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Lessard Builders is excited to announce the Grand Opening of their luxurious new model home, The Saltaire, in the resort-inspired Lewes community of Showfield. The Grand Opening will begin at 3pm on Saturday, December 16th at 18244 Show Jumper Lane in Lewes. Festivities will include a Saltaire fireside chat with owner Brian Lessard, a holiday shopping spree drawing for attendees, and complimentary food, beverages, and cocktails. Self-tours are welcomed throughout the event and guided-tours with a member of the Lessard Builders team will also be available for those who want a more intimate tour of the intricately designed new model home designed by landscape design Melbourne.

 

 

Lessard’s four generations of building experience and client feedback inspired this home design that is equal parts distinctive and elegant, livable and grand. Named after Saltaire New York, The Saltaire is part of Lessard’s newest lines of homes; all inspired by and named after Long Island cities, towns and quaint villages where Lessard Builders was ‘born’ and built homes over 70 years ago. The Saltaire model home exudes a classic coastal spirit while also integrating a multitude of elegant features:

 

-First Floor Master Retreat

-Second Floor Guest Suite

-Outdoor Bistro and Patio with a couple of garden benches

-Concealed Butler’s Kitchen

-Dog Room

 

 

The Saltaire was designed to offer consumers a lens through which they can envision, shape and create their dream homes. In this fashion, The Saltaire will also dually serve as Lessard Builder’s new Selection Center. The new Lessard model home in Showfield will be open daily beginning November 25th, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To learn more about building your dream home with Lessard Builders visit The Saltaire model home in the community of Showfield, http://www.lessardbuilders.com, or call the Lessard office 302-645-7444.

The community of Showfield, located directly off Gills Neck Road in Lewes, is Sussex County, Delaware’s most anticipated premium home community and acts as the perfect location for Lessard Builders’ luxurious newest model home. Showfield offers homeowners incomparable resort-style community amenities along with the unparalleled opportunity to reside within a very short distance of downtown Lewes, Lewes Beaches and Cape Henlopen State Park. The community includes a fully featured resort-style clubhouse and pool, borders a 16-acre natural pond, and is located alongside the local 16-mile Junction Breakwater Bicycle and Walking Trail. 

 

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Now that you’ve sat down and decided on the builder you will use to design and customize your new home, what is the best way to weed through all of your requirements, features and finishes so you create yourself the perfect home? 

The major advantage of building a new custom home is the opportunity to build a two storey home in Perth or install reclaimed wood flooring and then design your home plans accordingly. While this sounds really exciting at first, once the time comes to sit down and select your options and upgrades, many find the multitude of choices can be overwhelming. In lieu of that, one may just get a home from Reward Homes at Box Hill Heights, and just expunge the idea of building a new home, and all the difficulties that would come with it. You may end up checking out single family homes for sale in the area.

So, how can you best evaluate the endless choices that come with building a true custom home? 

 

  1. Finalize your budget

    Remember that a budget which may make sense for one home builder may equate to something different with another builder. First, be sure you are fully aware of the base choices your home builder provides as standard and what that does and does not include. While some builder executives use lots of ‘builder-speak’ during initial meetings that sounds good for the wallet and appeals to the eye, too often we hear stories of builders gauging customers for altering or customizing interior features such as room sizes and interior wall placements. Know what it is that you feel comfortable spending and precisely how much you are willing to deviate above your budget.

  2. Exterior and Structural Design 

    Custom designed home floor-plans, additions or changes should be discussed, drafted and approved prior to signing the contract, or informally approved and signed shortly thereafter. Often custom home builders want to charge significant fees for having a floor-plan custom designed, but some builders will roll the cost of architectural drafting of your custom designed plan back into the price of the home once a customer signs a final contract. Many builders have a few signature home design plans with different exterior styles and visually unique characteristics that customers can choose from. True custom home builders will allow you to take these signature designs and change them, blend them, or outright not use them at all. Another important structural option to consider is a basement or crawlspace. While some concrete contractors keep options for basements or crawlspaces limited, others have no problem allowing for a full Concrete Paver Installation as long as that properties’ water table can support it. While full basements are appealing to many families, some home buyers receive the same storage space benefit with a lesser cost by simply expanding the crawlspaces to 5 feet in height. And of course you should make a proper roof, windows and siding, just make sure that you contact the right siding installation services so that the exterior of your home will have great end results. I used this contractor last time to get my roof fixed and it’s been three years, and I have not faced even a single issue due to their excellent service. You could aslo contact C&D Brooklyn Roofers to check what they can suggest. Hail damaged roof repair or any damage resulting from natural disasters is covered by the home insurance. All of these options should be on the table when building a custom home, and it is worthwhile to discuss all of this with your builder prior to signing your contract, if you do not own a home insurance policy be sure to get one before staring any home projects  . 

