Custom Tips 2

Custom Home Building Tips
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Most builders offer some level of interior design service. Whether it's the basics, or a full-blown plan, interior design consultation can make the experience of building your new home a pleasure. Your builder may have many different samples of everything from flooring to fixtures to molding.

Specifications are probably the most important part of the agreement. Since it is so easy to forget things in today's hectic world, the complete home should be described in writing. The builder should offer specifications detailing the exact items to be included in the home. The specifications should offer not only what is provided, but also what is not provided in the home. Those specifications should also be signed and agreed to by all parties.

When the plans and specifications are complete you should receive a firm price for the home. This price should complete the home as specified on the chosen home site. Do not sign any agreement that leaves fill cost, foundation height, utility connections, governmental fees, etc. as an allowance item. This cost can end up being a large number and knowledgeable builders should be able to estimate these items and offer a firm price.

The quality of home sites can vary greatly. We suggest that you have a builder look at any home site you are interested in purchasing prior to agreeing to the purchase. In addition, never purchase a home site without having a soil test performed on the lot to be sure the soils are buildable. The builder should alert you to this need and have this test performed for you at your expense. Many times, the purchase of a home site is conditioned upon satisfactory soil test. It is further conditioned upon satisfactory percolation test if a septic system is required. We have seen the cost to correct soil problems run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, please spend a small amount for the soil test. It is the least expensive insurance that you can purchase!

HOME DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION IDEAS

FURNITURE PLANNING - Many office supply stores sell templates that portray furniture sizes and styles. Use these templates with the floor plan to draw your furniture into the rooms of your home. Ask yourself if floor electrical outlets are needed, should windows be moved, are special ceiling outlets and lights needed, are wall electrical outlets in the right location, etc.

FIREPLACES are available in 2 different types. The first is a conventional masonry fireplace and the second is a metal prefabricated fireplace. The conventional fireplace has been virtually replaced by the prefab style. Fireplaces come in 36, 42, and 46 inch models. It can be veneered with brick, stone, tile, drywall banding, marble, or any other type of finish one would desire. Today, we are seeing a strong trend to a understated fireplace using drywall banding, tile, and other subtle materials. It seems buyers are moving away from a full brick or similar interior veneer since it seems to dominate most rooms and become the focal point. We are seeing many customers totally eliminate the fireplace and place more emphasis on a media center in the family room.

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING – Many homes in our area utilize electrically driven air to air heat pumps to control the homes interior comfort. In areas where natural gas is available, a gas furnace combined with an electric air conditioner offers an excellent alternative. The average person feels most comfortable when the interior temperature is between 76 and 78 degrees and the interior relative humidity is below 55 percent. As the humidity goes up the temperature must come down to feel the same comfort. To ensure proper humidity control, the system must be designed to match the heat load calculation. This is one instance where "bigger is not better".

The conditioned air is distributed throughout the home using a system of rigid and flexible duct, collectively referred to as ductwork. Ductwork is a circulatory system that uses supplies to feed air into a room and returns to complete the circuit back to the air handler. Adequate and properly placed returns will keep closed rooms from becoming pressurized which can limit the entrance of supply air into the room.

System enhancements for your consideration are:

A. Higher Efficiency Equipment can reduce the utility expense while providing better quality and comfort. A typical return on investment, "ROI", can yield above 20 percent.
B. Improved Air Filtration can improve indoor air quality. Basic filter categories are: electronic, pleated media and electrostatic. Select one that meets your needs and lifestyle.
C. Heat Recovery Units use waste heat from your air conditioning system to heat domestic hot water. A typical payback is less than 3 years.
D. Programmable thermostats allow the homeowner to program times and temperature for automatic operation, saving 30% during a typical setback period.
E. Zoning the System allows a single system to be separated into multiple zones. Each zone has individualized control with its own thermostat.

ELECTRICAL
All homes are wired to code requirements with plugs installed the number of feet apart as called for by the code.

If you have specific electrical needs or locations you should identify those items to be sure you receive what you need. Also, look in large family rooms or living rooms and advise the Builder long before the project is started if you will need specially-placed electrical floor plugs. Choose the location of the floor outlets carefully as you will live with your decision a long time.

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The Kelsey Glen
	• 3.,300 square feet
	• 5 bedrooms, 3 Baths
	• His and Her closets
	• Professionally designed gourmet kitchen

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