1512 - Falmouth's Model for Quality Affordable Housing
November 29-December 5, 2004 | May 30-June 5, 2005
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN.
WE'RE TAKING A BREAK
FROM OUR OWN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING STORY TODAY
TO VISIT A PROJECT HERE
IN FALMOUTH,
THE SECOND BIGGEST TOWN
ON CAPE COD.
WE'LL MEET JOHN DRULEY,
WHO'S BEEN WORKING
AS A DEVELOPER FOR A WHILE,
AND HE'S FIGURED OUT A FORMULA
THAT SEEMS TO WORK IN THIS TOWN.
WE'LL LOOK AT THE TYPE
OF HOUSE HE'S BUILDING,
THE WAY HE'S USING THE LAND,
AND SOME OF THE MATERIALS.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
WE'RE JUST
A MILE OR TWO
FROM THE CENTER
OF DOWNTOWN FALMOUTH,
SECOND BIGGEST TOWN
ON CAPE COD,
AND YET THERE'S PLENTY
OF UNDISTURBED LAND.
JOHN DRULEY,
YOU'VE MANAGED TO
ASSEMBLE A PACKAGE HERE
FOR DEVELOPMENT.
IS IT EASY TO STILL FIND
UNTOUCHED LAND?
NOT AS EASY AS IT WAS
A FEW YEARS AGO,
BUT THERE ARE STILL
SOME PARCELS
THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
NOW, WAS IT
SOMEBODY'S SUMMER CAMP
KIND OF THING OR WHAT?
THE PARCEL--
I HAVE TWO PARCELS HERE.
THE ONE WHERE I'M DOING
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON
WAS A FELLOW
THAT PASSED AWAY,
AND HE HAD
A SMALL RANCH OUTSIDE
AND THEN HIS LAND
OUT BEHIND THE HOUSE.
AND SOME OF THE LAND
WAS ACTUALLY
STRAWBERRY FARMS
AND STUFF, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
OK, NOW,
THE TOWN REQUIRES
THAT YOU HAVE
A ONE-ACRE
MINIMUM LOT SIZE
TO PUT UP A HOUSE.
AND THAT, OBVIOUSLY,
CREATES
A SERIOUS PROBLEM
FOR A LOT
OF YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO ARE TRYING
TO BUY LAND
OR TO BUY A HOUSE,
BECAUSE A BIG PARCEL
LIKE THAT IS EXPENSIVE,
RIGHT?
WELL, ONE-ACRE
PARCELS TODAY,
IF YOU'RE GONNA
BUILD A HOME
IN THE TOWN OF FALMOUTH,
THEY START AT
AROUND $300,000
JUST FOR THE LOT.
JUST FOR THE LOT.
SO IF YOU BUY A LOT
FOR 300,000,
AND THEN YOU GO TO BUILD
YOUR HOME ON IT...
IT'S NOT EXACTLY
AFFORDABLE.
NO. YOU'RE UP
OVER $500,000.
SURE. SO,
THAT'S THE STORY
ALL UP
AND DOWN CAPE COD,
BUT ALSO ON ALMOST
ANY DESIRABLE COASTAL
OR RESORT DESTINATION,
WHERE PEOPLE
HAVE TROUBLE
FINDING HOUSING.
THERE ARE LOTS
OF GOVERNMENTAL
REGULATIONS
AND APPROACHES TO TRY
TO BRING THE PRICE DOWN
AND CHANGE THINGS.
HERE WE'RE TALKING
40-B, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
THE STANDARD SUBDIVISION
IN THE STATE
OF MASSACHUSETTS IS 40A.
AND THAT WOULD MEET
ALL THE GUIDELINES
OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY:
LOT SIZE, DIMENSIONS
FOR THE FRONTAGE ON THE ROAD.
AND WHEN YOU DO
A 40B DEVELOPMENT--
WHICH IS
FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS--
YOU CAN ASK FOR RELIEF
FROM THE BOARD OF APPEALS
ON ALL OF THE LOCAL
ZONING LAWS.
YOU MAY NOT GET
ALL OF THAT RELIEF,
BUT YOU CAN ASK FOR IT.
