Custom Home Building Tips!

How To Stay Within Your Budget And Avoid Overages When Building A Custom Home?

Building Within The Budget Requirements- takes discipline and careful planning.

Steps:

• Signing a fixed price contract (Fixed Price Or Cost Plus Contract?) is the first requirement.

• Owners make all their selections (Save Money When Building A Home) prior to the commencement of construction. With this approach, there are no “allowances” in the contract to exceed.

• The only way to exceed the budget (Change Orders, Is My Buider Ripping Me Off?) is with a signed change order. Each C.O. also states how much the change is going to cost and if the building time-frame is to be extended due to the change.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

New Product Saves Energy On Your Custom Home!

New Product Saves Energy On Your Custom Home!

It seems like almost every year a company comes out with a "New Space Age Product" that will revolutionize the entire home building process! Not only that but it will cut homeowner energy bills down to almost nothing, without any increase in building costs. Wow, this is wonderful! In fact, it is almost unbelievable? Actually, it is unbelievable, because it's not true! Usually a potential Client hears about this new space age product from a salesman at a building show or a inexperienced Builder that is looking for an edge on the competition.

1. Let's take all the emotion out of this issue and approach it practically. Homebuilding is an incredibly competitive business. Anyone that ever held a hammer thinks he can build a house. After all, Builders just go out and hire a bunch of subcontractor and suppliers that do all the work. The Builder just sits back, supervises the workers and collect the money. Wrong!

I've been in the home building business for over 40 years and my own business for almost 30 years. Believe me building a home is the easiest part of running a home building business. It's more complicated than you can imagine. If I thought for a minute that a new product has just come out that will make my job easier and sell more homes, I would be all over it!

2. Do the energy savings add up? That's an easy question to answer. Are you going to just believe the manufacturers web site or salesmen? Let's hire an independent, Certified Energy Rater that analyses energy saving products, every day, against a Nationally Recognized and Accepted Computer Program. The Energy Rater will tell us how energy efficient the new product is by producing a HERS (Home Energy rating System) score. We can calculate the payback period quite easily and see if the salesman's claims add up. If they do I'll start building all my homes with the new product. I'll even pay the Energy Rater to perform the analysis. I do this on every home we build anyway.

Why are Central Florida Home Builders constructing new custom homes out of concrete masonry units (CMU'S) or more commonly know as concrete block? Because when you run the numbers it makes sense.

3. Will the new product cost the same as the current industry standard? Since homebuilding is so competitive don't you think Builders would switch over to a new product that was better and the same cost as the current industry standard?

4. Using any new product entails a certain amount of risk. Builders are bombarded by multiple new products every day. It's our job to wade through the various items and balance risk against the potential benefits.

As the end user of a new untried building product you will have to live with it in the long run. The Builder only has to stand behind it for a short while. If your builder is uncomfortable using it on your home, you should be too! Try reading the installation instructions and warranty info for a new product that has been written by a team of lawyers. Believe me, when something goes wrong with it, everyone will be headed for the exits. The conclusion will be, the product was not installed properly or was used improperly by the consumer. It's smarter to let a new product season in the market place before using it in your home. Trust me on this one.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

www.regalclassichomes.com

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Orlando Ranked #1 In Job Creation!

Orlando Ranked #1 In Job Creation!

Central Florida continues to shake off the Great Recession and ranks number one in 2015 job creation, according to the Gallup Survey. Orlando has continued to rank in the top 5 in the last few years but this is the first time it's ranked number one!

Orlando also had a record 62 million visitors, last year.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

The Hour Long Shower That Doesn't Hurt Your Pocket Book! Teenagers Rejoice!

The Hour Long Shower That Doesn't Hurt Your Pocket Book! Teenagers Rejoice!

Now your teenager can take a 1 hour shower without breaking your pocketbook. I wish I had this product when my daughter was still living at home. Lol.

This new product basically loops the hot water in the shower so the same water is used over and over again but filtered in between.

What Does The Real Orlando Look Like?

What Does The Real Orlando Look Like?

Everyone that visits Central Florida want's to visit the theme parks. That's just fine with the locals as it leaves the real Orlando to us. Sure, we visit the parks like the tourists but only in the off season when the lines are short and the prices are just right. When it's busy with tourists the locals stay away from the places thick with visitors and enjoy some laid back time with our natural wonderland.

Central Florida is quite unique. We have 1.2 million residents and over 60 million visitors each year. We have the infrastructure to support all the tourists while at the same time Orlando still feels like a small town. We have lots of golf courses and so many restaurants that you never have to eat at the same one twice.

