Michigan Custom Log Homes: March 2006 Newsletter

Welcome to The Leelanau Log Home Company E-Newsletter. This is a free monthly electronic newsletter that offers helpful tips and suggestions about log homes in general and specifically The Original Lincoln Logs LTD system. We'll cover a variety of topics from planning, buying, constructing, owning and maintaining a log home.

The Leelanau Log Home Company welcomes your feedback, including topics you may wish to see in future issues. If, at any time, you decide you would rather not receive our E-newsletter, please visit http://www.leelanauloghomes.com to remove yourself from our electronic subscriber list.

Thank you for subscribing to our E-Newsletter. Enjoy!

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March 2006 (Volume 1, Issue 6):

Announcements: Lincoln Spring Savings Promotion
Tip of the Month: Tips for shopping at a log home show
Model Home News
Featured Floorplan: Woodside
Website Spotlight: E-scape Art Glass

1. Announcements:

Lincoln Spring
Savings Promotion

Buy now, save big!

Take your choice:
Free Options or Cash Back.

March Savings:

10.0% of base package toward options, Or 5.0% cash discount

April Savings:

7.5% of base package toward options, Or 2.5% cash discount

There may never be a better time to reserve your Lincoln Logs home for summer or fall delivery. It's your choice -- get more and spend less by choosing a substantial credit toward popular options and upgrades, like cathedral ceilings, cedar decking and fixed glass packages, or take a cash discount on your purchase. Either way, the sooner you act, the more you save. This offer is good on all Lincoln Logs standard or custom homes. Don't delay, this offer will expire on April 30, 2006. Call us today so we can discuss your ideas and plans. We look forward to speaking with you soon, and to working with you to make your new Lincoln Logs home a beautiful reality.

This promotion can not be used with any other promotion. Cabin Series, garage packages, solariums & engineering/design fees are not eligible.

Contact us today!

2. Tip of the Month: Tips for Shopping at a Log Home Show

Log home shows are a great way to shop for a log home package. Almost everything you'll need is under one roof. But not all shopping experiences are created equal. If you do some homework before you attend, you can save valuable time and money, and let's face it, comparison shopping can be challenging. I've outlined a few suggested tips that can help make your visit to a log home show a fun an informative experience.

Brad's Suggested Log Home Show Tips:

Do some homework: Find out what log home companies are participating in the show. If the show is advertised as a "log home and/or timber frame show" it's a good bet all the players in the industry will be there.
Beginning shoppers: If you are just getting started, please do yourself a big favor and do some preliminary research of products and services before you attend. This can be done using the Internet. Be an educated consumer so your purchase decision is based on your needs and budget. From your research develop a list of comparisons based on the things that are important to you. Some examples might be availability of wood species, log profile, log size, warranty, dealer network, member of the Log Home Council (www.loghomes.org), dealer representative services, package content and costs, etc.
Educated shoppers: Make a game plan. Outline which companies you want to speak with, have your questions ready and go for it.
Talk to a dealer representative: Each booth will have local or regional dealers that represent the company, so it's a good chance to meet the individual who maybe selling you the log home package. Keep in mind, you're not only comparing log home companies, you're also evaluating the local dealer representative. It's important that you have a good rapport. Don't be shy -- ask tough questions (don't forget to bring your notes).
Call ahead: Call the local dealer representatives and speak with them before you attend. Tell them you'll be at the show and would like to meet them to discuss your log home project. It's a good way to jump start the relationship.
Notes: Bring your notes, written questions and pen and paper. If you don't take notes, all the information will begin to run together.
Attend the free seminars: Some of the log home companies will conduct free seminars. Attend them. There's plenty of good information and often a Q&A session. Remember to take notes.
Bring your floorplan: If you already have a floorplan, bring it with you, along with some copies and ask for a log home package quote.
Make a game plan: Most shows are two to three days. Consider attending more than one day so you can spend quality time getting to know your local dealer, ask detailed questions and learn more about their products and services.
See Lincoln: Make sure The Original Lincoln Logs LTD is on your short list.
Probably the best tip I can offer -- have fun and enjoy the experience!