SO, WHAT SIZE LOTS
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
THESE ARE
10,000-SQUARE-FOOT LOTS.
ABOUT 1/4 OF AN ACRE.
AS OPPOSED TO 40,000.
CORRECT.
EXACTLY, AND SO,
IN THE PACKAGE
THAT YOU'VE ASSEMBLED,
THERE'LL BE A TOTAL
OF HOW MANY HOUSES?
AND HOW MANY
OF THEM ARE DESIGNATED
AFFORDABLE HOUSES,
AND HOW MANY OF THEM
ARE MARKET RATE?
25% HAS TO BE AFFORDABLE,
WHICH IS 2
OF THE 8 HOMES.
OK. SO, THIS IS ONE
OF THE AFFORDABLE ONES.
THAT'S CORRECT.
SO, YOU'RE ALLOWED
TO BUILD ON 1/4 ACRE,
BUT YOU STILL
FEEL LIKE THERE'S
A LOT OF WILD LAND
AROUND YOU HERE.
NOW, THE NEAREST HOUSE
IS A FAIR WAYS AWAY.
IS THERE ANOTHER PARCEL
IN BETWEEN?
YES, THERE IS.
THERE'S ANOTHER LOT.
OH, OK, SO YOU WILL
HAVE ANOTHER HOUSE.
AND WHAT ARE
THE SETBACKS
FROM LOT LINE
TO LOT LINE?
ON THE SIDE LINES,
YOU HAVE TO BE 10 FEET.
WE'RE ABOUT 17 FEET
FROM EACH SIDE.
WE'RE ABOUT 40 FEET
FROM THE STREET ITSELF,
AND THEN 45 TO 50 FEET
OF BACKYARD.
OK, NOW, IN TERMS
OF AFFORDABLE
AND WHAT THE PRICES ARE,
YOU'VE GOT
2 OUT OF THE 8
THAT ARE AFFORDABLE.
WHAT'S THE RANGE
OF PRICES?
WHAT'S THE GAP?
THE TWO HOUSES
THAT ARE BEING SOLD
TO FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS
ARE 119,900--
BASICALLY, $120,000.
AND THE MARKET RATE
HOUSES?
375,000 TO 400,000.
WOW, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT THERE IS
A BIG GAP THERE.
HOW DO YOU
FACTOR THAT IN
AS A DEVELOPER?
WELL, I TAKE THE LOSS
THAT I'M GONNA HAVE
ON THE TWO AFFORDABLE HOMES
AND ADD THOSE TO THE COSTS
OF THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT,
AND THEN I CAN PRICE OUT
WHAT THE MARKET-RATE HOMES
WILL SELL FOR.
AND IS THERE SOME SORT
OF REGULATION OR AUDIT
THAT TAKES PLACE
BY THE GOVERNMENT?
WELL, THE STATE--
THE COMMONWEALTH
OF MASSACHUSETTS
ASSIGNS AN AUDITOR
TO EACH 40B DEVELOPMENT,
AND WE'RE LIMITED
TO A 20% PROFIT MARGIN.
SO, THERE ARE
LIMITATIONS
TO YOUR PROFIT.
CORRECT.
NOW, IN TERMS
OF THE APPEARANCE
OF THESE HOUSES...
THIS IS NICE.
THIS IS A CAPE.
THESE ARE
WHITE CEDAR SHINGLES.
THIS DOESN'T LOOK
ANY DIFFERENT,
AND IT DOESN'T
LOOK LIKE
THERE ARE ANY KIND
OF INEXPENSIVE
MATERIALS IN USE.
WELL, WHEN YOU DO
A 40B DEVELOPMENT,
PART OF THE GUIDELINE IS
THAT THE MARKET RATE HOMES
AND THE AFFORDABLE HOMES
ARE VERY SIMILAR
IN DESIGN AND LOOK.
YEAH, WELL, THE WHITE
CEDAR SHINGLED EXTERIOR
IS PRETTY UBIQUITOUS
ON CAPE COD,
BUT IT'S EXPENSIVE,
IT'S HAND LABOR, RIGHT?
IT IS VERY
LABOR-INTENSIVE.
