On our 10th birthday, we’d like to give YOU a gift! How about $10,000 worth of upgrades and options for FREE during the month of April?

Contact one of our knowledgeable sales associates today to discuss building your brand new dream home.

Valid on contracts dated April 1, 2012 to April 30, 2012. Offer cannot be used as a cash discount off total sale price. Some restrictions may apply.

Mayberry Homes has already built about 600 new homes that have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR to date, representing savings of nearly $268,200 on utility bills while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from more than 294 vehicles.

“We’re proud to be making a commitment to continue building ENERGY STAR qualified homes in 2012, said Robert K. Schroeder, President of Mayberry Homes. “By stepping up to the new requirements, we’re going to be offering customers state-of-the-art performance in our homes with a comprehensive package of features that deliver greater value, quality, and comfort than ever before.”

Homes built to the new, more rigorous requirements (referred to as “Version 3”) will be at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and will include additional features to give them a performance edge of 20-30% compared to typical new homes and even more when measured against most re-sale homes on the market today.

ENERGY STAR qualified homes that earn the label in 2012 will be built with a comprehensive, building science-based approach that features:

• A detailed package of home envelope air sealing, properly installed insulation, and high-performance windows to deliver comfort, durability, and lower utility bills.
• A high-efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilation system designed and installed for optimal performance.
• A complete water and moisture management package to protect roofs, walls, and foundations.
• ENERGY STAR certified lighting and appliances that help reduce monthly utility bills.
• Third-party verification, with independent inspections and testing by a certified Home Energy Rater.

“EPA has raised the bar for what families can expect when they buy a new home that has earned the ENERGY STAR,” said Jonathan Passe, Acting Chief of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Residential Branch. “Builders who meet the new ENERGY STAR requirements are making a strong statement about their leadership and commitment to providing American homebuyers with truly energy-efficient homes that offer lower utility bills and greater benefits for the environment.”

Mayberry Homes moved its main office to the following address. Please update your mailing and contact information. The phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

Mayberry Homes
1650 Kendale Blvd.
Suite 200
East Lansing, MI  48823

517.371.5000     Fax 517.371.5001

Thank you!

Here is a short time lapse video of one of our new homes under construction.

Over the course of 10 weeks, we took pictures from the same spot everyday. You’ll see the progress from foundation to move-in day! Contact us today to discuss the possibility of getting you into your brand new dream home! 

Click here to view the short video: Mayberry Homes Time Lapse

Mayberry Homes has just launched its mobile website optimized for mobile devices! When viewing our site from a mobile device or tablet, you will automatically see the mobile optimized version which is tailored to our visitors on the move.

Browsing model home information online from a desktop is one thing, but having the ability to view floor plans and directions when you’re out in the neighborhood was just made much easier!

Try it now, go to www.MayberryHomes.com on your smart phone and check it out! Let us know what you think!

Mayberry Homes Mobile Website

The crisp weather of fall is upon us and football season is well underway. While the prospect of relaxing into a lazy Sunday schedule calls to many home owners weary from the routine of weekend lawn mowing, don’t sleep on essential lawn care and home maintenance tasks that will see you through the winter.

Fall is a great time for new grass seed to take root, so consider reseeding in selected areas. Reseeding also eliminates areas for weeds to grow in the spring. Fertilize your lawn one more time with a high nitrogen fertilizer to encourage root growth. Look for a lawn fertilizer labeled “winterizing.”

It’s also a good idea to rake leaves and debris off your lawn in the fall. Put some muscle into it and rake out any areas where heavy thatch has built up.

Cut your lawn one last time after it has stopped growing, but before the first snow. Adjust your mower setting to cut your lawn to about one inch. Lawn care experts suggest doing the final mowing with a bagger to pick up cut grass, stray leaves and other debris. It also leaves fewer places for Snowmold to develop.

According to gardenersnet.com, snowmold is one of the most common lawn diseases and typically it shows up in the spring. As the snow melts, it uncovers a lawn that has spent several months hidden under a cold blanket of white, with little air and no sun. In its cold, wet, and dark environment, Snowmold slowly forms, leaving blades of grass dead and brown. New grasses will sprout up behind it, but unless you vigorously rake it away, the new growth will be slow and thin — so it’s a good idea to overseed.

