This is where Quick-Delivery New Homes shine! There are several benefits to buying one of these homes but the most important comes in knowing exactly what is a quick-delivery home: a BRAND NEW home waiting for you! Main Street Homes offers move-in ready homes featuring their award winning designs including the same luxuries and upgrades you would choose for yourself. These homes have never been lived in, cooked in, slept in or played in! It’s a brand new home waiting for your family to make it your own.

Another key benefit to choosing from quick-delivery homes for sale in Richmond, VA is they’re READY NOW! These homes are built in sought-after communities in the Richmond area on desirable home sites and you don’t have to play the waiting game. Your lease may be ending soon, your current home under contract, whatever it is, you’re ready now and so are these homes! They are ready to close quickly; no surprise weather delays or material deliveries to interrupt your schedule.

Quick-delivery homes for sale in Richmond, VA also provide you with an opportunity to take advantage of the historically low interest rates available right now. Mortgage interest rates have already dipped well below what economist anticipated and there is certainty in the air the rates will soon begin to rise. Waiting just a few months before choosing your new home could effect your monthly payment by hundreds of dollars. Not to mention, the sooner you invest in your new home, the sooner you begin taking advantage of other benefits like tax deductible mortgage interest and growing equity.

Visit Main Street Homes online to view Quick-Delivery Homes and contact us to reserve your appointment to tour homes today.

Neighborhood Design – Thoughtful planning allows Main Street Homes to design neighborhoods in the most desired locations. Whether you are looking for Richmond, VA homes near exceptional schools, featuring excellent amenities or with spacious homesites, you’ll find it with Main Street Homes.

Home Plan Design – Main Street Homes offers award winning home designs that look great and live well. A leader in the 1st floor master bedroom market with a successful line of ranch and 2 story plans, each home is designed for maximum curb appeal, livability and value.

New – There is always the low maintenance benefit that comes with everything being new and in addition to that you’ll also be the first person to sleep in the spacious master suite, enjoy your jetted tub, bake a birthday cake in your oven and put your name on the mailbox. Everything in a new house is new and each experience is a first!

Customer Interaction – From site reviews, home design and product selection the customer is involved in perfecting these Richmond, VA homes. Main Street Homes’ 3,700 square foot Design Studio is ranked among the top 6 in the nation and was named the Best in Richmond in 2008, 2009 and 2010! Customers can see, touch, feel and experience the products within the Studio with the opportunity to add features of your choice to your new home.

Customer Service – Your new Main Street Home will come with a guarantee and customer service that is on your side before and after the sale! Over 95% of Main Street’s customers self-reported being highly satisfied with their new home and 90% say they would recommend them to a friend.

Energy Savings – New homes today are up to 40% more efficient than the average home just 10 years old. When you buy a Main Street Home you’ll be leaving a smaller carbon footprint and paying lower energy bills than you would if buying an older home.

The Right Time - Today’s interest rates are hovering around the lowest rates of the past 40 years. Those rates along with the affordable prices of Main Street’s new Richmond, VA homes makes it the ideal time to buy. As a matter of fact, you may be able to own a home for close to the same monthly payment if you are currently renting and take advantage of the tax benefits.

Trusted Lender - Main Street Homes has been recommending the same trusted lender for more than 15 years. A mortgage professional that takes personal interest in tailoring each loan to their borrower’s financial goals is essential in making the process as seamless and easy as possible.

Community Commitment - Feel good about your investment when you buy a Main Street Home because they are a builder who gives back to the community. They support and participate with various organizations including Embrace Richmond, YMCA and Habitat for Humanity. 

1. Floors: Perhaps the most common cleaning gadget is the robotic vacuum. It was introduced some 10 years ago and chances are you’ve seen one in action. The iRobot Roomba 780, with a touch screen and indicators that give you control at your fingertips, is a popular choice. This is a great gadget to help keep your new home in Chesterfield, VA clean. It offers room-to-room navigation, scheduling, debris sensing and more!