OK, AND YOU'VE GOT
OTHER FEATURES
ON THE HOUSE THAT--
I MEAN,
THE SHINGLES ARE NICE;
THE ROOF SHINGLES.
WE USE THE ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN SHINGLES.
MM-HMM. WHAT KIND OF
A WARRANTY DO YOU GET?
IT'S A 30-YEAR,
BUT THEY'VE JUST
EXTENDED IT TO 50 YEARS.
OK, AND YOU'VE GOT
SKYLIGHTS UP THERE,
AND YOU'VE GOT
WHAT LOOK TO BE
PRETTY GOOD WINDOWS.
WE HAVE A SKYLIGHT
IN EACH BEDROOM
ON THE SECOND FLOOR
TO LET IN SOME NICE
NATURAL LIGHT AND AIR.
THEY OPEN UP.
AND WE USE THE HIGH DENSITY
VINYL WINDOWS,
SO THERE'S NO MAINTENANCE
TO THEM,
AND THEY CAN TILT IN
AND WASH THEM FROM THE INSIDE.
THERE'S NO PAINTING
TO BE DONE.
NO PAINTING,
FULL SCREENS.
AND IN TERMS
OF THE HOUSE ITSELF,
WHAT'S THE FOOTPRINT
OF THE HOUSE?
HOW MANY SQUARE FEET?
THE HOUSE,
WHEN IT'S FINISHED INSIDE,
IS ABOUT 1,800 SQUARE FEET.
PLUS, YOU GET A GARAGE.
PLUS A GARAGE,
ONE-CAR GARAGE.
I'D SAY IT'S
A PRETTY GOOD DEAL.
CAN WE TAKE
A LOOK INSIDE?
ABSOLUTELY.
Vila: WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT
THE INTERIOR FLOOR PLAN
FOR THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSE.
OK, SO, JOHN,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE,
AND YET I'VE JUST WALKED
INTO A ROUGH INTERIOR
THAT LOOKS
VERY STANDARD.
IT LOOKS,
YOU KNOW, TOPNOTCH.
THE DIMENSIONS
OF THE HOUSE, THOUGH,
BEFORE WE GO THROUGH IT,
ARE WHAT?
26 FEET BY 36 FEET.
THAT'S A GOOD SIZE.
GOOD SIZE.
YEAH, YEAH.
SO, WE'RE
IN THE LIVING ROOM HERE,
AND JUST FROM EYEBALLING
EVERYTHING,
IT'S STICK BUILT.
THERE'S NOTHING
PREFABBED OR
FACTORY MADE.
THE MATERIALS
ALL LOOK FIRST-RATE.
WE'VE GOT
FULL-DIMENSIONAL JOISTS
AND STRAPPING
FOR THE CEILING.
AND WHAT ABOUT
THE EXTERIOR SHEATHING?
WE HAVE OSB BOARD.
ORIENTED STRAND BOARD.
YES, AND 2 BY 4
STUD WALLS.
OK, AND ORIENTED
STRAND BOARD
AND PLYWOOD--
I MEAN, DO SOME PEOPLE
FAVOR PLYWOOD
AS OPPOSED TO OSB?
I'VE NOT REALLY HAD
ANY REQUESTS FOR ONE
OR THE OTHER.
MY CUSTOMERS JUST ACCEPT
WHAT WE BUILD HERE.
SURE, AND THE OSB
IS EXTREMELY STABLE.
WE'RE STANDING
ON WET ONES RIGHT NOW,
AND THERE'S
NEVER A PROBLEM
WITH DELAMINATION
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
NEVER HAD AN ISSUE.
YEAH, AND THE WINDOWS?
THE WINDOWS
ARE THE LOW-"E" GLASS,
VINYL TILT-INS,
AND THEY'RE
A BEAUTIFUL WINDOW.
THEY ARE.
THE LOW EMISSIVITY GLASS
WITH ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
WHAT ABOUT
THE INSULATION?
IS IT ALL
FEDERAL STANDARDS?
WE HAVE TO MEET
A MASSACHUSETTS CODE
IN ORDER TO GET
THE BUILDING PERMIT,
AND WE ALWAYS
EXCEED THE CODE.
