Take a look at our December newsletter!
Dream Home Digest The Man Behind the Numbers JOSEPH HENDERSON’S JOURNEY IN THE HOMEBUILDING INDUSTRY
Stonewood WATKINSVILLE, GA Summerville ATHENS, GA Yellowstone Farm CUMMING, GA
It’s always a unique experience when you get an opportunity to work with a team that goes above and beyond to support and encourage one another, and that’s exactly what I’ve found with SR Homes. I’ve been with the company for over six years and have yet to meet anyone who isn’t kind, knowledgeable, and willing to help, no matter the situation. My name is Joseph Henderson, and I’m the estimating systems manager at SR Homes. Although we may never interact face-to-face, I’m still working diligently behind the scenes to help you and the rest of the team.
passed, and I’m still impressed with the support and encouragement that everyone provides each other, which extends to you, our clients. When you work with SR Homes, you interact with people who actually care about what they’re doing. More than anything, we want to provide you with excellent service and a quality home. It doesn’t matter if you’re purchasing your family’s first home or your forever home; the team at SR Homes will do everything they can to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. Even after you close on your new home, our top-tier warranty department will help ensure you’re taken care of and happy for years to come. While I love my job, I also enjoy my downtime away from the office. In my free time, I like spending time with friends and attending concerts, movies, and art shows. Since my job requires great attention to detail and concentration, I enjoy hobbies that don’t require a high level of critical thinking so I can sit back and relax. In a few weeks, I’ll visit my family in Mobile, Alabama, for the holidays. I don’t get an opportunity to return home too often, so I always like to make my rounds before the new year begins to ensure my loved ones are doing well. It’s just nice to have a meal together and catch up!
“When you work with SR Homes, you’ll interact with people who actually care about what they’re doing. More than anything, we want to provide you with excellent service and a quality home.”
I’m originally from Alabama and attended Auburn University as a pre-architecture student, knowing I wanted to explore a career in this industry. However, my initial field of study didn’t feel like the best fit for me, so I took a test at the university’s career development center, which showed I was in the right college but not necessarily the right major. From there, I switched my major to building construction and couldn’t be happier with my decision. After taking a few classes related to my new major, I knew it was what I wanted to do. I graduated in 2014 and moved to Atlanta to start my career. I started working for a subcontractor, mainly focusing on estimating glass facades on commercial buildings. I worked on the commercial side of the industry for three years before a shakeup at my workplace sent me searching for something new. That’s when I discovered SR Homes and all the great work they do! It’s been an incredible experience getting to know everyone and working toward a common goal. Over six years have
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season surrounded by your loved ones!
678-252-2525 SRHomes.com Dec 2024
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Many Americans struggle to start their day without fresh coffee. According to a recent study conducted by Drive Research, around 73% of Americans have at least one cup of coffee daily. However, stopping at Starbucks or your local coffee shop every morning gets expensive quickly. Thankfully, you can make some delicious and invigorating coffee at home for a fraction of the price. Create the ultimate coffee bar by investing in the right appliance, redesigning a space in your home, and stocking your favorite creamers and blends. If you’re interested in designing a coffee bar for your home, you must first determine a good location. You don’t need much space for this project; simply using a small corner in your kitchen or foyer will suffice. From there, decide on the furniture to house your coffee needs. To save money, consider repurposing a piece of furniture you own or go thrifting to find something that matches your aesthetic. Once you’ve settled on your furniture, it’s time to design it to house everything you need to make your morning coffee effectively. If it has cabinets or drawers, use them to store mugs, coffee pods, and mixing spoons; if not, you’ll need to get creative. You can utilize a mug rack and other organizers to house all your coffee necessities. Now, you need to add your coffee maker to the space. Remember, you don’t need the fanciest or most expensive coffee maker. The quality of your beans or blend will have a more significant impact on the flavor of your coffee than the machine. You just want something that will look good and reliably make you a cup when needed.
Ditch the Coffee Shop Transform a Corner of Your Home Into a Coffee Haven
All that’s left is adding your personal touches to the area. You can showcase your personality through the design or just fill the area with things that bring you joy.
Adding an aesthetic that makes you smile will help you start each day on the right foot. After making your first cup of joe at your new coffee bar and taking that first sip, you’ll wonder why you never did this earlier! BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER Why Empty Nesters Are Choosing to Downsize
Throughout our lives, we gather many objects and possessions. We fill our homes with furniture, appliances, and things that bring us joy, but we all reach a point in our lives where we feel like we’ve accumulated more than we need. This becomes even more apparent after our children leave the nest. As a result, many empty nesters face the ultimate question — when is it the right time to downsize?
household’s gross income. If you’re unable to afford groceries or your hobbies because all your money is going toward your mortgage and other home expenses, you might need to consider downsizing. Moving to a smaller home with a lower mortgage cost allows you to enjoy hobbies and other activities without emptying your savings. THE UPKEEP IS TOO EXHAUSTING. The bigger the house, the more maintenance and repairs you must address. If necessary maintenance is bogging you down, it might be time to look for something smaller. There’s also the cost element to consider. The research team at USA TODAY Homefront discovered that the average homeowner spends around $6,000 on maintenance annually. However, this can vary depending on the size and age of your home. THE AMOUNT OF SPACE IS UNNECESSARY. You likely bought your home when your kids were young and living with you. Once they leave the nest to go to college or join the workforce, you’ll quickly notice the extra space in your house. If it’s more than you need for yourselves and visitors, start looking for something smaller and cozier. Just be sure it can still accommodate your kids when they want to visit!
