We are quickly approaching milder weather, which is synonymous with construction season! If you have been considering building the new home that you have always dreamed about, it is not too late to start planning for this type of project. Building your dream home will involve many types of investments and extensive research and planning, from the financial aspects to coordinating all the different, specialized businesses that will play a role in your project, whether small or large. It is important to create a team of experts that will provide their knowledge and connections in order to facilitate the success of your project, so that you can utilize their skills to bring your ideas to fruition. Once you build your team, you can then begin the process of building your dream home!
When building a new home, people like to spend money on things they can see every day such as better cabinets and countertops or carpet. They do not think about some of the comforts that will make their home more cost effective and save them money in the long run such as higher rated insulation and windows or higher efficient heating and air conditioning equipment. When building a new home you should take the time to research the savings on installing higher efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment and speak with their heating and air conditioning contractor. Heating and air conditioning contractors can calculate the amount of money you would save per year with different efficiencies of furnaces, heat pumps or air conditioners. Another thing to consider is the indoor air quality options available such as high efficient air cleaners, humidifiers or ultra-violet lights. These products help with allergies as well as preserving the wood in your new home which can dry out in the winter and warp your floors or crack your cabinetry. Another product new home builders might consider is an electronic damper system, which creates zones in your new home that controls each room or a specific area with its own thermostat that opens a damper and only conditions that room or area to what specific temperature you might like in that room or area. This damper system can create exact comfort in each room or area, such as a babies’ or child’s bedroom that might need to be a little warmer than the other bedrooms. The damper system also creates a savings for the home owner by having better control on areas that do not require as much heating or cooling in rooms that are not used as often or only at specific times during the day. Darren Kauk, owner of Absolute Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning, says the biggest questions or complaints he hears from customers after they purchase a two-story home is that the upstairs is too hot in the summer and the basement, lower level or rooms located in the extremities of the house are too cool during winter. His most important piece of advice for anyone building their new two-story dream home is to sit down and talk to your heating and air conditioning contractor to discuss installing more than one system or a damper system so that your new dream home is absolutely comfortable. Absolute Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning installs Goodman heating and air conditioning products and is the largest Goodman dealer in Lincoln. Goodman has one of the best warranties in the business for their heating and air conditioning equipment.
Though John Henry’s Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning is not generally involved with the process of new home building, they have a lot of experience over the years with improving the quality of systems that were installed incorrectly from the beginning or were not what the client had initially expected. Lindsey Reinke, of John Henry’s, says that there are always ways to fix problems but it is optimal to do it right the first time. A recent trend with the rise of costs associated with building a new home is to go cheap, but this is the opposite of what you will really need in the long run. You usually get exactly what you pay for, so Reinke advises to stay away from the cheap theory and utilize professionals to install quality equipment. Your health and comfort should ALWAYS be the most important consideration, with energy savings trailing at a very close third. Reinke also advises to avoid fancy faucets that are difficult to find parts for because at some point those faucets will need to be repaired. There have been over 6,000 types of faucets available through the years which means many parts are not available long-term or may be more difficult to locate as time passes. Moen faucets historically have been a great choice as the quality is excellent and price is very reasonable. It seems the Moen commercial says it the best, “Buy it for looks. Buy it for life.” It’s important to make good decisions in choosing all plumbing fixtures. Through the years, John Henrys has found Lennox and Trane equipment to be an excellent choice for their customers. Lennox and Trane equipment holds up well during challenging Nebraska weather extremes and their factory support and warranties are very user-friendly. If you build a new home, Reinke recommends making sure to get all equipment serviced so it operates efficiently and lasts. Moreover, manufacturers typically require routine maintenance to keep from voiding warranties. Our community is blessed with an exceptional City of Lincoln Building Codes Department that has done an excellent job of protecting us. The weak link in building new homes is in other areas when the major reason to make decisions is to cut costs. If you decide to build a new home, do your homework and check out references. Also make sure your contractor has a good rating with the Better Business Bureau. Truth is a patient hunter and in time the results of our decisions always seem to catch up to us. Reinke has found through the years that they have never had to apologize for good quality. That’s an important concept when you are building a new home!