  3. Interior Design 

    Spend some time evaluating the spaces you would get a lot of use from inside your new custom home. “How many bedrooms do we need with storage? How many baths do we want? What have we always dreamt of having in our next home?” Here is a little pro tip: it is very good to ask yourselves these things and then add them to your wants vs needs list. Some people are avid wine connoisseurs and require a wine cellar. Instead of having a second bedroom downstairs, that square footage should be able to be reallocated to give you that wine cellar (and perhaps a larger living room.) And, of course, there is the ease factor as well: you do not want to spend time after the home closing to work on your new home. The home builder you select should be working with you to customize your interior layout with respect to your rooms and room sizes and of course all of your self storage needs, so that on the day you move in your home is precisely the way you envision it to be and stay for years. 

  4. Long-Term Home Requirements

    Are you looking to build this home for your short term needs, as a vacation home, or are you looking to build a home that meets your needs for decades? With the increasing needs of modern families, there are even more things for customers to consider. In-law suites which provide semi-separate living spaces are becoming increasingly popular as the number of multigenerational households increasing. Although, go ahead and learn more here about home improvement for your kitchen, bathroom and more. While in-law suite design varies depending on the needs of each family, creating one that perfectly meets your loved ones needs is possible with careful planning during the budget and architectural design process. Homes with dual master-suites are also becoming increasingly popular. Dual master-suites offer increasing comfort and convenience to families that look forward to spending decades in their dream home. There is something special about being able to have the space for children and grandchildren to comfortably stay under your roof when they come for a Summer weekend or during the holidays. And, of course, there is the hassle factor as well: are you willing to track up and down the stairs after decades of living in your home, or would you be more comfortable knowing you have a full master-suite downstairs to meet your needs as the years progress.

  5. WANTS vs NEEDS

    In a few words, be flexible but don’t sacrifice what you really want. Remember that you set a budget for a reason, and while you may want to squeeze everything you possibly can into your custom home, it is good to work with a builder who will be very honest and work with you. Prepare a list of your ‘must-haves’ and ‘want-to-haves’. A true custom home builder will do everything they can to provide you everything on this list, but when it comes down to increasing your budget or nixing a few things, it is beneficial to know where your priorities lie. For example, many builders will offer you a plethora of choices for things like flooring, technology, and kitchen selection options, but many couples spend a lot of time entertaining so they like to budget some additional dollars for upgrades. Know what it is you want, know what it is you can’t live without, and then discuss these things with your builder to see how they can accommodate as close to every one as they can. You should remember that there are things that should be done properly, for example, concrete raising and leveling. You should work with the reputable contractors like PURlevel Inc (more at https://www.purlevel.com/) to expertly handle any of your needs.

Lastly, be sure to communicate all of these things explicitly to your builder and their design professionals. Ask them to provide you spreadsheets of your choices, and be sure to carefully read through and initial every choice on every document. These tips will not only take a significant portion of the unknown away from your evaluation process everything after you’ve selected your builder, but they have the potential to cut out a significant amount of the time you spend on the choices you make for your new home! 

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Have you ever longed for a quick escape? Just an hour just to clear your head? Perhaps some place that is quiet and allows you to let the tension of everyday life slip away?

For those of you who live in the Wilmington, Philadelphia, D.C, or New York metropolitan areas, the vision of hopping into your car and escaping for a short while likely led you to imagine one of two places: a spa or salon of some sort, or a tropical island filled with Daiquiris and lounge chairs. 

Within the bustling pace and pressure of life in the Northeast, we all know there are fewer and fewer opportunities to truly ‘get away’ or decompress. Yet as the days grow longer and the birds again begin to chirp, Delaware begins to reveal one of its most cherished, rare, and prized possessions: it’s protected lands and natural serenity.

What do I mean? As the weather warms, Delaware’s State Parks and Wildlife Preserves begin to beam with life and offer the weary something rare; an escape from civilization that is close to home.

What makes Delaware’s State Parks and Preserves so unique is that they have something to offer for everyone; and it is right around this time each Spring that these gems awaken and come back to life. For those of you that love a quiet run or bicycle ride in the woods, Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes offers exercise enthusiasts dozens of scenic paved and unpaved trails to explore and escape to. For my fellow nature and animal lovers out there, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Milton offers safe haven to dozens of rare insect, plant, and animal species. For thrill seekers, ‘Go Ape’ in Lums Pond State Park has over forty treetop zip lines that you can book a 2-3 hour time to adventure and swing through. Yes, forty! It is these well maintained and sometimes well hidden natural escapes that makes everyday life in Delaware so different than elsewhere in the Northeast.

