Blog

As you’re counting down the days to Christmas, we have another countdown for you. McGuinn Hybrid Homes presents “The 12 Deals of Christmas”. Take advantage of reduced prices on move-in ready homes. We’ve made it even easier (and more affordable) to buy a new construction home in prime locations around the Midlands of Columbia, SC.

UPDATE: Make that “9” because these homes are going fast! Three homes have already sold. But you have 9 more ways to benefits from McGuinn Hybrid Homes’ season of giving.

Have you made a wish to life in an award winning community? Centennial at Lake Carolina in Columbia presents all the amenities you’d want, like a swimming pool, clubhouse, park, lighted walking trails, 200-acre lake, a YMCA, and an active community. Here are 5 ways to make your Christmas wish come true:

#1. 909 Layton Way is a single-level home with 1,506 square feet, perfect as your year-round residence or a vacation getaway on the lake. This Calhoun floor plan features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, an open concept floor plan, 2-car garage, and private patio. Reduced from $224,900 to $209,900

#2. 905 Layton Way offers 1,700 square feet of stylish space. From the brick exterior to the grandeur of the open concept and lavish master suite, this 3-bedroom, 2-bath Woodland design includes hardwood flooring in the foyer, a fenced back yard, and energy-efficient appliances and systems. Reduced from $249,900 to $219,900

#3. 932 Layton Way also reflects the 1,506-square-foot Calhoun home design from McGuinn Hybrid Homes. Starting with eye-catching curb appeal with the brick facade and covered porch, this new construction home provides the comfort and convenience of single-level living. Reduced from $224,900 to $209,900

#4. 913 Layton Way is distinctive at first glance. Architectural details of this Woodland floor plan continue from the exterior to the smartly designed 1,700-square-foot interior. The master suite includes both a garden tub and step-in shower. With 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, this unique home could be the perfect fit for you. Reduced from $249,900 to $219,900

#5. 908 Layton Way is getting its finishing touches. With our holiday special, you’ll save $30,000 on this Woodland home design, one of our most popular. This ranch-style home provides energy efficiency that increases the value even more. If you want 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 9-foot ceilings, and a spacious, open living area, this home and special offer are waiting for you. Reduced from $249,900 to $219,900

Our Hill Creek community in Irmo is a short drive from Lake Murray, and offers easy access to I-26 for a quick trip to Columbia. McGuinn Hybrid Homes has included one home on our “12 Deals of Christmas List”.

#6. 112 Aspen Court is a stunning, 2-story home with a spacious deck and front porch. Step inside to 2,313 square feet of living space that includes 3 large bedrooms, 2 baths, a center island kitchen, open floor plan, and large yard. Reduced from $247,900 to $219,900

Lexington, SC, is close enough to Columbia to keep you connected with city life, but far enough away to enjoy suburban serenity.  Woodmill is one of McGuinn Hybrid Homes’ Lexington communities, not far from Lake Murray and the Saluda River, as well as close to great schools. Our Christmas “gift list” continues with 2 Woodmill single-family homes for sale at a reduced price.

#7. 274 Woodmill Circle shows off our Stonebridge floor plan, a 2-story home with 2,307 square feet, 4 bedrooms, and 2.5 baths. We’ve incorporated quality details throughout the brick home’s interior, like a butler’s pantry, pendant lights, granite countertops, crown molding, and a luxurious master suite. Reduced from $267,900 to $247,900

#8. 202 Woodmill Circle showcases how McGuinn Hybrid Homes personalizes every home. We approach each one with a vision of the family that will live there. Like 274 Woodmill and 206 Woodmill, this single-family home includes 4 bedrooms and 2 baths, and so many more details to appreciate. Reduced from $267,900 to $247,900

Panorama Point in Gilbert is close to Lexington and I-26 to take you to Downtown Columbia in just 25 minutes. In addition to convenient access, this lakefront community offers scenic views and plenty of recreation. We wrap up our “12 Deals of Christmas” with one move-in ready home in Panorama Point that presents an outstanding opportunity,

#9. 511 Sunny Cove Court is an executive home that is worthy of a closer look. We built this exceptional, 2-story home in our Cleveland floor plan, which provides 3,18 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and the smart use of space. This luxury home features a gourmet kitchen with a butler’s pantry, and a flex room that could be transformed to a home office, library, media room, or hobby studio. The dining area is accented with a coffered ceiling and six-foot windows. Live in high style at the lake!  Reduced from $824,900 to $799,900

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice in 2018, end the year on a positive and powerful note. Come and see any of these new construction homes and reap the rewards of huge savings! Contact McGuinn Hybrid Homes for more information and to schedule your personal tour.

