Q&A with Chris Weyer, Sales Manager

Q: Why would one choose Beaver Mountain’s panelized insulated ½ log building system over the full log?

A: Since 1982 Beaver Mountain has offered full 10” thick log and ½ log (hybrid) building systems to satisfy the needs of our customers in a demanding northeastern climate. Although there are several advantages (too many to list here) to our panelized-insulated ½ log construction- there are two that primarily stand out.

First, because the walls are panelized (walls manufactured in ready to build sections) the time to erect and dry in the building is reduced. With the short northeastern building season this allows a homeowner/builder to take delivery later or earlier in the year. It also protects your investment by getting the home closed in faster protecting your valuable materials and investment.

Second, framed walls allows for greater design flexibility in your home. For example the interior walls because they are framed, can be finished with a combination of log siding, tongue and groove, drywall, or stone. Also, because of the framed construction, window options are expanded.

Finally, it is important to remember that although the initial time to erect the shell is reduced (days vs. weeks) your overall construction time won’t vary. The reason is compared to the solid log systems, when the logs are stacked the entire wall is finished in one step (interior, exterior finish, vapor barrier and insulation). With the panelized-insulated ½ log system, the contractor will need to go back and trim out siding, install the insulation and interior finish. Therefore the total investment, log or ½ log (hybrid), will generally be about the same.

In the end, it really depends on your needs and comfort level with the construction. Either system will produce a tight, energy efficient home. For more information on Beaver Mountains products, services and which system would be best suited for you, contact our office to schedule a personal consultation.

~ Chris Weyer, Sales Manager

Love is in the Air...

What a great way to spend Valentines Day! Most people that want to build a new home share that dream with a loved one. It becomes a passion that is shared and enjoyed together. Talking about the home, the finishes, the decorating, and the landscaping becomes a favorite pastime enjoyed by all involved.

This Valentines Day come to Beaver Mountain and join others that are planning their home too! Beaver Mountain is hosting a “Home Planning Seminar” this weekend on February 14th from 10:00 AM to approximately 1:00 PM. Share your passion and let us help you prepare for the demands of the project ahead. Preparation, knowledge, and finding the right partners to work with will make your project run smoothly and be an enjoyable experience. Beaver Mountain will assist you with each step and this seminar will offer some of the tools you will need to move forward confidently.

Call today to learn more about the itinerary, and register you and your loved one to attend. Hurry as seating is limited! 1-800-233-2770


“…Unless you have built a log home, you can never appreciate all that is involved with the building process. I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in building a log home be encouraged to go to Beaver Mountains Home Planning Seminar”
- John & Donna BM Customer 2004

Did you know?

Did you know that past issues of our Naturally Home Newsletter are available on our website? Just go to http://www.beavermtn.com/l_articles.htm and click on "Newsletter Archives" to download the pdf. Our Newsletters are packed with informative articles about shopping, designing and building your dream home, stories about Beaver Mountain homeowners, News from the Mountain, construction details in the Craftsmen's Corner and lots more!

If you're not receiving a hard copy and would like to, just give a call at 800-233-2770 or sign up on our website http://www.beavermtn.com/.

5 tips for shopping for your Custom Home Package

Are you dreaming of a custom log or cedar home? With all the choices out there, it can be a confusing and overwhelming process. Here's a few tips to help make starting a little easier:

1. Pick up some log home publications. These are a wealth of information, including articles about the process, what to look for in a log home manufacturer, floorplans, photos for inspiration and information about upcoming events. A great resource in these publications is in the back of the magazine - the classifieds. There you'll be able to browse through your state (and don't forget to check the states around you) to find listings of home companies. Many of these publications also offer Home Shows throughout the US, which is another great way to start your research.
   
2. Start browsing websites and requesting information. After you've found the home companies you're interested in investigating, go online and check them out. Most will give you great information about the company, and will let you sign up for more information from the site. If you're searching google, try keywords such as "log home new york" instead of the generic "log home". Your results will be better targeted and you'll find it easier to wade through those results than if you get millions of results from a more general keyword.