If you are building your dream home, you want it to be an extension of yourself and to communicate your style through your design and the appearance of the products and services you choose. This not only goes for the interior space of your house, but the exterior as well. JL Exteriors provides installation of a full range of their exterior products to accommodate all tastes, including siding, stucco, roofing and gutters, windows, doors, and deck options. Lance Roach, owner of JL Exteriors, advises to use a variety of products and textures, such as mixing up some stone, siding and stucco to make your design interesting and stylish. He adds that you can achieve style while incorporating products that are durable, create clean lines, and require minimal maintenance. With the growing cost of building and maintaining a home, picking the right exterior features and products should involve an investment in aspects that serve the functions of beauty AND protection.
As far as planning the details of building your new home prior to the actual construction process, J.R. Knopp of Third Generation Builders says the first thing you should figure out is where you want to be. One of the hardest aspects of building a new home is finding the perfect lot. After you have an idea of location, lot size and available spaces, your next step is figuring out what type of home you want. Some things to consider: style of home and square footage (e.g. two-story, split-level, ranch), style of floor plan (e.g. open or sectioned, number and size of rooms), what kind amenities you want in the house, and if you want a finished basement. Knopp takes his clients around to several different styles of houses and floor plans from a variety of builders in order for them to have a well-rounded idea of what’s out there and available, while he takes notes on what they like and do not like, and the reasons for their preferences. Third-Generation Builders prides themselves on being hands-on and constantly interacting with their clients throughout all the proper steps of the building process. Knopp says that communication is very important, and he likes to sit down with clients to initially gauge what they really like, want and need in their next home, or revisit these ideas after touring other homes in order to build a custom floor plan that reflects the information his client has provided. This also includes providing clients with suggestions based upon his experience in order to make it as easy as possible for them to make final decisions and get the best value out of their home. Another good starting point when designing your dream home is to find out where you spend the most time in your current house, begin with that area as a central location making it the nicest point in the house and flow out from there with the floor plan. For some people that’s a nice covered porch or a huge master bedroom with the big walk-in closet and bathroom, while for others it may be a giant man cave in the basement or a nicely finished recreation room or play area for the kids, and it may even be the garage and how many stalls or the space and function desired.
Bo Jones, of Tru-Built Construction, also emphasizes the importance of the planning phase in building your future home, as it is a process that you can’t just jump into. Jones estimates that a home build can require seventy or more different trades for completion, which requires significant budgeting and coordination. He also recommends consulting with a lender in the very beginning to see your qualifications, and adds that this allows you to be disciplined when you are visiting existing homes to ensure that you are not visiting homes outside of your price range which can be very frustrating once you fall in love with features that aren’t realistic for your budget or needs. When visiting existing homes within your price range, it is helpful to create a priority list of desired features, and then translate those onto paper in a working blueprint format. Jones advises to not be alarmed if the design and planning phase takes as much or more time than the actual building phase, because the time you invest in planning also work to help eliminate confusion and frustration with fewer last minute decisions that will need to be made, and thus coordinated, with all parties involved. When choosing a builder, you are also choosing the team that they have formed, so it is important to thoroughly research their company and who they source for certain projects ahead of time. When visiting homes and evaluating your finances, consider a home’s total cost of ownership. The mortgage payment is a big part of the equation, but certainly not the only thing to consider. Spending a little extra money up front on energy saving features such as windows, insulation, appliances, and efficient lighting, heating and cooling will repay you every month with lower energy bills. The Energy Star program is a great way to ensure a home is built the highest energy saving standards, and Jones points out that some of their Energy Star homes are seeing estimated heating and cooling costs of only $250 per YEAR! With other aspects, you may want to consider how long you plan on staying in the home you are building as well as the amount of necessary maintenance. For example, installing lower quality windows, siding, and shingles may cut your costs initially, but they are items that wear easily and will need to be repaired regularly or replaced altogether if they are not durable which will end up costing you far more in the long-run. Jones says that if you are considering whether to include an option during the build or to hold off until a later date, you should always keep in mind that there will never be a better time to install it than the initial build, as it will never be easier and probably never be much cheaper. However, with this in mind, try not to max yourself out so that you have some space in your budget for fun stuff once you are ready to move in, like new furniture or decorations.