2. Pet Care: Automatic litter cleaners truly make cats the champion of pets now; no walks necessary and you don’t even have to clean up after them. Litter Maid offers an automatic litter box that measures litter levels, removes small particles, activates ionic air cleaner by motion sensors, has carbon filters to reduce odor and even has a paw-cleaning ramp. The modern, sleek design takes up no more space than your basic litter box.

3. Cell Phone: Cleaning with ultraviolet lights and wands is in use with water and air filters, industrial cleaning, carpet cleaners and more. Now you can bring this technology to your home desk with the VioLight UV cell phone sanitizer. It eliminates 99% of germs and bacteria from the device that goes EVERWHERE you go. It takes less than 5 minutes and even includes an accessory box for things like your headphones and mp3 players.

4. Shower: You want to keep your new home in Chesterfield, VA clean but do you really have to scrub the tub? No. Not anymore! Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner keeps your tub clean for up to 30 days between cleanings. The 360 degree sprayer covers all 4 walls and the tub attacking soap scum, mold and mildew stains. All you have to do is touch the button and walk away!

5. Laundry: LG’s innovative SteamWashers are more than just a high technology gadget, it’s a tool you’ll use everyday. If anyone in your new home in Chesterfield, VA has allergies this washer will certainly come in handy since it has been certified as asthma and allergy friendly. Its unique TrueSteam technology reduces common allergens (and wrinkles) while operating 115% more efficiently than the federal standard energy ratings.

We hope these tools will come in handy around your new home. If you haven’t selected a new home, visit Main Street Homes online where we have our own tools to help make that process easier too!

Start with a few free tips that can cut your energy cost:

Turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees. You’ll save up to 5 percent for every degree you lower in the 60 – 70 degree range.  If your system has multiple zones, you can alternate lowering the living space and bedroom space during the day and night to keep most comfortable where you’re spending your time.

Let the light in by opening the shades and curtains during the day. On bright days the sun can help heat your Richmond new home with a solar effect! When the clouds roll in or it starts to get dark, remember to close them back to help keep the heat in.

Rearrange your furniture to make sure vents are exposed. Blocked vents can drastically reduce your heating system’s efficiency. Also look for long drapes that are in the way of heat flow or vents that are directly above a window. You can purchase magnetic air deflectors to redirect airflow.

Lowering the water heater temperature by 10 degrees could reduce your water heating cost by 5%. Check your temperature and be sure it is set to 120 degrees. This should be sufficient for hot showers, laundry and dishes.  Actually, washing your clothes with the cold-water setting reduces your washer’s energy use by 75%!

Here are a few other low-investment ideas that will also help save energy and money:

Upgrade to a programmable thermostat and set your temperature lower for periods when no one is at home and in the evenings when everyone will be tucked cozily into bed! Then set it higher for first thing in the morning and when you will arrive back home so your Richmond new home will be warm and welcoming.

Change your filter monthly during high usage periods. Your system will be less efficient if forcing air through dusty clogged filters.

Insulate your water heater with wrap that can be found at most hardware stores. This can save you an estimated 4-9% of your annual water heating costs.

If you are living in a Richmond new home by Main Street Homes you are ahead of the game. Today’s new homes are up to 40% more efficient than your average 10 year old home which means you are already leaving a smaller carbon footprint and paying lower energy bills. If you’re not in a Main Street Home, contact us today to learn more and tour our available homes.

Accessorizing with color is the easiest way to bring the New Year into your new home! With great color palettes out from Pantone, Sherwin-Williams, and Benjamin Moore you will not be disappointed. Many sources are claiming Pantone’s Tangerine Tango as the 2012 color of the year. Look for shades of this sophisticated orangey-red in pillows, cozy blankets, candles and more.

Prints and textures are making a comeback. We’re not talking floral and paisleys, today’s prints offer modern designs with straight lines, geometric shapes, repeating patterns and splashes of unexpected color mixed with warm, neutral tones. Look to add these trends in your new home in Richmond, VA through framed artwork, wallpaper, vases and even lampshades.