Your decor reflects style, but it’s the light that creates ambience. From the style to the bulbs, your fixtures set the atmosphere. McGuinn Hybrid Homes can shed some light on the subject by offering tips for choosing the right lighting throughout your home.

The correct lighting will vary from one space to the next, so let’s take a walk through your home.

Entry and foyer

The first impression is made here. What should it be? Classically elegant, a warm welcome, or sleek contemporary? A chandelier is a good choice if you have the space, but be careful to balance the size of the fixture with the area it’s illuminating: too large and you dwarf the entry, too small and it gets lost.

Complementary wall sconces are a good addition to a foyer, lighting the way to the main living area and the staircase. Sconces should be mounted at eye level so that you see the light and not the bulb inside.

Main living area

Lighting an open floor plan might feel like a challenge, but if you break it into zones like you did with the decorating, you can see your way clear to do it right. Overhead recessed lights are great to brighten up the whole room, but be sure to add dimmers so you can control the intensity.

Then, focus on the zones for task lighting. Wall sconces brighten up dark corners. Table and floor lamps bring in style. Again, keep everything in proportion so that your lamps blend with your decor without overpowering it. Remember, a lamp shade is a quick makeover that can do wonders to brighten up the lamp or coordinate floor and table lamps that have different bases.

The dining area in your open floor plan will do well with pendant lights, particularly for rectangular tables. The number of pendants will depend on the size of your table.

The correct size for the fixture is half to two-thirds the width of the table or one foot smaller than the diameter for a round dining table.

For an 8-foot ceiling, hang the lights with 30 to 36 inches between the table top and the bottom of the fixture. If you have a higher ceiling, add 3 inches for every additional foot of ceiling height. The total wattage of your dining room fixture’s bulbs should be 200 to 400 watts.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the most task-oriented space in your home, so plan to utilize a variety of light fixtures here. Recessed lighting is a great choice to brighten up this vital workspace, but you’ll need focused lights on specific spaces.

The center island or peninsula benefits from pendant lights with dimmers, so you can go from bright light when you’re doing prep to a softer one when using it as a buffet. Like the light fixture over your dining room table, the pendants should clear the countertop surface by 30 to 36 inches. This distance is close enough to light up the area without blocking the view. Feel free to move them up a bit if you have taller people in the household.

Mount a fixture over the kitchen sink (unless it’s part of the island) so you have a clear view here. If you prefer, install recessed lighting directly over this space.

Under-cabinet lighting is the unsung hero of the kitchen. How many times have you found yourself trying to measure or chop something without good light?

In all the kitchen fixtures, use a bright CFL bulb so you don’t strain your eyes. It’s always better to have a dimmer switch than a dim bulb.

Bathroom

Here’s another task lighting project. The light you use over the sink is probably brighter than the one you want over your soaking tub.

Today’s bathrooms are trending toward more decor, treating this space like a room, rather than a function. Chandeliers present a popular choice to spark your bathroom’s style. Suspend the chandelier in the middle of a large bathroom, using the right proportions, or directly over your tub if you want to highlight that space. Since this bathroom chandelier provides mood rather than task lighting, use a dimmer switch to get the right glow.

The vanity usually has a fixture above it, but you’ll likely be the victim of overhead shadows that highlight the wrong features when you look in the mirror. Try placing wall sconces on each side of the mirror and recessed lighting that isn’t directly above it. The sconces should be mounted approximately 75 to 80 inches above the floor so the light is casting on you from the side and slightly above. Remember that while soft lights are easy on the eyes (particularly important when you get up in the middle of the night), they don’t reflect accurate skin tones. If that’s important to you, choose a crisp white LED bulb.

Overhead lighting should also be used in the shower and above the toilet.

