Archive for 2011

The Home Building Process

Let's say you have the money and the resources to build a home. Within a few months, it is completed. Is it happily ever after? The answer is no because there will be a few other challenges ahead even where is no decline in home building.

When you have built your home, one thing you have to deal with is the property taxes and this could range from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on where you live. Take note that this does not yet include mortgage expenses if you have not paid yet for the house in full. The only consolation is that you pay for this on a fixed term.

While most home values go up after how many years, in some cases like during the financial crisis, its value could go down. Some analyst said that the average home value has only kept up with inflation over the last few decades so you don't really gain that much.

If you are employed and you are told that you have to relocate, it will be hard to move right away since it takes time to sell a house.

Should there be any problems with the house, you don't call your landlord since there is none. You will have to find a specialist to figure out what is wrong in order to fix it.

But these things should not deter you from considering building your own home even during a time when home building is on the decline. Why? Because building a home is a one time investment unlike rent where you pay a fixed amount per month and this could up the following year.

What is even better is that you live in a dwelling according to your specifications. If you don't like it or you want to add something, you can make changes and no one will oppose your decision.

If you signed a warranty with your contractor, any problems will be taken cared of by them without any additional charges.

Since your house is new, it is more energy efficient compared to older homes thanks to new technology and you are compliant with new environmental regulations.

A decline in home building has not stopped other people from having their own house constructed. In fact, most people you ask will probably tell you that they prefer to live in their own home rather than paying rent. With that, you have a land title under your own name and no one can take that away from you unless you decide to sell and move somewhere else.

This will enable you to establish good credit with the bank when you need to apply for a loan. That may not happen right now because of the financial crisis but when it is over, you will soon realize that this was very handy.

You will also get tax cuts which will never happen if you are renting. You will be happy about this when it is time once again to pay your income tax for both federal and state since these are usually fully deductible.

There is no better time to own a home or face its challenges than during a decline in home building because both labor and materials are cheap. If you have the money to pay for it, you shouldn't have a problem paying for taxes and mortgage.

Inspirational Ideas for the Smaller Bathroom

Unfortunately our bathrooms cannot all be lavishly designed with steam showers, whirlpool baths, vanity units and cabinets. Bathrooms that are limited with space require a whole different concept when it comes to interior design.

When knocking down walls and adding extensions is not viable to increase the limited space within your bathroom, remodeling will present many complications, however with the right knowledge your small bathroom can be transformed in to a room that can be admired for many years to come.

Once you have decided that you are ready to start your remodeling project create a floor plan, this will help you massively overcome the limited space and enable you to maximise on what space you have available. Planning a project correctly will help you overcome many of the obstacles that otherwise may appear throughout the course of your project.

Incorporating elements such as mirrors and wall hung cabinets are great aspects for creating additional light and giving your bathroom that extra feel of space, especially within the smaller bathroom. Don't be afraid to experiment with colours, use inviting, cool fresh colours that co-ordinate with your fixtures and fittings.

Try to ensure that you do not use bulky items, corner sinks, pedestals and free standing sinks are perfect for freeing up space and are visually pleasing, however are limited for counter space and do not offer storage. If you require storage space then consider using a small vanity unit.

Another great element for freeing up space in the bathroom is to remove the bathtub and then implement one of the latest steam shower baths. These state of the art showering systems include a multitude of features from handheld shower to overhead monsoon shower combined with whirlpool bath. This is alongside a vast range of technical gadgets such as radio, speakers, telephone and even television in certain models. These ingenious showering systems come in a selection of sizes, shapes and designs making them suitable for any sized bathroom.

Toilets have also evolved over the last decade from the traditional to the ultra-modern giving the home owner a unique selection to choose from. For the smaller bathroom you have wide varieties that will suite your needs, wall hung, corner, back to wall and small toilets with concealed cisterns are all perfect for conserving space. However before you go and purchase the first toilet you see ensure that it will be suitable to adapt to your current pipework and fittings.