OK, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY,
IT'S AN AFFORDABLE
HOUSE.
IT WANTS TO BE EASY
TO OPERATE
AND NOT TOO EXPENSIVE
TO HEAT.
THAT'S CORRECT.
WHAT KIND OF HEATING
DO YOU PUT IN?
IN THESE HOMES,
WE USE GAS HEAT.
WE USE THE BASEBOARD
HOT WATER.
TRADITIONAL.
TRADITIONAL BOILER.
MM-HMM.
WHAT'S THE DIMENSION
OF THE LIVING ROOM?
THIS LIVING ROOM
IS 13 BY 18.
BY 18, YEAH.
THAT'S A VERY,
VERY NICE SIZE.
AND THEN, ESSENTIALLY,
OVER HERE
WE HAVE A SPACE
THAT'S ABOUT THE SAME SIZE,
ROUGHLY.
CORRECT.
HOW WILL THIS
GET LAID OUT?
WE'LL HAVE
THE REFRIGERATOR
IN THIS CORNER.
THE STOVE'LL GO HERE.
WE'LL HAVE A LAZY SUSAN
IN THE CORNER.
KITCHEN SINK, CABINET,
RIGHT HERE.
WE'LL GO ALMOST
OVER TO THE DOOR
WITH CABINETS--
BOTTOM AND TOP.
AND THE AREA OVER THERE
IS THE EAT-IN AREA.
THAT'S CORRECT.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, THEN WE'VE GOT
A CENTRAL HALL.
AND WE CAN JUST DUCK
RIGHT THROUGH HERE INTO--
WHAT IS THIS?
THIS IS A HALF BATH,
LAUNDRY ROOM--
WASHER AND DRYER.
IT'S ABOUT
A 9 BY 7 ROOM.
VERY SENSIBLE,
SO YOU DON'T HAVE
TO GO TO THE BASEMENT
TO DO YOUR LAUNDRY.
ABSOLUTELY.
AND THEN A LOT
OF THE DOWNSTAIRS
FLOOR SPACE
IS DEDICATED TO
THE MASTER BEDROOM, RIGHT?
Druley: IT'S
A VERY NICE SIZE
MASTER BEDROOM.
IT'S ABOUT A 16 BY 13.
AND THEN WE HAVE
HIS AND HER CLOSETS
IN HERE.
A WALK-IN CLOSET.
AND A VERY GENEROUS
BATHROOM.
WE HAVE A GOOD-SIZE
MASTER BATH.
WE'LL DO
A DOUBLE BOWL SINK.
WE HAVE ROOM
FOR A LINEN CLOSET,
FULL TUB, SHOWER,
AND TOILET.
MM-HMM,
AND THEN UPSTAIRS...
UPSTAIRS WE HAVE
TWO LARGE BEDROOMS
AND A FULL BATH.
I MEAN, A FAMILY OF 6
CAN REMAIN
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS
VERY COMFORTABLY.
YES, THEY CAN.
WHAT ARE THE REALITIES
OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
COMING TO LIVE HERE?
HOW DO THEY QUALIFY?
WELL, THE FIRST-TIME
HOME BUYER AFFORDABLE HOMES
HAVE TO BE SOLD
TO FAMILIES.
THEY'RE RESERVED
FOR FAMILIES.
WHEN WE DO THE LOTTERY,
SINGLE PEOPLE
CAN QUALIFY FOR IT,
BUT WHEN WE DO THE DRAWING,
THEIR NAMES ARE
DRAWN OUT LAST.
SO, IN REALITY,
THEY WON'T GET THE HOME.
DOES A SINGLE PARENT
QUALIFY AS A FAMILY?
AND WHAT ABOUT IN TERMS
OF THEIR ANNUAL INCOME?
MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THEY CAN MAKE UP TO
ABOUT $65,000,
BASED ON THE SIZE
OF THE FAMILY--
A MINIMUM OF $29,000
UP TO $65,000.
OK, SO THE SUBSIDY
IS NOT IN TERMS
OF BANKROLLING THEM
OR MORTGAGES
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE SUBSIDY IS REALLY,
AS WE SAID EARLIER,
IN THE 40B SETUP THAT
MAKES IT AFFORDABLE
TO BUY IT.