One of my personal favorite places to escape is Assawoman Wildlife Area.

Assawoman Wildlife Area is an escape with a feel all its’ own, located off the beaten path on Camp Barnes Road in Frankford. This beautiful land was once home to local Native American tribes and within its’ acres of beauty lie untouched lands to stroll through, bicycle and walking trails to follow, over a dozen places for those who like to hunt, free boat ramps for boating and fishing enthusiasts, and many places to launch a Kayak or Canoe. Yet even with so many things to offer, this escape remains so well hidden that in all of my visits I’ve never seen more than two or three other people. It’s one of those places where you can put on some sunglasses and stroll about without fear of being bothered or getting lost.

As the days grow longer and warmer, it’s these options that make living in Delaware so beautifully refreshing, different and exciting. If I had to narrow my entire two-plus years of living in Delaware to one life lesson this state has taught me, it would be this… even in your own back yard, you never know what diamonds in the rough you may discover until you look.

For those of you who want to explore, escape, discover new adventures and learn more about the plentiful natural beauties of The First State, included below is information for all of the State Parks and Wildlife areas.

I hope to see you all escape the day to day bustle of life to soak in a little more nature, animals and sunshine. Enjoy your adventures my friends! 

 

Delaware State Parks

Information for all of Delaware’s 14 State parks can be found at http://www.destateparks.com/

 

Delaware Wildlife Areas and Preserves

Information for all of Southern Delaware’s Wildlife refuges can be found at https://www.visitsoutherndelaware.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-adventures/wildlife-refuges-sanctuaries

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Area- https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bombay_Hook/

Okie Nature Wildlife Preserve- This locally donated wildlife preserve does not have a website or phone number but is located at: Marian R Okie Road, Millsboro DE 19966

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Well, it doesn’t feel too much like frostbite weather. Yet if you live in Coastal Delaware, you know one day it can be so warm you’re running outside with your dog and then the next there are 35 mile-per-hour winds so cold that your fingers feel like popsicles.

Winter has been quite good to Delaware so far, but when the inevitable cold weather does set in, you don’t have to spend all winter freezing. One of the many exceptional aspects of Coastal Delaware living is the food, and as Winter deepens, we wanted share four of our Lessard team’s favorite “cold weather comfort food” dishes!

 

1)      The Chili from Crooked Hammock Brewery

Imagine this- The first spoonful of steaming hot goodness and your tongue begins to dance, a perfect balance of spicy and savory awakening your taste buds. You take a second spoonful and are amazed as a smooth balance of shredded cheese perfectly complements the explosion of meaty chili flavor. Yes, the chili at Crooked Hammock Brewery is that good. The local Lewes brewpub hits it out of the park with their chili and in our opinion Crooked Hammock’s chili is one of best cold weather culinary delicacies your money can buy in Coastal Delaware. It’s also served with a huge pile homemade tortilla chips, so whether you’re looking for a warm-you-up appetizer or a light meal, this local dish won’t disappoint. Whether you’re in the mood for chili or a cocktain we highly recommend visiting http://www.crookedhammockbrewery.com/ for more!

 

2)      The Mac from Grandpa MAC

Is it just me or is there something about a hot dish of homemade pasta that can warm you up on even the coldest of days? Well Grandpa Mac in Rehoboth Beach captures that Sunday-macaroni-dinner-with-the-family-feel and then takes it to another stratosphere. When you walk into Grandpa Mac you won’t be disappointed — the menu offers over a dozen signature ‘mac’ dishes or offers pickier patrons the option to build-their-own-pasta bowl which allows you to choose the kind of pasta, sauce, cheese, and meat you want. The service is speedy and the menu offers eaters a crazy number of pastabilities with a very Delaware twist on it. You simply can’t go wrong with anything on the menu on a frosty night, and we especially love the ‘Hot Blue Hen’ and the ‘Chowder Head’! Yummmmy! Check out http://www.grandpamac.com/ for more menu information.

 

3)      The Shepherd’s Pie from Go Fish! and Go Brit!

When frostbite would set into the hills of the Ireland, local families would stoke their fires, line their pie dishes with mashed up potato and then use a filling of leftover roasted meat so their family could have a hearty hot meal to combat the cold Irish nights. Some traditions just age well and a hot dish of Shepherd’s Pie on a cold night is one of those. Go Fish! and Go Brit! make their Shepherd’s Pie just about as authentic as you’d find in Galway; every order is made fresh, every order comes with a creamy, crisp mashed potato crust, and every Pie comes filled with a bubbling core of authentic Irish beef and vegetable. If you close your eyes while you take a bite, you can almost hear the Guinness being poured in the local pub. The Bangers and Mash are out-of-this-world, as well! Perfection for dinner on a frosty night! Check out http://gobrit.com/ and http://www.gofishrehoboth.com/ for more foreign frostbite fighting foods!