This is a difficult question to answer, and everyone’s situation is different. However, here are three factors to consider when deciding whether to downsize.
THE MORTGAGE
IS TOO HIGH. How much of your gross income goes toward your mortgage? Many mortgage lenders state that your mortgage cost should not exceed 28% of your
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HOW TO CHOOSE A NEIGHBORHOOD YOUR FAMILY WILL LOVE Build a Life, Not Just a Home
There’s a lot to consider when purchasing a home. Most people tend to focus on things related directly to the house, such as the location, size, condition of the appliances, and, of course, the cost. However, it’s important to remember that you’re not just buying a house but a place in a community. You’ll spend a good portion of your time exploring the surrounding area as you go to the grocery store, take the kids to school, and enjoy something to eat from local restaurants. That’s why it’s so important to consider the surrounding area before submitting your offer.
may outgrow the playground, but they still need an outdoor space to explore, which is where parks and hiking trails matter. Plus, there’s nothing better than walking through a green space with your loved ones. STORES, RESTAURANTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS You should spend time outside the house at some point, so having resources to meet your needs is vital. Whether you want to look for a new outfit, enjoy a date night away from the kids, or simply need to restock the fridge, you want your new home within reasonable driving distance of the things you want or need. Check the distance to the closest grocery store, clothing retailer, restaurants, and entertainment destinations like movie theaters, arcades, and bowling alleys. SCHOOLS At the very least, you should examine your distance from the closest public school or your chosen private school. Additionally, it can help to research the school district and, if possible, visit some schools in person to confirm they’ll help meet your children’s needs and align with your own academic values.
Here are three community-related features to consider before purchasing a home for your family.
GREEN SPACES Parks, playgrounds, and hiking trails are great places to relax and let the kids burn off some energy, but not every neighborhood has them in abundance. If you have little ones and are not planning on investing in a personal playground for your yard, you’ll want to drive around your potential new neighborhood to ensure they have somewhere for your kids to play safely. As your kids age, they
Sticky Fig and Pecan Pudding With Toffee Sauce
Inspired by Delicious.com
INGREDIENTS • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened • 2 eggs, beaten • 1 tsp baking powder • 3/4 cup self-rising flour • 3/4 cup dried figs, roughly chopped • 2/3 cup brown sugar • 3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped • 1/2 cup hot water Toffee sauce • 1/2 cup unsalted butter • 1 cup brown sugar • 1/2 cup heavy cream
DIRECTIONS 1.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 6-cup ovenproof bowl and line the bottom with waxed paper.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and flour until smooth. Stir in pecans and figs, then add 1/2 cup hot water. 3. Pour batter into prepared bowl, cover with a circle of waxed paper, then cover tightly with foil. Bake for 50–60 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. 4. For toffee sauce, put butter and sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves. Stir in cream and increase heat to medium. Bring to just below boiling, then reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–7 minutes until thickened. 5. Turn pudding onto a plate and drizzle with toffee sauce.
TAKE A BREAK
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1000 Mansell Exchange West Suite #260 Alpharetta, GA 30022
Inside This Issue
Facebook.com/SRHomesGA Instagram.com/SRHomes
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Meet Joseph Henderson, Our Estimating Systems Manager
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Create a Coffee Bar to Make Your Mornings Shine
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Is It Time to Downsize?
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Is the Neighborhood Right for Your Family?
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Sticky Fig and Pecan Pudding With Toffee Sauce
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Make a Tiny Room Feel Surprisingly Spacious
Design Hacks to Make Any Room Feel Larger OF SPACE ILLUSION CREATE THE
SOFT LIGHTING While your chandelier or ceiling fan might make the room brighter, it also creates shadows that can make it feel smaller. Lamps and other forms of soft lighting can draw attention to certain aspects of the room, making it feel bigger. KEEP IT CLEAN Don’t let unnecessary items clutter your countertops and tables. Put everything away in drawers and cabinets to keep your space clean and clear.
Does your living space ever feel tight or cramped? Do you wish your home felt bigger, but your floor plan limits your space? Don’t stress! Here are some simple design hacks you can implement to make any space feel larger. LOW FURNITURE Clear sightlines are essential if you want your space to feel bigger. To preserve sightlines, purchase coffee tables, couches, and other pieces of furniture that are low to the ground.
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