Handyman in Cadence

Cadence is a 2,200-acre master plan off Lake Mead Parkway, between the older part of Henderson and Lake Las Vegas. Its master developer is The LandWell Company, the land development arm of Basic Management, Inc. Groundbreaking came in August 2013, and home sales began in December 2014. For a handyman in Cadence, that means every house is less than 12 years old.

The plan allows for up to 12,250 homes, about 450 acres of open space and a Central Park of nearly 50 acres with splash pads, pickleball courts, two amphitheaters and an adventure playground. Builders listed by the community include Beazer, Century Communities, D.R. Horton, Lennar, Richmond American, Taylor Morrison and Woodside.

New construction hands you a clean slate and a lot of boxes. Appliance installation is often first, since washers, dryers and refrigerators are not always part of the sale. After that come furniture assembly, mirrors and curtain rods anchored into studs, and a tile backsplash in kitchens that came with bare drywall behind the counters.

If you have a dog and a small yard, a doggie door in a wall or a sliding-door panel saves a lot of getting up. Childproofing is also easier in a new house before the cabinets fill up: latches, outlet covers and furniture anchored to the wall.

A brand-new house still moves. As framing dries and the house settles, doors can start to rub and the first bead of caulk around tubs and counters can pull away. We adjust or rehang sticking doors, recaulk where the seal has opened, and handle any drywall touch-ups that come with settling.

Cadence has a master homeowners association plus sub-associations in some neighborhoods, so check the rules before exterior paint, a new front door or outdoor lighting. Permits, when a job needs one, come from the City of Henderson.