of accumulating in various drawers and cupboards. Designate a bin or container just for those errant bags. You can even repurpose an old coffee canister. Cut a slit in the lid and you easily pull out the bags one at a time (and you can take the rest of your adhesive contact paper and cover the can to give it a refresh.
Many of Core Home’s home plans feature walk in pantries – great for storing large appliances out of sight! Check out our home plans at HomeLifebyCore.com while you are enjoying your warm pumpkin spice latte!
Core Homes has been selected as the 2023 St. Jude Dream Home® Builder!
Core Homes is excited and honored to announce that we have been selected as the 2023 St. Jude Dream Home® builder!
Plans are already underway for the Dream Home in our Lake Breeze community in Harrison, TN. By this time next year someone in the Chattanooga area will be living in their new St Jude Dream Home®! It takes many, many partners and sponsors to make this project a success. We are looking forward to working with all of them – from the cookie makers to the lumber suppliers!
Soon we will have a St. Jude Dream Home page on our website. We’ll have updates on the build, the groundbreaking in September, a floor signing event in the Spring, open house events in May and June, and of course, links to purchase tickets for a chance to win the Dream Home! So check back often to see the latest news.
The St. Jude Dream Home® Giveaway is a community service project that everyone can get behind and support. The program involves selling a limited number of $100 chances to win a brand new, single-family home. Each home has a market value in the range of $300,000 to $700,000, and is built largely with generous donations of land, labor and materials. Every ticket helps ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all they should worry about is helping their child live. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.
What fills a home? Hope, love, dedication – all of those things and more fill the halls of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. You’re helping support St. Jude patients and their families when you reserve a St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway ticket. You could win a home. You will make a difference.
10 Creative Flex Room Ideas
You may have heard the term “flex room” before but may feel a little confused about what it actually means. What is a flex room, exactly? In short, it’s a space that can fulfill multiple needs. But the beauty of a true flex space is that even those purposes can change and grow over time. What is your nursery today can be your office space tomorrow. And if your job needs change, then perhaps your office can then be your music room. And if your hobbies change, maybe you can consider a library. If mom wants to come for a short-term visit, then the space can also be repurposed as a guest room. Flex room basics involve you being in touch with your space needs and what works best for you. For some helpful hints to guide you in the right direction, here are 10 creative and useful ideas that can help you create a flex space that suits your needs.
Creative Flex Room #1 – Your Home Office
In this sudden work-from-home era, perhaps the most common and practical use of flex space is the home office. Keep in mind that the term flex “room” doesn’t necessarily need to refer to a dedicated room. For many people, space is limited, and it’s necessary to craft flex space out of a room that doesn’t exist, by turning a nook, a corner or even a section of wall into a “room.” Your home office may simply be a dedicated space that you use to do your work. However, out of all the flex spaces, this is one where you might want more privacy to be able to work, video conference and make phone calls, so section it off as best you can with dividers, potted plants, furniture or shelving. If you plan to spend a good deal of time in your office, make sure you invest in comfortable chairs and aesthetics you feel are conducive to getting work done. If you have an extra room, using it as a home office is a worthwhile idea, instead of trying to position yourself in a type of open-air style.
Creative Flex Room #2 – Playroom or Study Area
If you have children or are planning to have children, create a flex space for kids. It’s likely that the nursery will become their bedroom, so having a place for them to play and learn as they grow is an optimal use for a flex space. When they’re younger, a playroom works well for honing skills, and many of these skills go beyond playing with toys. Envision a room with a small, indoor trampoline, bouncy balls and other things that enhance gross and fine motor skills. As kids age, this room can become a study area. Plan for flexing the room as they grow by having an open design playroom, which is more equipment-based than toy or furniture based. When it’s time to switch it to a study area, swapping in some light furniture, such as desks and chairs is no problem. Kids can help you pick which designs they’d like to keep or discard.
