Five questions to ask for your future health and comfort
Along with great design and quality construction, most homebuyers want their new home to provide a healthy, comfortable environment and lower energy bills. They want a builder who can ensure those benefits, but many don’t know what questions to ask.
Home pricing is a complex subject. Here’s how we answer the most common question.
One question we get a lot is “What’s the per-square-foot cost of your homes?” Some potential clients come with numbers they found on the internet.
Is it better to build a new home or remodel an older one?
No one will be surprised to hear us argue that building a new home is a better choice than remodeling, just as a remodeling contractor would argue the opposite.
So, with our professional bias disclosed, here are some objective reasons why we believe buying a new home provides greater benefits than remodeling.
Beware the disorganized builder
Investing in the design and construction of a new home is a daunting task—and something most people do just once or maybe twice in a lifetime. The last thing you need is a builder who doesn’t have it together.
Why does that matter? Simply put, homebuilding is an increasingly complex effort.
Quality homes and satisfied customers don’t happen by accident. The best builders have systems to ensure those outcomes.
If you have a complete set of construction documents, including accurate blueprints and product descriptions, then material and labor costs won’t vary much between equivalent professional builders. Most of the price difference will rest with the builder’s fee—the overhead and profit built into the home’s cost.
What does that fee cover? And is a lower fee always better?
The best builders know that the initial meeting is about earning your trust
A big factor in someone’s choice of a builder is their comfort with the first person they meet from the company, whether it’s the owner or one of the staff. Natural rapport is important, but gut feelings also play a role—feelings some homeowners aren’t sure how to interpret.
The quality of the paint job can make or break the look of a custom home.
Many homeowners expect plumbers and electricians to be expensive but are shocked at the prices charged by other subcontractors.
The right materials on the outside of your house can both distinguish it and add to its value.
The exterior finish is a home’s first impression, a greeting to neighbors and visitors, and a mark of the homeowner’s taste and style.
Resilient design is a hallmark of a quality custom home.
A growing topic of discussion among builders in recent years has been resilience. Homes designed and built for resilience will weather all but the most extreme environmental conditions and will remain livable during power outages. They offer homeowners true shelter and peace of mind.
How professional builders create a healthy indoor environment. If you have concerns about how healthy your new home will be, you’re not alone.
In a 2021 survey of 551 American homeowners commissioned by York (a manufacturer of home heating and cooling systems)