Rosewood News
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We only have 6 lots left in this golf course community located in Seneca, SC, so we are offering a free round of golf for two when you tour our model and spec home in Cross Creek Cottages. Call 864-423-7732 to schedule your tour and tee time!
*Certain restrictions apply
Greenville’s diverse culture and thriving community have attracted the attention of people from all over. In 2017, The New York Times cited Greenville as one of the 52 places to go in the world. The appeal of the South Carolina Upstate continues to spread to surrounding cities like Traveler’s Rest and now to Mauldin, SC. Located just southeast of Greenville, Mauldin is “changing from a pass-through city to one where residents [and] businesses want to stay” (Landrum, 2018). Residents enjoy a small-town feel, while still being in proximity to all that Greenville has to offer. The city’s active Cultural Center frequently features one-of-a-kind theatrical productions, community festivals, and diverse art events. Mauldin has something for the outdoor lovers as well with a 400 acre nature preserve in its back yard. Lake Conestee Nature Park is a park like none other in Greenville County. With 12 miles of bikeable trails and bridges, LCNP gives front row access to beautiful lake scenery and wildlife. Add in higher median home values and low crime and unemployment rates, and it’s no wonder that HomeSnacks has made Mauldin #3 on its list of top places to live in South Carolina.
This established city is poised for a big growth spurt. The city’s proximity to i385, i85, and the Southern Connector make it a prime location for both businesses and residents. One development currently in the works is Bridgeway Station. This mixed-use development at the corner of I385 and Bridges Road will include new apartments, offices, shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment. Developer Phil Hughes described the proposed village as “an Internet-connected, environmentally friendly place where people could live, work, and play without having to drive anywhere in a car” (Bell, 2017). There are even hopes that a connection to the Swamp Rabbit Trail via a pedestrian bring over the interstate will further connect Mauldin to Greenville. The Bridgeway Station development among others that are in the works, will continue to expand the value and culture of the Mauldin community. To learn more about our Mauldin community, Butler Parc, contact our sales team today.
(2017, January 4). 52 Places to Go in 2017: There are thousands of getaways to explore this year. Here are some ideas to get you started. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com
Bell, R. (2017, August 22). Trail connection would be feature of massive Mauldin development. Retrieved from https://upstatebusinessjournal.com
Kolmar, C. (2018, December 8). These Are The 10 Best Places To Live In South Carolina For 2019: These are the cream of the crop in the Palmetto State. Retrieved from https://www.homesnacks.net
Landrum, C.(2018, September 20). Mauldin’s changing from a pass-through city to one where residents, businesses want to stay. Retrieved from https://greenvillejournal.com
Original Post by HGTV
Every year when January rolls around you vow to lose weight, save money or spend more time with family and friends. But what goals do you set for your home? In the spirit of new beginnings, HGTV has consulted the experts and come up with some resolutions that will make your home a more beautiful, efficient, clean and green place in the coming year. Here are our five picks for the best home improvement resolutions for the new year and how to achieve them:
Streamline the stuff - One of the best and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to clear it of clutter. Each year most of us acquire a mountain of stuff. Without some regular purging, cabinets and drawers get jam-packed and it becomes hard to find the things you use and enjoy the most. (All that clutter also makes your house look dated and dirty, designers say.)
This year resolve to go room-by-room periodically clearing anything that you don't use, wear or love and donate it to charity. After that, think twice about what you bring in, says Antoinette Nue, an Atlanta consultant who specializes in helping people simplify and go green.
"Fill your home with the things that raise your energy level and make you feel good, and get rid of the things that drain your energy or are broken," she says. Stash useful (but not beautiful) items such as DVDs, remotes and those kicked-off shoes in simple woven baskets. Group similar items together on sleek trays, says Stuart McCormick, a designer with Liz Levin Interiors in Washington D.C.
Clear your counters of everything you don't use on a daily basis. And get ready to breathe a little easier in your own home.
Make it safe and sound - Your home may be beautiful, but is it safe? There are a few things that every homeowner should do to ensure that they're not living with a potential health hazard or fire risk.