THAT'S CORRECT.
THE SUBSIDY IS IN
THE PRICE OF THE HOME.
THE BUYERS ARE
MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES,
AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE
GOOD JOBS, GOOD CREDIT.
AND THEY DON'T HAVE
A SUBSIDIZED MORTGAGE.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE
A REGULAR MORTGAGE
FROM A BANK.
IT'S A TERRIFIC PRODUCT.
AND THEN THE MAJORITY
OF THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE BUYING
THE OTHER 6 HOUSES,
ARE THEY ALSO
YOUNG FAMILIES OR...
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
WITH THE PRICE INCREASES,
WE'VE SEEN THAT THE BUYERS
ARE ALMOST ALL RETIRED
OR ALMOST RETIRED FOLKS.
I SEE. SO YOU'RE GETTING
A NICE MIX ON THE BLOCK
OF YOUNG FAMILIES
WITH KIDS
AND OLDER FOLKS.
YES, WE ARE.
THAT'S EXCELLENT.
THANKS, JOHN.
I SUPPOSE THERE'S ONE
ON THE BLOCK
THAT WE COULD
GO TAKE A LOOK AT
THAT'S ALMOST FINISHED.
YES, THERE IS.
GREAT.
Vila: NEXT WE'LL TALK ABOUT
SOME OF THE MATERIALS BEING USED
FOR INTERIOR FINISHES.
NEXT TIME
ON "BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,"
WE'RE TAKING A BREAK
FROM OUR AFFORDABLE PROJECT
IN THE TOWN OF MASHPEE
TO VISIT A COMPARABLE PROJECT
IN FALMOUTH ON CAPE COD.
WE'LL MEET DEVELOPER
JOHN DRULEY,
WHO HAS A FORMULA
FOR BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THAT SEEMS TO WORK.
WE'LL LOOK AT THE STYLE
OF HOUSES THAT HE'S BUILDING
AND THE WAY
HE'S USING THE LAND.
WE'LL CHECK OUT
THE EXTERIOR FINISHES,
THE INTERIOR LAYOUT,
AND THE KITCHEN CABINETS
AND COUNTERTOPS.
DON'T MISS IT. THAT'S NEXT TIME
ON "HOME AGAIN."
NEXT TIME ON
"BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,"
WE'LL TALK WITH A DEVELOPER
OF SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSES
THAT ARE NEARLY FINISHED.
DON'T MISS IT.
Vila: ALL RIGHT.
WELL, NOW WE'RE LOOKING
AT BASICALLY
THE SAME HOUSE,
BUT THIS ONE
IS FINISHED.
YES, IT IS.
AND I'M NOT SURE--THERE
ARE SOME DIFFERENCES.
OBVIOUSLY,
THE ROUND WINDOW,
THE CIRCLE WINDOW
IN THE FRONT.
IS THAT LIKE AN OPTION?
YES, IT IS.
THE GARAGE
IS THE SAME,
AND THE FINISHES
WILL ALL BE THE SAME.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR
LANDSCAPING DETAILS?
EXACTLY WHAT YOU SEE
RIGHT HERE--
THE CLAM SHELL DRIVEWAY,
THE COBBLESTONE BORDER.
A LITTLE BIT
LIKE NANTUCKET.
THAT'S RIGHT,
NANTUCKET LOOK.
WE'RE GONNA DO A WHITE
PICKET FENCE OUT FRONT.
OH, CUTE.
SOME ROSE BUSHES
ON IT.
AND THEN YOU'LL JUST
HYDROSEED THE AREA
BEHIND US HERE
FOR A LAWN.
THAT'S CORRECT.
OK, THIS IS THE SAME
SIZE LOT, RIGHT?
THE SAME SIZE, YES.
ABOUT A 1/4
OF AN ACRE.
NOW, DIDN'T YOU DO
A DEAL WITH THE TOWN
IN TERMS
OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS
FOR ALL THESE
PROPERTIES?
