Best Schools in the Oak Ridge Area of Guilford County

summerfield elementary north carolinaWhether you’re relocating to the Greensboro area or you’re looking to upgrade to a new home and neighborhood, it’s important to consider the schools in the area if you have children or ever plan to. Northern Guilford County is becoming a popular area for families and young couples for whom schools are a priority. If you want your children to have a top-notch education, consider homes for sale in Oak Ridge, NC.

Elementary Schools:

  • Oak Ridge Elementary. According to niche.com, Oak Ridge Elementary has an A- rating and is ranked 11th among Guilford County public elementary schools, where 31 of the total schools received at least an A or B rating. Ratings are based on student to teacher ratios, test scores, and parent reviews.
  • Summerfield Elementary School. Nearby Summerfield Elementary also received an A- rating and is ranked even higher on the list at number 4 due to its students’ excellent test scores that show 72% proficiency in both reading and math.
  • Northern Elementary School. Summerfield’s neighbor, Northern Elementary, is also high on the list in 9th place. Another A- school, test scores show just a slightly lower proficiency percentage than Summerfield.

Middle Schools:

  • Northwest Middle School. Another A-rated school, Northwest Middle is 7th of the 13 top-rated public middle schools in Guilford County that received a B or better rating. Student to teacher ratios of 17 to 1 and test scores of 67-68% proficiency in reading and math helped Northwest Middle to achieve its high accolades.
  • Northern Guilford Middle School. Nearby Northern Guilford Middle is ranked just slightly higher than Northwest Middle, though the statistics are nearly identical. Student ratio is also 17 to 1 and test scores show a proficiency of 61-64% in reading and math.

High Schools:

  • Northwest Guilford High School. Consistent A- ratings continue with Northwest Guilford High, making the entire progression from kindergarten to high school graduation a top-notch educational experience. Ranked 5th place out of all public high schools in Guilford County, Northwest is an excellent high school that thoroughly prepares students for the next step, whether college or a technical vocation.
  • Northern Guilford High School. Nearby you find the next best high school on the list, Northern Guilford High School at number 6, with an A- rating as well. Class size is 19 to 1 and proficiency is slightly lower in test scores, though the school remains competitive with other public high schools.

Excellent Schools Make Homes for Sale in Oak Ridge, NC Popular Among Potential Homebuyers

As you can see by the rankings on niche.com, the northwest and northern Guilford County area is a superior public school district with top-ranking schools. If you wish to build or look for homes for sale in Oak Ridge, NC, contact R&K Custom Homes: (336)643-3505.

Luxury Homes: The Latest Trends in Master Bedrooms

custom_house_plans_006It’s your haven, your retreat, your resting place—the master bedroom. It may not often be seen by guests, like your kitchen or your living room, but it should still be a beautiful, luxurious room where you can rest and relax. There’s more to a luxurious bedroom than just the size of it. There are windows, closets, ceilings, walls, floors, and more that all come together to make the bedroom your place of solace. You just need to find the right custom home builders in NC to make it happen. Consider these current trends in master bedroom design.

Office Alcove. Whether or not you have a home office, it can be convenient to have a desk and office alcove in your master bedroom. A section of the room with an archway, or a nook off to one side offers a semi-private space to work.

Kitchenette/Coffee Spot. For those lazy mornings when you don’t even want to leave the bedroom to get coffee, a small kitchenette in the master bedroom can be a dream come true. Reminiscent of a hotel room, a minibar, wine cooler, drink refrigerator, microwave, sink—whatever you need can be right at your fingertips without leaving the bedroom.

Outdoor Access. Imagine French doors opening onto a balcony or sliding glass doors that lead out onto a back patio or deck, possibly to a pool or hot tub. Master bedrooms with exterior doors offer an atmosphere of resort-style living at home.

Window Seat. A classic element that never goes out of style, a window seat offers additional built-in seating in the master bedroom. Sit and read while taking full advantage of the natural light coming in. Soak up extra vitamin D that helps battle the doldrums of winter.