First, check your house for radon. This colorless, odorless gas causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year from the radioactive particles it traps in your lungs as you breathe, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One in every fifteen homes has elevated levels. And with test kits costing as little as $20 at your local hardware store, there's no reason not to get right on that.
While we're on the subject of deadly gas, make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector on every bedroom floor in addition to fire detectors. If a chimney flue or furnace vent gets blocked or leaks, carbon monoxide could back up in your house and kill you. Like a radon test, this is a small investment — $40 or more — for such an important safeguard.
Watch out for dryer lint. We know you clean the little trap inside the door, but most people neglect to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer. Lint may seem innocent, but it's highly combustible, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, accounting for more than 15,000 building fires a year.
Shrink your bills (and your carbon footprint) - When people think of going green, they often think it takes solar panels or a hybrid car to make a difference.
Not so, says Bob Schildgen, who wrote the "Hey Mr. Green" column for Sierra magazine. It just takes a little old-fashioned common sense.
The best place to start is by cutting your energy usage in your home:
- Remember your mom's advice and switch off the lights when you leave a room.
- Turn off your air conditioner when you leave the house and dial your heater down to 55 degrees at night.
- Install LED bulbs and low-flow showerheads.
- Try drying some of your clothes on the line and wait for the dishwasher or washing machine to be full before you run them.
- Turn off your power strips and/or set your home computer to revert to sleep mode when not in use.
- Water your yard less. Put in drought-tolerant landscaping if necessary.
- Give composting a try. Your garden will thank you.
Work out a weekly system for keeping your house clean - Here are a few tips for keeping the mess under control from Jeff Campbell, author of the book Speed Cleaning and owner of the Clean Team housekeeping service in San Francisco.
Daily: Dishes go in the dishwasher every night - no excuses! Dirty clothes go in the hamper and jackets or clean clothes are hung in the closet. Bring everything back to its assigned place.
Weekly: Clean your entire house, using these tips:
- Keep all of your cleaners, as well as rubber gloves and spare cleaning cloths - in a portable carryall that moves with you from room to room.
- Stash cleaning implements such as a toothbrush, scraper, sponge, a few cleaning cloths and plastic bags in a builder's apron that you wear when you clean. Hook your glass cleaner and all-purpose cleaning spray on the loops to keep your hands free as you work around the room clockwise, cleaning from high (cabinets) to low (floors.)
- Focus on one type of cleaning at a time. It's faster, Campbell says. Wipe down fingerprints on all of the cabinets, for instance, before moving on to spraying and wiping counters. Then move on to windows and mirrors and appliances. Once that's done move on to sweeping and then mopping floors.
- For optimum efficiency, enlist the help of your family. If you can, divide the jobs among at least three parties: One of you can do the dusting/vacuuming and changing beds, the other can do the bathroom cleanup, leaving only the kitchen and trash emptying for you to handle. The upside? You can get the whole house done in 45 minutes, Campbell says, leaving more time on the weekends for the park or the movies.
Get your place ready for entertaining - Each year most of us vow to spend more time with family and friends. To make you feel like inviting people in, why not give the areas you entertain in a little update? You don't have to go for broke here and invest in a new kitchen remodel. All it takes to get a fresh new look is a little bit of rearranging and a few updates, says designer McCormick.
One easy update that makes your home seem more "finished" is the addition of plants, she says.
"They bring in new energy and help clean the air," she says. "And it's a great way to decorate if you're on a budget."
A couple of dramatic presentations like a large flowering agapanthus or potted palm in a bright ceramic planter that complements your existing color scheme will do the trick.
Pulling out a new accent color from your existing decor can make the whole room seem fresh. Pick an underused color in the room and add more of it in the form of a new pillow or throw to update your look, McCormick advises. A colorful rug or runner can also help anchor your space.
Lastly, take some time to rearrange your furniture so it is oriented in conversation groups and not just facing the television. That just might up for chances for real conversation and connection in the New Year.