YES. THERE WAS
SOME DISCUSSION
ON THESE 8 LOTS
OF DOING
DENITRIFICATION SYSTEMS
SO THE GROUND WATER--
'CAUSE WE'RE CLOSE TO SOME
OF THE SALTWATER PONDS.
BUT INSTEAD
OF DENITRIFICATION,
WE DECIDED TO LIMIT
THE SIZE OF THE LAWNS
TO 2,000 SQUARE FEET
AND USE A LOW NITRATE
FERTILIZER SYSTEM.
NOW, WHAT WOULD
DENITRIFICATION
HAVE COST YOU?
ABOUT $7,000 A HOUSE.
AND WHAT IS IT, EXACTLY,
THAT YOU HAVE TO DO?
WELL, IT'S A SYSTEM THAT GOES
WITH THE TITLE 5 TANK,
AND IT TAKES THE NITRATES
OUT OF THE WASTE PRODUCT
THAT COMES OUT
FROM THE HOME.
WOW. 7,000 BUCKS
A POP, THOUGH.
SO, THEY LET YOU
NOT DO IT
BY LIMITING THE SIZE
OF LAWNS
IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
PLUS, THE TWO FIRST-TIME
HOME BUYER HOUSES,
I'M SELLING FOR 119,900
INSTEAD OF 145,000
FOR EACH ONE.
SO YOU'VE PASSED ON
THE SAVINGS.
THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S GREAT.
AND NOW, THE AREA
BEYOND WHERE THEY'VE
PREPARED THE SOIL
IS ALL IN BARK CHIP.
IS THAT ALSO PART
OF THE PROPERTY?
YES, IT IS.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY
THE LEACHING FIELD
FOR THE TITLE 5 SYSTEM.
SO, YOU WON'T BE ALLOWED
TO PUT ANY SOD THERE.
NO. IT REMAINS NATURAL
FROM THIS POINT ON.
THAT'S GREAT.
WELL, CAN WE
TAKE A LOOK INSIDE?
CERTAINLY.
I'LL TELL YOU,
THE LANDSCAPING
IS COMING ALONG
VERY, VERY NICELY.
THE GUY'S DOING
A GREAT JOB FOR US.
YEAH, HE'S DOING
A GREAT JOB
OF INSTALLING
SOME NICE CHOICES, TOO--
A LITTLE
BLOOMING HYDRANGEA
BY THE FRONT DOOR.
WOW! SO,
THIS IS DIFFERENT
OVER HERE, THOUGH.
THIS IS DIFFERENT.
YOU'VE GOT
A DOUBLE HEIGHT
LIVING ROOM
JUST AS YOU WANDER IN.
YES, WE DO.
WHAT'S THE IDEA HERE?
THIS FLOOR PLAN ALLOWS US
TO HAVE THE EMPTY-NESTER
TYPE BUYER COME HERE
AND HAVE
A FINISHED UPSTAIRS
THAT THEY CAN USE
MORE FUNCTIONALLY
FOR THEIR FAMILY--
VISITING FAMILY.
SO, IF YOU'RE
EMPTY-NESTERS,
AND YOU'VE GOT KIDS
AND GRANDKIDS COMING,
WHAT'S UPSTAIRS?
WE HAVE A BEDROOM
AT EACH END OF THE HOME
AND A LOFT LIVING ROOM,
FAMILY ROOM,
AND A FULL BATHROOM.
IN THAT AREA
RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S CORRECT.
SO YOU CAN HAVE
THE KIDS, THE TOYS,
THE MESS, AND EVERYTHING
OUT OF SIGHT,
AND GRANDPA AND GRANDMA
ARE JUST DOWNSTAIRS.
THAT MAKES A BIG
DIFFERENCE, YEAH.
NOW, THIS MAKES
A BIG DIFFERENCE, TOO.
I THINK
THE PALLADIAN WINDOW
FROM THE OUTSIDE
IS A NICE TOUCH,
BUT IT REALLY BRINGS IN
LOTS OF LIGHT
INTO THIS ROOM.
ALL MY CUSTOMERS
LOVE IT,
ESPECIALLY
IN A HOME LIKE THIS
THAT FACES EAST.
