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It's A Great Year To Build!

info@patco.com — 2012-09-11T12:09:39-04:00

A little over half way into 2012 and it’s been a busy year for PATCO! Southern Maine families are tired of keeping their dreams on hold and have made the decision to move forward, many are first time home buyers. We;re honored that they’ve chosen us as their builder.

We recently did a series of video testimonials (featured on our Home Page). Some of the things we heard repeatedly were - PATCO’s selection of products is outstanding, being able to “experience” before buying through our New Home Personalization Studio was a big help in their decision making process. Experience played a big part in choosing PATCO, over a quarter of a century equals a lot of building “know how”. By far the most important factor, across the board, was TRUST. Our customers have confidence in us, and that’s something we’re very proud of and promise to continue working hard to protect.

Happy New Year!

info@patco.com — 2012-01-01T12:38:39-05:00

We’d like to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year! You’re visiting our site ... so we know that you’re at least contemplating building a new home in the near future! We hope that you’ll give us a call and get to know the PATCO team and learn more about how we can make 2012 the year your dream home becomes a real home. PATCO not only has over 26 of experience in the homebuilding industry, but we have a reputation for innovation, and a real knack for discovering products and products that will help make your life easier!

Walkin' On A Cloud

info@patco.com — 2011-08-28T13:17:46-04:00

Picking out new carpeting is fun, even if a bit overwhelming. But then after deciding on the right look and feel and price point, you’ll inevitably be asked, “and what about the carpet pad?”

Padding varies by the material(s) it is made of, the density, the thickness, and of course the price. You can bet with the “deals” you see advertised where pad is included in the price, the store is including a cheap (thin) pad. Or, you may have a commission-based salesperson whose goal is to increase the transaction price telling you need the thickest, most expensive padding. General rule—ask what the carpet manufacturer recommends in terms of pad for the carpeting you’ve selected.

You’ll extend carpet life by putting the right pad underneath your new carpeting. Too thin of a carpet pad and your carpet may show wear and look old faster. But too thick of a pad can make it more difficult to stretch the carpet properly. And thick pads are usually not recommended for high traffic areas or stairs, nor is it recommended for certain types of carpeting such as berber.

Finally, some pads have been treated to help dissipate or resist odors. That might be particularly important if you have pets in the house!

PATCO’s New Home Personalization Studio features samples of carpet styles and padding for every taste. Feel before you buy!

Get more info HERE and HERE.

On The Throne

info@patco.com — 2011-08-21T11:20:21-04:00

It’s surprising how many people overlook the issue of the toilet size for their home. Okay, maybe it’s not as fun as selecting lighting fixtures, but comfort is too important of an issue to forget. As compared with standard round toilets, elongated toilets are about two inches longer, which many adults feel is a more comfortable size. Petite individuals and children sometimes feel elongated bowls are too big. There’s also the issue of hygiene, and men strongly prefer the elongated toilets. Finally, consider space. Some baths are designed with a little “room” within the bathroom for the toilet, and the extra length of the elongated toilet may interrupt the door swing into that toilet space.

PATCO offers all kinds of innovative products for making your bathroom more comfortable and organized - from “quiet” toilet seats to hideaway storage spaces and hair care organizers. Make an appointment to tour our New Home Personalization Studio in Sanford, see just how great your “throne room” can look and function!

PATCO Uses Only The Best Materials

info@patco.com — 2011-05-28T11:59:39-04:00

In a recent life cycle analysis (LCA), CertainTeed Vinyl Siding, CedarBoards Insulated Siding and Cedar Impressions Polymer Siding outperformed other exterior siding products – such as brick, stucco and cedar siding – in terms of environmental and economic performance.

The LCA, which was conducted by Sustainable Solutions Corporation of Royersford, Pa., included an in-depth analysis of the products' impact on the environment throughout its entire lifespan. Quantitative results of the LCA have been submitted to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Building for Economic and Environmental Sustainability (BEES) program, an online software program that allows the comparison of building products on a life cycle basis.

For complete details about this in-depth study, download the new "Vinyl and Polymer Products Life Cycle Analysis Report."

Get Ready To Hit The Deck This Summer!

info@patco.com — 2011-03-10T21:13:38-05:00

Looking for an alternative to complete deck replacement? UDF-21 is a state-of-the-art acrylic based polymer coating that transforms old wood surfaces — in ANY color. It creates a super tough composite coating that protects structures from the constant expansion and contraction cycle that destroys wood. Any wood structure coated with UDF-21 is easily repaired if damaged and can be re-coated at anytime if desired. UDF-21 is perfect for resurfacing wood decks, docks, porches, steps, ramps, boardwalks, gangways, rails, balusters and fences. Learn more HERE.