Below is a link to a video of The Real Orlando. Away from all the bustle of the city is an incredible natural wonderland!

https://vimeo.com/157907950

Have an awesome day!

Mike

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Which Type Of Garage Should I Select For My New Custom Home?

Which Type Of Garage Should I Select For My New Custom Home?

Garage door facing the street, front side entry, motor court or side entry. Which type is best?

Garage Door Facing The Street:

I would consider this the worst garage door positioning for a home. The garage door itself is an unattractive feature of a home. This can be minimized by the type of door selected and how it’s painted. Accentuating the garage door is one of the worse things to do. Some Owners choose to paint the door a contrasting color which draws even more attention to the garage. It’s better to down play the garage door instead.

Additionally, a street facing garage door puts all your garage storage items on display when the door is open. Not only is that unattractive but it’s also advertising your valuables to the local crooks.

The advantage of this position, it’s less expensive. There is a significant saving if the driveway is short. This position provides the shortest length but usually places the garage door close to the street.

Front Side Entry:

This positioning means that the the garage door is close to the front door but does not face the street. This is the second worst garage door positioning. It has many of the same disadvantages as a front entry garage combined with an extended driveway that passes in front of the main entry. Guests have additional parking but unfortunately it's basically in your front yard. The long curving driveway requires excellent backing up skills and it's possible for your guests to end up off the driveway and on your front lawn on a dark night.

The advantage of this positioning, your garage storage items and not as prominently displayed to passers by as a front entry but it’s almost as unattractive.

Motor Court:

In Central Florida this positioning has become very trendy. Many Owners request a motor court for their new Custom Home. Two garages are positioned across from each other creating a motor court in the area in from of the main entry.

Frankly, I don’t get it! The driveway becomes huge with this positioning and that much hardscape takes away from the beauty of the home. The opposing garages dominate the front elevation taking away from the over all look of the home. Also, the garage doors face the same space as the front entry to the home.

This garage positioning became popular as developers created subdivisions with narrow lots. The building lots are not as wide as they were previously but it's helped to keep the price down.

One advantage of this positioning, your garage storage items and not as prominently displayed to passers by as a front entry but it’s almost as unattractive.

Side Entry Garage:

This is the best garage position as far as I’m concerned. The garage doors are moved around the side away from the front of the house and the doors can be opened without distracting from the beauty of the front elevation.

The length of the driveway is a disadvantage of this positioning and it normally requires a turn around area that you can back into when pulling out of the garage. This will enable drivers to motor down the driveway to the street instead of backing out. This is the most expensive driveway position but I think it’s worth it for the positive impact on the home.

This option requires a minimum of a 25' wide driveway in order to make the swing into the garage comfortable for most drivers. That's the distance from the garage door to the edge of the drive. The rest of the drive can be narrowed down to minimize cost.

One little considered aspect of garage positioning is the magic impact upon the eye. Stand in front of a home where the garage door and it’s positioning isn't readily apparent. Your first impression, this home is huge! It’s only after you study the front elevation of the home that you realize 1/3 of what you are viewing is actually the garage. The garage door is tucked around the side of the home and the initial impression, the home is larger that it actually is.

When a home is perceived as being larger it's a good thing. Buyers think they are receiving more for their money than they really are. Perhaps, it’s slight of hand but not really, as the deception is quite obvious after exploring the home. In fact, the eye is tricking the mind and that’s a great thing, especially when it’s time to sell.

Now you know which garage position is best if the size of your lot will accomodate it.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Universal Design, Can You Provide A Checklist For Building A (UD) Custom Home?

Universal Design, Can You Provide A Checklist For Building A (UD) Custom Home?

Nonslip floor tiles.
Motion activated interior and exterior lighting.
One-story home with at least 1 bedroom and bath on first floor.
Pantry design for future elevator on a two-story home.
Lever style door knobs.
Wider hallways and door openings.
Kitchen work surfaces at varying heights.
Blocking behind the drywall for future grab bars at shower, toilet and tub areas.
Open knees space under kitchen islands and countertops.
Raised electrical outlets and lower switch heights.
Roll under sinks.
Curb less showers.
Appliances in drawers such as microwaves and dishwashers.
Touch control faucets or lever style handles.
Thermostat heights lowered for easy access.
Hand-held shower sprays in showers and bathtubs.
Continuous smooth, hard surface flooring.
Continuous stair railing’s easy to grip.
Side-by-side refrigerator that is easy to access.
Large size cabinet pulls and upper cabinets lowered for easier reach.
Limit stairs in home design.
Porches and garage at same level as main floor.
Bring outdoors in with more window glass ie. French doors and lowered window sill heights.
Maximize natural lighting.
Flush thresholds at all doorways.
Transition strips eliminated on wood flooring.
Folding seat in shower.
Bathtub with integral seat.
Extra long vanity mirror or floor to ceiling mirror.
Front mounted controls on all appliances.
Front loading washer and dryer with front controls on raised patform.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Is There A Way To Hide Ugly Electrical Outlets In My Custom Home?