Look for mixed materials when adding accessories such as small tables and side chairs. One designer says, “Unusual combinations are going to make a big impact.” Look out for interesting combos such as lambskin with acrylic and wood with polished metal.

Also look to accessorize with oversized floor-mirrors, huge lighting fixtures and artwork pieces that can be assembled to cover an entire wall. Big, bold elements against otherwise ordinary décor make a large statement.

Don’t forget the green trend is here to stay. While reports indicate many green features will be standard in new homes by 2015, you can get ahead of the game by making sure you’re using energy efficient appliances and installing low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Find rainwater-harvesting barrels at your local hardware store and easily install them at the end of your gutters.

Main Street Homes has built quality and style into your new home in Richmond, VA. Now you can start with these must have trends of 2012 to bring your own character and personality into your new home.

Make the Most of Music
Prepare your music ahead of time by creating a New Year’s Eve playlist on your iPod. You can choose songs beginning with more laid back music and building to more fast-paced beats as the night goes on or choose your favorite party tune and let your “genius” choose more similar titles from your library.

Rent a karaoke machine and volunteer to go first. Everyone will join in and have a blast as long as someone else experiences the embarrassment first! You don’t need a lot of space, small corners in the basements or living rooms of homes in Richmond, VA will become infamous stages this New Year’s Eve.

Serve Traditional New Year’s Food with Flare
Eating Black Eyed Peas on New Year’s to ensure a prosperous and safe future is a southern tradition so why not incorporate it by serving Southern Caviar. It’s a dip recipe served with tortillas that makes a great appetizer. Try this recipe from food.com.

In hopes of a bountiful new year, the tradition is to include pork on the menu. Serve BBQ Sliders by making crock-pot pork barbeque and serving it on dinner or sweet rolls. It’s inexpensive and makes a great cocktail dish as it is small enough to hold on a napkin and eat with your hands.

Incorporate Fun Traditions
The Red Envelope game is a spin on a Chinese New Year tradition. Fill red envelopes with chocolates, candies, small trinkets or toys and have one envelope with an actual cash prize. Place the envelopes on the wall 5×5 or 6×6 and give each person a chance to choose one, pin the tail on the donkey style, until each person has an envelope.

In Latin American countries they believe eating 12 grapes at midnight will ensure good luck for each month of the coming year. This year, hosts at their homes in Richmond, VA should consider leaving the bubbly to a punch bowl and passing out champagne flutes filled with red seedless grapes for everyone!

Having money in your pocket at midnight is supposed to bring good fortune and wealth in the coming year. When the countdown begins, pass around a bowl of change or roll of coins to make sure everyone has money in their pocket.

We at Main Street Homes wish you a safe and happy New Year. Visit us online to view our available homes in Richmond, VA.

Williams Sonoma has a great 5-piece Stainless Steel Bar Tools Set for just $24.95. This is a perfect gift for a neighbor or friend who has recently moved into aRichmond new home. This set will help complete any well-appointed home bar.

An REI Trail Chair is a must for any outdoorsman. Weighing in at only 23 ounces this chair is amazing companion on any hiking/camping trip, outdoor concert, or even sporting event. You can snag one for just $24.50.

There are lots of USB splitters out there but this Dog USB Splitter from Urban Outfitters is perfect for your high-tech tweenagers. It’s shaped like a dog and has four ports so they can easily charge their gidget, gadget and gizmo all at once! At only $10 it’s a no-brainer gift that will definitely be put to use.

From your best friend’s daughter away at college to the co-worker who likes to snack, a Fondue Mug for Two is a fun, inexpensive gift that doesn’t require a fancy kitchen in aRichmond new home (but would certainly look great in one). From less than $25, these can easily be found online and generally come with 2 fondue forks per mug, hold about 4 oz of cheese or chocolate and use a tea light candle for warming.