Jobs and Home Ownership

info@patco.com — 2011-02-27T14:56:15-05:00

In August of 2010 the National Association of Realtors released a research study highlighting some of the social benefits of homeownership. Their list included:

- Homeownership stabilizes neighborhoods.
- Homeowners are more likely to participate civically.
- Homeownership produces higher life satisfaction.
- Homeownership fosters less neighbor crime.
- Homeownership and housing stability lower teenage pregnancy and public assistance.
- Homeownership fosters quality property maintenance and improvement.

Most recently the NAR released these timely reminders:

"Good jobs enable people to achieve the American dream of home ownership. And every time a house is built, bought, or sold, jobs are created-lots of them-right here at home."

- Home sales in this country generate more than 2.5 million private-sector jobs in an average year. For every two homes sold, a job is created.
- Each home sale touches 80 different occupations.
- Every home purchased pumps up to $60,000 into the economy over time for furniture, home improvements, and related items.
- Housing accounts for more than 15% of the Gross Domestic Product, making it a key driver in our national economy.
- Housing has led this country out of six of the last eight recessions.

"America needs jobs. Housing creates jobs. That's one of the many reasons home ownership matters to people, to communities, to America."

And The Color Of The Year For 2011 Is ...

info@patco.com — 2010-12-27T19:51:17-05:00

... PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle: A Vibrant, Energetic Hue. A Color for All Seasons. Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It's a color for every day - with nothing "everyday" about it. See more at PANTONE

Here are the hot room color schemes for 2011:

Dear john ...

info@patco.com — 2010-12-19T22:25:23-05:00

There is nothing worse than a Dear John letter. However, these are some new concepts in throne management. The Caroma Profile (Pic #1) takes recycling to a “hole” new level.

The Herbeau Dagobert Toilet (Pic #2) takes “Sitting on the Throne” to a “hole” new level. $14,000+ upgrade.

The Toto Washlet Toilet Seat (Pic #3) is truly for the woman, and man who needs everything. In addition to the soft close feature, it has a heated seat, and bidet feature. A remote, for those cold winter mornings, is optional. $1,000 upgrade.

Having said all that, our most common upgrade for our customers is the comfort height toilet from Kohler. Adds a few more inches to the height of the seat, less leg cramping and more comfort for the long reads. Also has an oval seat. Most folks choose white. $50 upgrade.

When you are ready to build, come to the people who have done the research and truly know what options are available out there! - Mark Patterson

Silence Is Golden ... Or In This Case, Stainless Steel!

info@patco.com — 2010-12-01T21:56:37-05:00

CLICK THE PICTURES TO VISIT THE BOSCH SITE

Most of our customers are now requesting open floor plans. They want the new entertainment zone, the kitchen, to be open to the dining and living areas of the home. Whether it’s because they don’t want the cook to be left stranded all alone in the kitchen or they need to expand the space because, to quote most women, that’s where everyone ends up anyway. Bottom line, with an open floor plan, a noisy dishwasher can be very distracting when you are trying to listen to your favorite cd or watch a movie or game.

The Bosch 800 series dishwasher is the most efficient available in the U.S. It also so quiet, there is a little red light that shines on the floor so that you know it is running when you are standing right next to it. Unbelievable! Take a few minutes to watch their YouTube video to see all of the cool features.

At PATCO, we seek out and research the most innovative home products available. We want you to have the best selection when you’re ready to customize your new home! - Mark Patterson

How Green Is "Green"?

info@patco.com — 2010-11-30T21:47:01-05:00

Going “Green” for most people isn’t so much about saving the planet (although that’s a noble goal) - it’s about saving money ...

Energy efficiency, water savings, and health issues are the three green hot buttons that most consumers respond to most. Even with today's increased awareness of environmental issues, however, only about 15% of consumers are green advocates. Of this group, energy efficiency is the top priority. In a recent survey of 5,000 new-home buyers, 48% said they would spend $2,000 to $6,000 to lower their monthly utility bills by $30.

PATCO offers consumers special energy saving and healthy living upgrade packages. Our Energy Investment Package includes Energy Star rated lighting, programmable thermostats, upgraded insulation (R-21, R-49) , and a Superstar water heater. Our Healthy Home Package features a high efficiency air cleaner, water filtration system, and radon mitigation.

Check out all of our great upgrade options at our New Home Personalization Studio in Sanford. We've got great money saving products for every shade of green!

Americans Happy With Homeownership

info@patco.com — 2010-09-21T09:36:23-04:00

The value of homeownership has been questioned by the media as Americans struggle in the current recession. But the truth is that most families are happy about their choice to buy a home.

Bankrate, Inc., a financial publishing company, recently surveyed more than 1,000 randomly selected adults about their home purchase and 90 percent responded that they don’t regret buying their home.