Bedrooms

Overhead lights are good to provide just that, but since your bedroom is your escape from the rest of the household, you should do more.

Bedside lighting shines the light you need while also accentuating the decor. Choose table lamps, wall lamps, or even pendants to fill this void. Any mounted fixture opens up the area on your nightstand—eliminating the issue of bumping the shade or knocking over the lamp. However, once you commit to installing a wall lamp or pendants, you also commit to the placement of your bed.

If you decide to use table lamps on your nightstand, choose a style where you can easily switch it on and off while reclining.

Don’t forget about closet lighting! Place overhead or recessed lights so you can see your wardrobe choices. In a large, walk-in, make sure the dark corners have sufficient light, too.

2019 lighting trends for the home

In the coming year, we’ll see some style changes in lighting for the home.

Pendants will make a bigger statement than ever in 2019. Decorators are taking a shine to mixing a blend of sizes of pendants, which can replace a chandelier and add definite visual appeal.

Edison bulbs are available in so many shapes and styles right now that they will be showing up in just about any clear fixture—pendants and globes to sconces and string lights.

While certainly not new, the industrial look will manufacture even more popularity. Expect the distinctive look to take on more gold tones—matte, not polished—giving homeowners more choices.

The Farmhouse style isn’t going anywhere either. You’ll see more choices for overhead fixtures, pendants, and lamps—with maybe an influence of industrial style.

Also look for Mid-Century Modern to maintain its strength as a decorating style. The simplicity and clean lines appeal to people who like minimalist decor, as well as those who welcome the retro look and feel.

Maybe you don’t just need a change in your current home, but a new one altogether! For 33 years, McGuinn Hybrid Homes has been pioneering the design and construction of energy-efficient, affordable, single-family homes in the Columbia, SC, region. Wander virtually through our communities of new construction homes and. We also build on your lot, so if you’re not finding the ideal location, let us know! Then contact us to brighten up your home life!

McGuinn Hybrid Homes has begun a unique community of new construction homes in the scenic area outside of Columbia, SC. You could be one of the first to discover Woodmill, where new homes are coming to Lake Murray in Lexington, SC.

Start with the right location

For this new community, McGuinn Hybrid Homes chose a location that’s near Lake Murray and the Saluda River, so homeowners can experience the benefits of these beautiful waterways. Off Corley Mill Road, Woodmill is surrounded by wooded areas, adding to the natural feeling of living out in the country, even though the city is just 15 miles away. You can easily commute to and from your peaceful community or head into the city for Columbia’s wealth of urban activities.

Students who live in Woodmill attend Midway Elementary, Meadow Glen Middle, and River Bluff High School—all highly rated for academics and the overall educational experience.

Living in Woodmill means you can spend a day on the lake—fishing, boating, swimming, and other water sports, hiking, camping, or simply picnicking by the shore. You’re close to championship golf courses, tennis clubs, parks, playgrounds, and more recreational venues. And with Columbia’s weather, you have many months to get out and get physical!

Your country lifestyle will also include farm-fresh food. Lexington’s weekly farmer’s market runs from May through September. It’s a popular place to get the first pick of the harvest, explore the work of local artisans, and meet up with friends and neighbors.

Lexington is also home to the Icehouse Amphitheater, a local destination for world-class entertainment. The site was purchased by the Town of Lexington in 2012. The facility is evolving into a community hub, with outdoor concerts, movies, and special events. As a Lexington resident, you’ll see the Icehouse continue to be an inviting destination in your hometown.

Create the right lifestyle

The homesites at Woodmill are designed for privacy, with woods defining the outer boundary. In the center of the community, the backyards are separated by an alley-like drive, rather than backing up to one another.

McGuinn Hybrid Homes designed the floor plans here for a comfortable 2,307 square feet, and with the versatility and flexibility to make the home uniquely your own. With prices starting in the mid-$200,000’s for a 4-bedroom home, you get quality construction and standard features that will feel far more luxurious.

As part of our energy-efficient construction, McGuinn Hybrid Homes builds with thermal enveloping air barriers, which protects your home from costly air leaks. We incorporate eco-friendly natural gas heat and Low E windows. The tankless water heater installed in every home doesn’t run out of hot water like conventional water heaters that store it up. Instead, the tankless system heats on demand, which uses less energy and delivers a steadier flow of hot water. The slow-flow faucets conserve water without compromising water pressure, and dual programmable thermostats give you more control over the indoor temperatures.