Every child likes to pretend and if anyone can make it all seem possible it’s Disney. Whether you are shopping for a princess or a cowboy they have great selections under $25. From tea sets to light-up gloves these gifts will work their imaginations.

Almost everyone has a smartphone, ipod, mp3 player or laptop they use outside of their Richmond new home. That makes this gift perfect for almost anyone but maybe specifically for the guy in your life who considers Starbucks his home office or the fitness enthusiast who likes to run in rhythm. These Logitech Ultimate Ears 100 Noise-Isolating Earphones come in 10 designs, include 3 silicon ear cushion sizes for a perfect fit and costs only $19.99.

Last but not least for the women on your list consider the small luxuries that so many have been cutting back on these days. Gift certificates may seem impersonal but a trip to the spa for a mani/pedi is always welcomed. Magazine subscriptions make a great gift, Real Simple, $23.88 for a year, paired with current issue and anything chocolate! Luxury beauty items can run up the bill quickly so if you know mom or sister have traded in Philosophy or Bare Essentials for the drug store equivalent, Christmas is a perfect time to restock their beauty bar.

Nothing helps you get in the holiday spirit like the sounds and music surrounding this time of year. Don’t miss these local concerts  throughout the month of December.

Holiday Concert with CVMC – Prophets, Dreams & Dancing: Festive Music for Choir and Brass. From the opening flourishes of John Rutter’s Gloria to the intimate Welsh Lullaby, Suo-Gan, the lively motives of Gardner’s Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, Mack Wilberg’s festive setting of Awake, Arise and Hail the Morn…this is a program of glorious music with choral masterworks large and small. Performances on December 4^th, 9^th, and 11^th. Follow the link for details and tickets.

Holiday Concert with MCM – Harps of Gold: Music of the Season The Richmond Men’s Chorus and The Richmond Women’s Chorus will present joint concerts celebrating the holidays entitled “HARPS OF GOLD“(*Check-should this be all bold, ital or what?). Directed by Artistic Director, Timothy Gillham, “Harps of Gold” will be performed Saturday December 10 at 8:00pm and Sunday December 11 at 3:00pm. Follow the link for details and tickets.

If you’ve just moved into a new home in Richmond, it’s a must to join the Central Virginia tradition of cruising the streets to find the most festively decorated homes (and boats) in the area. Here are a couple of specific places you can go to enjoy the magical light displays.

19th Annual James River Parade of Lights – Saturday, December 10, 2011, 4:30 – 8:30pm. Each year, boaters decorate their vessels and converge on theJames River for a boat parade marking the festive holiday season. Spectators line up along the shore at several viewing sites along the parade route, which runs from Richmond to Henricus Historical Park in Chesterfield County.

Dominion GardenFest of Lights 2011 – Nightly 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM through January 9^th 2012, closed December 24^th & 25th. Imagine what a half-million holiday lights does to  magically transform the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden into a winter wonderland of fantasy, festivity and family fun. Beyond the half million lights, Lewis Ginter boasts phenomenal botanical decorations, trains, holiday dinners, family activities and more. Enjoy the returning favorites and many new features this year with special events throughout December. Visit their website to learn more. (should we list the website?)

For the children living in your new home in Richmond, these events will brighten spirits for the whole family.

25th Annual Court End Christmas Sunday, December 11, 2011, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Nine historic downtown sites host a free holiday open house, featuring tours, living history and reenactments, gift shops, children’s activities, refreshments, carriage rides, music, and special guest appearances.

Legendary Santa will come down the chimney daily at the Children’s Museum of Richmond Central Location until Christmas Eve. He will be accompanied by his lovely Snow Queen and helpful elf! A visit with Legendary Santa is free to the public. Or choose from special ticketed programs. Opportunities include Sunrise with Santa, Tea with Santa, Sunset with Santa, photos and more!

Polar Express in the IMAX®DOME at Science Museum of Virginia – Now through Saturday, December 31^st. Based on the Caldecott Medal-winning children’s book of the same name, by Chris Van Allsburg. Relive this timeless story of a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole.

