Do I Buy The Land First?

When should you buy land? That depends on what is most important to you— such as the location or the house itself. Desirable locations don’t stay on the market long. And desirability is in the eye of the beholder. A fantastic, scenic hilltop view may be more important to you than proximity to food shopping or an in-ground swimming pool. Many people balance a variety of factors depending on why they’ve chosen to build.

A general rule of thumb to start with is: 1) Decide what kind of house you want; 2) Select a builder who is capable and willing to build that design; 3) Have your builder review the site before you buy it. As you begin to make choices, you’ll discover what’s important to you.

Good builders should be able to tell you before you buy whether any unusual topography is going to result in higher costs to build. Have the builder walk your potential lot(s) and give recommendations and guidance to where the "hidden" costs might be. The builder can also advise you how your dream home might fit on the lots which you are investigating. Can it have a walkout? Will a pool fit? Most builders will do this free of charge and without any additional commitment from you.

Building Vs Buying

New homes offer numerous advantages including:

Convenience: Kitchens in new homes have dishwashers, microwave ovens, garbage disposals, and other modern appliances built-in for convenience. New homes are built with convenient central heating and central air conditioning. There are more electrical outlets, as well as outlets for cable TV, telephone and computer networks. Bathrooms often have convenient features such as vanity cabinets, large mirrors, and whirlpool tubs.

Energy Efficiency: Because of better windows, more efficient heating and cooling equipment, better control of air infiltration, and greater use of insulation, new homes consume half as much energy as homes built prior to 1980. Old homes tend to be drafty and less comfortable. Also, frost and condensation are more likely to appear on windows of older homes, drip down, and cause deterioration of wood trim and walls.

Less Maintenance: The technology of home building has improved tremendously through modern construction techniques and materials. New homes are built better than ever before. They are solidly constructed and well designed for today's lifestyles. From air-conditioning systems to roofing shingles and windows, modern building products work better, last longer and look better. The result is a brand new home that is far more comfortable and easier to maintain and more enjoyable to live in.

You will get what you want: Why live with other people's taste in interior decoration? Why spend the next few years redoing the previous owner's home improvements when you can get what you want from the very start. From layout to cabinets to carpeting.

Technology: Installation of modern technology and conveniences including satellite TV, home theater, home networking, security systems and more.

Cost per foot

Cost per square foot is a commonly asked question of builders. Each home is quite different and the items included or not included make a major difference in the cost per square foot. There are probably 10,000 variables that can impact square footage cost due to home design, specifications, site conditions, and much more. Therefore, builders cannot give a set price of "X dollars-per-square-foot" cost until all the questions associated with the complexity of design, foundation, roofing, porches, trim, fixtures, flooring, counter top materials, etc. are known.  Every project is priced according to the materials and labor. Greg and Kay will work with you, suggesting alterations and options which can be used to achieve the desired budget.

What are Spec Homes

Spec homes are homes that a builder constructs without a customer. Oftentimes they are show-homes that are built to display the builder's craftsmanship and attract new customers. Sometimes they are built in anticipation of customers that have not shown up yet. Sometimes they are used as offices until the final home in the development is built.

Spec homes are great for potential customers because they give you the opportunity to evaluate the care and detail that go into the home building process. If a builder has a poor paint job on a show home, how much care will he put into building your home?  Spec homes can be deceptive, however. Sometimes the finish-out in them can greatly exceed what the builder considers to be standard. For example, almost every spec home will have crown molding, but not all builders consider crown molding a standard option included in the base price. Ask the builder what his base package includes. Walk a spec home with him and ask what is considered an upgrade. For example, right now most of the new homes have brushed nickel plumbing fixtures and door handles. Is that standard or an upgrade? Most homes have 10 foot ceilings with 8 foot doors downstairs and 9 foot ceilings with 6 foot 8 inch doors upstairs. Is that standard or an upgrade?

How long will it take to build?

The biggest factor in building is of course weather. Other factors are size of the project, location, materials, etc., but as an average, the normal 2000-3000 square foot house, will take approximately 6 months from inception to completion.