We also include ENERGY STAR-certified appliances. A stainless steel Frigidaire smooth top range, microwave, and dishwasher are installed in our homes, giving you the peace of mind that comes with lasting quality.

We also build in style and comfort, like a first-floor master suite, walk-in closets with every bedroom, and a covered front porch and rear patio.

Lexington delivers a quality of life that could be perfect for you. Come and see what we’re talking about. Contact us to see what’s coming to Woodmill, including three new homes now under construction. With payments as low as $1,527 per month, a new home and a new location could be more affordable than you imagined!

What does the dream of your next home look like? Is it out in the country or in a neighborhood? If you can’t seem to find the right home in the right place, maybe you’ve decided to find the land and hire a builder to construct your dream home. When that’s the direction you’re taking, McGuinn Hybrid Homes has tips for choosing land to build on your lot.

#1. Talk to a builder before you buy.

As appealing as a piece of undeveloped land may look, unless you understand excavation and building, don’t assume it’s buildable. Save yourself the time and trouble (and money!) by talking to a builder first. You might discover that not every building company is willing to build on land they don’t already own. Make sure you find one who has experience with site preparation, which includes demolition and excavation. For example, if an existing home is demolished without a permit, you can run into delays because all of the material removed from the site needs to be accounted for (e.g., where did the asbestos go?).

Talk to the builder about the property you’re looking for. Ask if they’ll take a look at the land before you enter a bid or make a purchase. In some cases, you can make an offer and include the contingency that the land (1) must pass the percolation (“perc”) test for septic, (if it hasn’t been tested already); and (2) must be approved by the builder as a “buildable” lot.

#2. Look for the right combination.

Tim Rawlings, McGuinn Hybrid Homes’ Lot Sales and Marketing Manager, advises you to look for three factors when choosing land to build on:

“It should be flat, cleared, with water and sewer.”

Land that is level and cleared requires considerably less site prep, which means the overall cost to build a home is less. McGuinn Hybrid Homes bases its homebuilding prices on a slab foundation, which requires flat land. Even if you want a crawl space under your home, you need to start with level land.

Property that has water and sewer lines available is less expensive than digging a septic system and a well.

Tim says it can be difficult to find land that has all three characteristics, but it’s helpful to understand why they are important to your building plans.

#3. Reconsider the neighborhoods.

Before you fall in love with a homesite that’s available within a community, find out the restrictions of building a home there. You might have to submit your plans to an architectural review board for that neighborhood. Their requirements could cause you to run up a significant expense for redoing the plans to their liking.

#4. Avoid the tax pitfall with farm land.

Are you getting a parcel from the family’s land? If that piece of land has been taxed as agricultural, make sure you designate only the land you’re building on as residential. At least in South Carolina, the tax rate between agricultural land and residential land can make a big difference in your cost. When converting the land to residential, be aware that roll-back taxes may be involved.

As with any big decision, do your homework. You can avoid the pitfalls that could be lurking beneath that scenic piece of land by consulting a knowledgeable builder. In the Columbia, SC, area, talk to Tim at McGuinn Hybrid Homes. You can count on his deep experience in excavation, site prep, home design, and energy-efficient construction.

If you decide you’d rather buy a move-in ready home or build in one of our many communities of single-family homes, take a look at all that we have to offer!

The holidays are here. It’s the time of year when you try to juggle all the preparation while maintaining a joyful spirit. All year long, you’ve made “To Do” lists for fixing up your home before the end of the year. How have you done with that? Now, time is running out and you’ve got to focus on what you can get done. If you’re planning on overnight visitors, here are some McGuinn Hybrid Homes tips to get your guest room ready for the holidays.

De-clutter the room.

Go into your guest room and lie on the bed. Look around and what do you see? What seems out of place? Is it cluttered? Often, the guest room is where things are stashed when you don’t know where else to put them. Maybe you have your craft supplies in there, or the kids’ excess toys or the closet is filled with clothes that are out of season. What has been tucked away in the nightstands?