Is There A Way To Hide Ugly Electrical Outlets In My Custom Home?

Electrical wall outlets, their ugly! Well, not all the time but mostly. When hidden behind a couch or furniture who cares what they look like but when located on a bare wall they are. Wouldn't it be great if you could just make wall receptacles disappear until you need them? It is now, thanks to a new innovative product on the market.

Have an awesome day?

Mike

Friday, March 18, 2016

What is a wood transition strip and why are they so out of style?

What is a wood transition strip and why are they so out of style?

Above: Typical installation with transition strip.

Above: Marble to hardwood installation without wood transition strip.

Above: Carpet to porcelain tile installation without transition strip.

When hardwood flooring meets tile, stone or another type of material a transition from the wood flooring to the dissimilar material is required. This is typically accomplished with a wood transition strip. This is the way it's always been done. It covers the nasty crack and adjusts for height variations between materials.

The only problem with this approach, a transition strip normally sits on top of the hardwood flooring and other material so it becomes a tripping hazard. Since the Universal Design trend is all about eliminating barriers, a tripping hazard is no longer acceptable. The issue is about the thickness of materials.

In Central Florida, homes with few exceptions, have a concrete slab on the first floor. This requires a different hardwood flooring application. The normal product choice is glued down engineered (3/8”-3/4” thick) wood flooring. The best installation is without a wood transition strip between dissimilar materials as it eliminates the tripping hazard associated with a transition strip. It’s a clean look!

Unfortunately, it costs more to make materials of different thicknesses butt together smoothly. This application requires the thinner material to be raised up to the level of the thicker material. This normally is accomplished by applying a leveling compound to the slab in multiple layers until the combination of the leveling compound and the wood flooring matches the height of the dissimilar material. Sometimes, this can take days to accomplish as the leveling compound is applied in layers and dries before the next layer is applied. With large variations (think ½”+) between material thicknesses this can take days to accomplish and require many trips back to the construction site, adding to delays and increased cost. Owners have to decide if eliminating transition strips are worth the added cost.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Should I Incorporate Universal Design Into My New Custom Home?

Should I Incorporate Universal Design Into My New Custom Home?

What is Universal design? It's designing your home for today and for future needs. In other words, it's just "smart designing" or thinking ahead.

UD incorporates wider hallways, comfort height counter tops and toilets, curbless showers, barrier free entries and more.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

www.regalclassichomes.com

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

What Can I Do To Make My Custom Home Sell Fast?

What Can I Do To Make My Custom Home Sell Fast?

When it's time to sell your home you want it to sell as quickly as possible! After all, your wife is ready to relocate and build a New Custom Home. You know if Momma's not happy then nobody is going to be happy!

What can you do to make your home sell fast? Is it price, quality, features, location etc. Find out what the experts say.

Which Direction Should My Front Door Swing?

www.regalclassichomes.com

Which Direction Should My Front Door Swing?

Ok, it sounds like dumb question, right? Who cares if the front door swings in or out? Further, if there are two double doors at the front entry should the active door be on the right or left side?

I guess you can say, with a custom home, it's all about the details. Why not hire a Builder that helps you think through all the details of your home and places them in a manner that is most convenient for you? What Type Of Front Door Should I Select?

In Central Florida, most front doors are protected by a porch and a step between the porch and the foyer. The porch keeps the sun and driving rain away from damaging the front door and the step up, keeps rising water from flooding your home. Most homes in Orlando have a saddle type threshold (Saddle Threshold) with an in swing door. Though this type of threshold does not seal as well as a bumper type threshold (Bumper Threshold) it is way more attractive. If the front porch does its job, a saddle threshold will be quite acceptable.

Which double door side, should be the active one on your front door? I prefer making the door on the right, when your back is facing the street, the active door. The other door becomes fixed with the option of opening it (T-astragal with slide bolts) when large items are moved in and out of your home.

