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CHECK OUT OUR HELPFUL ARTICLES
We strive to be a valued and ongoing resource for our clients and all those considering building a custom home. You’ll find our blogs to be educational, informational and extremely helpful to you as you consider building a custom home.
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How to Fight Escalating Lumber Prices
The essential skill of value engineering
Lumber continues to be THE big issue in home building. As we write this in May 2021, costs for framing lumber and plywood are three times what they were a year ago. That’s right—they’ve tripled. It’s insane.
Keeping the Authorities Happy
Your home builder needs to navigate a maze of government regulations—homeowners can help make the process easier
A successful new-home build is a predictable one, with no unpleasant surprises. Predictability comes from good planning, as well-planned projects tend to stay on budget and on schedule.
Is the Customer Always Right?
The short answer is no, and here’s why that’s a good thing.
Some builders are what one might call ‘order takers.’ They do anything the homeowners want within the constraints of budget, timetable, and zoning or code regulations. That’s understandable: everyone wants happy customers and positive reviews.
But the best builders understand that an anything-you-want approach really doesn’t serve customers. We would go further and caution people to beware the builder who never pushes back.
Is LVT Right for Your New Home?
Custom homebuyers have asked what we think about this popular flooring. Here’s our answer.
We don’t often talk about products in this newsletter, but when lots of clients ask about a specific one, we like to offer our thoughts. That’s the case with luxury vinyl tile flooring, or LVT. We’re not the only ones getting questions: according to some articles we’ve read, LVT is one of the world’s fastest-growing floor coverings.
Internet Reality Check
Avoid the most common mistakes when searching for ideas on the web
We all love the internet. It’s a bottomless source of ideas and inspiration for any project, and most people wouldn’t think of starting a new custom home before spending some serious time online. The internet is also a valuable resource for builders: it’s where we start our research into new products, technologies and construction methods.
Reducing the Cost of Regulation
Government rules take time, money and skill to navigate. That’s why you need a pro.
Did the budget for your new home come in higher than you expected? Part of the reason may be that the fixed costs of building anything have gone up.
What a Parade!
Thanks to all of you who stopped by to visit our award-winning Parade Home during the recent Parade of Homes. I enjoyed chatting with the many friends, clients and new visitors who stopped by.
I owe a special thanks to our homeowners, Paul & Danita, who so kindly opened their home for all to enjoy.