If you want to make your visitors feel welcome, don’t put them in a glorified storage closet. Move out the things that don’t belong in a guest room. Use a few plastic bins to pack them up. After the holidays, sort through those bins (don’t even attempt it now!) and decide what to do with everything.

Change the bedding.

Unless you have a steady stream of overnight guests, chances are, the bedding hasn’t been refreshed in awhile. Is it still in good condition? Check out the pillows. Are they still fluffy and fresh smelling? Wash everything, including the mattress pad and bed skirt. Whether or not you decide to purchase new bedding, add a couple of holiday-themed throw pillows to the bed.

While you’re checking out the condition of the bedding, also look at what you’ll be providing for guest towels. Would it hurt to buy a couple of new sets?

Is the mattress comfortable? A memory foam mattress topper can go a long way toward improving the comfort when you don’t want to rush out and buy a new mattress set this time of year.

Make it festive.

Spread the holiday cheer all the way to the guest room. Place a Christmas cactus, poinsettia, amaryllis, or a seasonal floral arrangement on the dresser. Turn on battery-operated candles in the bedroom and guest bath (avoid live flames). Hang some holiday decor on the wall, or wrap up the framed art on the wall to resemble a gift for an easy and festive accent.

You will also make them feel welcome by putting together a goodie basket. Gather up individually wrapped crackers, cookies, granola bars, mints, nuts, and candies. This little bonus helps those visitors who might want a late-night or early-morning snack.

Plan for next year

If you find that your house just doesn’t seem to fit any more, start looking ahead to where you will live next Christmas. Don’t spend another holiday “making do”. McGuinn Hybrid Homes builds energy-efficient, single-family homes and townhomes in the Columbia, SC, area. Our communities span a wide range of styles and sizes, from 1,506 to 4,128 square feet, single-level or two-story. We also have move-in ready homes to start the new year off right. Talk to us about finding the home that fits your lifestyle and budget.

Has the holiday spirit hit you yet? All of us at McGuinn Hybrid Homes are feeling it as we work with homeowners and in communities throughout the Columbia, SC, area. If you’re having trouble switching over to holiday mode, look for some hometown holiday activities to get you started. Here’s what’s happening around Lake Carolina and the Centennial area.

On Thanksgiving morning, get the turkey in the oven and head to the Lake Carolina Town Center for the Catch the Gobbler 5K Fun Run/Walk. You don’t have to pre-register. Just show up by 8:30 a.m., ready to work off some calories before the big feast.

There’s nothing like a local rivalry to get your heart pumping. Our local high schools have their Thanksgiving Day football match-ups. The Spring Valley Vikings take on the Richland Northeast Cavaliers, and the Westwood Redhawks battle the Blythewood Bengals. Whether or not you have high school students, a Thanksgiving Day game is a real spirit-booster!

Ready for some sparkle? Holiday Lights on the River is an annual spectacle that will surely spark your spirit. From November 30 through December 31 (except Christmas Eve and Christmas), venture over to Saluda Shoals Park East for a nightly show. More than 400 animated displays and a laser light show create a festival atmosphere. Toast marshmallows, make a craft, take a trip on the Saluda Shoals Park Train and down the Winter Wonder Ride Tube Slide. Santa makes a nightly appearance from December 14 to 23, before heading back to the North Pole for his annual ride.

On Saturday, December 8, Harborside Lights returns to the Lake Carolina Town Center. This annual holiday event features horse-drawn carriage rides, live music, and a festival of millions of twinkling lights. Roast marshmallows, make s’mores, and much on other refreshments. The kids will have fun with Sarah Dippity face painting, Balloonopolis, and the John Tudor Magic Show. The Carillon Carolers will roam through the area singing Christmas carols. Our families living at Centennial at Lake Carolina make this an annual part of their December calendar.

The Harborside Lights 5K and Kids Fun Run starts at the Lake Carolina Town Center at 5 p.m. on December 8. Wear your favorite Ugly Christmas Sweater or another outfit. Registration starts at 4 p.m.