Wall of Glass. If you’re lucky enough to be building on a home site with a view, consider a wall made entirely of glass to enjoy the beauty of the landscape to the fullest. Glass is now engineered to allow you to see out without letting others see in, so you won’t need blinds or shades.

Elaborate Ceilings. Vaulted ceilings aren’t just for living rooms and foyers. Make your master bedroom feel even more spacious with higher ceilings. Ceiling beams achieve a grander look and skylights let in more natural light. Give your master bedroom some character by giving special attention to ceiling design.

Closet and Storage. A luxurious master bedroom is complemented by a luxurious, spacious closet. A large walk-in closet or even his and hers closets with organizational features built-in make for a tidier bedroom and convenient access to clothing and shoes.

Get the Luxury Master Bedroom of your Dreams with one of the Best Custom Home Builders in NC

R&K Custom Homes understands your need for rest and relaxation in a grand, spacious master bedroom. One of the best custom home builders in NC, R&K will incorporate the latest trends and conveniences into your design to give you the dream master bedroom you’ve always wanted. Call (336)643-3503 for a free consultation.

Master Bath Trends for 2018

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Planning to build your dream home? Make your master suite amazing with a luxurious bathroom. If you need some ideas and you want to try the latest trends in master bathrooms, consider these possibilities. Then be sure to find Greensboro builders who can take your ideas and turn them into a beautiful bathroom you can enjoy for years to come.

Bold Patterns. The return of wallpaper in bathrooms is a reality. Patterned walls offer texture and create the illusion of space. This can be accomplished by creative taping and painting or much more easily through wallpaper.

Natural Light. Having privacy doesn’t mean sacrificing natural light. Windows that are tinted, frosted, or dressed with blinds, shutters, or curtains provide the necessary privacy while still letting in plenty of light. Save energy as well by using less electricity for lighting.

Glass Doors to Separate Bathroom from Bedroom. Recreate the resort-style bathroom from your last vacation to enjoy every day. French doors or windowed walls can separate the master bedroom from the bathroom without such a hard barrier. The natural light from the bathroom spills into the bedroom as well like a tropical vacation spot.

Ornate Tub Surround. If you like to take long, relaxing baths, make the tub a major focal point in your master bath. Consider a surround option made of wood or tile. For a luxurious, deep tub consider steps leading up to the rim for easier entry and exit.

Serenity Now. Design a relaxing bathroom retreat with soothing colors, warm textures, and a Zen style. Pastels like blue if you prefer cool colors or pale peach if you prefer warm colors will create a serene atmosphere with your own personal touch.

Sliding Doors. For the sake of style and space, sliding doors are gaining popularity. Offering the option to open up your space or close it off when privacy is preferred, the versatility is a major advantage here.

Include Seating. If your goal is luxury, don’t forget to add some seating in your bathroom. Whether it’s a stylish vanity chair or a chaise lounge to stretch out on while you self-administer beauty treatments, your bathroom will feel like a day at the spa.

Plan for the Future. If this is your dream home, ask yourself if you plan on aging in place. One of the most important areas of your home that will require modifications for age is the bathroom. Plan for the future now by installing a low-step or roll-in shower stall, plenty of handles and handrails, wide doorways, and low counters. You’ll be thankful for these features later.

Greensboro Builders R&K Custom Homes can give you your Dream Bathroom

Your dream bathroom should be a relaxing, beautiful room that allows you the space you need for your daily routine as well as a luxurious retreat from the stress of the day. Not all Greensboro builders can give you the same level of quality and style in a master bathroom. R&K Custom Homes has designed and built some extraordinary bathrooms featuring many of the ideas above. Expert designers and builders can incorporate your ideas into a bathroom that suits your style and vision. Call (336) 362-5225 for a free consultation.