 

4)      The Pot Roast from Jimmy’s Grille

From Ireland we cross the Atlantic back to Grandma’s kitchen. There aren’t too many foods that scream ‘American Comfort Food’ and make you feel like a kid again quite like a plate of steaming hot Pot Roast. Jimmy’s Grille captures that Grandma’s Pot Roast taste in award winning fashion. Each plate of Pot Roast comes with a heaping pile of pull apart fork tender beef seated nicely on a bed of traditional vegetables and all smothered in Jimmy’s savory homemade brown gravy. Not only is the Pot Roast spot on, but the price is spot on as well- giving you a whole lot of delicious hot food for not a whole lot of dollars. Jimmy’s Pot Roast is a winner on every level and the picture-perfect food to warm you up when we face that next cold Delaware night. For their menu, hours, and more information visit http://www.jimmysgrille.org/

 

What is your go-to food on a cold night? Did we miss any delicious local foods that you turn to when you want to fight the frostbite? Let us know with a comment below!

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Lessard Builders and CNU Fitness are excited to announce that they have been chosen to team up to participate in The 8th Annual Dancing with the Delaware Stars which benefits Mom’s House of Dover and the Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club. The 8th Annual Dancing with the Delaware Stars is a local community charity benefit takes place on January 28th, 2017 at Dover Downs Hotel. The event begins at 6:00 P.M. with a speech by known activist shahrazad ali, followed by a 7:00 P.M. Sit Down Dinner, the 8:15 P.M. Dance Competition and open dancing for all after the event concludes. 

For Lessard Builders, our decision to team up with CNU Fitness as partners in The 8th Annual Dancing with the Delaware Stars was natural. CNU fitness is passionately involved in contributing throughout our local community. It was this shared passion for being locally focused and Delaware minded that led Christina Lessard and Sean Floyd to join together to support Dancing with the Delaware and the Greater Dover community. dancing-with-de-stars-image

Dancing with the Delaware Stars is an IRS Nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity event with proceeds that directly support our local community. Mom’s House of Dover is a licensed daycare that utilizes a professional staff and volunteers to offer single parents the opportunity to continue their education by providing free childcare services to single parents who are enrolled as a full-time student in either high school or college. Mom’s House maintains a 3:1 child/staff ratio and takes pride in maintaining a warm, quaint, caring environment for all little ones and their parents. The Greater Dover Boys and Girls Club is a local branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware which has been impacting lives across Delaware for 85 years. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware are the largest licensed provider of childcare in Delaware with the mission of providing a safe-haven where youth can meet with friends and be a part of a positive peer group. Clubs provide members with positive role models and a nurturing environment that focuses on helping youth improve decision-making and conflict-resolution skills while emphasizing character development and community involvement.

Delaware Dancing with the Stars pits nine teams, each composed of one celebrity and one professional dancer, in a winner-take-all charity event in which each team completes a pre-determined dance routine. After each dance, the team is given a score by a panel of judges and at the end of the competition, the team with the highest score in the final round will be selected as the 2017 Dancing with the Delaware Stars Winner!

Event tickets for The 8th Annual Dancing with the Delaware Stars can be purchased directly on the event website at www.dancingDEstars.org and are $60. Event tickets includes access to the reception, hors d’oeuvres and 10 votes for the team of your choice. For those who would like to contribute but are unable to attend, votes can also be purchased and made directly online by clicking the Vote for Dancers tab on the website homepage; $1/Vote or $20 for 25 Votes. Come support our local community, Christina Lessard, and all your favorite dancers with your vote for the coveted 2017 Dancing with the Delaware Stars Mirror Ball trophy!

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The past few weeks have brought with them a slew of exciting news and surprises for our local Delaware Custom Home business, Lessard Builders.

First, we would like to congratulate all of our newest homeowners and your families on your new Lessard custom homes! Why do we take a moment to do this- you may be thinking? Well, as a small, family owned company we pride ourselves on working super closely with every homeowner and potential homeowner we meet. Our team spent much of the summer and early fall working diligently to design, select, and then build a handful of chic new custom homes with the goal of getting every one of these families comfortably settled into their homes by the holidays. Alas, Mission Accomplished! Congratulations again to each of you and may the holidays and your new homes bring you and your families a renewed sense of comfort, happiness, and tranquility!