If you’re ready for truly unique holiday gifts, the Columbia area hosts a variety of opportunities:

• The Sustainable Holiday Celebration and Market takes place on November 26, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 701 Whaley in Columbia. With so many works by local artisans, you’ll definitely find meaningful treasures. Local chefs will also serve up their culinary excellence, with a wine bar to complement the festivities.
• The Junior League of Columbia’s 33rd Annual Holiday Market presents four days of shopping (November 29-December 2) with more than 160 vendors. This is a major fundraiser for the JLC, and it kicks off with a black-tie preview on November 28, followed by Ladies Night Out on November 29. Head to the Cantey and Goodman Buildings at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia for a different shopping experience.

For some SERIOUS holiday shopping, browse the move-in ready homes now available at Centennial at Lake Carolina in Columbia. You could become part of this active lakeside community and take part in the festivities as a homeowner instead of a visitor! And this lifestyle is affordably priced from $219,900 for highly energy-efficient, single-family homes.

When you come for the holiday events at Lake Carolina, take a trip through our neighborhood. Then contact Jennifer at McGuinn Hybrid Homes to give yourself a gift like never before!

Have you been naughty or nice this year? Either way, you can’t expect Santa to bring you a new home for Christmas, but you can still be living in a new home by the time he comes down the chimney. With McGuinn Hybrid Homes’ move-in ready homes, you’ll be in your new place in time to light the Yule log in the fireplace. Buy a home that’s ready for the holidays, like one of these single-family homes for sale in Columbia, SC, and the surrounding cities and towns.

Centennial at Lake Carolina, Columbia, SC

McGuinn Hybrid Homes has a community within one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in northeast Columbia. Spend your holidays lakeside, finish up your shopping at the nearby Village at Sandhill Mall, and plan to spend New Year’s Eve at one of the country clubs close to Centennial at Lake Carolina.

913 Layton Way offers 1,700 square feet of finished living space, with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. A combination of style, convenience, and energy-efficiency, this single-level, Woodland floor plan features granite countertops, a garden tub in the master bath with a separate shower, 9-foot ceilings, 2-car garage, and energy efficient features that include tankless water heater, plus much more! $229,900

932 Layton Way showcases our popular Calhoun home design. Perfect for the first-time homebuyer or downsizer, this 1,506-square-foot home presents a welcoming first impression, with a brick facade and covered front porch. Step inside to a light-filled open floor plan, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths, fully appointed and ready for your holiday decor. $219,900

Harbour Watch, Leesville, SC

Spend your holidays on Lake Murray when you choose to live at Harbour Watch. This gated community has a clubhouse where you can celebrate with your new neighbors and friends, as well as many more amenities and a picturesque location.

115 Southpark Place presents our spacious, 3,343-square-foot Aiken design. The brick home gives you plenty of room to entertain. The expansive open concept incorporates a great room, gorgeous kitchen, and dining room—surrounded by large windows that allow the sunshine to light up the interior. The master suite is situated on the first floor, with 3 more bedrooms upstairs, and a total of 2.5 baths. Boat owners will appreciate the deeded boat slip included with this home. $379,900

Spence Plantation, Lexington, SC

Are you looking for a lake home with plenty of space, indoors and out? Spence Plantation gives you an idyllic lifestyle in a gated community on Lake Murray. Every home we build here is designed for 4 to 6 bedrooms, and the design details you want—and deserve.

18 Due West Drive is distinctive from first glance. This stately brick home is designed in McGuinn Hybrid Homes’ Cleveland floor plan, with 4,361 square feet, 4 bedrooms, and 3.5 baths. Step inside and discover how these numbers translate to grandeur and exceptional design. Details like coffered ceilings, a massive owner’s closet, chef’s kitchen with a butler’s pantry, and built-in bookcases enhance this executive home. $529,900

Pintail Point, Leesville, SC

McGuinn Hybrid Homes offers yet another fine community of new homes on Lake Murray. Luxury living is defined here by oversized lots and community amenities that take full advantage of the scenic location: lakefront clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts, and nature trails.

112 Pintail Lake Drive is waiting for you to bring your holiday spirit! Picture your lights and decorations on the front porch of this Craftsman-inspired Cleveland floor plan. With 3,387 square feet of stylish living space, you’ll have plenty to celebrate. This new construction home includes a first-floor guest suite. The owner’s suite upstairs provides the ideal retreat during the hectic holidays. This modified Cleveland also features a third suite—a total of 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths. There’s nothing ho-ho-hum about this stunning luxury home. $379,900

Before Black Friday strikes, start your holiday shopping with McGuinn Hybrid Homes. All of these homes and more are move-in ready right now! Get in touch to learn more and plan your personal tour.