5 Questions to be Sure to Ask your Home Builder

Custom Home Builder in NC

Custom home building can be an arduous, yet highly rewarding process. It will require a lot of planning, decision making, and communication. But the final result will be an original home built to suit you and your family. In order to avoid surprises and to end up with a final product you will be happy with, there are some questions you should be sure to ask your custom home builder in NC.

1. What is your average build time? Knowing the time frame to expect for your builder to finish your home is very important. You need to be able to plan accordingly when it comes to the sale of your old home, preparing to move, and other time-sensitive matters. Your builder should be able to give you a fairly accurate timeline to go on with a little flexibility built in for weather or other possible issues that could slow the process.

2. Can design changes be made along the way, and how should this be communicated? As your home takes shape you may see some things you want to change along the way. Be sure your builder is open to the possibility of changes and find out when and how you should communicate these requests.

3. How often should I expect progress check-ins? Your builder should touch base with you at various points in the building process. Knowing how often to expect communication will take the mystery out of things and keep you from wondering whether you should be the one to make contact. Review our building process.

4. How does the cancellation process work? If for some reason a problem arises at any point in the process, it’s important to know your builder’s cancellation and refund policy. It will likely depend on how far into construction you are before backing out. You may have no intentions of cancelling now, but you never know what the future may hold.

5. What kind of warranty will the home have? With a brand new home, there may be some kinks that need to be worked out or even some problems that could arise after you move in. Most new homes have some type of warranty that covers repairs for a certain amount of time, typically one year. Find out what type of warranty your builder offers, how long it lasts, and what it covers.

Hire a Reliable Custom Home Builder in NC like R&K

When you have your initial consultation with R&K Custom Homes, you will get the answers to these questions and more without even having to ask. R&K fully informs every potential client about frequently and not so frequently asked questions. You should feel comfortable enough to share your thoughts and ideas and to ask whatever questions you need to feel good about the home building process. R&K wants you to have the dream home you’ve always wanted with no stress. If you’re looking for a reliable custom home builder in NC, call (336) 362-5225 to schedule a free consultation.

Tips for Designing the Bathroom of Your Dreams

View from bath.One of the most important rooms in your home is the bathroom. According to statistics, the average person will spend a year and a half of their entire life in the bathroom. This is not something to take lightly. Bathrooms also have a large impact on the resale value of your home. When you look for the best home builders in Greensboro, check out the photos of bathrooms they’ve done and be sure you like what you see. Be ready to share your own ideas for your dream bathroom. Need a little help deciding what you want for your bathroom? Consider these tips.

Top Priority Should Be Functionality

Your bathroom should be beautiful, but more importantly, it should be functional. The space, layout, and features of your bathroom should be based on how you use your bathroom on a daily basis. It needs to be a space where you can get ready for work in the morning and also a place you can take a relaxing shower or bath (if you are a bath person) at the end of a long day. Carefully consider the placement of the tub, shower, sinks, toilet, storage space, and any other feature you plan to include. Some find it helpful to have a separate space with a door to house the toilet, leaving the rest of the bathroom separate. In some cases, the toilet and shower are in the same room and the vanity space is separate to allow one person to get ready without the steam and heat from the shower. A separate garden tub is a luxury, but may not be necessary for everyone, especially if no one really takes baths. Pedestal sinks are stylish but don’t offer storage. Plan around your everyday life.

Splurge on the Comfort Items

It’s worth it to put in the finer details that you picture when you imagine your dream bathroom. Go for the tile floor and walls that give you the style you want. Put in the steam shower and heated towel bar that makes your bathroom that much more luxurious. This is your dream bathroom after all. Additional radiant heating, so you step out of the shower to a warm floor, is also a valuable upgrade. Plan for different lighting options; you’ll need bright light for applying makeup, but may want dimmer light for a relaxing ambience while taking a bath. Make the bathroom a worthy part of your dream home.

