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The Donatelli Builders, Inc. E-Newsletter: “Laundry Rooms” with Summer Incentive Our E-Newsletter: Vol. 6 | August 2009 In this Issue:
For five consecutive months, area home sales have increased in the nine-county Chicago region, according to the most recent report from the Illinois Association of REALTORS.® If you were one of the 7,140 people who purchased a home in June, I want to offer you my heartfelt congratulations! Home sales increased by 25.8 percent from May to June this year. “We are seeing more activity in the housing market with increased listings, more activity at showings, a surge in interest from first-time buyers as well as some improvement in time on market,” said REALTOR® Pat Callan, president of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. “Buyers are beginning to realize that this combination of favorable home prices, historic low mortgage interest rates and the first-time homebuyer tax credit incentive may not be around next year.”
Whether you live in a 1-year-old home or a 60-year-old home, routine maintenance is an absolute must in order to protect your residence from corrosion and excess cooling and heating bills. Do you have questions or possibly concerns about your windows, siding, roofing or interior features that can affect your home’s function? From now through Sept. 4, 2009, Donatelli Builders, Inc. is offering a complimentary analysis of your home. As a courtesy, we will visit you and take a comprehensive look at your home for free with no obligations – and present our analysis to you within 24 hours. Call us at 630-289-9981 to set up an appointment that’s convenient for you.
Our company was profiled in the Chicago Tribune’s “Chicago Homes” section on Friday, July 3rd. We were featured in the “Builder Snapshot” article by Leslie Mann, who emphasized our renovation expertise, in-house carpentry talent and sensitivity to each of our clients’ unique budgets. Please read the full story by clicking below on the icon - Or View it Online:
The press is taking notice of us once again! Chris Donatelli, president of Donatelli Builders, Inc., was quoted in the Daily Herald on April 26th for his professional thoughts on laundry room design. Please click here to read the article (PDF) Organizing your home -- Consider remodeling your laundry room and building a larger one if feasible. Doing laundry should not be a long or laborious process. On the contrary, it should be quick and energy-efficient and shouldn’t break your back. One of my colleagues recently told me, “It’s a pleasure to do laundry.” Why? Not because clothes hangers and detergent are tops on her list of “fun things”, but because her laundry room is well-designed, making the job move along swiftly. Any Donatelli-built home or renovation involves a larger and more prominent laundry room than those seen in the past decade or so. In addition to square footage, the location of a laundry room is key. Homeowners today are frequently opting for multiple laundry locations: one on the top floor by the bedrooms for sheets, delicate clothing and quick washes, and one on the main floor for heavy-duty laundry. Machines The best washers and dryers are those units that are energy-efficient, which are not only quieter, but use less water and heat. From Bosch and Electrolux to GE Profile and Kenmore, nearly all appliance manufacturers today make energy-efficient units. Before purchasing a washer or dryer, make sure it has the ENERGY STAR® label. In general, front-loading machines tend to use less water and detergent and usually have a larger capacity.
Counter Space / Folding Areas Ample counter space is essential for busy families. Homeowners want to sort and wrap up their laundry duties quickly so they are opting for the convenience of a folding area within their laundry rooms. This clutter-free counter can be natural stone such as granite or manmade materials such as Corian. If the laundry room is small, homeowners can choose a flip-down or other type of hideaway counter to serve the same purpose. On a similar note, drop-down ironing boards can be integrated into custom cabinetry to save on space. Cabinetry Many people opt for attractive, higher-end cabinetry in their laundry rooms to coordinate with the overall look and feel of their home’s interior. Whether you choose this route or a less-expensive one, make sure you have plenty of cabinet space to store an iron, soap and cleaning solutions in addition to laundry detergent. Many families also store their sewing supplies in these cabinets. Closets & Storage When planning a laundry room space, be sure to include a drying closet with hanging bars, racks and an exhaust fan. The idea is to save on heating bills to line-dry clothes when appropriate, and also to maintain organization within the laundry room. Hanging permanent-press clothes in the closet as soon as they come out of the dryer is a smart move, too! We also recommend a combination of open and closed storage with places for hampers and baskets down below and shelves above. Don’t forget about ventilation: It’s important to have windows or an electric exhaust fan to eliminate heat and promote air movement. Donatelli Builders, Inc. usually installs exhaust fans and many others do not. Lighting / Under-lighting, too! Be sure ample lighting is part of your design! Many of us often do laundry at night when we have more time. A stylish ceiling-mounted light can add pizzazz to a laundry room while small under-cabinet task lights can illuminate your folding area and countertop space. Under-cabinet lighting is becoming more and more popular. Solar tubes can be an attractive lighting option to create a bright room without the heat occasionally created with skylights. Maximize Wall Space – Create a “Family Center” Shoe racks and coats seem to be the items that mess things up the most. Place a row of decorative hooks on the wall above the shoe rack to encourage family members to hang their jackets up right away upon entering your home. On this same wall or an adjacent wall, create a mini “family center” where mom, dad and the kids can store their cell phone chargers and personal devices. Another great idea is to hang an enlarged calendar or chalkboard. This centralized location is great for leaving notes and reminding everyone what’s on tap for the week. Do you have extra wall space above your washer and dryer? Don’t waste it! Use the backsplash area as extra storage for detergents.
For more information, visit: http://www.marvin.com/?page=Ultimate_Replacement_Casement
Many people do not fully understand the demands made on a home’s windows. Obviously, windows must properly insulate and keep water out of the house. In addition they must open and close for many years. This makes the hardware included on the window very important. Some brands include only average hardware, making it difficult to open and close the windows. Marvin has designed its Ultimate Replacement Casement windows with industry-leading technology, making the operation effortless. In addition, you can turn the window 180 degrees so the outside can be cleaned from the inside of the house and it is also substantial enough that your windows will not rock back and forth from normal winds while open. Another main feature is that these windows are made to be custom-sized for the replacement market. This means that you can have the precisely required size for every window in your house at a reasonable price. This reduces the labor required to replace the windows. Marvin also leads the way with the stable aluminum extrusion, which is the first line of defense in the windows’ ability to keep out moisture and protect the core wood structure. Too many companies do not do such a good job designing their products. As a result, we have replaced windows on houses less than 10 years old. To find out more about Donatelli Builders, Inc., please visit our Web site anytime at www.DonatelliBuilders.com. Feel free to ask us questions, too: info@DonatelliBuilders.com or call us at 630-289-9981 and we will reply within 24 hours. For additional information about laundry room design or another topic that piques your interest, please send me an e-mail: chris@DonatelliBuilders.com. You can also visit us on Facebook and post any comments / messages under my personal page (Chris Donatelli). Have a good August! Chris Donatelli, President |
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