It also may be wise to aerate your lawn. According to Homestore.com, aerating your lawn is a great way to reduce thatch, loosen up compacted soils and pave the way for water and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass.

Even with meticulous care, lawns can thin out and lose color due to excessive thatch buildup, hard or compacted soils, or periods of high temperature, high humidity, or drought. According to The Lawn Institute, more than two-thirds of American lawns are growing on compacted soils. These soils slowly reduce the amount of oxygen contained in the soil, thus retarding the penetration of both water and nutrients. Aerating and overseeding is recognized by experts as the best treatment to control thatch, reduce compaction, fill-in bare spots and revitalize growth.

While lawn care is a hot maintenance item for home owners who value “curb appeal” or just want to escape the ire of neighborhood community associations, don’t forget there are plenty of other maintenance chores. Here’s a checklist of items you should address before the winter holiday season.

1. Maintain your gutters.
   Remove all debris from your gutters so water can properly drain. This minimizes standing water and slows the freeze/thaw expansion process that occurs in cold weather. Clogged gutters can cause landscaping, lawn and shrubbery, walls, foundation, basement, crawl spaces and existing gutter system damage. Consider installing “gutter guards,” which will prevent debris from entering the gutter and direct the flow of water away from the house and into the ground.
2. Trim your trees and remove dead branches.
   Inclement weather can cause weak trees or branches to break and damage your home, car, utility lines or someone walking on your property. Keep an eye out for large dead branches in trees; detached branches hanging in trees; cavities or rotten wood along trunks or major branches; mushrooms at the base of trees; cracks or splits in trunks; leaves that prematurely develop unusual color or size; and trees that were previously topped or heavily pruned. If you see any signs of hazards, call a professional tree service.
    
3. Maintain your steps and handrails.
   Repair broken stairs and banisters to prevent falls and injury.
    
4. Inspect your roof.
   Be proactive and prevent emergency and expensive repairs. Things to look for include damaged or loose shingles; gaps in the flashing where the roofing and siding meet vents and flues; and damaged mortar around the chimney (especially at the joints, caps and washes). If you see any signs of damage, call a professional to repair the damage.
    
5. Inspect your home’s exterior walls. 
   Look for possible weather-related damage, like cracks and loose or crumbling mortar. Wood trim and siding can suffer from deteriorating paint or become loose. Windowsills may be cracked, split or decayed.

1. Check your home’s insulation.
   Your attic should be five to 10 degrees warmer than the outside air, otherwise too much heat escapes and causes frozen water to melt and refreeze which can result in a collapsed roof. Don’t neglect your basement and crawl spaces, and well insulate pipes in those spaces to protect against freezing.
    
2. Maintain your pipes.
   Wrap your pipes with heating tape every winter and insulate unfinished rooms such as garages, if they contain exposed pipes. Check pipes for cracks and leaks and have any damage repaired immediately to prevent costlier repairs later. Keep your house warm — at least 65 degrees.
    
3. Check your heating systems.
   Be sure to maintain your furnace, fireplace, boiler, water heater, space heater and wood-burning stove and have your heating system serviced every year. Check smoke and fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and change your heating and air conditioning filters regularly. 
    
4. Know your plumbing.
   Learn the location of your pipes and how to shut the water off. If your pipes freeze, the quicker you shut off the water, the better chance you have of preventing pipe bursts. Check weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors and replace or repair as needed. Caulking helps keep your house weather-tight, lowers your heating and cooling bills, and can also help keep insects and rodents out of your house. Also look for chipped or peeling paint around window frames and trim. Repair broken glass and loose or missing putty. When needed, use a modern glazing compound instead of putty for a waterproof seal.
    
5. Clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and cold-air returns.
   Dust build-up in ducts is a major cause of indoor pollutants and can increase incidences of cold-weather illnesses. Check all your faucets for leaks and repair any you find. Replace washers if necessary.

By setting aside a few weekend days now, you’ll save yourself from a lot of hassle later. Once your home passes your fall inspection, you and your family can relax and enjoy the coming holidays free from worry about potential home maintenance catastrophes.

For more information about this item, please contact Brooke Fishel at 800-368-5242 x8061 or via email at bfishel@nahb.org.