Design and Build with the Best Home Builders in Greensboro

If you truly want to have the bathroom of your dreams with every feature and detail, you need one of the best home builders in Greensboro, R&K Custom Homes. An award-winning builder in the Triad, R&K has built and continues to build luxurious custom homes in popular neighborhoods in Greensboro and northern Guilford County. View the gallery of bathrooms already gracing the homes of satisfied customers. Bring your ideas and dreams and call (336) 362-5225 to start designing your dream home with R&K Custom Homes.

Downsizing in Retirement: Things to Keep in Mind

2Z3A7693You’ve finally reached the golden years of retirement. Like many retirees, you may be thinking about downsizing your home. Though this is a popular choice, it’s not necessarily the best choice for everyone. There are a lot of things to consider from a financial standpoint as well as your lifestyle. You may want to stay in your current home. Maybe now is the time to hire one of the best custom home builders in NC to build you the dream home you’ve always wanted with plenty of space for the grandkids to visit. If you’re having trouble deciding, keep the following things in mind.

Downsizing Does Not Always Save You Money

It may seem like a wise financial move to sell your home and move into a smaller home. You expect a lower mortgage payment, cheaper utilities, and less home maintenance to worry about. However, this is not always the case. Consider your current cost of living and compare it to the area you are considering moving to. If you are making a big change in communities, you may find that your cost of living could actually go up.

Carefully Consider the Size of Home You Will Need

Do you expect visits from children, grandchildren, and other family members? Will you have enough bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate everyone during the holidays? If your house tends to be the gathering place for family get-togethers, downsizing may not be the best choice. In fact, you may even need to upgrade to a larger home after retirement.

Plan for the Future

Is it your goal to age in place? Do you want to stay in your home for the rest of your life, or do you expect to move again in the future when you may find it more difficult to get around? Staying in your own home may not be possible if it is not equipped for advanced aging. This is where building a custom home in retirement can be a wise choice. Your home can be designed and built to be wheelchair accessible, have an elevator, an open floor plan, or consist of a single level. Aging in place is more feasible than ever with state of the art home design.

Retire in the Home of your Dreams Thanks to Custom Home Builders in NC

If you wish for a certain lifestyle in retirement, your home is a big part of that. Think about how you want to spend your retirement and plan your home accordingly. R&K Custom Homes can build your dream home with all of the features you want and the details you need to retire the way you have always wanted. R&K builds on ready-to-build home sites in some of the most desirable neighborhoods in Greensboro, Oak Ridge, Stokesdale, and the surrounding area. Convenient to the city with all the beauty and fresh air of the country, your retirement can be relaxing and fun. Build your dream home as part of your dream retirement lifestyle with R&K Custom Homes. Call (336) 362-5225 for a free consultation.

How to Determine the Right Custom Home Style for Your Family in Greensboro

Custom Home built in Greensboro NCAre you finally ready to build a custom home in Greensboro but aren’t sure what style is right for your family? Picking a floor plan that suits your family’s needs and lifestyle is of utmost importance. With so many styles to choose from, you can easily get distracted by how beautiful they look. What you need to focus on, however, is how you will be living in your new home.

The best way to do this, is to look at the floor plans while thinking of your daily routines – for both weekdays and weekends. For instance, how far will you have to haul your groceries from the car to the kitchen? Or do you need a mudroom for kids coming home from sports practice? Here are a few general things to consider that might help.

Great Room vs Family Room

Do you want a separate living room, with a family room off the kitchen, or will a great room do for your family? Some families use the family room for the children and like to have a separate room for the adults, or to receive visitors without worrying about any mess the kids are making. Even homes that feature a great room will sometimes still have a separate dining room.

You may want to consider your location and resale value when making this decision, though. If you are in an area where all the homes have separate living rooms and family rooms, then it may be very hard to sell your house with only a great room, should the need arise.

Stairs or No Stairs

Two story homes are a great solution for getting more square footage on a smaller lot. But they aren’t always a good idea for certain families. For instance, the first thing you will want to look for is whether there are any bedrooms at all downstairs.