If you watch most people approach a set of double doors they naturally attempt to open the door with the handle or when there are double handles (knobs) the door on the right. When the active door is positioned on the right, this dictates placing the light switches on the inside left so the switches are not behind the door when it swings into the Foyer.

Have a great day!

Mike

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Should I Design My Custom Home With The Garage On The Right Or Left?

Should I Design My Custom Home With The Garage On The Right Or Left?

Garage left or right on the front elevation and does it matter? It sure does! First impressions are always a big deal and you only have one chance for a great first impression. Imagine your guests are arriving for your house warming party, they stop at the gatehouse and the security guard provides directions to your home. Your house guests wind their way through the maze of streets and finally arrive at your address. The very first view of your home they see is your garage.

A home that is presented correctly on a building lot has the pocket of the home positioned toward the entrance of the community so your home shows in the most attractive manner. This may not sound like a big deal and it may not be important to you but when you sell your home you want it to be presented in a way that maximizes your selling price.

The pocket of the home is the intersection of the front wall of the home and the garage side wall. This view presents the landscaping and the front entrance of the home in the most favorable light.

So when you are designing your home, make sure you tell the Architect from which direction traffic will be approaching your home. Make sure “the pocket” of your home is positioned so this is the first view people see of your home.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

Saturday, March 12, 2016

What Is That Awful Smell Coming From The Sink, Drain, Of My New Custom Home?

What Is That Awful Smell Coming From The Sink, Drain, Of My New Custom Home?

There is a lot to learn about the management of a home. Every Homeowner brings some past knowledge with them prior to buying a new home and some things are better understood after you live in a home for a while.

Plumbing traps are one of the items that mostly go unnoticed in a home until an issue develops. What the heck is a plumbing trap and what are they for? Open the sink base cabinet doors below any sink and you’ll notice a “U” shaped plumbing drain right below the sink. The “U” shape is called a trap. It’s also referred to a “P” trap due to its shape. It’s designed to hold water and it’s purpose is to seal out sewer or septic tank gas from entering your home. That gas is called Methane gas and it has a fowl odor much like the sulfur smell from well water.

Methane gas is combustible and capable of exploding in sufficient concentrations. That awful smell coming from the drain is from sewer gas backing up into your home because the plumbing trap has run dry. That happens if the “P” trap has a hole in it or more typically if that fixture has not been in use for an extended period of time. Sometimes it’s the seldom used guest bath or the kids bath after they went off to college. Other times, it happens during a long home heating season as the humidity is removed from the inside of your home. It can happen to a sink, shower, floor drain or bath tub. Any drain in the home that is connected to the sewer or septic tank. You may not notice an odor but perhaps an abundance of fruit flies. They can live down the drain and find their way back into you home if the plumbing trap is not functioning properly. Fortunately, the solution to a dry trap is quite simple. Just run a gallon of water down the drain so the plumbing trap fill up with water. The water seals the waste line, unpleasant odors and fruit flies are prevented from entering your home.

Some might even say, keep your trap shut! Now you know, it applies to more than teenagers.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

Friday, March 11, 2016

Florida Housing Market Up 14% and Getting Hotter By The Month!

Florida Housing Market Up 14% and Getting Hotter By The Month!

The Florida real estate market was hit hard in the downturn, but recovering nicely. Inventories remain tight while the supply of homes on the market is stable month over month. The number of distressed properties continues to decline.

Single family homeowners are receiving 94% of their asking price at the closing table. While the supply of single family homes on the market in January was only a 4.5 months supply.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

Is It All Over For Stainless Steel Appliances In New Custom Homes?

Is It All Over For Stainless Steel Appliances In New Custom Homes?

It reminds me of a line in an old TV advertisement, "You're All Washed Up In This Town Big Blue". The appliance manufacturers and Bloggers are sounding the death knell for stainless appliances. After all, it's been around long enough and perhaps the consumer had their fill with this look. The manufactures are introducing black as the new stainless and other choices. The appliance makers are betting big on a new look.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

How Vulnerable Is My Custom Home, Computer Network, To Attack By Hackers?

How Vulnerable Is My Custom Home, Computer Network, To Attack By Hackers?

As home automation kicks into high gear, the 1,000 lb gorilla in the room is, can my system be "Hacked"! It's a big risk and unless the "Low Voltage" industry can make consumers feel secure from hacking, home automation will be a non starter.

Imagine somebody watching you through the security cameras that are installed in every room of your home?

Find out more about vulnerabilities and what security measures you can take.

Have an awesome day!

Mike

Does Universal Design Have To be So Ugly?