Custom prefab?
It’s coming to a factory near you
Listen to Per Sjolinder describe his company’s method of homebuilding, and—even aside from the enormous mountain views that frame the conversation—you’ll likely be impressed. Sjolinder says he can build all the walls that make up an average house in just a couple of hours. What’s more, he says, the venture he calls EuroHomes can do it at a 20 to 30 percent lower cost.
 Per Sjolinder, right, and colleague Bob Amacker are bringing superfast construction methods to the area. |
The secret is a system, imported from Sjolinder’s native Sweden, in which complete walls, including everything from insulation to wiring, are built rapidly in a factory and then assembled at the homesite. And lest you picture a double-wide with vinyl siding when you hear the phrase “manufactured home,” Sjolinder has a 6,200-square-foot model home he’d like to show you, complete with a two-story foyer, home theater room and outdoor kitchen handy to the in-ground pool.
Despite this house’s lavish features and dramatic Ivy location, Sjolinder means for his soon-to-be-built Augusta County factory to serve the common homeowner. “It’s more important that mid- to lower-end homes be built well,” he says. And though the massive house doesn’t immediately conjure the phrase “green building,” it does feature geothermal heating, anti-mold and -mildew materials, and high energy efficiency.
EuroHomes is working now to partner with local homebuilders, so you may see custom manufactured houses enter the local market soon. Sjolinder says they’ve been standard practice in Sweden for decades: “This is not a test.”—Erika Howsare
BY THE NUMBERS
16
(Number of local Realtors with newly minted construction smarts)
Consider it a sign of the times. With all the new-home construction churning along in our area, one local real estate agency has invested in educating 16 of its agents about the building process. Michael Guthrie, CEO of Roy Wheeler Realty, says it just makes sense for agents to know a floor joist when they see one: “Agents who have gone through [the program] can explain why things are the way they are…You’ve got a number of national builders coming into the area and agents need to be aware of what it takes to build a house.”
 Local builder Stephen Jacques recently completed this home in Ivy, and while he was at it, educated 16 Roy Wheeler agents about the building process. |
To that end, agents spent about 60 hours over a nine-month period under the tutelage of Stephen Jacques of Jacques Homes as he constructed a new $1.5 million dwelling in Ivy. Agent John Updike explains that the course wasn’t so much a matter of Realtors pounding nails and putting up drywall. Rather, it was a chance to see a house built from the ground up, so as to prepare for the task of shepherding buyers through the decisions they make when under contract for a home that’s being built. “Once you’ve got the floor plan in place you select components including countertops, flooring materials, appliances [and other features]…The building schedule can be hectic and certain deadlines have to be met,” he says. “The Realtor can serve as a liaison.”
In other words, that’s something to think about if you’re signing a contract for a home that only exists on paper: Pick a Realtor with whom you’ll enjoy discussing tile options in about six months.—E.H.
Know your neighbors
Ever heard of cohousing? The Scandinavian planning concept is coming to Crozet. It’s like a modern village—a 20- to 40-house community, providing private housing with public benefits like playgrounds, courtyards and a common house. Intending to create a strong sense of community, cohousing residents periodically share common meals, take on most of the property management, and help each other with tasks like child care. Longing for company? Check out www.blueridgecohousing.org.—Katherine Cox
Fairy godmother for hire
Stuff to delegate, if you can
 Need to dig out? Maybe a concierge could help with that mounting domestic agenda. |
Busy? Can’t find an extra few minutes to pull all the jam and hot sauce remnants out of your fridge? This is exactly why the Cville Concierge and Errand Service was created: to relieve the stress of all the little tasks that add up and make your workday into a nonstop management routine. There’s little that Sue Battani can’t help you with. Here’s the crème de la crème of her services:
1. Research and reserve vacations. Like…“Sue, I really want to do some topless sunbathing in the tropics. Hook it up.” And she’ll find you the best little B&B in the French Antilles.
2. Gift shopping! Fellas, think it over: a woman who’ll save you from the jewelry store—tell her about your honey’s weakness for rhinestones, and she’ll do the rest.
3. Special occasion planning. Dream up something good for your best friend’s birthday (Flaming Drinks of the World? Prince concert pregame?) and do no more: the invitations are as good as sent, caterer called, flowers arranged, living room de-cluttered.
If you want to check out the full range of concierge offerings, visit Battani’s website at www.cvilleconcierge.com, or give her a call at 409-0119.—K.C.
Quick release
Eight renovations you can do in a day
We’ve got renovation on the brain, but we realize it’s not always a good time to tear off the roof or knock down walls. If you’ve got the remodeling bug but want to keep the scale reasonable, here are eight ways to refresh your surroundings with minimal time and expense.—E.H.
 It’s not just a plant: it’s a quick room makeover. |
1. Paint—but just the trim. Got white trim on green walls? Try blue.
2. Add plants. A few well-placed philodendrons will green up the place and are hard to kill.
3. Move rugs around. Maybe that bedroom rug wants a turn in the living room.
4. Change lampshades. Your trusty lamps will look all dressed up with different toppers.
5. Take it all off. Kitchen cabinets look trendy and crisp without their doors.
6. Reflect on things. Add a large mirror to double a room’s apparent size.
7. Switch seats. Have you seen some of the funky toilet seats you can buy? Well, what are you waiting for?
8. Use a room as a gallery. Choose one type of item—say, white plates from thrift stores—and devote a wall or hallway to displaying only that item.
