Mark Johnson Custom Homes Blog

New Hanover County, NC home remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes would like to share some exciting news for one of our local historic sites. WHQR 91.3 FM reported today that the owners of Poplar Grove Plantation struck a deal with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust to ensure that the land will never be developed. Below is an excerpt from the WHQR report and to read more, click here!

“Poplar Grove Plantation secured what’s called a ‘conservation agreement’ that will protect the civil war era plantation located near the Pender-New Hanover county line.

This rapidly developing area is also home to Futch and Foy creeks. And Coastal Land Trust Director Camilla Herlevich says the Poplar Grove project will help preserve the creeks, which are some of the most pristine creeks in the region.”

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

Wilmington, NC new home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share the latest technological developments in MLS listings! The Wilmington Regional Association of REALTORS will soon be introducing Realty Connect, a system that makes it easier to access information on homes for sale in our area. It will allow a passerby to send a text message code from the available homes to a national access number and receive key information and photos back to you in seconds. Below is an excerpt from the recent Cape Fear Business News article and to read more, click here!

“’We continually seek out the best technology tools and providers for local real estate consumers and our members. We are pleased to offer Goomzee’s industry-leading SMS marketing platform. More home buyers are relying on technology for information when buying a home, and WRAR recognizes the need to empower the real estate sales professional with useful technology to reach today’s buyer, especially on their mobile phones,’ explains Brian Bell, WRAR Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

An increasing number of Americans look to their cellular phones for instant access to information. According to the International Association of Wireless Telecommunications, also known as CTIA®, there are 276.6 million US mobile phone subscribers representing 89% of Americans.”

Wilmington, NC custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes is excited to share that our local airport, Wilmington International Airport, now offers a real-time Flight Tracker on their website! We understand that international travel is important to many people that may consider moving to the Cape Fear area, and the Flight Tracker is just another exciting attribute to our local airport. Visit their website to see how the Flight Tracker can make your traveling experience that much easier!

Wilmington, NC home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes encourages you to sign up for our monthly, online e-newsletter, The Precursive Planner.  This dynamic newsletter has fantastic attributes including current articles about the building community, Wilmington, NC and surrounding areas, as well as articles to inform and entertain readers.

The Precursive Planner is a way that Mark Johnson Custom Homes can connect on a more personal level to our customers and trade partners.  The newsletter is a mechanism which allows for important information about Mark Johnson Custom Homes, to be conveyed in an attractive and engaging manner.  The Precursive Planner includes:

• Many articles that provide links to corresponding websites
• Online articles
• Carefully chosen pictures and charts
• Links to local schools, local companies, local weather, current mortgage rates, etc.
• Current and future business opportunities

According to the newsletter service provider, the open rate for The Precursive Planner is three times higher than the national average of other real estate related e-newsletters.  Mark Johnson Custom Homes is able to view who opens the newsletter, how often a certain link is clicked, and the overall interest in an article or topic.  With this information, The Precursive Planner is becoming increasingly more dynamic; changing to satisfy the readers’ needs and interests.

The Precursive Planner is a way that individuals can be kept up to date on relevant information that concerns not only the local building community, but the homeowners that live in Wilmington, NC and the surrounding areas.  Mark Johnson Custom Homes is pleased to have a large contact base that receives The Precursive Planner on a monthly basis.

Visit our website to sign up now!

In a recent report by Realty Times reporter Kenneth R. Harney, Harney found real estate investors buying houses at discount prices have begun to focus more on energy efficiency as a marketable benefit. Instead of simply doing the usual renovations, such as paint jobs and landscaping to turn around properties for resale or rental, growing numbers of investors are emphasizing energy efficiency improvements to increase market values and cut marketing times.

Research studies have found that houses with high energy-efficiency ratings sell at premiums ranging anywhere from seven to 14 percent over comparable, non-efficient houses, and take fewer days on the market to sell.

Brunswick County, NC home remodeler Mark Johnson Custom Homes, Inc understands Green renovations give a competitive advantage to homeowners in today’s market. Green renovations are intended to drastically lower energy usage and carbon emissions, and offer Energy Performance Scores from independent auditors. “Today’s homeowners are both price-conscious and environmentally savvy, so ensuring their home will be more energy efficient post-renovation is one of our top goals,” stated Mark Johnson.

To read the complete article by Kenneth R. Harney, click here.

To view our recently completed LEED Platinum home in Wilmington, NC, click here and enter the Username “51” and Password “2009”. LEED Platinum is the highest attainable certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification is also available for home remodels.

A recent Wall Street Journal article detailed issues any homeowner should address before beginning to remodel your home. St. James Plantation custom home builder Mark Johnson Custom Homes, Inc provides the same quality construction to our remodeling clients as we do a custom home.

 Let us help you create your dream home in St. James Plantation!

Spending on remodeling is expected to reach $316 billion this year alone and the number is still climbing, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute. So make sure you know exactly how big a renovation you can afford and whether it justifies the time you intend to spend in your revamped home. The Nest, a home-improvement Web site, says before making any big changes to your home you should ask yourself these big questions:

How long do I plan to stay in my house after the renovations?

Am I doing just cosmetic fixes or am I ready for an all-out overhaul?

Am I prepared for the home upheaval?

Are the renovations keeping with the style of my home?

Are my DIY choices reasonable?

To view the full article, click here.

Courtesy of: Marshall Loeb, WSJ, MarketWatch