You may not want a small child upstairs while the master bedroom is downstairs. That could be inconvenient for awhile, particularly if you have plans for adding to your family. Or you may want a guest bedroom downstairs if you expect to have elderly or disabled visitors.

Traditional vs Contemporary

There is a great deal of leeway in the type of exterior you can put on a floor plan. For instance, traditional Victorian homes historically consisted of separate, defined rooms. Even living and dining rooms often had doors to shut them off from the rest of the house. These days, however, you can have wide open floor plans with a Victorian exterior. Although, again, you will want to consider your neighborhood, and make sure your exterior isn’t so different that it will affect your resale value.

Your Custom Home Should Fit the Needs and Desires of Your Family

R&K Custom Homes has created and built innovative new home designs for hundreds of families. Call (336) 662-9299 today for a free consultation about how you can have a custom home in Greensboro built to suit your family and your lifestyle.

Where Mortgage Rates are Headed in the Near Future

Happy young couple getting keys of their new house. Close up of female hand receiving keys from house broker. Closeup of the hand of a real estate agent who give the house keys to a woman while her boyfriend signing a contract.

Happy young couple getting keys of their new house. Close up of female hand receiving keys from house broker. Closeup of the hand of a real estate agent who give the house keys to a woman while her boyfriend signing a contract.

Thinking of buying a home? Wondering when is the best time to apply for a mortgage in order to get the best possible rate? Mortgage rates are relatively volatile when compared with interest rates of other loan types. Since mortgages are typically such large sums, the rates are often an indicator of the current economy and a predictor of the future economy. Mortgage rates affect the overall housing market, referring to the average prices of homes bought and sold during the current year. If you plan to buy a new house in Greensboro, NC, this year, consider the rate predictions to help you determine the optimal time.

Mortgage Rates Stand to Move Soon, Act Now

According to The Mortgage Reports, mortgage rates have been at record lows this year, and that trend has continued into the fall. However, rates are likely to go up in the foreseeable future. Rates at or below 4 percent are likely to rise at least half a percent by the end of the calendar year. This means that if you’re thinking of buying a home, it would be wise to act quickly. If you’ve been planning to build your dream home, applying for a mortgage now is the best way to lock in a low rate. Mortgages typically have 30 year terms, and while you may have the option to refinance down the road, locking in a low rate now means you may not have to.

Now is the Time to Build your Luxury Custom Home

Do you have a vision for your dream home? Is it stylish and spacious and reflective of who you are? Before you buy a new house in Greensboro, NC, consider a custom home. Custom building allows you to plan and design your home just the way you want it, down to every last detail. Every luxury, every feature that you’ve always wanted in a home can be yours. Your ideas, wants, and needs come together when master designers create a truly original home just for you. From the blueprints to the finished product, you are a part of every decision and option. And the final result is a home you can be proud of, make memories in, and live life to the fullest.

Take Advantage of Low Mortgage Rates and Build a Home with R&K Custom Homes

Your money should go toward adding luxuries and beauty to your new home, not to the bank in the form of mortgage interest. With rates low but poised to move, this is your time to take action. Get a low rate locked in now before the rates rise. Then simply enjoy the custom design process. R&K Custom Homes makes designing your dream home a truly wonderful experience. Ready-to-build home sites are available now in some of the finest neighborhoods in Greensboro. Call (336)643-3503 to schedule a consultation.

4 Secrets to Building your New Dream Home

Tools on BlueprintDo you have a vision for the home of your dreams? You can picture it, can’t you: the inside, the outside, the yard? Well the time has come to make that vision a reality. Working with premier building contractors in Greensboro, NC, you can design and build your dream home just the way you want it. To make sure you are completely satisfied with the final product, you need to know the 4 secrets to building your new dream home.