Creative Flex Room #3 – Flex for the Holidays
One of the better things about having flex spaces is the ability to blend flex spaces for the holiday. If you have multiple living rooms, you can blend these rooms together for an overall holiday feel. If you find your main living space too crowded with the Christmas tree or other holiday decorations, move it to the secondary living room, which gives you more space for celebrating with family. It also gives you more space around the tree to add special accents. Maybe this is the year for a Christmas train around the tree, or perhaps you can deck that entire room out in holiday spirit. Having a flex room around the holidays definitely has its perks. Another idea for a flex room around the holidays is making room for any visiting guests that may be coming. Before making a permanent purchase for a short-term need, consider renting your furniture. It’s a great, low cost, way to try out new furniture pieces and trends that you may want to incorporate throughout your home later on in the year.
Creative Flex Room #4 – Art or Music Studio
Whether it’s part of your career or it’s something you enjoy doing as a hobby, turning a flex room into an art or music studio is a terrific idea. Again, you don’t need an entire room, just a corner or nook to call your own. Set up an easel or sketchpad and chair and hone your craft. Or, you may find a pleasant corner by a window is a great place to create music and set up a guitar amp and a boom mic. If you’re thinking of dedicating an entire room, you can always consider soundproofing the walls for a music room, or creating a miniature art studio that’s all your own. Chalkboard-painted walls and other accents can add a personalized touch.
Creative Flex Room #5 – A Guest Room
Having a guest room is one of the perfect flex ideas because, when it’s not in use, there are so many other ideas to choose from. You can also have a guest room be an art studio, office, sewing room or one of many other different ideas. A room that has an extra bed is ideal for when family comes to visit — or maybe for just taking an afternoon nap. What’s best about a guest room is the fact that there are so many ideas for multipurpose use. Set up as a guest room, in case someone does drop in suddenly, but also use it for other things, such as storage, sewing, music, study or art. Make sure that your guest room is outfitted with all the necessities, such as fresh sheets and blankets, towels, a full-length mirror, alarm clock, tissues and toiletry basics.
Creative Flex Room #6 – Bar or Lounge Area
In a post-COVID world, having your own bar or lounge area really isn’t a bad idea at all. If you don’t imbibe, this idea can translate to a host of other ideas: Make this corner, nook or room a coffee nook, game room or entertainment center. Or, the space can be so flexible that you can enjoy your coffee in the morning and beers can flow for Monday Night Football on a large-screen TV. It’s your space, so you have full control over what to do with it. Of course, this space works best against a wall, so you can build your bar, whether you’re setting up wells for liquor, or espresso machines for coffee. Seating doesn’t have to be too complicated; several barstools work well against a small island or counter seating. If you have the room, lounge furniture offers a more comfortable atmosphere than typical bar seating. Depending on the type of setting you want to create, consider adding a pool table, darts or room for a buffet table if you want to hold get-togethers.
Creative Flex Room #7 – Storage Solutions
If you’re like many people, over time you’ve accumulated a lot of stuff. While decluttering is big these days, there are some things you can’t get rid of, like your childhood keepsakes, holiday decorations or summer/winter clothes as you store them for a season. If you find that you don’t have room to store these in the basement, garage or other area of the house, perhaps your best flex idea is to have a storage room. This is a tough one, because you don’t want to walk in and immediately think, “ugh” when you see a row of boxes. To set up a storage room, find shelving that works for you and bins or other storage components that you like and meet your needs. Storage as decor (such as storage furniture) is also an option, depending on the number of items you need to store. Label everything, and set things up in a back-to-front manner. For example, you want your storage to be set up so that the next thing you need is in front. If those are window A/C units and your summer clothes, those should be in front, not in back. This way, you’re not digging through boxes every time you enter. Also, if there’s enough room, try to multipurpose part of the room if possible. Perhaps one corner can be a “second office” when the first office space isn’t available. This also helps you want to create order within this space, and not chaos.