With Christmas Day being only a few days away, I’m sure a lot of you are planning on having company over at some point. Emily A. Clark has put together a few easy ways to make your home cozy and your guests comfortable when holiday entertaining.
Christmas Music - It’s easy enough and instantly makes your home feel festive. I like to stick a small bluetooth speaker in the corner of the kitchen and play Pandora. (A few of my favorite stations: Audrey Assad Holiday, The Christmas Song radio, Holiday Instrumentals, Jadon Lavik Holiday, and Michael Buble Holiday.)
Votiv Candles - They’re inexpensive and add a warm glow all around. Buy the unscented so you don’t overwhelm your guests.
If you have the time or inclination to shop for a few new things, my top five would be: a small lamp (so versatile–the mantel, a entryway table, or even a bathroom), fresh pillows with down inserts, a cozy throw blanket (HomeGoods is a great source), new hand towels, and a yummy candle for the powder room.
An easy powder room update: add a patterned hand towel, soap in a pretty dispenser and a good candle.
Fresh greenery with battery-powered fairy lights. Easy, fragrant and festive. I did this in our powder room since there was no place to plug in a lamp or Christmas lights.
Make coffee. The easiest way to make your home smell warm and cozy when guests walk through the door.
If you have the space, set up a separate beverage station in a room besides the kitchen. It’s nice when guests can help themselves to drinks, and it’s fun to spread the joy around the house!
With the holidays quickly approaching, we wanted to shed some light on the many benefits of buying a home during this time. Moneytips.com has compiled a list of reasons for why it makes sense to buy a home at year’s end.
Less Competition – The same issues that make holiday moving a hassle tend to keep people from shopping for homes at that time. While there may be fewer homes available, there are also fewer homebuyers – and that should equal less competition for any home that fits your needs.
Motivated Sellers – Home sellers don't enjoy moving over the holidays any more than homebuyers do. It's likely that people who are selling their homes over the holidays are highly motivated to do so. Perhaps they must relocate for a new job, or their home has been on the market for a long time and they need the money from a sale before the year is out. Combine motivated sellers with decreased competition and you have great leverage to get a better deal.
Lower Prices – Home prices have been rising rapidly, in part because of an overall shortage of homes. However, December historically has lower home prices than any other month, due in part to the reasons listed above. There's no guarantee that this year will continue the trend, but it's worth checking the prices within your local market.
Faster Closings – As a general rule, everyone involved in a holiday real estate transaction wants to complete the transaction before the year ends. Buyers want to settle in their new homes (and if sellers are relocating, they want to settle in before the holidays as well). Lenders want to include the loan on the current year's books. Real estate agents and brokers want to include their commission on the current year's income. Motivated parties should make the closing process go as smoothly as possible – but do your part by having all the required paperwork in order.
Better Interest Rates – Interest rates are still near historical lows. While the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has been rising throughout 2018, it is still under 5%. As of this writing, interest rates are slowly sinking as we enter the holiday season, after peaking at 4.86% in October. Online calculators are available to show you how much you can save over the life of a mortgage with even a slight decrease in interest rates. You may be surprised at the savings. Remember that your credit score will impact your mortgage rate, keep you from qualifying for one.
Motivated Agents – Lower activity in the housing market means that real estate agents are dealing with fewer clients. They have more time to devote to your situation, and, with fewer sales commissions available, they may be just a bit more motivated to bring your purchase to completion.
Related Seasonal Sales – Need new furniture or other items for your new home? Plenty of seasonal clearance sales will be available to help you apply a personal touch – but be careful not to spend yourself into unrecoverable debt.
We are so excited about our newest community, Lakestone Cottages. We have 7 lots available with plans starting in the mid 700s. The best part? All of these lots come with a private dock! If you’re already ready for summer, give us a call and let us tell you how we can make your dream of owning a lake home come to life. Here’s a peek at our guys pouring concrete today…
As a new home owner, you are probably very excited about getting your home in order. Once you have decorated and have everything in its place, it’s important to establish a maintenance routine so that you and your family can live in your home for years and years to come. Usnews.com has put together a few tips for properly caring for and maintaining your new construction home.