Second and just as exciting, we’ve broken ground and are making huge strides on our newest model home in the Showfield community! As of right now things are looking great for an early Spring 2017 as the date for the ribbon cutting of our newest Lessard model home! If you live in Southern Delaware, we highly recommend you take a ride down Gills Neck Road in the coming months. In our last exciting piece of internal project news, our new office building, which is being built on the corner of E. Camden Wyoming Ave and Main St in Camden-Wyoming, is also progressing along beautifully. Early 2017 is looking good!

And last but certainly not least, those of us at Lessard Builders are excited, humbled and grateful to make an announcement: Lessard Builders was awarded the 2017 Corporate Livewire Innovation and Excellence in Construction Award.

corporate-livewire-innovation-excellent-awards-winner

Where does an award like this come from, you may be wondering?

Well, our staff at Lessard Builders was contacted a few months back and informed that Lessard Builders had been nominated for a Corporate LiveWire award a few months back. We were not given any more information other than that, and we were provided a nomination submission packet which we had to fill out and submit. The company informed us that the winner was chosen by a blind judging panel which could only use the submitted information in the decision making process. And then we waited. And waited. And waited…

And then one morning about two weeks ago seemingly out of the blue came the good news; a congratulatory phone call, Lessard Builders was selected as the recipient of the 2017 Corporate LiveWire Innovation and Excellence Award!

As a small company we are humbled to be nominated for and chosen for such an award. Our company and team strives to create something unique and special for every family and person we can in Southern Delaware, and to be acknowledged for that is truly the greatest gift we could ever receive as 2016 turns toward 2017. To all of you, we thank you for this incredible honor and commit to bringing more innovation, more excellence, more positivity to Southern Delaware in the days, weeks, and months to come. 

From our team at Lessard to each of you, have a blessed and very Happy Thanksgiving!  

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Lessard Builders is excited to announce the groundbreaking of our newest Lessard model home in the iconic 132 acre Showfield custom home community now under development along Gills Neck Road in Lewes, Delaware.

The Showfield community stands out by offering potential homeowners the opportunity to build a luxury home in an historic setting, all while within walking distance of downtown Lewes and its’ number of exceptional restaurants, shops and boutiques, and world-class beaches.

The Showfield community features a preserved historic barn on the property and borders a 16-acre natural pond. In addition, Showfield will provide homeowners a resort-style outdoor pool and clubhouse, and easy direct access to the neighboring Junction Breakwater Bike Trail. 

 

 

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“Our family is really excited to be a part of developing Showfield and working together to capture the quaint and welcoming feeling of historic downtown Lewes. The land on which Showfield is situated has been a part of a local family’s lives for generations. We love that! To spread this beautiful piece of land that holds so many memories, and then design for people a home which they’ll be creating new generations of memories in. What’s also exciting for us at Lessard Builders is that with Showfield, we’re growing our team and circling back to our roots when my father and grandfather built homes from the ground up.  It’s important to us that our homeowners can feel the love, time and energy we personally put in to each home we build,” Christina Lessard shared.

“Bringing to the market fresh ideas and concepts is the spirit of Lessard Builders,” says Brian Lessard, third generation builder and Chief Executive Officer. “Lessard Builders strives to modify, adapt, and design the perfect custom home with the help of great equipment from an oilfield equipment rental service. We don’t want to fit homeowners in a box, and with our newest floor plans for Showfield, homeowners will have even more choices, possibilities, and ideas for inspiration. We love to listen to them talk about their lifestyle so together we can create a home that meets their individual needs and desires. Within the Showfield model there are areas of the home for multiple generations to enjoy; areas where grandparents, parents, children, and animals can live together. From the playroom upstairs, to the openness of a huge kitchen to the tranquility of a screened-in porch, there is something for each member of the family.  A second, private, screened-in porch off the downstairs master suite allows the homeowner a quiet sanctuary. Finish off the downstairs with a game room, a wet bar and wine tasting area, a movie room, or a man cave and you have created a home that is both fun and practical. Our goal is to provide areas that are in harmony with one another and flow together but allow the luxury and privacy that’s required.”

For more information on our distinctive, fully-customizable, new home designs, like us and follow us on our Lessard Builders Facebook page and visit our website, LessardBuilders.com. We have lots more news, announcements, and new floor plans coming shortly! 

Additional photos, videos, and information about the Showfield community and this opportunity to own a piece of historic property in Lewes, click the link below or visit http://www.showfieldde.com. 

 

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How’s it going, homeowners and football fans? Pass the buffalo chicken dip, please.

Ahhhhh, the Fall! With all of the fun and festivities that come with the calendar turning, one stark negative comes with the months of September and October: severe storms. 