2011 Fall Parade of Homes

Presented by the Home Builders Association of Midland

Mayberry Homes is proud to showcase its new furnished model home in Broadhead Estates in Midland, Michigan during Midland HBA’s Fall Parade of Homes. We hope to see you there!

514 Broadhead Drive
Broadhead Estates
Midland, MI

Saturday, October 1 & Sunday, October 2
Saturday, October 8 & Sunday, October 9
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

FREE Admission!

Click here to view the Official Guidebook

Mayberry Homes is a national award winning homebuilder, building homes in Okemos, East Lansing, Holt, Grand Ledge, Lansing, Williamston, DeWitt, Midland and Traverse City. Along with our exclusive neighborhoods, we also build on your own lot if you prefer! Whether you are a first time homebuyer, a growing family, or an empty nester, we have the floor plans and the price points to meet your requirements!

 Take a few moments and browse our website. Here you will find a variety of our plans and basic pricing. Each community will have an interactive plat to assist you in choosing a specific lot along with a neighborhood description. Many will also have photographs of the various homes we’ve constructed.

In a hurry – making a move quickly? No problem! We have a number of model homes ready for immediate occupancy. Interested in customizing your new residence? One of our experienced sales representatives is prepared to meet with you and walk you thru the process of building your new home. From the moment we start construction to the day you get your new keys will be approx. three months. It is usually an enjoyable, exciting process. Take a look at our “people are talking” section – here you will find testimonials from our homeowners.

 Just looking at this point? No problem! Let us know if we can be of assistance. We look forward to hearing from you!

What’s a Mill?

The property tax rate in Michigan is referred to as a millage, and it’s figured in mills. One mill is equal to 1/1,000 of a dollar. Or, more simply, for every $1,000 in taxable value, a property owner will pay $1 in property tax.

Below is a list of Mayberry communities with their current homestead millage rates:

           
Figuring Your Taxes

Property owners can calculate their tax bill by multiplying their taxable value (50% of the marketable value) by the millage rate.

For example, if the city/township’s millage rate is 10 mills, property taxes on a home with a taxable value of $50,000 would be $500. The mathematical equation below illustrates how this is figured:

Click here to calculate your property taxes:

https://treas-secure.state.mi.us/ptestimator/ptestimator.asp

Did you miss the Lansing Parade of Homes?

Did you go to Parade and want to have a second look?

Mayberry Homes will be holding a number of our Parade homes open (along with a few others) for your viewing pleasure.

Please take advantage of our extended days and hours. If you can’t make it during the designated open hours, feel free to give us a call and we will be more than happy to schedule a time that best fits your needs.

Thursday, June 16 & Friday, June 17
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.:         627 Virginia Avenue – East Lansing
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.:           3846 Zaharas Lane – Okemos
                                       2723 Carnoustie Drive – Okemos

Saturday, June 18
12 p.m. – 5 p.m.:         627 Virginia Avenue – East Lansing
                                       2723 Carnoustie Drive – Okemos
                                       3846 Zaharas Lane – Okemos
                                       6819 Mulberry Lane – Grand Ledge
                                       2710 Tapestry Drive – Okemos
                                       2611 Lupine Court – Okemos

Sunday, June 19 (Happy Father’s Day!)
12 p.m. – 5 p.m.:         627 Virginia Avenue – East Lansing
                                       2723 Carnoustie Drive – Okemos
                                       3846 Zaharas Lane – Okemos
                                       6819 Mulberry Lane – Grand Ledge
                                       2710 Tapestry Drive – Okemos
                                       2611 Lupine Court – Okemos
                                       2435 Sharptail Lane – Holt

Please feel free to contact any of our knowledgeable, friendly sales associates to schedule your own private showing of our models or to sit down and explore the possiblity of building your dream home!

We look forward to working with you!

Kelly LaVeque                                        Kevin Gray
(517) 282-2187                                     (517) 712-3310                        
Kelly@mayberryhomes.com            Kevin@mayberryhomes.com 

Jodie Unkovich                                     Robin Ryan
(517) 204-3492                                    (517) 230-3932
Jodie@mayberryhomes.com          Robin@mayberryhomes.com