Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

Pender County, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages our readers to discover what Pender County, NC has to offer! The Pender County Government’s website is full of information like what to do, where to eat, where to stay, events and videos to help you further explore Pender County!

Visit www.VisitPender.com to see all of this including an interactive map. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook and request visitor information.

St. James Plantation, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share a recent article by RealtyTimes.com’s Richard Thompson addressing how to best utilize Homeowners Association newsletters. If a newsletter is the most efficient way for your HOA to correspond, then these tricks are sure to help you in 2010! Below is the list Thompson compiled and to read the complete article, click here!

1. Keep Articles Short.

2. Include Good Stories.

3. Put “Hook” into Your Headlines.

4. Stick to the Facts.

5. Lead with Power.

6. Proofread.

7. Use Photographs.

8. Share the Good News.

9. Standardize Your Look.

10. Use White Space.

11. Use a Readable Typeface.

12. Humorize.

13. Post It Online.

For more innovative homeowner association management strategies, see www.Regenesis.net.

Pender County, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes has enjoyed blogging the past year on our LEED Platinum Green home in Wilmington, NC, the Green features we incorporated in the home, and other Green options available to homeowners. With that in mind, we’d like to share an article from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Home Guide that covers nearly every aspect of creating a Green kitchen. The following information is covered and to read the complete article, click here!

DESIGN FOR REDUCED RESOURCE USE

• Refrigerators

• Dishwashers

• Lighting

DESIGN FOR IMPROVED INDOOR ENVIRONMENT

• Exhaust Hood

• Stoves

• Plumbing

BUILDING MATERIALS

• Flooring

• Cabinets

• Countertops

CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING

MAINTENANCE AND USE

• Refrigerator

• Dishwasher

• Floors & Counters

• Exhaust Hood

• Plumbing

• Cleaning Products 

Wilmington, NC home remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share this informative article on About.com outlining what every homeowner should address before attempting a home remodel. Below are the first few steps and to click here to read more and find even more informative links!

1. Draw Your Dream – Even before you consult an architect, you can begin sketching out your ideas and imagining your remodeled home. If you are adding or expanding a room, think about how the space will be used and how the changes will affect traffic patterns. Also consider how new construction will affect the overall context of your home. An oversized addition may overwhelm your house or crowd a small lot. A simple home design software program can help you visualize your project.

2. Learn From Others – One of the best ways to get inspiration and to avoid pitfalls is to follow the experiences of other homeowners. A number of Web sites offer online chronicles of home improvement projects, along with reply forms, message boards, and chat rooms that let you ask questions and get feedback.

3. Think Ahead – Although you may dream of having a spacious new addition, the project may not make sense if you plan to sell your house in a few years. A luxury bathroom can price your house beyond the values in your neighborhood. Some projects, such as vinyl siding on a Queen Anne Victorian, will actually decrease the value of your home. Moreover, your own family’s needs may be very different in a few years. Will the plans you draw today fit your future?

Courtesy of Jackie Craven, About.com Guide

St. James Plantation, NC custom home builder would like you to discover the attractions, events, activities and more that Brunswick County, NC islands and towns have to offer you. From pristine beaches to exciting wildlife, Brunswick County, NC is a beautiful place to both vacation and live. Visit www.NCBrunswick.com for information on what to do in Bald Head Island, Southport, Ocean Isle Beach and more and while you’re there, request a Vacation Guide!

Courtesy of the Brunsick County Tourism Development Authority

Brunswick County NC, new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share exciting news for South Brunswick High School. The Southport, NC high school was among one of the five winning schools in the Carolinas to receive solar photovoltaic panels from Progress Energy’s SunSense Schools Program. Below is an excerpt from the Cape Fear Business News, and to read the complete article, click here!

“SunSense schools is a hands-on educational program for middle school and high school students that encourages them to develop innovative energy solutions. The solar demonstration array will be connected to the school’s electrical system and to Internet monitoring equipment, so students can view the panels’ real-time electricity production. Educational materials will also be provided to teachers to help South Brunswick High School integrate renewable energy learning opportunities into the classroom.

‘We are proud to partner with the Carolina Hurricanes to provide South Brunswick High School with this unique, powerful tool for learning about the practical applications of solar energy,’ said Ben Waldrep, vice president of Progress Energy’s Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Southport. ‘The enthusiasm for energy education from teachers and students across the region is encouraging for the future of alternative energy. I want to congratulate South Brunswick High and thank all of the schools who participated in the program.’

Funding for the program was provided through grants from the Progress Energy Foundation and the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ’N Community Foundation, which is affiliated with the National Hockey League team. The systems will be installed by Argand Solar, a North Carolina-based renewable energy company.”

Southeastern North Carolina’s electronic specialists, Electronics 2 You’s recent e-newsletter highlighted Control4, an energy monitoring system, and it’s use in the Las Vegas CityCenter , Aria Resort & Casino, and Mandarin Oriental. You can use Control4 to monitor the energy usage in your own home with the help of Electronics 2 You. They specialize in installing the Control4 system and TED (The Energy Detective). New Hanover County, NC Green home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is currently using TED at their Green home in Landfall in Wilmington, NC. “Being able to monitor the energy usage in real-time is very beneficial. It shows us what lifestyle changes we need to make to ensure the Green features of the home are used at their highest potential,” noted Mark Johnson.

Below is an excerpt from Electronics 2 You’s e-newsletter and visit their site for more information on optimizing your monetary saving in your home today! To sign up for their newsletter, click here!

“Guests will use a single remote and Control4 on-screen view to use the TV to set the systems in their rooms to their personal preferences, including lighting levels, room temperature, television/video systems, music, drapes and guest services.

Other features include:

• A ‘good night’ scene button on the touchscreen next to the bed which turns off the lights, TV and/or music, closes the drapes, and turns on the privacy notification for the room.
• A ‘wake-up’ scene where lights and music gradually come on, the temperature comes up, and the drapes open.
• After a guest has checked out, a room can quickly be put in ‘unoccupied’ mode, which shuts off the lights, heating or cooling, entertainment systems, and any other electronic device in the room.
• Integration with property management systems to deliver concierge-type services, as well as automate the guestroom, based on check-in/check-out status.
• Sending an alert to the technical systems staff regarding problems in the room, such as low batteries in remotes.

Scot Campbell, senior vice president and chief information officer at MGM MIRAGE Information Technology, says the Control4 Suite System makes CityCenter ‘the most energy efficient establishment in Las Vegas.’ He says that is important because more consumers are conscious of being green at home and when they travel.”