Creative Flex Room #8 – Pet Playroom
There’s nothing cuter than a doggie or kitty playroom, and sometimes this can be a necessity if guests come over who are allergic to pet hair or your pet doesn’t do well with strangers or with young children. But don’t think of it as an isolation room — this should be a fun room that’s used often by your pet for play or comfort. For puppies, or even for kittens, this can also be a good, dedicated spot for the pet that isn’t housebroken yet. As they get older, set up the room with dog or cat beds, cat trees, toys and other fun items that your pet will enjoy.
Creative Flex Room #9 – Fitness Center
A home fitness center is another optimal choice in a post-COVID world. Not only does a home gym give you a place to work out where you don’t have to worry about wearing a mask, it offers you the flexibility to work out whenever you want. This is another type of flex room that doesn’t require a dedicated room .|If you’re only setting up one or two fitness machines, you can grab a corner of the house, or even the basement, and start exercising. If you have the space, add a few machines, including equipment for the kids, such as trampolines to get the whole family involved in getting fit. Think of adding weight balls, yoga mats and other equipment beyond fitness machines.
Creative Flex Room #10 – Reading Nook or Library
Many people like to grab a book and enjoy it in their favorite chair, but there’s also something about having a reading nook or library space that’s perfect for the book lover. This could be a coffee corner or reading nook. If you have a picture window or a nook where you’d like to improve the design, this is a wonderful idea. Adding bookcases or book shelving on either side with a built-in futon makes the ideal space. Add a touch of home remodeling or simply add several bookcases and a chaise or lounge to a corner of a room. Or, dedicate an entire room as your library. This is another flex idea that could be multi-purposed, should you want to add a coffee bar or other embellishment to the library.
Have a look at all of Core Homes’ home plans while you strategize on how your new flex space will work for you. Here are even more ideas for transforming your flex space..
New Home Move Up Buyer Guide
If you already own a home, condo or townhome and are considering selling and buying something newer, bigger, better for whatever reason, this move-up buyer guide is for you.
How do you know if you are a move-up buyer?
Are you relocating and looking to find a home with features you didn’t get in your first home?
Do you have a growing family and need more room, a larger yard, a better location?
Are you tired of making constant repairs on your existing home and want to buy a new home with new systems and appliances?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you would be considered a move-up buyer. These are just a few of the reasons people decide to buy a new home, so whatever the reason, check out this move-up buyer guide and use it as a roadmap for a smooth transition to your next home.
Getting Started
Which comes first, buying or selling?
If you can afford to buy a new home before selling your current home, that is usually the best approach. You won’t have much leverage when buying a new home if the sale is contingent on the sale of your current home. One determining factor in making that decision would be how quickly homes are selling in your neighborhood. If they are only staying on the market for a few days or weeks, you could be confident in buying you next home first. However, if you live in an area where homes are taking 60-90 days or more to sell, you may need to consider selling first or finding a service such as Zillow Offers to buy your current home. With Zillow Offers, you don’t have to do repairs or painting of your home to sell it. You can even pick the closing and move-out date to fit into your schedule.
We’re obsessed with Trader Joe’s (OK, but who isn’t?). For years the rumor that Chattanooga was going to get a Trader Joe’s seemed like just a wish. But now we can partake in the delicious offerings of this wildly popular grocery store.
While the folks of the grocery chain release an annual list of customer-favorite items, we decided to compile a list of. items folks can’t live without. Of course, Everything Bagel Seasoning made the list, but there are plenty of items (and even a beauty product) that might convince you to give them a try on your next grocery shopping trip.
1. Soy Chorizo – This veggie chorizo makes it easy to skip the meat. Sauté it with onions, potatoes (or sweet potatoes), and black beans as a vegan dinner base for tacos or burrito bowls.
2. Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese – If you’re working from home right now, hearty options like this elevated frozen macaroni and cheese help you actually take a delicious lunch break.
3. Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend – This little jar of seasoning has quite the fan club these days, and we’re definitely a part of that club. Sprinkle it on egg whites to spice up a healthy breakfast or use it to make a savory at-home avocado toast.
4. Happy Trekking Trail Mix – The amazing selection of nuts and dried fruits include some of Trader Joe’s best finds. Perfect for on-the-go or at the office.
5. Gluten-Free Brioche Bread – When you have to follow a gluten-free diet Trader Joe’s brioche is a delight. The slices are pretty petite, but they’re the right amount of density to make a perfect grilled cheese.
6. Burrata Cheese – If you’ve had the pleasure of enjoying burrata cheese, you’ll know it’s often quite pricey. Thankfully the price point at Trader Joe’s allows Chihak to always grab a container at Trader Joe’s without spending so much.
7. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Baked Goods – When fall weather arrives it’s all about the pumpkin treats.
8. Speculoos Cookie Butter – It tastes like gingerbread but in a creamy, spreadable form. Enjoy a spoonful with some apple slices for a sweet afternoon pick-me-up.
9. Unexpected Cheddar Cheese – It’s technically a sharp cheddar, it has the tangy, nutty flavor of a way pricier aged Parmesan. It features those delicious crystalline bits that give the cheese a subtle crunch, and its creamy, crumbly texture is perfect for melting. It tastes fancy enough for a special-occasion charcuterie board, but at less than $5 a block, it’s affordable enough for everyday snacking, too.
10. Traditional Tunisian Harissa – Like your dishes with heat? Look no further than this rich chili paste. Marinate salmon with the spicy seasoning for the easiest weeknight dinner or pairing it with vegetables for a side dish with a kick.
11. Smoked Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage – For an affordable protein option that’s super tasty, cut them in slices and add veggies for a super easy sheet pan dinner.
12. Rosemary Marcona Almonds – When you need a quick and healthy snack, reach for a handful of almonds. Just the right mix of salt, crunch, and herb flavor.
13. Purple Moon California Merlot – There’s no doubting the quality wine section is one of the best things at Trader Joe’s. The Purple Moon California Merlo is not only a delicious casual sipper, but you can also score a bottle for just $6.
14. Shea Butter and Coconut Oil Hair Mask – If the dry winter air left your locks a little lackluster, this is an excellent affordable hair mask option.
15. Vegan Tzatziki – The vegan tzatziki from Trader Joe’s tastes exactly like regular tzatziki. It’s perfect on a salad or as a dip—I seriously cannot say enough good things about it.
16. Caramelized Onion Dip – It has a light and fluffy whipped texture that pairs perfectly with a kettle-cooked or ridged potato chip.
17. Just Dried Mango – A go-to snack. It’s literally just dried mango with no additives or added sugar—the perfect sweet treat.
18. Mini Hold the Cone Ice Cream Cones – When you’re in the mood for a little treat, these are the perfect size to satisfy your craving without overdoing it. They come in tasty flavors like chocolate and coffee bean.
19. Pub Cheese Sharp Cheddar – Not that we recommend you doing it, but you could 100% eat the whole tub of pub cheese dip in one sitting. It is perfect for an easy snack and is always a crowd-pleaser when you’re too lazy to actually make appetizers.
20. Vegan Kale Pesto – Put this pesto on everything, actually everything: eggs, wraps, chicken, you name it.
21. Chili Onion Crunch – This condiment can turn any boring dish into a meal bursting with flavor and is the perfect mixture of savory, salty, and smoky.22. Cauliflower Crust Cheese Pizza – This crust uses a combo of cauliflower, mozzarella cheese, potato flour, chickpea flour, and brown rice flour to turn the easiest dinner go-to into a more plant-based-friendly option. Even if you’re not gluten-free, sneak this in to get extra nutrients in your meals.23. Gone Bananas – This frozen dark chocolate and banana treat is so worth the hype. It’s perfect for times when you want ice cream but also want to be slightly healthier.24. Japanese Fried Rice – This is the best fried rice ever, even above restaurant and takeout options. Top it with a fried egg and a drizzle of sriracha, and it’s heavenly.25. Hash Brown Patties – They’re like McDonald’s hash browns but better and with less grease.26. Buffalo Chicken Dip – An easy lunch and snack to keep in the fridge, and it doesn’t leave you feeling heavy or gross, just happy and full 🙂
27. Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings – So easy to prepare and are perfect for fulfilling those midday cravings.
