Choosing A Home Builder
|
So you've decided to build a new home. Like many home buyers you realize that buying a new home offers a wide range of advantages over buying an existing home. You are getting exactly what you want, demanding the highest quality construction, as well as learning how to operate and maintain your home's systems and equipment. You're also developing a relationship with the builder. Congratulations on making a great choice, however, you still have a big decision left to make.
What kind of home builder is right for you? Should you go with a production builder who builds many homes at a time, or do you want a custom home with a distinctive style and features unique to you?
Production home builders typically tend to use stock plans, but often have a variety of options from which to choose. They will tend to build on land they own and build for a wide range of price points. They are generally high volume builders with many builders completing over 200 homes a year.
Custom home builders typically build fewer than 20 homes a year and work to create one-of-a-kind homes. Many of these homes are site specific on either land owned by the builder or on land you already own. They may offer design/build services and usually build higher end homes.
While a production builder may be able to deliver your home more quickly or at a lower cost, this may come at the expense of unique features and one to one service typically offered by a custom builder. As you consider the options, here are a few questions to help you decide which type of builder best suits your needs.
How long will you be in the house? If you're just planning on being in the home a few years, the extra time and attention that goes into a custom home may not make sense for you.
Have you dreamed about special features? With the stock plans used by production builders, it often gets expensive to add unique touches, and they may feel out of place with the rest of the design.
Do you want a distinctive home? The production builder can make a number of modifications, but you'll still be living in a home like many others in the area.
In either case, you should ask the builder for references from past clients. Contact the references and see how satisfied owners are with their homes. Find out what it was like to work with the builder and if their expectations were met. Visit a work site or recently completed home to get a sense of the quality and workmanship of the builder. Finally, look for a professional builder who builds homes full time and has a vision and style that matches your own.
Reid Colson is a Principal in Bridlewood, a custom home builder serving the Central Virginia market. Bridlewood takes more pride in the quality and distinction of their homes than in the number they build. They are committed to providing the highest levels of professional service and consistent communication throughout the design and building process.
Visit http://www.bridlewoodproperties.com for more information.
|
|
|
Seeing The Light
Lighting"Light has illuminated the path of humanity" ? While Einstein was probably referring to one of his mind-blowing theories, lighting has also revolutionized the home. Before incandescent and fluorescent lighting, most acti...(related: Home Improvement)
Your Building Your Dream Home, But Where Do You Start?
You have finally found the perfect lot, in the neighborhood of your choice, and at a price you can afford. Now you have to decide what type of house you want built. In fact you may even know the house you want, be it a big rambling farmhouse, with a wrap-a-round porch reminiscent of your grandmother's home, a rustic log cabin or a more modern luxurious home. Whatever you choose, the first thing you will need is a set of house plans.An architect can draw up plans to your exact specifications, but this ...(related: Home Improvement)
How To Buy A Conservatory In The Uk
The first question is, what is a conservatory?There is no standard definition of what constitutes a conservatory (apart from "greenhouse"). This is one reason why quotes vary so widely.The conservatory industry itself does not have a consistent ...(related: Home Improvement)
Clear Wax Candles Vs. Gel Candles
In the last five years a new type of clear candle has emerged - freestanding resin-based (aka clear wax) candles. Using a base of mineral oil, the candle uses a patented resin as the stabilizer, creating a candle that outshines both traditional paraffin and gel candles. It requires no container like gel candles, burns longer than paraffin and holds more fragrance than both. The flame burns down through the inside of the candle as light radiates through the candle's side wall. These resin-based candles can be made in any traditional paraffin shape, with no bubbles. This lends them more decorative appeal than gel candles and more durability than paraffin candles.A handful of manufacturers have embraced this new technology, but many large manufacturers have avoided gel candles altogether. C...(related: Home Improvement)
How To Select Scraped//distressed Hardwood Flooring
Hand-scraped and Distressed hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice in today's upscale homes and commercial buildings. These floors are a newer trend but are rooted in history. Before today's modern sanding methods, floors were hand scraped on site to make the floors flat. Today's hand scraping is done to add texture, richness and uniqueness.Distressed hardwood flooring is done by machine or by han...(related: Home Improvement)
Replacement Windows And Double Glazing - Essential Buyers Tips
Welcome to my essential tips for replacemnent windows and double glazing buyers. Apart from the first tip (which I consi...(related: Home Improvement)
What Does It Take To Be An Interior Designer?
When trying to decide if Interior Design is right for you, it helps to know what that really means. Interior Design is not simply the profession that "makes rooms and places pretty"; it takes a little bit more than that. You need to know how to do some of the technical aspects of design also. Some of these technical things include:Designing and reading blueprints:This is particularly for the projects that require a great change in the area's structure like wall removal etc. This is also required in order to make additional rooms, build gazebos, and adding extra rooms. You will need to draw up blueprints of the entire house or read the originals copies, so that you can do your job without causing much disturbance to the rest of the house or environment.Environmental Analysis:O...(related: Home Improvement)
Lighting And Your Kitchen - How To Design A Lighting Plan That Cooks!
Your kitchen, more than any other room in your home, needs a good well thought out lighting plan. Today's kitchens have many more functions than just cooking a meal. For many families it is the most frequently used room in the house. Besides the obvious preparation of meals, kitchens today are also a place for the kids to do homework, parents to pay the bills, reading, eating and watching TV. For this reason it is important that the light not only be adequate but flexible.The first place to start in any room when devising a lighting plan is to address general lighting. This is the light that will be u...(related: Home Improvement)
Add Value To Your House - Interior Remodelling
Interior remodeling can have an amazing impact on the look and value of a house. I would definitely recommend getting professionals to do the job for you unless your good at renovation yourself. Here is some advice on how the get the most bang for your buck when remodeling.Replace the carpets:One of the best things you can do for your house to impr...(related: Home Improvement)
Where?s The Care Label For My New Bedspread?
I love bedspreads, don't you? A comforter can be used for the winter months but the bedspread is brought out of the linen closet in the spring when it's warming up and the whole world is freshening and renewing itself outside. A bedspread is available in most any color, pattern or fabric and it can be one of the most expensive items you put in your bedroom. Did you know that these expensive pieces of fabric do not fall under the Care Label Rule? The C...(related: Home Improvement)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Home Improvement