Listen to the builder’s recommendations. When you take ownership of your brand-new house from a builder – and possibly before – you’ll most likely get a walk-through of the property from the construction manager to show you where everything is located, how everything works and what recommended maintenance is needed.It’s important to pay attention at this walk-through and during any other informational meeting you have with the builder beforehand. This is how you’ll know where the circuit breakers are, where the water shutoff valve is for the house and how to access the air filter in your furnace, among other important things that you'll need to know in case there’s a power outage or plumbing problem or you simply need to perform maintenance on your home down the line.
Read the owner’s manuals. Each appliance and system is going to have an owner’s manual from the manufacturer, and while it may not be the most thrilling literature, you should reach each one to know how to properly keep each part of your house in working order. In addition to the walk-through, the manuals tell you how everything works, how it should all be maintained and how often it should be looked after. Even with all brand-new systems, be ready to jump into regular maintenance.
Be on top of air filters. There are some maintenance habits you should get into that go above and beyond even manufacturer recommendations. Homeowners should change air filters monthly, even if the filter is marketed as good for up to 90 days.
Keep your impact on the house in mind. The way you use your home has an effect on how well systems, surfaces and appliances will fare. For example, if you prefer to keep the air conditioning off in summer, you can expect paint and wood floors to take a beating from the higher humidity levels.
Know the details of your home warranty. Your new home will likely come with a warranty, either directly from the builder or by a third party, that covers certain issues that may arise within the first 12 months or so of owning the property.
The warranty typically covers the workmanship and materials that were a part of construction, including windows, the HVAC, electrical and plumbing and some structural scenarios. Should any issues arise during the length of the warranty, you’ll be at least partially covered. However, if it’s clear an issue is caused by neglect or otherwise falls outside the stipulations of the warranty, you’ll be responsible for the fix yourself. To help homeowners know the ins and outs of home warranties for newly built homes, the Federal Trade Commission provides an information page with resources for homeowners. The FTC notes, for example, that homes purchased with mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (referred to as FHA or VA loans) are legally required to have a third-party warranty to help guarantee the quality of workmanship on the property.
Even with warranty protection, your home is at its peak working order as soon as construction is complete, and defects aside, it’s your job to properly maintain it and keep it that way for as long as possible. Your new house may not have the quirks of an older home, but only you can keep it from developing those quirks by the time you sell it to a new owner.
1. Indoor-outdoor chairs. A dining chair doesn’t have to be upholstered to be comfortable, especially if you usually have a short meal and then retire to the living room to lounge. There are many classic models of dining chair that are comfortably shaped and durable and that can work just as well indoors as out, making them highly versatile. A set of two to four sturdy outdoor-appropriate chairs can be a dining set today and patio furniture tomorrow. They’ll also have many other possible uses, such as in the bathroom (at the vanity or next to the tub), as a desk chair in a guest room or even as a casual nightstand. Look for metal or polypropylene with openings in the seat or back so rainwater can drain instead of pooling.
2. A sturdy dining table. A simple but elegant dining table is a great long-term investment because it can always be used as a desk if you upgrade later to a larger dining area. This is especially true if you tend to use tablecloths. The table doesn’t need to be ornate; it just needs to be well-constructed to last for years and travel from home to home.
3. A compact leather sofa. You may think that because your first sofa won’t be very big, it should cost as little as possible. But a sofa is an important part of your home, and it’s worth investing what you can to get one that’s comfortable now and will stay comfortable for the next five, 10 or 15-plus years. A compact leather sofa can be a perfect lounging spot for one person now and a cozy part of a den or family room later on. Leather will age well as it develops a patina, and it will coordinate easily with other fabrics as it moves from the star of the show to a supporting role in a bigger seating arrangement.