Few things seems to ruin the mood or weekend plans like hearing, “a tropical depression is forming in the Caribbean” and “blah blah blah it could track up the East Coast.” That feeling you get when for the first time you hear The Weather Channel refer to a storm with a specific name is horrifying. Yet the omnipresence of potential storms doesn’t have to be AS scary. There’s nothing you can do to completely mitigate the effects of a natural disaster, but properly preparing your home, for instance scheduling a consultation with a professional home foundation repair and inspection company to conduct Seismic Retrofitting Services as well as cracked foundation repair services for your home, can make all the difference between quickly returning to the place you love or quickly getting on the phone with contractors to get repair estimates.

Pregame Preparedness– The key. Secure anything loose and clear rain gutters and downspouts to prevent water damage to your property. Place a good gutter cover system to prevent twigs, leaves, and dirt from forming clogs in the gutter. Make sure all your tools, supplies, and a first aid kit are available for use. When I was a kid, a late September hurricane ripped down a significant limb from a tree in our yard. The limb was completely severed except for one long strip of bark, which, meant this limb was swinging in a hurricane in mid air. My father happened to have his tools indoors and so within 5 minutes he was outside cutting that hanging branch. If a situation unfolds you’ll be able to address it much more effectively by being able to respond immediately. Check out http://gutteradvantage-pa.com/ for some tips.

Window & Door Defense– A sheet of plywood and a handful of nails have stood out for decades as one of the most effective and practical ways to prepare your home for a storm. We’ve found it’s best to “board up” a day or two before the storm, and our favorite secret is to utilize 3/4-inch or 5/8-inch plywood over the 1/2-inch variety. Option B for defending your windows and doors are hurricane affordable window shutters. Technology has made these a more attractive, simple, effective option than ever before. Today’s shutters deploy with the push of a button or the crank of a handle and are the easiest and other most effective option to deploy before a storm. If you do fall victim of the storm search no further and get in touch with glass remodels professionals. Modern custom-fitted hurricane shutters are designed to withstand 150-200mph and come in a wide variety of colors! 

Water Defense– While there is little any of us can do to prepare for a 15-foot coastal storm surge, there are several products that will go a really long way to protect every homeowner from minor flooding. Sandbags are hands down the most effective option. If properly placed at the cracks of your doors, residential garage door, and windows bags can form an excellent barrier around your home. Proper garage door can be very helpful when it comes to protecting your home. Automatic Door Specialists can consult you on this matter and offer the best options. When defending your home with sandbags there is no such thing as using too many. Other options that we are not as familiar with include quick dam options and water absorbing barriers. Water is arguably the most destructive force your home can potentially face, it’s not worth playing games. 

Roof Defense– Your home was built to hold the roof up, not down. Fortunately you can take some steps to account for and counteract damaging winds. The first thing to do is contact roof repair services, and have them come take a look at the roof if it needs roof repair. They will have to repair any problems, as well as reinforce any vulnerabilities with support braces. When installed properly, hurricane support braces and or/ hurricane straps can reduce your risk of roof failure in high winds. They can be easily installed on new homes. For existing homes the process will involve retrofitting your roof and the structure of your home as necessary. Using only the very best timbers, you will need a truss supplier to collaborate with you to make sure you have a long lasting roof truss that is sturdy enough to sustain any type of storm. I found the Northern Lights Exteriors Fort Lupton roofers retrofitting guide to be a helpful tool: http://www.floridadisaster.org/hrg/content/walls/wood_frame_rtw_conn.asp

Family Defense– The most important part of all. Consider sitting down with your family and having a designated storm room selected in advance of any weather event. An ideal storm room is going to keep your family safe from high-winds, damaging or falling debris, and is in a location above flooding levels. If you’re building or renovating a home and would like more information on how you can design a room to protect your family in an emergency or get through the CPR certification Fort Lauderdale, more information can be found at: https://www.fema.gov/safe-rooms 

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It’s that time of year, again. 
 
The quick fading of one season to the next has begun. With the shift from Summer comes the inevitable, the re-entrance of crisp evening air. All that we love and associate with the Fall season: Pumpkin picking, hot soup, apple cider, the leaves crunching under our feet, a big plate of turkey and gravy. 
 
While some of us anticipate and enjoy the change of season and the new opportunities and activities that arise with it, I know many are out there cringing with each passing September day. There’s nothing quite like digging your toes into the sand on Sunday in July; I feel your pain. 
 
Fall of 2016 is poised to be unlike any other season we’ve had Lessard Builders! The calendar is creeping towards Fall and this year we so have many fresh ideas, mega-announcements and surprises we’re just about ready to reveal.
 