  1. List your “must haves.” Make a prioritized list of features or details that you absolutely have to have in your dream home. Whether it’s a wrap-around front porch, a finished basement, a 3 car garage, or a state-of-the-art kitchen, these are the things you cannot do without. It’s the big and little things that fulfill your dreams when it comes to your home, so add to the list as you go to make sure you don’t leave anything out.
  2. Plan for the future. When designing your dream home, plan for the future as much as the present, because if there’s any certainty in life, it’s that change is inevitable. You might plan 4 bedrooms because you have 3 children now and don’t plan to have any more. But things change, people age, grandparents move in, surprises happen. You can never be sure of the future, so build in some room for flexibility.
  3. Be willing to compromise. This does not mean giving up on the dream home you want, but it does mean there will be situations during the design process where compromise will be necessary. Know your budget well, otherwise you run the risk of building yourself into financial hardship. Some of your less important items may have to be sacrificed in order to have some of the more important features.
  4. Trust your builder. When you work with an experienced, reliable building contractor in Greensboro, NC, you should trust their advice. Your builder will make recommendations along the way that can save you money and improve design choices. Choices like which materials to use and what brand names are best are wisely left up to your builder who has worked with the products and built many homes. If your builder thinks something may not be a good idea, take the advice. He will likely offer you a workaround that will be much more pleasing in the end.

Build Your Dreams with R&K Custom Homes, Premier Building Contractors in Greensboro, NC

Put your dreams in the hands of someone you can trust. R&K Custom Homes are the building contractors in Greensboro, NC, that are behind award-winning homes in the finest neighborhoods. State-of-the-art building technology, stylish design features, and quality materials and craftsmanship go into every R&K home. The dream house you have always wanted for the future can be yours sooner than you thought possible. The time is now. Call (336) 362-5225 to get started on your dream home design.

Benefits to Living in the Riverside at Oak Ridge Community

Riverside Lot 54If you’re looking for a new neighborhood that’s out in the beautiful countryside, yet close to the city, check out Riverside at Oak Ridge. As its name suggests, Riverside is a growing home community near Haw River. A luxury community, Riverside offers many amenities. In an excellent location with top schools and close proximity to shopping, dining, and entertainment, there’s something for everyone to love about Riverside. And there are available, ready-to-build new home lots in Oak Ridge, NC, now. Enjoy all the benefits of living in Riverside Community.

  1. Natural setting. Riverside provides convenient access to parks, golf courses and more. Drive along the country roads between rolling fields and lush forests and know you’re in a good place. If you’re tired of crowds and traffic and city noise, build your home in a community where you can escape all of that. Go back in time and experience life like it was before people got in such a hurry.
  2. Convenient location. Even though Riverside is out in the country, it’s just a short drive to reach all of the conveniences of Kernersville and Greensboro. A reasonable commute to work, shopping and dining close by, and plenty of things to do whether you’re looking for outdoor or indoor entertainment. Grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores and more are just around the corner. You can have both convenience and beauty in your life.
  3. Premier custom builders. Some of Greensboro’s best builders are designing and constructing the new homes in the Riverside community. R&K Custom Homes puts your needs and desires into a home design that encompasses all of the features and details that you want. Your R&K original home will be truly unique, reflecting your very own style and personality. Quality craftsmanship and the finest materials go into every R&K home.
  4. Pool and tennis courts. And the icing on the cake is the resort-like amenities. Play a match on the tennis court or take a dip in the pool and you’ll feel like you’re on vacation every day. Views of the trees and rolling fields are a gorgeous backdrop to these activities.

Spacious Home Lots in Oak Ridge, NC, at Riverside are Available Now and Going Fast

Such a desired neighborhood with beauty and convenience fills up fast. Home lots in Oak Ridge, NC, are selling quickly as more residents of Greensboro and the surrounding areas look for a community like Riverside, a beautiful escape from city dwelling. Just beyond the neighborhood itself there are parks, golf courses, shopping centers, and restaurants. Medical facilities and emergency services are close by and the schools in the area are top notch, both public and private. If you’re ready to find a new community where you can build your home your way, on a piece of land you choose, call R&K Custom Homes: (336) 362-5225.