Even during tough economic times such as these, many home owners realize that the benefits of homeownership are overwhelming — especially in a time where housing affordability is at its all-time high. According to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), 72.3 percent of all new and existing homes sold in the second quarter of 2010 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,400. At the end of 2007, only 46.6 percent of homes were affordable to families earning the median income.

What are some of the other benefits?
An immediate benefit is that interest rates are at record lows and there is a wide selection of homes on the market to choose from. It’s a buyer’s market. Purchasing a home now will allow you to negotiate for more items on your wish list than when the housing market recovers and you may have to compete with others for your dream home.

A little further down the road, when filing your federal tax returns, you will be able to claim two deductions — the mortgage interest deduction and the property tax deduction.

Much of your monthly payment, especially in the first few years after buying a home, goes towards the interest on the loan and not the principal. The federal government allows you to deduct those interest payments from your taxes in most cases. State and local property taxes paid on the assessed value of the home are also deductible on your federal return.

For many homeowners these combined tax deductions can result in a tax savings between $5,700 and $11,400, depending on filing status.

Also, homeownership is the biggest source of net worth for most families. It is the one investment that not only can help you put your kids through college or retire comfortably in the future, it can also be used to house your family and create lifetime memories and a strong, healthy community in the meantime. You can’t get that from a stock or a bond.

These are just a few examples of the financial savings and other advantages of homeownership. Learn more in the free “Opportunity Knocks” brochure available from the National Association of Home Builders. - Mark Patterson

Roaming Home Winner

info@patco.com — 2010-08-28T22:44:50-04:00

Congratulations to our “Follow The Roaming Home” contest winner! The Grand Prize went to Amy Theriault and her daughter Emily, pictured here (middle) with her friend Ashley (left). Both girls are students at Sanford Middle School. Thank you to all of the folks that visited our contest site!

Homes Are Getting Smaller

info@patco.com — 2010-07-09T15:46:05-04:00

I just read a report from The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) that after growing in square footage for nearly three decades, the average floor space of the single-family home is getting smaller. In 2007, the average single-family home was 2,521 square feet. It didn't change much in 2008, but, according to a 2009 report from the Census Bureau, it's now at an average of 2,438 square feet. This decline can be related to an increase in first-time home buyers, the desire (and need) to keep energy costs down, and smaller amounts of equity in existing homes to roll into the new one.The report adds that fewer bedrooms and bathrooms are being built into houses.

Our experience at PATCO seems to bear this out. In order to meet the changing needs of our customers, we've been refining several of our floor plans. The Aspen - a popular model since it's introduction nearly two years ago - is 960 SF. An open concept design, even at this smaller size, it's 2 Bedrooms (plus an additional "Flex"" room) and one bath have made a lot of new homeowners happy! Other smaller models include the Balsam (1130 SF) and the Laurel (113 SF). - Mark Patterson

Shaw Floors Green Edge Innitiative

info@patco.com — 2010-06-19T21:55:43-04:00

Evergreen Nylon Recycling, Shaw's nylon recycling operation in Augusta, Georgia, employs patented technology that converts post-consumer nylon carpet and recycles it back to its original material - the building block for nylon fiber. As a result of this technology, carpets of Nylon 6 are capable of being recycled into new carpet repeatedly without the loss of any aesthetic or performance properties.

Partnering with a number of recycling companies, Shaw has established a collection network to bring post-consumer carpets to Evergreen for recycling. Currently, the collection system is operational in a number of locations throughout the country, and they’re adding areas to their network continuously.
The recycled content they are able put into their products from this process represents a nationwide environmental benefit.

Shaw carpeting is offered by PATCO and samples can be seen in our New Home Personalization Studio in Sanford. Ask about other “green” options that are available for your new home!

Mark Patterson Named New HBRAME President!

info@patco.com — 2010-06-03T21:45:13-04:00

On Wednesday, June 2, Mark Patterson (PATCO Co-owner) was sworn in as the new President of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Maine. Mark is also a Vice President on the Association’s Board of Trustees.

HBRAME is a leading voice for the housing industry in Maine. It’s members are professionals who are committed to the promotion of the Association. They are involved in all aspects of the housing industry including residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Many of them are builders, remodelers, land developers, and builders of manufactured homes. HBRAME also has many associate members whose businesses supply and support building contractors.

Congratulations to Mark!