First, take time to schedule the task you typically don’t think about until it’s too late. Have a designated time to get things done; we all know time melts away like snow during the holidays!

The Family Photo  If you plan to mail cards or just want to have a family portrait made, now is the time to get on the photographer’s schedule and make sure your cards get out on time.

HVAC & Fireplace Inspections You don’t want your marshmallow roasting interrupted by a clogged fireplace. Schedule your winter inspections early to keep unwanted delays from popping up unexpectedly.

Carpet Cleaning & Such  Make sure everything is in its place before holiday guests arrive. Find some inspiration by touring Richmond houses for sale. Get on the books to have your carpets cleaned, pull out the magic eraser & touch-up your walls and turn on the automatic oven cleaner.

Winterize Your Car  Heading “over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house?” Take your vehicle in for a tune-up before you wind up on the side of the road.

Next, be proactive in ensuring this holiday season is full of exactly what you’re looking for and not bogged down with obligations you could do without.

Get a Game Plan Take time over dinner to ask everyone what they’re looking forward to. Are there events or parties with specific dates and times? Write them down. Other things may be favorite foods, seeing Christmas lights, or just building a snowman together. Once you know what everyone looks forward to most, you can create a holiday schedule that makes the family happy and nothing important gets left out.

Mark Your Calendar Now you have a few events to add to your calendar as well as some important ideas to consider. Make a date for those ideas as well. When will you go see Christmas Lights? What day will you devote to playing outside and building a snowman? What night can you set aside for baking holiday favorites? If you’re taking advantage of time off to look at Richmond houses for sale, mark that on your calendar too. Assigning a date to your important events helps you plan exactly how much time is left when new ideas or invitations arise.

Evaluate and Celebrate Now that you have an organized calendar, put it where you will see it. Leave one on the fridge, by the phone or at your desk. When you get a new invitation or a movie premiers at the theater just glance at your calendar and decide when and if your family can add something new without feeling overcommitted. If your calendar is full, it’s easier to politely decline due to prior commitments, even if it’s just baking cookies with your kids.

If you are looking at Richmond houses for sale, be sure to schedule time to take your visiting family to see the homes you’re considering. They’ll love being a part of your big decision and together you can imagine spending next Christmas in your new home.

Paper Airplanes: Recycle your scraps or pull out the construction paper to build a fleet of paper airplanes. You can find great online video tutorials like this one at www.paperairplanes.co.uk. Once your collection is complete have a race, launch them from a window, or let them take-off from the staircase.

Try Tie-Dye: It may be a little cold at Richmond, VA homes to do this in the driveway or garage so bring it inside by lining your table with trash bags and newspaper to create a safe surface. This is a great activity for neighborhood kids or a family project. You may even want to use red and green to create themed holiday shirts or pajamas! Here are instructions for a simple, soak-dye method: www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/kid/tie-dye-with-kids/

Outdoors/Indoors: Recreate your kids’ favorite summer activities by bringing some outdoor games indoors. Make a sand-free sandbox using rice, dried beans, noodles or oatmeal in an under-the-bed box or aluminum-foil roasting pan. You can play a mean game of hoops with balls of wrapping paper scraps and a clean trash bin or empty box! Blow up balloons for a table tennis tournament or a game of keep-away.

Owners of Richmond, VA homes can also take advantage of the numerous holiday activities going on around town to combat cabin fever. Check out the links below to find more details and pricing for family-centric events nearby.

A year with Frog and Toad at The Children’s Theatre of Virginia – November 4^th – December 31^st. Recommended for children ages 4+ this story follows two friends through four seasons as they learn important life lessons.

Dominion GardenFest of Lights 2011 – Nightly 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM beginning November 25^th. With a half-million holiday lights the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is magically transformed into a winter wonderland of fantasy, festivity and family fun.

34th Annual Model Railroad Show at Science Museum of Virginia – Friday, November 25^th – Sunday, November 27^th. Watch model trains travel through miniature cities, towns and detailed landscapes.