3. Schedule and appointment with a sales consultant and visit the company. After you've received the printed information, it's always a good idea to go visit the company (if you can make it to the company's main headquarters, it's well worth it.) Making an appointment is important, even if the company is open regular hours. This will ensure that you get the attention you want and time to ask all the questions that you've surely accumulated throughout the process. Some good questions you'll want to ask are: "what exactly is included in your log home package?" "Do you work with any architects or custom designers to make sure my home is exactly what I want?" "How many custom options do you have to choose from for your packages?"
   
4. Go through a Mill Tour and/or Seminar if the company offers one. As we mentioned in the previous point, visiting the company headquarters is important and very informative. But if you can get an invitation to a Mill Tour or Seminar, that's even better! Walking through the company's manufacturing facility will let you see where your home will be produced. Also make sure to ask to see things such as where the logs are stored after milling while awaiting delivery or if the company drystacks their homes before packing them for delivery.
   
5. Make your decision! After you've done your homework, received pricing and done your homework, it's time to sit down and spread all of the information in front of you. By this point you've usually been able to eliminate a few companys because they didn't offer what you were looking for. Look very closely at pricing and packages - most of the time if a company seems too cheap or too good to be true, there's a reason for it. Compare apples to apples to make sure that one company isn't leaving out critical components in the package. Also make sure that the packages you're comparing are comparable - for instance, don't compare a package with linear foot logs to a package with pre-cut logs. The linear foot log package will be cheaper, but that work will have to be done in the field on site and can end up costing more than the pre-cut package in the end after you pay for the builder's work on site. Think about the relationship you have so far with the company - do you feel comfortable working with them? Have they fostered trust? Do you feel confident that if there is a problem, they will fix it quickly? (And let's think about it, with a home package composed of thousands of components, there will be minor bumps along the way).

Best of luck on your custom home journey! It's something many people dream of for years and if you put in the research and time you'll reap the benefits in the years to come!

Do you FACEBOOK?

It seems like lately you can't turn around without hearing about Facebook, the online networking site. You can find old friends, keep in touch with new ones, post pictures, video - the possibilities are endless! And now Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes has joined the Facebook craze! We'd love to network with you! Just go to facebook, search for Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes and join as a fan! Then you'll be able to participate in discussions with other log home enthusiasts, browse images of gorgeous homes and eventually watch videos of mill tours, tour virtual model homes and download our latest newsletter.

Hope to see you there!

How much do custom homes cost?

When someone walks into our showroom and talks to one of our consultants, one of the first questions asked is “Howmuchisit?” A viable question. However it is difficult to answer. Years ago, when the finishes in homes were limited to Whirlpool or GE appliances; carpet, vinyl, or oak floors; formica countertops; Merrilat cabinets; … well you get the picture … it was pretty easy to ballpark a home’s cost. The styles of homes were pretty simple as well. There was the ranch, raised ranch, colonial two story, and gambrel… with some variations available.

Things have changed! All you need to do is to walk down an aisle in the local home improvement store and see a wide variety of finishes whether you are looking at cabinets, light fixtures, or floor coverings; to name a few. Just the countertop alone can offer you several options, with a wide range in price.

And the styles of homes? Well, we have prow front homes with walls of glass; homes with complex roof lines, wrap around porches, and expansive decks; homes that have several corners and angles, with three and four car garages attached!

Now envision every facet of the home and the possibilities available and you can see why the question “howmuchisit” is impossible to answer – at least right away.

At Beaver Mountain, we are interested in what you want your home to look like, what features you want in your home, and where you intend to build. We know that each of these things can affect the cost of the home. Then, ultimately we will ask you what your budget is. It is our job to help you make choices that will result in a home that you will love, within that budget. It is certainly in everyone’s best interest to do so!

So, if you really want to know “How Much Is It”, take some time to make an appointment to sit with one of our consultants and discuss the things that matter to you about your future home. With good conversation and exchange of ideas and information, we can give you an idea of what your home will cost.