28. Cauliflower Gnocchi – Even if vegetables are not your favorite, with a protein and some pasta sauce, it completes a perfectly healthy—and delicious—dinner.
29. Oven-Baked Cheese Bites with Summer Black Truffle – There are a few different flavors of dried cheese bites at TJ’s, but the truffle option stands far ahead of the rest. Not only are they extremely delicious and flavorful, but they’re also a low-carb snack option for when you just want something light.
30. Riced Cauliflower Stir Fry – Great to have in the freezer for nights when you are either too busy or not in the mood to make a full-on dinner. A favorite way to eat this is as a base with some protein on top. Simply rip open the bag, warm it up in a pan, throw it in a bowl, and enjoy. It’s truly a fool-proof meal.
So – what are your go-to, can’t live without, Trader Joe’s favorites?
Locals Only Gift and Goods – Keeping it Local
We here at Core Homes like to “keep it local” by partnering with as many Chattanooga based area business as possible. We all know that the area is jam-packed with fun, innovative, and unique companies offering products with that world renown “Nooga vibe.
If you haven’t already been in the very popular Locals Only boutique, you surely have noticed its bright blue facade with Dolly herself wishing you joy from the window at the corner of Market and Frazier in the North Shore.
Locals Only proprietors, Danielle and Eric Landrum, tell their story: “We love Chattanooga! It’s a special community filled with inspiring people and businesses. Work pulled us away from Chattanooga for a few years and we came back with an explosion of ideas and ingenuity. Chattanooga is filled with local entrepreneurs with fabulous products! We decided to put together these gifts using only local products to showcase all that Chattanooga has to offer and to support local business. We hope you enjoy giving and receiving these gifts as much as we enjoy finding great local products and putting them together! ”
The bright and happy store has an incredible array of offerings: clothing, treats, sauces, stickers, candles, wall art – the list goes on and on. One of their most popular items is a hand selected gift box to fit any occasion. In fact, Core Homes gives all our home buyers a special Core Home curated gift box as a gift on their closing day.
To bring things full circle, not only does Eric Landrum run the store, he is also a Realtor and Core’s resident expert and agent for our Lake Breeze and Hawks Landing communities! A true Renaissance Man! If you would like to talk to Eric about a new home call him at 423-541-2676. If you want very cool and hip Chattanooga treasures, shop Locals Only online at: https://localsonlygiftsandgoods.com or at their brick and mortar store at 10 Frazier Avenue on the North Shore.
Keeping it Local!
How much does it cost to build a house?
Or – A Home Builder’s Most Challenging Question
How much does it cost to build a house? Followed quickly by, “How much per square foot does this home cost to build?
A good home builder winces when a prospective home buyer inevitably asks this question. Not because they don’t want to be transparent or try to hide anything with their client, it’s just not a good way to look at the cost of building a new home. Confused? Let us explain.
Could we give you a per square foot cost? Of course, we could. But that cost would be for a bare bone home, floating in the air. Cool idea, but Core Homes does not – at this point – build homes that float. Even if we did, it would have to float above something, and that something would have a cost involved. But we digress.
Here is a great analogy: Let’s say your daughter is getting married. Your neighbor’s daughter is also getting married. Both young ladies want their weddings to be held at the elegant Edwin Hotel downtown. Both weddings will have approximately 100 guests attend.
