As our nation’s leaders begin to focus on the importance of energy efficiency and the production of clean energy, it becomes more and more prevalent that The Jones Company is staying ahead of the curve in the production of green certified homes by the NAHB. This article from NPR’s News Blog demonstrates the changes that will continue to occur in codes for new buildings and homes by 2012. Why buy a home constructed to be obsolete in the very near future, when you can purchase a Jones Company home that is built for the future needs of your family. Not to mention the great resale advantages you will have! Read more at: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/06/obama_unveils_new_lighting_eff.html

Many people are looking to get great deals on foreclosed and short sale homes in this market. Studies have shown, however, that the money invested to clean, renovate, and rehabilitate these homes often outweigh the benefit. Depending on the age of the home, energy inefficiency can be terribly expensive. Also, when purchasing a used home, you have missed out on an extremely beneficial one year warranty in most cases. BUT, most importantly, a builder like The Jones Company has so many great programs to offer that you will not find with used homes.

The Jones Company has market homes that are from move-in ready to framing stage which will allow you to choose your ideal timeframe to move in your new home. In some cases, when you purchase early enough in the process, you are still able to make your own personal selections for things like carpet, paint color, and appliances.

If you are concerned with ending your lease too early or trying to get your homes sold…The Jones Company has a program to address these issues, as well. Be sure to do the math and research your total cost of ownership on these “deals” that you may be confronted with in today’s market. Then schedule and appointment to tour a newly built, green certified, home with a reputable warranty.

Jacob Reynolds, contributor

Jacob Reynolds is the Central Sales Manager for The Jones Company; he has 6 years experience in new home construction, warranty and sales. He loves golf, travel and to do both simultaneously when at all possible.

As promised, I am giving you some more examples of the possible objections/roadblocks you might be facing right now to buying a new home, and then showing you how we have a corresponding program to help with that problem! 

PROBLEM:  Say you REALLY want to BUILD your home - so you think that to do that, you’ll need to wait for a long time while it’s being built. And, with the all the negative press out there, you think…I’ll just wait until things settle down to build because I am not in any hurry anyway…right?  WRONG!  There are so many reasons NOT TO WAIT…including the fact that interest rates are actually beginning to show an uptick. Plus it seems that many markets are showing signs of improvement (including Nashville) which means that if you are waiting for the bottom…it may have been and gone!   

SOLUTION:  The Jones Company’s FAST START TM PROGRAM - If you want to build, but want to move in quickly to take advantage of the tax credit - Give us your deposits, selections, and your signed start order, and we’ll start your home within 30 days, and we’ll guarantee your move in within 120 days! (Just ask us!)

PROBLEM/OBJECTION:  I would really like to have a GREEN, or simply a MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT home to save on my energy bills…but I cannot afford that!  I read somewhere that it can add up to 10% to the cost of the home…?

SOLUTION:  While GREEN Certification and ENERGY STAR Rated features can be costly when you price other builders…JONES builds EVERY HOME with these certifications - meaning that you could see a substantial savings on your energy bills - and you don’t have to pay ONE CENT MORE FOR IT because it comes STANDARD on every Jones home!

Quote heard from a Realtor just the other day:  “With all the great programs Jones offers - if we can’t sell a JONES home - we just can’t sell!” Wow…what a testimonial!

Learn more about how happy our homeowners are…see our channel on YouTube - www.youtube.com/livejonesdotcom and go to “Favorites”…you’ll find our homeowners’ OWN VIDEOS about their Jones home and the great experience of building with us!

OK, so I promised to provide you with more objections and SOLUTIONS to those objections today!  I wasn’t kidding when I said that we really have thought of just about every possible objection one could make if they are in the situation to WANT a home - but don’t think now is the right time (for whatever reason)…

Objection:  I am afraid I won’t be able to sell my current home.

SOLUTION:  The Jones Company’s Secured SaleTM Program.  Jones will help you pay taxes, interest, and insurance on your old home, until it sells - for up to 6 months…for a max of $5,000! (ask for details)

Objection:  I need to rent somewhere while my home is being built - but I can’t afford to pay for rent and a mortgage!

SOLUTION:  The Jones Company’s Secured Sale TRANSITION(tm) Program.  Jones will ease the transition from leasing to closing on your Jones home, by paying your remaining lease - up to $5,000! (ask for details!)