IN THE MORNING,
THE SUN JUST POURS IN HERE.
AND THAT MAKES
A BIG DIFFERENCE
ON CAPE COD,
ESPECIALLY
IN THE WINTER MONTHS.
YES, IT DOES.
NOW, THIS DOESN'T
ADD AN EXTRA--
IT'S NOT AN OPTION
OR AN EXTRA COST, IS IT?
NO. THIS IS MY BASIC
FLOOR PLAN RIGHT HERE.
OK, SO IT'S
INVOLVING THAT;
IT'S INVOLVING
THE HARDWOOD FLOORS?
YES. IN THE LIVING ROOM
AND THE KITCHEN/DINING AREA,
THEY CAN EITHER DO THE OAK
OR THEY CAN DO A CERAMIC TILE.
OK, BUT THE OAK
IS REAL SOLID OAK?
IT'S NOT
LAMINATED FLOOR.
GREAT. AND THEN,
WHAT ABOUT
THE FIREPLACE?
WE HAVE A HEATILATOR
GAS FIREPLACE,
WHICH MY CUSTOMERS LOVE.
IS IT WORKING YET?
YES, IT IS.
YEAH. NO, THAT MAKES
A BIG DIFFERENCE,
BECAUSE THESE THINGS
ARE VERY EFFICIENT NOW,
AND THEY THROW OFF
A LOT OF HEAT.
YES, THEY DO.
IT'LL WARM UP THIS ROOM.
IT WON'T HEAT THE WHOLE
HOUSE, OBVIOUSLY.
SURE, RIGHT.
OK, AND THEN OPEN PLAN
ON TO WHAT IS,
ESSENTIALLY,
THE SAME SIZE KITCHEN
THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT
IN THE OTHER HOUSE--
IN THE FRAME, RIGHT?
YES, IT'S IDENTICAL.
SO, THERE'S PLENTY
OF SPACE HERE
FOR THE DINING TABLE
AND A NICE LITTLE DECK
OUTSIDE.
AND THEN--
A VERY NICE KITCHEN.
I MEAN, THIS, AGAIN,
IS STANDARD?
YES. EVERY CUSTOMER
PICKS OUT THEIR OWN CABINETS,
AND WE GIVE THEM
A BUDGET ALLOWANCE.
SO THEY CAN CHOOSE
WHATEVER STYLE OR BRAND
THEY WANT
TO BRING IN HERE
ACCORDING TO THEIR
BUDGET ALLOWANCE?
THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THIS PARTICULAR CUSTOMER,
SHE LIKES HER WHITE CABINETS.
SO, THAT'S WHY--
SOME OF THEM GO
WITH THE OAK,
SOME OF THEM
GO WITH THE MAPLE.
SURE.
AND THE COUNTERTOPS
LOOK LIKE GRANITE,
BUT, OF COURSE,
THEY'RE NOT.
THEY'RE LAMINATE, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
NO, THEY'RE LAMINATE.
FORMICA.
VERY ATTRACTIVE.
AND THEN
YOU'VE GOT THE BASICS.
YOU'VE GOT
A DISHWASHER.
YOU'VE GOT
AN ELECTRIC STOVE OR--
YOU GOT A GAS STOVE.
GAS STOVE.
AND A FULL-SIZE
REFRIGERATOR.
AND THEN, BACK HERE,
THE LANDSCAPE
IS MINIMAL, RIGHT?
YOU WON'T
BE PUTTING ANY SOD
BACK HERE, EITHER?
NO. AGAIN, WE HAVE
THE 2,000-SQUARE-FOOT
LIMITATION,
SO WE'LL GO WITH
A NATURAL GROUND COVER.
THAT KEEPS
THE WEEDS DOWN,
BUT EVENTUALLY
YOU'LL LET SOME
OF THE NATURAL STUFF
GROW BACK CLOSER
TO THE HOUSE.
YES, WE WILL.
ALL RIGHT.
CAN WE TAKE A LOOK
AT THE MASTER?
SURE. LOVE TO
SHOW IT TO YOU.
Vila: COMING UP NEXT,
A DETAILED LOOK AT THE GENEROUS
MASTER BEDROOM SUITE.