Your daughter has 6 attendants, wants a wedding room full of fresh flowers, a sit-down dinner at the reception with a live band, and a dove release as she and her new husband leave in a horse-drawn carriage.
See where we’re going with this?
Your neighbor’s daughter has 3 attendants, wants fresh flowers at the altar, will have a delicious buffet reception with a popular DJ. She and her new husband will leave the hotel in his shoe polish and balloon decorated car with guests holding sparklers.
Both ladies will have beautiful weddings at The Edwin Hotel. But did both events cost the same per guest? No, obviously.
So, what are the variables that go into the cost to build a new house?
So many variables go into determining the cost of a home, any home for sale, but more specifically, new construction homes.
First of all, the area the home will be built in is the first variable to consider. What are similar homes selling for? What is the current average home value of a home in the neighborhood you are considering building your new home? Is this neighborhood a highly sought-after community? Does it have nice amenities, good schools, a good HOA? Location, Location, Location is not just a cliché!
Secondly, the actual homesite your home will be built on, is it nice and flat? Will the builder need to grade a great deal to make it buildable? Will there need to be a retaining wall built? Does the slope necessitate a basement or crawl space?
Is it a premium site within the community? Is it on the water, or does it have a great view of the mountains?
All these things will put a site premium on a piece of land.
Consider that two identical homes built on different sites, even within the same community, on the same road, could vary a good deal in price because of site conditions.
Now we come to your lovely new home. You’ve picked the perfect home plan – you love it. Of course, you want it to reflect your unique tastes and lifestyle.
Will this be a forever home? You will want to consider widening doorways and having zero entry showers. Everyone needs a home office or “Zoom room” these days. Adding glass, double french doors to the plan’s formal dining room to add privacy will be an added cost. Perhaps a boomerang child or an elderly parent will be living with you so you need a closet added to a study downstairs. Or you just fell in love with quartz countertops instead of granite. The list goes on. Rarely do home buyers make no upgraded selections or structural changes to existing floor plans. Getting your new home perfect for you, comes with some costs.
But does every home buyer pick the same changes or upgrades? No, of course not. And that is why, along with the other above-mentioned situations, will always factor into the total cost of building a home.
And that is why it is nearly impossible for a reputable home builder to quote a square foot cost upfront.
So, where does that leave a home buyer when considering building a new home?
First – and most importantly – talk to your mortgage lender partner first. If you don’t have one you do business with already and trust, ask builders. We work with many lenders, local and otherwise. We can give you some options to shop.
Once you know what loan amount you are pre-approved for, you can start looking at areas you want to be in and which builders are building in that area. Know your timeframe. When do you want or need to be in your new home? There are many variables that go into build time. Some variables a builder has no control over, like 3 months of rain and below-freezing temper atures. Sounds extreme, but it happens. The current supply chain shortage is another example. Who knew it would ever take 6 months lead time to get garage doors? Know your timeframe but realize you’ll probably need to have at least some flexibility.
Also, take time to make a list of your “must-haves” versus your “would likes”. Sitting down with a designer in a Design Center can be a little overwhelming. Thereare a lot of choices, a lot of beautiful choices. You’ll want EVERYTHING! Know what you’re willing to spend money on, and what you aren’t willing to increase your budget over. But don’t panic. Communicate with your Realtor, builder, and designer and we’ll help stay within your comfort zone. We’re here to make building your new home a great experience.
To Wrap Up – What does it cost to build a house?
If a builder gives you a square footage cost to build one of their homes, be wary. It will always be a bare-bones cost. If a builder sells with square footage cost, they see their homes as simply a commodity – a product. Price is the only thing they can compete on with other builders.
That is not how Core Homes views their homes. We create living spaces. The foundation and heart of your life.
Talk to our people. Visit our Design Center. Look around our website and social media pages. Get to know us and how we do business. You’ll find we want to build your home with you. We will work with you to create a home that you absolutely love and is within your investment comfort zone.