A new home requires so many items, options and decisions that it can be sometimes overwhelming for even the most well prepared people. Ray’s Lawn & Home Care is a great addition to the team you will be assembling, as they can provide you with their extensive landscaping skills and expertise throughout all phases of the planning and construction process. The most important service they provide in the early stages of building a new home is that of a consultant who can answer any questions that may arise. Once the home design is complete and the layout of the home on the site, including the orientation of the home with respect to the entire lot as well as the yard space available, is set, the consultant role turns into a designer role. This is extremely important because an experienced landscape designer can help direct future homeowners away from costly oversights. Aside from the design work, Ray’s Lawn & Home Care can also implement the landscape plan which might include retaining walls, patios, outdoor kitchens, and of course, plants. A great landscape plan recognizes that plants take time to mature. For most perennials and ornamental grasses that may be a single season, while for most shrubbery, it may take three to four seasons to mature and for trees you’re looking at many years–maybe even generations. The proper spacing of this plant material is also very important. Small plants and shrubbery can be transplanted after several years in the ground with great success and not much effort. Trees, on the other hand, should be planted with great vision and care. Planting a tree too close to your new home or a neighboring structure can cause damage during the trees’ growth further down the line. Ken Svoboda, co-owner of Ray’s Lawn & Home Care, suggests that you utilize a professional to help with the proper location of all landscape plants to ensure their health and long term benefits. Additionally, he recommends the inclusion of a reputable, experienced landscape designer as early as possible in the design process. A home builder is very qualified in the art of construction, and in many cases design aspects as well, but there are so many new products introduced in the landscape market each year that it’s tough for even landscapers to keep track of them all. An experienced landscape designer can help the phasing-in of a master landscape design. Sometimes the add-on costs of construction can stretch a budget to the limit, and a master plan and thoughtful phasing can give a new homeowner their ultimate design without breaking the budget.
The exterior appeal of a new home is just as important as the interior, and Sue Crawford of Precast Products also emphasizes the importance of planning landscaping ahead so it can be completed in stages. Planning ahead is crucial whether you hire a professional or will be doing the work yourself, as many facets of the exterior are partnered with or will factor into what is going on with the building process inside. It is amazing how many options are available for each product you may be considering, for example, there are a number of different color choices and sizes for flagstone and bulk landscape rock mulch. Precast Products is a material supplier, but do not do installation, so they will work with you or your contractor throughout the project to guarantee you know all the available options in order to make educated decisions on what you like, need, or will be the best fit and will tie into the rest of your design. Precast Products offers all types of quality landscape material from brands such as Versa-lok and Anchor retaining wall products, as well as pavers for patios. Crawford also recommends considering egress window wells for your basement. You may not finish your basement right away, but when you do in the future, you will need egress for the rooms such as a basement bedroom to meet fire regulations. They are an important part of turning a basement into a livable space, as they provide an additional exit in case of a fire or other emergency, are a great source of natural light and improve both ventilation and air quality. It is best to have this type of feature taken care of during the initial building process, and to take into account how you will manage drainage. The ScapeWEL is a great way to add light and living space to your basement area, and meets building code requirements for emergency egress in finished basement areas. There are also innovative step designs that, in addition to the emergency feature, can be landscaped with plants for added visual enhancement. ScapeWEL features maintenance free high-density polyethylene construction and is available in a number of sizes to accommodate virtually any foundation height or window dimension.
As most experts will tell you, the first step to take when pursuing building a new home is looking into financing the project. Starting the process of financial planning for building a new home, or even asking the questions as to how the process works, should be done as soon as you begin looking online at plans or talking with architects and builders. Once a person dedicates time to planning the home or researching a new home, time should be made to meet with a lender. That meeting will help the customer with any misunderstandings or unknowns, reduce time-wasting activities and hopefully clearly define the path for moving forward. This is incredibly important to do right away, as all of our featured experts stress that this will set the tone for your entire project and furthermore, this will give you accurate expectations to set you up for success!