Objection:  When it comes to financing - I don’t even know where to start!  And - I don’t know how I will pay closing costs!

SOLUTION:  JONES’ Preferred Lender & Closing Cost Assistance Programs - Our Preferred Lender makes the financing of your new home easy and in many situations - we will assist with your closing costs! (ask for details)

More objections & SOLUTIONS…tomorrow!  Stay tuned.  Same bat time, same bat channel!!

We saw a definite uptick in traffic and sales in May. The jury’s still out on June, but we’re definitely seeing more walk in traffic.  What does it mean?  Anyone can speculate on that answer, but I think that buyers are finally getting the message that the longer they wait for the bottom, the higher the chance that mortgage rates will climb and they’ll miss their golden opportunity!  Plus, the $8000 tax credit for new homebuyers certainly doesn’t hurt! 

By now, in this market…we’ve heard just about every objection you can imagine…just as most homebuilders, I am certain.  However, we’ve tried to take away every road block, every concern, every objection that could possibly stand in the way of our potential clients and their new Jones home!  We’ve packaged all these great programs into one big one - and called it the “BUY NOW with CONFIDENCE” PlanTM. 

Some of the objections we’ve encountered:

OBJECTION: My current home needs work before I try to sell it, but I don’t know how to get that done, or how I will ever afford it!

ANSWER:  We’ve developed a program called “Set the Stage” where we will arrange for you to have a Professional Stager and Home Repair Specialist come to your current home, and advise you on ways to get your home sold. We’ve even arranged our repair techs to give you OUR COST pricing!

OBJECTION: I am afraid that the value of the home I buy will decline right after I sign the dotted line!

ANSWER:  The Jones Company’s PURCHASE PRICE GUARANTEE PROGRAM - We’ll actually guarantee, that if after 5 years of home ownership, your home has declined in value from its original sales price - we’ll pay you the difference - up to 10% of your home’s value! WOW.

MORE OBJECTIONS & ANSWERS TOMORROW…Stay Tuned!

ranked America’s 350 largest home builders, and compared the numbers from 2008 to 2009. The Jones Company actually moved up a total of 16 spots, from #143 in 2008 to #127 in 2009.

“While I take nothing for granted in this type of housing environment, I think it is very telling that a locally owned company that has built it’s reputation on value is holding strong,” said Richard Chapman, president and partner of The Jones Company. “As an 80 year old company, we have had a long term focus on one thing, which is to take care of our customers and do everything we can to provide them with lasting value that we build into every one of our homes. I believe this strategy will see us through nearly any housing market.”

The Jones Company has built nearly 3000 homes in Middle Tennessee since 1995. They are a local, privately held company based in Franklin, TN. For more information on The Jones Company, visit the company’s website at www.LiveJones.com or call (615)771-8006.

The Jones Company Opens New Home Development in Mt. Juliet –

With all ENERGY STAR® Certified Homes

Mt. Juliet, TN — The Jones Company is now building in the Kelsey Glen community in Mt. Juliet, just off Old Lebanon Dirt Road. The community is exclusive to The Jones Company and will include 532 total homes, with 138 being built in the first phase. It is being developed by CPS Land, LLC who also developed the Providence community.

The homes will range in size from 2035 – 3555 square feet and start in the low $200,000s. The three home styles to choose from in Kelsey Glen will be the Heritage Series which is brand new to this community, the Hometown Village which will include a 3-car front entry garage, as well as Detached Villas.

There will be a full amenity center after the completion of Phase 1, which will include a pool and swim club. There are also 29 acres of open space and 5.5 miles of pedestrian sidewalks and walking trails.

In October of 2008, The Jones Company made the commitment to build all of their homes using Green construction methods, and now has every home certified as “green” by a third party verifier. The Jones Company uses both NAHB Green Building ProgramTM standards, as well as ENERGY STAR® certification standards. Kelsey Glen will be the first development where the company’s “Green” standards will be included at no extra cost with every house, including:

• All flooring is from Mohawk® GreenWorks™, an industry leader who has taken on the challenge to do their part to reduce, reuse, renew, and recycle.
• Lumber is purchased from suppliers that use sustainable practices.
• Brick purchased from manufacturers who practice “Green” manufacturing procedures.
• Continuous recycling of waste materials is conducted throughout the construction process.
• ENERGY STAR® lighting, dishwashers, windows and fans, are standard in every home.
• “Low E” windows, which allow for more efficiency, by heat being kept inside during the winter and outside during the summer.
• Indoor air quality is improved by minimizing potential pollutants.