4. A flexible sectional. Sectionals can be a great choice for many rooms, but they may carry a major drawback: In your next home, you might need a completely different layout, and your L-shaped or U-shaped sectional might no longer fit. If you plan ahead and choose a reversible or reconfigurable sectional, you can avoid this problem and greatly increase the chance of finding a perfect spot for the piece in your next home. Look for sectionals that include a movable ottoman base, freestanding slipper chair components that can be used on their own or loose seat cushions that can be flipped to change the orientation from left-facing to right-facing.
5. An extended headboard. A headboard is often overlooked in first homes or apartments, but an elegant one can really dress up a room without taking up much space. Plus, if you’re going to spend time lounging in bed, especially if you’re in a studio, it helps to have a padded place to rest your back. To make sure your headboard outlasts your next move, choose one that’s one or two sizes up from your current bed. For example, if you have a double bed now, you could purchase a wall-mounted or freestanding queen headboard. The extended panel will look luxurious now and will still be usable if you upgrade to a larger mattress later.
6. Multiuse stools and occasional tables. While people often think of a “living room set” as including a sofa, a side chair or two and a coffee table, replacing the table with several flexible stools or ottomans will give you great flexibility now and later. In a small space, it helps to have less-bulky furnishings to create a little room to breathe, and in the future you’ll have many places to tuck a small table. Look for ottomans with a firm enough top to set down a tray to hold beverages and snacks, and seek out occasional tables that can double as stools. These can be used as additional seating later — or moved to various rooms of the home in groups or separately.
7. A classic sideboard. A great sideboard may provide only so much storage, but it adds a lot of functionality to any home. A low unit with shelves or drawers (or, better yet, a mix of both) can act as server and storage in the dining room, a media unit for a TV lounge, a bedside table or foyer storage. It can suit virtually any room really. A warm wood unit will last through decades of style changes, and if you choose one like this model with vented or slatted doors, it can be used to store media devices that need to receive a signal from a remote control as well as air flow to keep them from overheating.
8. A pair of chairs. Lastly, a matching pair of side chairs will always have a use in your home. In the short term, they may complete your living room suite, but in the future they might travel to a dining room, den or home office, or be broken up into different rooms, which will bring a sense of consistency and connection to disparate spaces. For the best flexibility, choose chairs in a neutral or subdued color such as navy or gray in a size that can work at the end of the dining table (30 inches wide or under), with low arms or no arms so you can tuck them under a table or desk you may have down the road. You may not know it now, but your dream home is already shaping up, one piece at a time.
Source : https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/110022217/list/8-pieces-of-furniture-youll-keep-forever
Greenville, SC was featured on the Guide to America’s 10 Greenest Cities on the Hertz Travel Blog. Whether you are looking for an outdoor adventure, a long stroll along the Swamp Rabbit Trail or a fresh juice at Southern Pressed Juicery, there really is something for everyone and quite a few of these things are considered eco-friendly. We have compiled a list of 10 easy ways you can go greener in your own home and help keep our state beautiful.
Buy and eat locally. With the amount of delicious farm-to-table eateries in Downtown Greenville, it should be no task to support our local restaurants and Farmer’s Markets. Some of our favorite farm-to-table restaurants include the Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery, Roost and Bacon Bros.
Plant an herb garden. Not only is this super easy, it is a great reminder of where our food comes from. Plants can be great decor additions and are wonderful air purifiers!
Buy an inexpensive reusable water bottle and stop buying plastic water bottles.
Always turn off lights when leaving a room. (It helps keep your power bill down, too.)
Pay your bills online and say goodbye to that annoying stack of mail.
Make your own household cleaners.
Unplug unused chargers.
Repurpose glass jars as leftover containers and storage.
Purchase a reusable grocery bag instead of getting plastic at the store.
Use paper less and recycle more.
We had such a great time at the Butler Parc Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! We want to send out a huge thanks to the Mauldin Chamber of Commerce for their incredible support and to Seasons Cafe & Catering for the delicious food. Rosewood Communities is passionate about every community we build and Butler Parc is no exception. Going off of location alone, Mauldin is quickly growing and gaining its own identity. With several historic sites, family parks and amusements its the perfect town to call home.