Wade Johnson, of Midwest Bank (MWB), says that you should first sit down with a mortgage banker to explore your options and determine what size home you can afford to build. It is important to have your banker explain the construction process and how their financial institution handles disbursements between the builder, title company and yourself to ensure everyone is on the same page. Secondly, have your banker explain the fees associated with obtaining construction financing and how those will carry over to permanent financing along with their institutions lending guidelines. Finally, understand your allowances given to you by your builder, and how any overages will affect your financing process. Johnson adds that establishing a good relationship with a financial institution and reputable builder is very important because it takes time to understand each individual customer’s needs as no one situation is the same. Ultimately what is best for the customer will be the best for all parties involved in the process. Midwest Bank’s service for the construction loan process first starts by understanding a customer’s financial plan and how MWB can help them achieve success. During the building phase, Midwest Bank will work closely with your builder and title company for handling monthly disbursements to ensure no unforeseen liens are placed on your property and your dollars are being handled with the utmost care. Midwest Bank will also provide on-site inspections to ensure the items you are paying for are being placed in the home. Finally, upon nearing completion Midwest Bank will ensure you get into a great long-term mortgage, thus making the process from start to finish seamless for the borrower. In planning for new home construction, Johnson advises borrowers to allow themselves at least two months to finalize plans with their building and obtain construction financing. Midwest Bank has been in business for over 60 years helping families across Nebraska create memories in their dream homes, and they invite you to visit one of their nine banks to experience community banking at its best.
Wayne Kreikemeier of The Nebraska Bank of Commerce (NBC) stresses to never assume anything. It’s important to set an appointment with a bank that offers construction financing and long-term financing options to ensure that each phase of lending can be accomplished. You should set this appointment before drawing the plans and talking to builders because understanding the process will help to keep you on budget when it comes to overall price and changes along the way. When looking at financing, Kreikemeier advises to pay attention to experience and options. Some banks aren’t actively engaged in the construction lending process, and having a bank that presents options for the construction financing can often times make the process easier on the customer and builder alike. In addition to the options, an experienced bank will help to answer questions, provide direction and inspect the home throughout the construction phase. NBC takes an active role in the construction process to ensure the loan advances reflect the level of completion of the home. By performing site inspections of the homes and disbursing funds through title companies they are working to protect the homeowner, the builder and the bank from future lien issues. This active participation is not always fully appreciated until you’ve spoken to a homeowner who is trying to clear the title of their newly constructed home from something that could have been prevented.
Taylor Ashburn, Manager & Assistant Vice President of Construction Loans with Union Bank, also suggests that anyone interested in building their own home should find out what they can afford early on in the process. His initial consultation with a customer centers around pre-approval for all three stages of the process: the Land Loan (if necessary), the Construction Loan, and the Permanent Mortgage Loan. Every situation is different, and not only is it essential for the potential homeowner to know what is in their budget but it is also prudent for any financial institution to make sure the customer qualifies for the mortgage loan they desire (ie., 30 year fixed) before starting construction. The mortgage industry is constantly changing. Ashburn says this approach helps answer any questions the customer may have, but it also ensures the financial institution providing your loan for the project has covered all bases and has been pro-active to avoid any potential surprises with the final mortgage loan. Obviously interest rates and closing costs are important, and shopping around to find the best deal isn’t a bad idea. The closing costs can vary tremendously from bank to bank. However, in Ashburn’s opinion based on his experience, the most important step is to find a lender and a builder who work well together, and who can communicate effectively with each other and with you. Years down the road, you won’t remember what rate you had for your construction loan. You will, however, remember any “speed bumps” along the way, due to a lack of communication or any general difficulties during the process. Construction Lending is one of the main areas of business for many lenders; they know it inside and out and realize most people only build one or two houses in their lifetime, if any. It’s important to have open, honest and effective communication throughout the entire process, and it’s vital to work with an expert construction lender and reputable builder. Ashburn says, “Customers who seek financing for a construction loan from Union Bank are typically approved within 24 hours. We want to keep the project moving and on-time. Because we’re