“Kelsey Glen is an exciting project for us in many ways,’ said Richard Chapman, president & Partner for The Jones Company. “We believe our use of “Green” standards in every home will be very attractive to homebuyers who are interested in substantial savings on their monthly bills.

Both Kelsey Glen and The Jones Company’s nearby Normandy Heights communities are conveniently located within minutes of the Providence retail and restaurant development, and have easy access to Old Hickory and Percy Priest Lakes, several golf courses and Nashville Shores Water Park. The children will be zoned for Stoner Creek Elementary, West Wilson Middle and Wilson Central High.

The model homes for this community are opening this weekend, March 27th. For more information on homes in this community contact 877-845-6634 or visit www.livejones.com/kelseyglen.

The Jones Company Welcomes First “Green” Homebuyer

Franklin, TN — After years of planning and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in their new Green Building Program, The Jones Company welcomed Judy Hurly into her new home.She is the first official homeowner under their new standards. The home is located in The Villages of Clovercroft in Franklin, where The Jones Company began construction last summer.In the fall of 2008, The Jones Company announced their commitment to build every home from that point on “Green” as a standard offering.

“Although I wasn’t initially seeking a ‘green’ home specifically, I knew I wanted a low-maintenance home, and I wanted to decrease my utility bills”, said Judy Hurly.“After construction began, I was amazed at how they were already doing special things to the house before I could even ask for them, like making sure everything was sealed extremely well to prevent air leakage and using energy saver light fixtures.The Jones Company seemed to think of everything.”

Judy was initially attracted to the neighborhood because of its location, which is easily accessible from both Highway 96 and Cool Springs.After entering the neighborhood, she “loved” the way it was laid out, the home town nature of the homes with front porches, and the way it felt like a small community.The fact that her home would be “green” was icing on the cake.

“We have spent countless hours researching the very best way we can build homes to meet these standards, while also making living comfortable for our homebuyers,” said Peder Jensen, CGP (Certifiede Green Professional), Area Manager and Green Program administrator for The Jones Company.“Everything from the Low E Windows that allow us to shade the sun in the summer and let it in during the winter, to the motion sensor light switches are part of our extensive effort to provide the very best features to our homebuyers that will then allow them to recognize the best value for their purchase.”

The Jones Company’s Green Program involves every home being certified as “green” by a third party verifier.The Jones Company uses both NAHB Green Building ProgramTM standards, as well as ENERGY STAR® certification standards.Judy Hurly’s home is the first where the company’s “Green” standards were included at no extra cost, including:

• ENERGY STAR® lighting, dishwashers, windows and fans, are standard in every home.
• “Low E” windows, which allow for more efficiency, by heat being kept inside during the winter and outside during the summer.
• Indoor air quality was improved by minimizing potential pollutants.
• Advanced methods were in place to prevent moisture from coming in through plumbing or heating and cooling systems.

“This effort is perfectly in line the reputation we have worked hard to maintain which is based on our commitment to continuously find new ways to provide the best value to buyers,” said Richard Chapman, president and partner of The Jones Company.“I believe our reputation is exactly why we are weathering the storm of this economy.”

For more information, visit The Jones Company online at www.LiveJones.com or call (615)771-8006.

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About The Jones Company:

The Jones Company is an 82 year old privately owned and operated company that started in St. Louis as a custom homebuilder.The company expanded to Middle Tennessee in 1995 and has built over 3500 homes in Williamson, Davidson, Sumner, Wilson and Rutherford counties. The Jones Company is now building everything from affordable first-time buyer homes to luxurious executive style homes and even low maintenance villas.

Improving indoor air quality is important to the overall health of the occupants.Whether at home, work, church or shopping, the air we breath indoors is often more detrimental to our health because of these wonderfully tight structures that trap all the contaminates, dust, and bacteria inside.Our challenge is to find effective ways to prevent contaminate infiltration and to filter and remove any particulates that end up indoors.

