What are CC&R's?

If you are looking to build and are looking at lots something you have to consider are the CC&Rs.  So what are they?  CC&Rs stand for the Declaration of Codes, Covenants, and  Restrictions. Most lots and homes have CC&Rs on them especially homes and lots in newer developments.
In the simplest understanding they are the rules of the neighborhood, usually set in place by the developer they set the rules for what can and can't go into the neighborhood.   The main goal of CC&Rs are to protect, preserve, and enhance the property values in the neighborhood.
Imagine if in a neighborhood of 3000+ sq.ft. homes someone came and built a 1000 sq ft house with a giant garage in the back or if in someone came and placed a mobile home on a lot in a neighborhood of newer homes or if someone built a mansion in a neighborhood of smaller family homes or if someone built their house right up next to your adjoining property line. Such things would effect the home values and the value of the neighborhood and that is what CC&Rs prevent.
 Often restrictions on them are on the required square footage of the home, the space required between the edge of the lot and the  house, sometimes you see restrictions on what percentage of the exterior needs to be brick or stone or stucco.  CC&Rs vary depending on the development, but all work to create a unified neighborhood great for years to come.
With CC&Rs all the more common than in our grandparents time it's important to have a builder who understands them and how to work with them to build you the home you want on the lot you want, so that you don;t have to worry about the CC&Rs. At Echelon we speak CC&Rs fluently and can help you navigate them in finding that perfect lot for your dream home. If you have any further questions about CC&Rs or building a home call us or leave a comment below.

Tips to Picking Paint Colors

We've all walked past the hundreds of paint colors options that can be found at home improvement stores, not even mentioning individual retailers with a store full of options.  So how do you pick that right paint color for you home?
 These tips can apply to you if you are picking paint colors to spruce up a room or colors for an entire house with a building a home.

Tip #1 
Think About the Atmosphere
What do you want your room to feel like?  Do you want the room to be restful, cozy, dramatic, stimulating, formal, quaint, energizing, or calming?  Sit down and think about the room your picking paint for to feel like.  Do you want a rich cozy bedroom, or a dramatic first impression foyer, or a bright energizing living room?  Let the atmosphere you want to have in the room be your guide in picking the color, because color sets the mood of a room.

Tip #2
Think About the Light
 Color looks different in different lights.  In paint color displays the light is usually a bright light in effort to show you the true color, but the light in your home will probably be different, so it's important to keep that in mind when picking your color.  If your able take the color home see how it looks where your wanting to paint it and see how it looks.  If you can't try to find light similar to what you expect the to be like.  This way you can be aware of the color you'll be putting on your walls not just the color in the store.

Tip #3
Think About What You Are Going Have or Already in the Room
Do you have rugs, artwork, furniture, or accessories that you have or plan to have in the room.  Use these items to give you a color direction and take them into consideration when finalizing the color to you are creating a cohesive room.  If you are planning on redesigning the whole space pick out these items first as it is easier to find a paint color to fit a rug than and rug to fit a color.

Tip #4
Test Your Sample in Unexpected Ways
 When you have you color sample don't just tape them to a wall and decide.  Move them around look at them next to your sofa, the flooring you have or are picking out, try looking at you sample in a context next to the items that are in the room it may change how you see the color and help you pick the right one.

Tip #5
Think About Your Home as Whole
 How is the paint color choice going to feel moving to the next room that may have a different color.  Think about how your color is going to flow through your home whether you are picking one color for one room or many for an entire house.  It's important to consider what the rest of the house looks like.

Tip #6
Be Creative
Color can open up, recreate, and liven a room don't be afraid to think about different colors than you normally would, expand your comfort zone.  When picking a paint color don't forget to have fun and stretch your creative muscle, you may come up with something that surprises you.  Don't let yourself get locked in a corner of beiges, grays, and whites.  Think about color and even if you start small in a powder room, it let you open up to many possibilities.

I hope you have found some help in picking paint colors. Please feel free to share any of your own tips that have helped you pick the right color(s) for your home.

~Lindsey Weiss