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The first big event we’re particularly excited for is going down at 6pm tomorrow evening! Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity is hosting their 4th annual Saturday-night-of-fun charity fundraiser, Blackjack to Build hosted by Lessard Builders and family. We love to give back- it’s at the core of our beliefs at Lessard Builders, and so we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off a huge Fall season. Check out Central Delaware Habatat’s website because tickets are still on sale and it’s going to be an awesome night! There will be blackjack and poker tables, a delicious BBQ dinner cooked by local Rob Fox, wine and beer, live music with Jim Rezak, a wine wall with tons of prizes, and a silent gift auction. Whew! Yeah, that’s right ladies and gentlemen, you get to play cards and laugh and enjoy yourselves for a great cause! You can directly purchase tickets for tomorrow’s charity fundraiser event Blackjack to Build, here. 
 
I know all of us at Lessard Builders are ecstatic to share some of our big news, but until then, enjoy that first steaming mug of apple cider. We won’t keep you in the dark too long!  

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So you’re about to navigate your way East for one final summer weekend at the Delaware beaches, eh?  

If you’re someone who’s already spent a holiday weekend or two in Rehoboth or Dewey, you likely already have your own plan of attack. Yet perhaps you haven’t, you’re new to the area, or you’re looking to take your weekend plans to the next level.

Where ever your Delaware beaches experience level lies, my goal here is simple; to provide you two suggestions that will help you maximize your Labor Day weekend. 

 

1.Be strategic– If you’re not familiar with the area, Rt. 1 is the main highway you may have drove in on. Do your best to avoid it. Want to go food shopping, stop at a liquor store, or grab some Chick-Fil-A? I recommend you do it on your drive into town. You can reasonably expect hour+ delays this weekend to drive just a few miles on Rt. 1 through the Lewes-Rehoboth-Dewey-Bethany Beach area. We all know sitting in traffic is not how we want to spend our holiday weekend. If you must drive somewhere, plan it out, look on your Maps app for alternate routes, and most importantly in my eyes- take advantage of the early morning calm. Trust me, those hours you “get back” that you can spend sitting in your adirondack chair as opposed to sitting in traffic will make the weekend feel so much longer and more relaxing. 

 

2.Maximize your time– One of the qualities about the Delaware beaches I’ve fallen most in love are the abundance of options packed into small geographical areas. You want to take your family to the beach, entertain them for a bit and grab dinner, you say? Or head out with friends for a little Sunday Funday and a nice dinner? Well, you could go to Rehoboth, and find the abundance of options on the avenue… or you could explore areas like downtown Lewes, Dewey or Bethany; all of which are equally good options for different reasons. My point, if you’re going to get in the car and embark on some activities this weekend, do five minutes of research and let’s help you squeeze the absolute most out of your days- without you having to give up your killer parking spot. 

 

Is there a better way to end your summer than being able to dig your toes in the sand, devour a cone of your favorite ice cream, sink a hole-in-one in mini golf, get your school shopping done, and then be just a short walk from dinner and two sizzling fresh crab cakes? Between Rehoboth, Bethany, Dewey and Lewes there are dozens and dozen of diverse eclectic restaurants, bars, breweries and activities going on this weekend! Check out all the goods going on in the area by visiting http://www.visitsoutherndelaware.com . 

Enjoy your weekend, your relaxation and your adventures off the beaten path! Happy Labor Day, friends!

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Are you searching for real estate and looking for the perfect community to settle into for that next stage of your life? We’d love to share with you a few of our favorite reasons to take a look at Sussex County, Delaware! 

As someone who recently moved to Lewes after spending my entire life in coastal New Jersey, I often find myself astounded by the quality and quantity of amenities and attractions that coastal Delaware has to offer. Here are just a few of the reasons I’ve absolutely fallen in love with Delaware in my 19 months as a resident and why you can contact a residential or commercial real estate broker today!