We look forward to seeing at the SHOW!

Michigan Log Home Shows:

September 8-10, 2006
Log Home Show
Kellogg Arena
Battle Creek, Michigan
More information to come, stay tuned.

October 7- 8, 2006
Northern Michigan's Log & Timber Home Show
North Central Michigan College
1515 Howard Street, Petoskey, Michigan 49770

Check our Calendar of Events often to for future shows, open houses and other events.

3. Model Home News:

The exterior trim work has been completed along with rough framing the 3-car garage. Work is complete on the rough plumbing, electrical and HVAC and all have passed local building inspections. We just finished installing fiberglass insulation in the gable walls, second level walls and ceiling. The next phase of the project will be hanging drywall and nailing T&G Pine for the interior walls.

We'd like to thank the following:

Larry Price Excavating
Leelanau Redi-Mix (Foundation and drain field).
Cousin Carl . Thanks for your help with the site excavation.
Mary Ann & Bill Coyle (Jim's Mom and Dad). Thank you for your support and encouragement.
Bobby G's Carpentry (Rough Framing).
Roof Doctor (Roofing).
M&M Contracting, Larry Morton (Plumbing and HVAC)
Bob's Well Drilling
Positive Chimney
Consumers Energy
Charter Cable
T.J. Dalton, Electrician

Pictured below is a photo of the boiler, hot water heater and radiant heat tubing for the six zones. For more photos please go to our website and click "Construction Photos."

If you are interested in personal tour of our model home during the construction phase, please contact us for an appointment or attend one of our scheduled dates. See the Calendar of Events.

4. Featured Floorplan: Woodside

3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms

Main level: 1,244 sq. ft.
Second level: 527 sq. ft.
Total: 1,771 sq. ft.

A traditional design with a modern flair, the Woodside combines the rustic charm of a country cottage with the open comfort of a cape. Cathedral ceilings and gable glass brighten the open great room, while upstairs the master suite and loft offer private space.

For more floorplans access our floorplans database.

5. Website Spotlight: E-scape Art Glass

Northern Michigan is well known as a vacation destination, but this area also boosts some of the most talented artists in the country. During a recent home show, I met James Veenstra of E-scape Art Glass and had a chance to see some of his beautiful glass art.

James specializes in producing custom art glass panels, etchings, and sandblasted images in glass for home and commercial applications. Veenstra specializes in wildlife, nature, equine, sporting, western, religious, and Great Lakes & Maritime art glass.

Checkout his website which features several photo galleries his beautiful works. Enjoy!

E-scape Art Glass
Manton, Michigan
231-824-4000
Email: jim@eaglass.com
Website: www.eaglass.com

Our Lake Leelanau Model Home is always open by appointment. Please call for your personal tour.

Thank you for subscribing to our E-Newsletter. We hope you find the content informative and useful as you pursue your dream to build a beautiful log home. Please contact us if you have any questions or wish to learn more about pricing a Lincoln Logs System Package. We would be happy to schedule a one-on-one planning session to discuss your dream.

Note: The information in this newsletter represents the opinions of The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC based on their knowledge and experience. Because every home and every homeowner is unique, we cannot guarantee that your experience will be the same. By signing up for this newsletter, you acknowledge your understanding of this representation. As an Authorized Independent Lincoln Logs dealer any opinions and or suggested project costs, cost quotes and or material cost and associated construction costs are only opinions based on the experiences of The Leelanau Log Home Company LLC and are not to be considered final or considered as an offer to build. They are for your estimating purposes only. Final costs, which will be provided by your builder of record, will be based on the final engineered blueprints that Lincoln Logs LTD provide and submittal of bids from the builder and or subcontractors and will be identified in a construction contract between you and your builder of record.