LIFE | STYLE October 2019

October 18, 2019 (Reston, Virginia)

Fall is here! It has been a long, hot summer, and we are glad to see the leaves turning. Time for late season barbecues or campfires, s’mores, and some Trick-or-Treating.

We love all the communities with spooky decorations; it’s always fun to drive through and enjoy the creative décor our customers put up for the season!

Seasonal Suggestions

Winterizing Your Home

It may still feel like Summer, but shorter days and dropping leaves prove that Winter is just a cold snap away. Taking a few hours to winterize your home this Fall can help prevent costly damage this Winter.

Yard and Outdoor Living Spaces

• Turn off any hose misters.
• Shut off the water then drain exterior water spigots.
• Winterize water features like bird baths, small ponds with shallow basins and small bubbling fountains. Remove any plants, clean the water feature and bottom of the pump vault. Drain water from all lines and remove the pump for the winter.
• Have your pool winterized.
• Cover vulnerable plants and bring in any potted plants that are cold-sensitive before temperatures dip below 45 degrees.
• If storing your grill, remove the propane tank for outside storage, and clean the grill before bringing inside.
• Bring in or securely cover deck or patio furniture, and secure umbrellas.
• Clean and maintain lawn equipment (mowers, edgers, hedge trimmers, etc.) before storing.
• Inspect and test your snow blower before the first snowfall.
• Stock up on ice melt before the first freeze, choosing a product that won’t damage cement or masonry walks or harm your pets.

Home Exterior

• Clean gutters and downspouts of leaves and other debris before freezing temperatures – bursts can be expensive.
• Inspect and re-caulk windows and doors – typically every 1-2 years. Caulk dries, pulls away from trim surfaces and lets in water that may cause extensive damage.
• Get any required exterior painting done before it gets too cold.
• Do any exterior maintenance before cold weather, such as pointing masonry, repainting trim, deck repair, or roof inspection and repair.
• Get leaves away from foundation and window wells and check the grading around your home to make sure water runs away. If leaves pile against your home, any melting ice may send water go over the leaves and into your home.
• Check that all of your downspouts and pipes leading away from your home are properly attached and draining properly.

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The Difference is in the Details

Pantries

Peace begins in the kitchens and pantries, gardens and backyards, where our food is grown and prepared. – Michio Kushi

Today’s open kitchens are prime entertaining space. That makes a walk-in or walk-through pantry a highly desirable feature. Pantries are a great way to avoid kitchen clutter, house utilitarian and infrequently used appliances and cookware, provide a place for last-minute or messy food prep and potentially locate an extra refrigerator or freezer.

When well-designed and thoughtfully built, a pantry can help you get the most from your kitchen and make cooking, storage, cleaning and entertaining easier. Finishes and customization are nearly limitless, from marble worktops and luxury cabinets to utilitarian wire shelving. It’s smart to focus on function first, and here are some things to consider:

Location, location: How do people and supplies flow to and through your kitchen? A pantry can be ideal between the garage or mudroom and kitchen, letting you store groceries and supplies without carrying them across your home. Also consider appliance locations and where people congregate, as you may frequently be carrying groceries and supplies between the pantry and the cooled storage. What areas surround or are adjacent to the pantry? For optimal storage, a pantry should be cool, dry, and dark. Avoid placing a pantry near things that produce heat and moisture, such as a dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, hot water heater, chimney, or uninsulated exterior walls.

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Announcements

Summer Creek
Over 70% Sold Out

Summer Creek is nearly complete; only three homes remain. This Winthrop, serving as our model home and open daily, is available for early delivery.

A second home, now under construction, will be available for delivery early next year. Some finishes on this home can still personalized; but only for a limited time!

Contact us or visit us at our model in Great Falls to learn more about the opportunities to live in this exceptional Gulick Group community… before they are gone.

Learn More

Join Us on Social

Gulick’s online and social media communities are a great way to keep up with what’s happening in all our real-world communities. Stay in touch and get the latest news by following us on Facebook, Houzz and Twitter. We just started an Instagram feed, too, so you can see more of us there!

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LIFE|STYLE, is a monthly newsletter created to provide Gulick Group clients, realtors, and prospective purchasers with useful information, explore new and emerging style trends and preview Gulick Group’s newest offerings and home designs. LIFE|STYLE is a digital newsletter in the spirit of “Details”, our popular printed piece from the days of postal-only communication.

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