  1. The Culinary Coast– Had you ever heard someone refer to Southern Delaware with the nickname the Culinary Coast? Whether you’re a foodie like I am or you just enjoy an occasional meal-on-the-town, Southern DE provides a multitude of options that I’ve found can excite any set of taste buds. In the past decade or so Southern Delaware communities such as Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach and Milford have transformed into an epicenter for culinary diversity and adventure. Our local communities are filled with family owned restaurants that serve fresh farm-to-table food that is of five star quality and offer something for anyone’s culinary needs. I highly recommend you check out http://www.visitsoutherndelaware.com/culinary-coast/culinary-experiences  for more details and specifics! 
  2. Sports fans rejoice– Perhaps like I was, you’re considering moving from a metropolitan area, yet you’re hesitant to leave the events and action of a larger metropolitan scene behind. Well I can say with certainty that one of my favorite aspects of Southern Delaware is the location; there is so much that comes with living tucked into the calmness of the Delmarva Peninsula all while you remain in close proximity to so many amenities. The coast is dotted with dozens of beautifully crafted and pristine golf courses. Delaware International Speedway lies just over a half hour North on Route 1. You can easily take a day trip into Ocean City Maryland, Washington D.C, Philadelphia, Atlantic City or New York City. Most exciting of all to a sports fan- there is access to so many different sports arenas: the minor league baseball Wilmington Blue Rocks, Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies, Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, and Washington Redskins and Nationals all play just a short drive away. 
  3. Untouched Beauty– Some of the East Coast’s most breathtaking views and trails lie right here in Coastal Delaware. I can say with certainty as someone who has lived all their life near the beach, that there is something special about Delaware that isn’t often found elsewhere on the East Coast. There are so many fun things to do and fascinating places to explore that a short description wouldn’t nearly do justice to the local outdoor spaces. There is a full list of all the outdoor fun at http://www.visitsoutherndelaware.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-adventures ! 
  4. Life in Delaware is Anything but Taxing– See what I did there? It’s said that life in Delaware is more affordable in many ways than neighboring states, and I can attest to that! The Delaware beach is a place where you can own that beach house with no sales tax and extremely low property taxes, something I could not find anywhere when I was looking at vacation rentals in North Myrtle beach last year. Whether you’re looking for your new shopping spot, a fresh start, a vacation home, or a retirement abode, the average Sussex County tax payer pays significantly lower yearly taxes than residents of neighboring states like Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or New York. Whats better than relocating to the beach and taking advantage of no sales tax and minimal property taxes while you enjoy your sun, sand, and surf? http://delaware.gov/topics/TaxCenter
  5. Have Plenty of Fun at Your Pace– Perhaps you’re a music fanatic and attracted by the annual allure of Dover’s Firefly Music Festival or Wilmington’s Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. Maybe you’d love to enjoy a freshly brewed beverage at one of Delaware’s local breweries and Vineyards. Whether it’s Dogfish Head’s brewery, Delaware Distilling Company, or Nassau Valley Vineyards, there are ample opportunities to stay local yet feel like you’re on vacation while taking a tour and enjoying so many delicious beverages. If you’re looking to really let loose, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth, and Ocean City MD offer phenomenal opportunities for quite a bit of fun without going more than a half hour from home. There are numerous places to rent paddle-boards and surf boards, the annual Delaware State Fair in Harrington happens every July, you can go Parasailing, and so much more! Sussex County offers lots to do on an active basis. Lastly, if you’re the relaxing type like myself, there is nothing nicer than bringing a beach chair to Dagsworthy Street in Dewey and diggin your toes into the sand at 8:30pm for a movie on the beach. For more recreation ideas you can look here at http://www.visitsoutherndelaware.com/outdoor-recreation/amusements !

Ready to take a peek at Sussex County yet? Plan a trip and experience it all for yourself! 

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Here are a few of our favorite spots to watch fireworks light up the Delaware sky on the fourth of July!

But first – a little history. In a July 3rd, 1776 letter to his wife, John Adams declared that the signing of the Declaration of Independence should be a tradition for a great anniversary festival. The celebrations started in Philadelphia, Boston and New York. The holiday fireworks display were a tradition forged by America’s founding fathers – the inaugural show occurred on the commons in Philadelphia with thirteen rockets.

Delaware Fireworks

 

Which Delaware town is your family favorite for fireworks? Show off your First State holiday fun by tagging your photos with the #LiveDelaware hashtag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Rehoboth Beach 

  • Inaugural Red, White and Blue 5k to benefit Meals on Wheels, Delaware. (8 am race start)
  • Bandstand at 8pm: US Navy Concert (free)
  • Fireworks at dusk. (Additional Info)

Dewey Beach

  • Firework show will originate on the bayside. Show will begin at dusk. (Additional Info)

Lewes Beach

  • The City of Lewes continues its long tradition of hosting old-fashioned games for children on Second Street beginning at 9 am. The annual boat parade will start at 1:30 pm.

Bethany Beach

  • “Themed” Celebration that includes a parade. Enter your floats and bikes from 9 am to 11:30 am to participate. (Additional info)

Town of Milton

  • Fun for the family all day long at Milton Memorial Park! Starts at 10 am (Additional Info)

Dover

  • Festivities all day at the green. Parade starts at 6pm, fireworks to kick off at dusk, around 9:20 pm.

Middletown

  • Middletown July 4th Parade starts at 10 a.m.
  • The annual fourth of July fireworks are sponsored by the town of Middletown and will be displayed at Silver Lake Park. Firework show to start at dusk. (Additional Info)

Happy Fourth of July! Have fun, shop local and tag your pictures with #LiveDelaware!