Halloween is filled with spooks and scary stuff. But it should all be in fun, not fear for the safety  of your children. You can stay sane and safe this Halloween by following these tips from McGuinn Hybrid Homes.

Consider safety when choosing a costume.

Some ideas seem great on paper but become hazardous when worn. Before you launch into creating or buying a costume, keep these Halloween safety tips in mind:

• Black needs bright accessories. If your little witch or ghoul needs to be dressed in black, be sure to sneak in some glow-in-the-dark or reflective tape and give each one a supply of glow sticks.
• Choose face paint over masks. Any mask could restrict the child’s view. At the very least, masks should be removed when walking and crossing the streets.
• Test the make-up. Prevent allergic reactions to face paint or other make-up. Before applying any of it to a child, apply a small amount to their arm a few days in advance and watch for signs of a possible problem.
• Avoid tripping hazards. The costume should fit properly. A long cape or flowing dress looks amazing but could cause a nasty fall.
• Test the walkability factor. Be sure that any costume you choose makes it easy for the child to walk and bend over without difficulty. We’ve seen too many adorable robots who fall down and can’t get up without help or retrieve candy that they’ve dropped.

Plan a trick-or-treat route.

Decide in advance where you and your family members will be hunting for treats.

• Choose neighborhoods with street lights and sidewalks. Avoid any areas where pedestrians aren’t easy to see. If you live in a new home community or subdivision, share the fun by visiting your neighbors!
• Stick to familiar places. Don’t stray beyond the areas where you know the people living there.
• No short cuts allowed. If you have older children who are trick-or-treating with friends, make sure they know they must stick to the route. Detours could lead them off track, into areas where they don’t belong.
• Choose a meet-up place. If you want to let some of your older children move on ahead, tell them when and where to meet you. Make sure they have a cell phone so they can check the time and stay in contact. And never allow anyone to trick-or-treat alone!

The bag stops here.

Your trick-or-treaters come home and immediately empty their bag of goodies. Before they launch into a sugar rush, follow some basic rules.

• Ration the rewards. It’s probably past bedtime, and the last thing you want is a child fueled with a sugar overdose. Give them each their choice of one or two pieces before bedtime.
• No goodies in the bedroom. As much as they might want to sneak away and horde their haul, this is a bad practice. First of all, kids should learn sharing. There are probably many items in that bag that they won’t want. Encourage swapping and sharing with other household members (of all ages). Secondly, a child with a candy cache in their room can be a dietary nightmare. They’ll eat it whenever they want, spoil their appetite, and likely leave bits and pieces where they become a melted, dust-covered mess.
• Inspect the treats. Examine every piece in the bag, looking for any opening in the wrappers that could signal the treat has been tampered with, or potentially contain germs. Also, discard all homemade treats, unless you know for sure who made them.

We love seeing everyone dress up at Halloween, including grown-up kids. We also want you to stay safe while enjoying the spirit of the holiday.

To all of our friends and family of homeowners, McGuinn Hybrid Homes wishes you a fun-filled Halloween!

Do you remember when the bathroom was strictly a utilitarian space? Homeowners didn’t invest time and money into making them more elegant—in part, because choices were limited. Not so, today! The bathroom has become an essential design feature, with many homeowners seeking that spa experience. Maybe the walk-through shower, freestanding soaker tub, and those stone vessel sinks you’ve been eyeing are out of reach for your price range, but McGuinn Hybrid Homes has some ideas for bathroom design on a budget.

#1. Determine and budget—and stick with it.

Before you set foot in a design center or home store, know your limits. How much can you afford? And when push comes to shove, where are you willing to budge on your budget? What are your priorities? If the tub is all important to you, shift some of your bathroom bucks from one feature to the cost of the tub.

#2. Start with color.

You might be surprised how the right color choice can spruce up the bathroom. For the price of a can of paint, you create the frame for your new bathroom. Soft colors are ideal for the “ah” of the spa you want, but don’t be afraid to go bold, if that’s your style.