Finally, utilise any existing space to save making your bathroom cramped. A cluttered bathroom can make the room feel small, unsightly and congested. Try to limit the number of accessories you take in to the bathroom by possibly using a dressing area within your bedroom.

Planning is crucial especially with the smaller bathroom. It may take a lot longer put together a plan of action for your remodelling project, but the overall results you will achieve from this will produce a beautiful and inviting bathroom that will give off the essence of space and room, as well as this you will be introducing your home to state of the art technology.

How to Choose a Home Builder

Buying a new home is a major decision. Choosing a good home builder is also very important. You will want someone who is established and can be trusted, someone has the knowledge and skills in constructing a new home, someone who can manage team of craftsmen skilled at building a quality house. It's very important that you develop a good relationship with your home builder.

When you look for a new home builder, there are several things that you need to consider.

First of all, you should always ask for references and check for qualification. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find good constructors. You can ask your friends, family and coworkers whether they have any good construction companies to recommend. Here are some questions to ask for a builder: Are you a professional builder or only a part-time constructor? How long have you been in this industry and what experience do you have? Can you give us references from your past clients? You can contact your local licensing board to make sure that builder is licensed. You can check with the Better Business Bureau to see whether any complaints have been made against that builder.

Also, you want to find a builder that constructs the type of homes that you want to built. Different builders have different areas of expertise. You should make sure that you have chosen one with the right expertise.

Besides, you should ask a constructor whether you can get a warranty with your new house. A warranty will help to protect your investment in your new home.

You should also ask what kinds of after-sales services they provide. Good builders always provide after-sales services that fix minor problems and they usually respond quickly to their clients' requests.

When you are ready to sign the contract, make sure to read the contract carefully to make sure it's detailed enough to cover everything.

Choosing the right home builder is crucial in building a new house. By following the right steps you can find a good builder that helps you to build your dream home.

Having a Home Built

The financial crisis is affecting everyone. People are losing their jobs and some have to foreclose their homes. As a result, there is a decline in home building making some doubt that now is now the right time to build a home.

But what if there was no financial crisis? What if you can borrow money from the bank? What if you have the cash on hand? If there were no problems, then yes why not build your dream home.

To help you along, this is what you have to do.

First, get in touch with the local builders that have constructed houses similar to the size, quality and features that you want. By talking to them, you get a straight answer as to how much it is going to cost for the entire project plus what materials they will use.

Since its been months or even a few years that these homes were built, you have to expect that it is going to cost more now to construct something similar. The rooms which will be the most expensive to make will be the bathroom and kitchen. The number of windows and their size is another factor as well as the vaulted ceilings and high roof pitches.

You will also have to include inflation because building a home increase from 3% to 6% annually. With this information, only look at homes that were built within the last 6 months.

Don't forget to put a 10% additional allowance to your budget when you make your estimate because plans change and in most cases, you and you contract will encounter unforeseen circumstances. Naturally you have to deal with the situation otherwise there will be delays when everything will be finished.

Believe it not, the cost per square foot is higher for a small home than a big one. Why? Because the cost of items is spread over and a two story home if that is what you want has a smaller roof and foundation. The same goes for plumbing and ventilation.

Another thing that could reduce cost is the shape of the home. Houses that are shaped like a rectangle, square or dome shaped are more affordable to build since there are not that many angles or corners which increases the amount of labor and the materials that will be needed.

It will be much easier to select the final blueprints, which is the basis of the project once you have estimated the construction expenses.

As much as possible, work with even numbers because this reduces wasted materials. The ideal home to make should be not less than 32 feet deep otherwise your roof trusses will have to be custom made which will cost more.

If you had this property for a long time, then chances are the neighborhood around you is already well developed. You don't have to haul a lot of dirt, do grading, clear trees or blast through large rocks if your property happens to be somewhat secluded.

No one in his right mind will construct a house when there is a decline in home building due to the financial crisis. You just have to keep these tips in mind when the economy does improve so you will already have an idea how much money you need to build it.