Oh, we could give you the pat answer of X dollars a sq ft. You may have already been given a price per sq ft elsewhere. Think about it. Just how accurate can that answer be if there wasn’t an exchange of more information?

New Calendar of Events!

Our new Calendar of Events page is live! Now you can see the upcoming Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes in-house events AND events coming up such as Log Home Shows and Fairs that we'll be attending! Visit http://www.beavermtn.com/events.asp!

Beaver Mountain is On The Road!

That's right! Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes is going on the road this winter! Our first show of 2009 is in Valley Forge, PA on January 23-25. We'll be in booth 113, so stop and say Hi! Our booth is filled with gorgeous photos, corner samples and of course our award winning team of sales consultants who will answer your questions about getting your dream home started! It's a great opportunity to see "The Beaver Mountain Difference" for yourself!

Congratulations Joan & Ed!

Every year we recognize the important team members who have helped make our success possible.

This year we'd like to congratulate Joan Decker for being awarded Salesperson of the Year and Ed Worzel Jr. for being named Most Valuable Performer (MVP) for 2008. They have both gone above and beyond their everyday responsibilities and made Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes a better company for it.

Congratulations Joan and Ed - we hope 2009 is a great year for us all!

Happy Holidays!

The holidays here at Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar homes are always busy! Besides the increased traffic we always see after Christmas, and lots of work to be done before the new year, there's also our annual holiday Christmas party.

This year we kept it low-key and held it at our office in Deposit, NY. Everyone enjoyed Brooks BBQ chicken and lots of chips, snacks and cookies. By the time the party was over, it truly felt like Christmas had arrived.



We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and we wish you all the best for 2009!

The Top Floorplan of 2008 is....

Every year we get one floorplan that gets more love than any other. This year it's the Classic Lodge! It's one that people fall in love with as soon as they walk in our door. We get many clients that visit our model homes and tell us "We want this home exactly as is - it's perfect just like this!" In fact, a few of our homeowners have actually gone and purchase the furniture and fixtures so that their Classic Lodge looks exactly like the model!

Created almost 30 years ago at Ken Clark's kitchen table, the Classic Lodge has become a top seller for Beaver Mountain, but also for other companies who loved the plan so much that they copied it for their planbooks. The orignal Classic Lodge is truly a Beaver Mountain icon.

So without further ado... Here's the top floorplan of 2008 for Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes: The Classic Lodge!

(This particular picture is of the Classic Lodge built by Karen & Helen!)

Is a Log Home in Your Future?

Researching log home manufacturers and their products can be a daunting task. Though log homes increasingly gain in popularity, the construction of the log and timber system is still not main stream and differs throughout the industry.

What is important in log construction for an energy efficient home with the least amount of maintenance? At Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes we know that when educated the log home buyer will know what to look for and how to compare.

For the past few years we have offered home planning seminars, log raisings, and mill tours to the prospective log home purchaser and builders. The feed back has been very positive.

Gail and Dennis wrote:
We have attended several seminars and have been through four or five other mills and facilities. Two things set Beaver Mountain apart from the others. First was the way in which everyone responded to our questions. Answers were clear, direct and to the point.
Second, was the integrity displayed throughout the facilities. Sales persons, mill workers, and designers all reflected pride in the product and an absolute refusal to talk negatively about competing companies.

Kevin wrote simply:
I have attended the workshop and I loved the experience!

John and Donna said:
We wanted to take this opportunity to thank the staff at Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes for what we felt was the most extensive and detailed Mill tour and Log Building workshop….

Check out our website at http://www.beavermtn.com/ for the calendar of upcoming events and register today!

Going Green for the Holidays

Going green isn't just good for the environment, it's good for your wallet as well! New green christmas lights are solar powered, recyclable wool sweaters and e-holiday cards to save paper are just a few ways to be eco-friendly this holiday season. What about wrapping your gifts in a beautiful scarf that the giftee can wear all winter? Or buying a Christmas tree from a farm that replants trees every year? Or making popcorn and cranberry garland for your tree (remember that from when you were a child?)