#3. You can have your tub and shower, too.

You might want a separate shower and bathtub, but if that option is beyond your space and budget, consider a combination of garden tub with a showerhead. For a bit more luxury, add a tile surround with an inset shelf for soap, shampoo, and all the other incidentals. We include a garden tub and separate shower with tile surround, so if you’re buying your new construction home from McGuinn Hybrid Homes, this feature is already in your budget!

#4. Trim it out.

Accents like beadboard, shiplap, and wainscoting add texture and style to any room, so why not use this trim in your bathroom? With minimal wall space to cover, the cost is affordable.

#5. Top it off.

You have many choices of countertops for your bathroom vanities: solid surface, cultured marble, marble, laminate, and granite, for example. Your bathroom countertops aren’t subject to the heavy use as your kitchen countertops, so you can opt for the less expensive choices, like solid surface and cultured marble. Depending on the size of your vanity, you might not see a big price difference (or at least, not one that strains your budget). At McGuinn Hybrid Homes, however, we go for the granite. It’s included as a standard feature in our bathrooms.

#6. Look in the mirror.

A framed mirror adds a nice finish in the bathroom, and it’s an affordable way to upgrade the space. Choose a frame that reflects your personal style, from contemporary to coastal to vintage.

Every detail matters. When you want an award-winning, local homebuilder who appreciates that truth, talk to McGuinn Hybrid Homes. Our communities of new construction, single-family homes and townhomes are situated in prime locations around the Columbia, SC, region. We’re ready to build the home that suits your style, in our neighborhoods on on your own land. We make it affordable to get the home you want.

Hurricane Florence struck North and South Carolina on September 14. Residents watched the path of the life-threatening, category 4 storm, and braced for winds of up to 130 miles per hour and flooding from the pummeling rains. As a homebuilder, McGuinn Hybrid Homes had to prepare for Florence, protecting our employees and the homes under construction for our homebuyers.

As soon as we heard about the impending hurricane, the McGuinn Hybrid Homes’ crews jumped into action, following the protocol we have for these situations. Every construction site shifted from building to protecting the homes and the areas around them. A lot of these materials can become a dangerous projectile when powerful winds whip through, so we have to secure everything.

Homes that are in the early stages of construction—before the framing is done—are preparing to build, so it’s mostly materials that need to be protected. Our crews brace off and tie down everything. The materials can get wet; we give them time to dry before covering them up after the storm passes.

The middle stages present the biggest challenge when preparing for a storm. We’ve already begun to install the interior and exterior finishes. We could have many unprotected products inside the home. Our team boards up doorways and garages to secure the home.

Homes in the final stages are the easiest to secure. We can close them up as a homeowner would do, and trust that our construction practices weather the storm. Roof lifting is one of the biggest causes of damage during heavy storms. McGuinn Hybrid Homes incorporates hurricane clips during the framing process. These clips secure the roof to the walls at each end of every truss. The waterproof house wrap and envelope we install on the exterior of the home is the best defense against the storm. Unfortunately, hurricane winds can force water into areas that would not normally be permeated, so we can never be 100% resistant to it. ,We can only put 100% of our knowledge and effort into the best defense!

When Hurricane Florence hit the Columbia, SC, area, it had been downgraded to a category 1 hurricane. There was still flooding and wind damage, but overall, our preparedness paid off. Some flying debris broke glass here and there, and the heavy rains caused soil erosion, which happens after any major rainstorm.

Most importantly, everyone was safe. McGuinn Hybrid Homes’ team was on the job the very next day—cleaning up, making repairs, and so very thankful we safely, successfully navigated the emergency,

You can’t anticipate natural disasters, but you can plan ahead to be ready. Make sure your home is built to stay strong during a big storm. McGuinn Hybrid Homes makes sure that every one of our homeowners has this confidence. When you’re ready for a new townhome or single-family home, see what we have to offer. We build communities of new construction homes and townhomes in Columbia and the surrounding cities and towns, and McGuinn Hybrid Homes will also build a home on your land. We’re a local homebuilder, part of the Columbia community for 33 years. Come talk to us to make the move toward a safer, more energy efficient home for you and your family.