PHOTO ONE: (L) Ashley Richards, NAHB Trustee, (C) Mark Patterson, (R) Gary Jordan, outgoing President

PHOTO TWO: Ashley Richards and Mark Patterson

PATCO-To-Go!

info@patco.com — 2010-05-25T14:52:23-04:00

At PATCO we’re always thinking up new ways to make the home buying process easier and more enjoyable. As consumers, one thing we can never have enough of is time! Getting the information we need to make informed buying decisions quickly can be a real time saver. Most folks do their research over the internet, but don’t always have access to their desktop computer - enter the SmartPhone. There’s been an explosion of cool new models with ever impressive capabilities. A recent study by the trend spotting gurus at Morgan Stanley predicts that by 2015 mobile devices will overtake desktop PC’s for internet surfing 2 to1! We’re ready. Today we introduced PATCO Mobile built on Wireless Access Protocol (WAP). An open international standard for application-layer network communications in a wireless-communication environment. It’s optimized, fully touch ready, and integrates instant calling and email.

Now, you’re dream home is literally in your pocket (or purse)! From your cell phone internet browser punch in www.patco.mobi or go to this link to get a custom iPhone shortcut.

Enjoy!

A Great Time For New Beginnings

info@patco.com — 2010-05-02T16:14:23-04:00

Well, the New Home Buyer Tax Credit (Redux) has once again slipped into history. No one knows if it will be reintroduced yet a third time. While it was a factor in the decision making process for some, in our area the jury is still out.

With or without this incentive, it’s still an excellent time for buyers to get the most value for their dollar. Material, labor costs, and mortgage rates remain low. At PATCO we’ve looked at every possible way to bring our home prices don’t without sacrificing the quality we’re known for (or the product selection that home buyers expect).

As we move into summer (finally!) there are signs that consumer confidence is on the rise. It’s time to coax our dreams out of hibernation and open ourselves to the joy of new adventures! We’re excited about the future - we hope you are, too!

PATCO On Ice

info@patco.com — 2010-04-15T23:58:06-04:00

A couple of weeks ago PATCO Co-owner, Mark Patterson and Sales Director, Steve Bourque decided it was time to chill out, so they put their stress - and themselves - on ice. They grabbed a couple of hockey sticks, laced on skates, and with true PATCO passion took to the rink. I might not know much (or anything) about hockey, but the guys looked impressive! Hard hats off for putting themselves in the line of fire - those pucks can really fly! Goalie Steve was stylin’ in his screaming eagle headgear. Way to go, guys! - Mark M

Open House This Sunday!

info@patco.com — 2010-04-12T21:46:11-04:00

Just want to let everyone know that we’ll be having an Open House on Sunday, April 18 th from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at our Railroad Ave. and Calvin’s Way homes in Sanford. These two great homes feature Woman-Centric design elements and are priced to move! They’re in quiet locations, but close to shopping, schools, recreational facilities and more. For directions, please call (207)324-5574.

The Aspen, Railroad Ave., Sanford ----------- The Laurel, Calvin’s Way, Sanford

For detailed listing information click on the link below each home. Hope to see you Sunday!

Something Different

info@patco.com — 2010-04-03T13:01:04-04:00

Here are photos of some homes I recently toured in Daybreak, Salt Lake City, Utah. I was out there for a builder group meeting. Daybreak is a master plan community of approximately 4,500 proposed homes. It is located west of Salt Lake City. The community has it's own train station, movie theaters, commercial centers, schools, etc. Pretty much a town within a town. Daybreak is being developed by a huge mining company. Individual builders are invited to build model homes as sales centers. When I visited the community 6 years ago, it was just getting started and most of the homes were of a classic design. Obviously, these are not. They were built by Gerbert Homes to appeal to the Gen X and Y market (younger than boomers). They offer more modern looking cabinetry and finish, solar options, etc. Do you think this style of home would appeal to the urban dwellers in the Portland, Maine market? Your feedback is always appreciated. - Mark P

Welcome To Our Home On The Web

info@patco.com — 2010-04-01T01:17:23-04:00

Well ... the clock has just clicked past midnight and it’s the first day of April - the launch date for our newly designed website! We’ve gone to great lengths this past year to listen to feedback from our visitors, learning how you traveled about in our site, what you liked and where there was room for improvement. Our goal was simple - to make your time here both enjoyable and informative. This new site design reflects our desire to create a “digital” living room, a warm and comfortable space (easy on the eyes) where it feels good to hang out! Our Portfolios are a lot like family albums on the coffee table. Each of the homes you see has a story. They aren’t just houses, they’re the places where life happens - where children grow, family memories are made, secrets are shared, and traditions begun. Playing a part in fulfilling the generations old dream of homeownership is truly an honor.

My job with PATCO isn’t to build houses, it’s to build bridges between the men and women of PATCO - the ones that do the really hard work - and you, our visitor. They’re not only a great bunch, but a very humble bunch as well - they don’t like to toot their own horns, so I do it for them! This site is one of those bridges, I hope it does justice to the passion, pride, and heart that’s been the PATCO ideal for so many years.

Thanks for checking out our Blog. Tap into our RSS feed and keep in touch! - Mark M