Want more ideas? Here's a few of our favorite green sites:
http://www.earth911.com/
(A great site that gives you some green ideas for your everyday activities.)
http://www.thedailygreen.com/
(Everything you could want to know about living green, including a great reseource for finding local green efforts.)
http://www.onegreenmommy.blogspot.com/
(Written by a Mom, this blog is full of green tips and ideas for living green with children or grandchildren.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we celebrate this special day with our family and friends, there's no time more appropriate to say Thank You! We are very blessed to have so many wonderful members of the Beaver Mountain Family. Our prayers are with the entire country on this day of reflection.

From our homes to yours, have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with countless blessings!

Are you blogging?

Over the past 2 years, blogging has really taken off. People use them to keep in touch with family and friends, speak abuot passions close to their hearts, or just to post fun links and videos! Recenly, we've also found that our clients are using blogs to showcase their log home projects. They share videos, photos of their log home construction and their excitement as the home gets closer to completion. If you have a blog about your log home, we'd love to see it! You can share yours by e-mailing Kim at kcprochazka@beavermtn.com.

Finished!

A few months ago, we posted about the new porch being added onto the Design Center. It's now finished! The gorgeous addition is crafted out of large handcrafted beams and timbers. We have gotten some great feedback from our clients about this design - many of whom are adding this type of porch to the design of their own homes. It's a great way to add a handcrafted touch to your Beaver Mountain!

Mother Nature strikes again!

Due to the snowstorm over the past few days, there are power outages throughout the area. Our Sales Office, Model Homes and Showroom are currently without power and according to NYSEG, power will not be returned until Saturday. Our administrative offices are still operating (you can reach those offices at 607-467-2758).

The Model Homes & Showroom will reopen Saturday 11/1 at 12pm. Thank you for your understanding.

A Message from the President...

How’s business? As you can imagine being the owner and president of a log and cedar home company, I get asked that question a lot these days. My answer is quite simple and honest when I say, “We remain strong in an industry that is currently weak.” We are able to hold our own because we have never waivered from our fundamental goal of delivering the very best homes available. Like the strength of our homes to withstand the storms outside their walls, Beaver Mountain’s commitment to being the best and not the biggest has shielded us from “the irrational exuberance” of the housing boom and it continues to keep us safe from the current down turn in the current economy.

WHY IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO BUILD?
For those dreaming and planning their custom solid log, insulated half log or hybrid home there are many reasons why now is a good time to build.
· Mortgage interest rates are still the lowest in years
· Builders are looking for work and offer more flexibility than a few years ago.
· Property is more affordable and there’s a better selection of it
· It’s easier to get permits for building, septic, etc…
· More Eco-Friendly options than ever before (Green building, LEEDS, Super Insulated, EnergyStar, solar panels and geothermal just to name a few.)
· Material prices have been held steady for a while but will go up when the housing market turns around.
· Beaver Mountain is offering many ordering and delivery incentives.

Of course, these same reasons hold true if you’re planning a make-over of your existing home (an addition, sun porch, gazebo or pavillion, new siding, etc…) If your timeline and circumstances work out, this could be the best time to build!
We look forward to working with you!
Ken Clark
President/Owner
Beaver Mountain Log & Cedar Homes

Introducing...

MossCreek Designs at Beaver Mountain! We're proud to announce that we're now offering these gorgeous custom homeplans. These luxurious and unique designs are available in sizes to fit your individual lifestyle! Now you have the option of choosing to custom design your home with Beaver Mountain's in house design team, or to pick one of the beautiful MossCreek designs for your dream home. To see some of MossCreek's designs, visit their website www.mosscreek.net. Or call your Beaver Mountain Sales Consultant at 800-233-2770.

One of the many gorgeous custom designs! This one is the Rivermyst...

The construction continues!

A few weeks ago, we posted about some changes to the Showroom and a new model Gazebo. We're working on the finishing touches on each and just wanted to share a sneak peek of the projects! Everything is coming together!

The new Gazebo gets railings!



And the siding goes up on the Showroom's new porch!