SO, THIS IS
A NICE FEATURE
FOR A KIND OF
AN EMPTY-NESTER MODEL,
ISN'T IT?
YEAH. THIS IS
THE UTILITY ROOM--
HALF BATH, WASHER
AND DRYER SETUP.
MY CUSTOMERS LOVE IT.
EVERYTHING'S COMBINED
IN ONE RELATIVELY
GOOD-SIZED SPACE.
YOU'VE GOT, WHAT,
MAYBE A 7 BY 9 FOOT AREA?
THAT'S CORRECT.
YEAH, AND THAT DOES
MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE
THE GUEST BATHROOM,
YOU'VE GOT
YOUR LAUNDRY CENTER,
AND IN INCLEMENT WEATHER
YOU'VE GOT A PLACE
TO HANG WET STUFF.
MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
AND RIGHT OFF
THE MASTER BEDROOM,
WHICH IS
A GOOD-SIZE ROOM, JOHN.
THIS IS
A GOOD-SIZE ROOM.
IT'S 13 BY 16.
YEAH. NO,
THAT'S VERY GENEROUS.
AND, AGAIN,
THE HARDWOOD FLOORS?
THIS CUSTOMER SELECTED
AS AN EXTRA
TO DO THE OAK FLOORING
IN HERE.
SO, THAT'S AN OPTION
THAT YOU PAY
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA FOR.
THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THE CEILING HEIGHTS
ARE NOT BAD.
WHAT ARE THEY?
WE'RE ABOUT 7 1/2 FEET
IN HERE.
7 1/2. OK.
AND YOU GET
ONE CLOSET HERE.
WE HAVE A NICE
SMALL WALK-IN CLOSET.
IT'S NOT SO SMALL.
I MEAN, CONSIDERING
WHAT YOU SEE
IN CITY
KIND OF APARTMENTS
AND SMALL HOUSES,
IT'S PRETTY NICE.
AND THEN THE MASTER...
MASTER BATH.
YES, THIS IS
OUR MASTER BATHROOM, AND--
THAT'S A NICE FEATURE.
A BEAUTIFUL 5-FOOT SHOWER.
NO TUB IN HERE,
BUT IT'S GOT A SEAT
IN IT ON EACH SIDE.
YEAH, WELL,
YOU'RE NOT ON PURPOSE
DESIGNING
ACCESSIBLE HOUSING,
BUT I NOTICE THAT YOU'VE
GOT WIDE ENOUGH SPACES
THAT YOU CAN COME
IN HERE IN A WHEELCHAIR
IF YOU'RE
WHEELCHAIR-BOUND.
A WHEELCHAIR
OR WITH A WALKER.
YEAH, AND THAT'S
A VERY NICE FEATURE
FOR AN ELDERLY PERSON
TO BE ABLE
TO SIT DOWN THERE.
NOW, DO YOU MAKE
ALL THE CHOICES
IN TERMS OF CABINETS
AND FINISHES?
WELL, MY CUSTOMERS
HAVE A BUDGET ALLOWANCE,
SO THIS LADY,
MY CUSTOMER,
SELECTED
A SINGLE BOWL BASE
INSTEAD
OF A DOUBLE BOWL.
BUT IT'S A NICE,
ELEGANT CHOICE,
'CAUSE IT'S
A NICE MUTED GRAY.
AND THEN, THERE'S
A SECOND CLOSET
IN THE BEDROOM
OVER HERE.
YES, 7-FOOT WIDE
AND LOTS OF CLOSET SPACE.
GOOD DOORS.
EVERYTHING
YOU COULD HOPE FOR.
WELL, I THINK YOU'RE
DOING A GREAT JOB.
WELL, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT JUST
BUILDING A PRODUCT
THAT IS, YOU KNOW,
VERY INTELLIGENT,
BUT YOU'RE ALSO PUTTING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
INTO THE COMMUNITY.
WELL, THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME,
AND WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN
NEXT WEEK.
WE'LL BE BACK
AT OUR MASHPEE BUILDING SITE,
POURING THE FOUNDATION
AND FRAMING THE WALLS.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
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