This can be done in a number of ways, but here are a few options:

Burning Fuels – Unless you are in an all electric home (which is one way to guarantee improved air quality), location and venting of gas fired appliances is critical to indoor air quality.Keep all furnaces and indoor air handlers out of the garage.Any leaks in the ductwork is a potential for car exhaust to enter the system an eventually the home.Install water heaters in the garage when possible.If a furnace or water heater must be installed in conditioned space, place it in a sealed closet with fresh air vents and combustion air vents.

Fireplaces – Wood burning fireplaces can be very inefficient.Installing doors, additional flue dampers, and better seals on the unit will reduce air loss to the outsides as well as reducing smoke and fumes from infiltrating the home.All gas fireplaces should be sealed units, vented to the outside, to prevent adverse affects on you and your family.The best case scenario is to just not install one if it will not be used.

HVAC Installation – While sealing the ducts and plenums is typically talked about in energy efficiency, it is also vital to indoor air quality.Without properly sealed ducts, the air handler will inevitably draw air from the crawl space, attic, floor system or other unconditioned space into the air you breath.A commonly missed area is the return air duct, especially if building cavities are lined to act as the duct.Ensure proper sealing of all HVAC components.

Filters – Filters are important to the system.The most important advice on filters is simple, replace/clean them regularly.Filters can be an entire discussion on their own and will be covered in another article.

Fans & Exhaust – Removing air from the house is also important.This can be as simple as a 50cfm fan in each bathroom or as complicated as a whole house fan on automatic timers or a humidistat. If fresh air is added to the house, venting air from the house is vital as well.Fans should always be run after showers, baths or other excessive use of hot water.

Chemicals – Chemical usage can also affect the air quality.During construction, utilizing products that have no noxious chemicals or low/no VOC sealant/paint.Following closing, encourage homeowners to find alternatives to bleach, ammonia and other chemical based cleaners.

This list is in no way all-inclusive, but it does give you some ideas of where to start.As part of a green program, there are many affordable options to ensure better air quality.However, if the homeowner does not use the features, they will do little to improve the overall home health.

source - Steve Bertasso

Today we are looking at Water Efficiency. By definition, water efficiency is accomplished by completing typical tasks using the least amount of water possible. As with energy efficiency, the idea is not to completely change behavior, but to change the mode in which water is delivered. In order to reduce the amount of water used, many companies are developing new, viable products that accomplish the same tasks using much less water than their predecessors. Some of these products include: Dual Flush Toilets – Unlike a typical toilet, Dual flush units have an innovative system that allows for two different amounts of water based on need. The first flush typically delivers about .8 gallons of water, saving about 1 gallon per flush. The second flush delivers 1.6 gallons, the normal amount of water a typical toilet delivers. In a given day, a family of 4 can save about 20 gallons of water, depending on usage. (Additional Cost ~$70-120 depending on manufacturer and wholesaler) Low-flow Showerhead – Delivering about 1.75 gallons per minute, technology has dramatically improved over the past few years to deliver the water in such a way as to not feel like you are stepping into mist, as opposed to a shower. Water savings is about 30% over a conventional unit, saving about 20 gallons of water for a family of 4. (Additional Cost ~$20/shower) Low-Flow Faucets – Faucets typically flow at about 2.2 gallons per minute. Their slim sister reduces flow to about 1.5 gallons per minute. Side-by-side comparisons show little difference when used by consumers and industry professionals. Water savings will vary greatly depending on your typical usage, for our purposes and to complete the example above, we will use about 10 gallons for our sample family per day. (Some faucet manufacturer include this feature at no cost beginning this year, otherwise about $2/faucet) Innovative Options – The list so far are items that will not really change the way in which you use these features in your home. Other options are available, however, to be effective, you must change habits and behaviors. The following is a short list of optional features: Recirculating Pump – delivers hot water immediately eliminating the need to run water for it warm up. Composting Toilets – Waterless toilet system that converts human waste into usable compost/soil. Low-water Irrigation Systems – System that use rain collection systems, non-spray (drip) systems, or special timers and moisture sensors. Specialty Faucets – Motion sensors, shut-off valve or pedal-activated faucets. In summary, if you implement only the first three items, you average monthly savings for a family of four will be about 1500 gallons of water. Remember this is without changing any behaviors or standards of living.

-Courtesy of Steve Bertasso