family-owned and have decision-makers right here in Lincoln, we provide prompt, timely communication to keep the process moving. Additionally, we want our customers to relax and let us handle the numbers. During construction, we monitor monthly draws from the builder, conduct on-site inspections and reconcile costs with the original bids, all free of charge. Finally, we pride ourselves on the speed in which we pay out the monthly draws. In most cases, we’ll pay the builder within 24 hours, keeping the project moving forward.” Again, getting pre-approved for your loan as early as possible is optimal, and during this time it is also a good idea to consult with your financial planner and/or accountant, or begin working with one or both, to make sure the decision to build a home is right for you at this point in time. Ashburn adds, “I can’t stress enough how important it is to take your time when selecting a builder. You will be entering into a long-term relationship with this builder; from the initial planning stages, through the months of construction, and finally the one-year “warranty” period after you’ve moved in. The sign of a good builder is whether or not he/she stands behind their product after it is finished. Some suggestions for selecting a builder include asking past customers about their experience, visiting different builder’s websites, and touring homes during the Home Builder Association of Lincoln’s “Parade of Homes” each spring and fall. The Parade is a great opportunity to walk through several houses and meet a few different builders. Additionally, I always encourage customers to take their time when designing their floor plan and determining the location where their home will be built, as those are things you cannot change once the home is built.”
Mike Barrett, Vice President and Manager of Mortgage Lending at Cornhusker Bank, agrees that it is incredibly important to begin with setting a budget based upon pre-approval for your loan. From there, you can determine where you want to build and begin to look for a lot or acreage in that area, and you will want to do this before you select a floor plan or any other details. It is important to choose the location first because you and your construction team will need to investigate factors such as soil condition, drainage, zoning, and covenants in the development. Afterwards, it is wise to interview a few builders to see who fits with you and your project goals the best, and then you can decide on the floor plan and negotiate a written contract. A contract for new home construction will describe the project in detail and include a listing of all the parts to be included in the house, usually referred to as specs. Also, remember to amend the contract with change orders if you or your builder makes any changes to the project along the way. Cornhusker Bank provides both construction loans and end financing when the house is complete. Furthermore, they offer extended rate lock options for the permanent financing that will give you the peace of mind that your permanent financing is in place, as well as the knowledge of what your payments will be once the project is complete. Barrett advises that it can take some time to put together all the pieces, especially if you are building a custom home. Building (or even buying) a home is one of the largest financial transactions you will probably ever be a part of, so planning ahead and being diligent with your research will pay off when it comes to your budget. Being able to build your dream home is a goal for many homeowners, and working with a team of experts that you have personally selected based on your unique criteria will ensure your success and a positive experience. You can’t get to the last step without beginning with the first step, so again, make sure you take the time to plan ahead, set a budget, and personally interview and select your team.
Building your dream home will mean that you will be making decisions about every option of your new home, inside and out. GV Kustom Kitchens provides design services to customers building a new home, as well as all of the interior finish materials that you may need to complete your project. Not only do they provide cabinetry design and estimates in addition a number of different cabinet lines available to suit various needs, they also offer countertop materials, tile for floors, backsplashes and showers, hardwood and engineered-wood flooring, laminate and vinyl flooring, carpet, rugs, and window treatments. GV Kustom Kitchens even provides furniture layouts and often helps with new furniture selection. Building a new home can be daunting, even if you know exactly what you want. Having a designer help you to narrow down the decisions and guide you through the process makes it much easier. Lisa Giesbrecht, a designer at GV Kustom Kitchens, says that since the staff are all trained and educated interior designers, they can really help customers put many elements together, taking some of the guesswork and legwork out of building a home. Additionally, they feel that their job is to take your ideas and turn them into great design by showing you the possibilities. The staff work very hard not to leave their fingerprints behind, but to truly have your new space be a reflection of you, your family, your lifestyle, and your personal design. GV Kustom Kitchens can also work to help make decisions when it comes to budgeting, as it is often wise to price out some items you like before beginning the building process to make sure you are including things that you want up-front. This also includes helping customers determine areas that are okay to cut back and where to spend extra attention. Giesbrecht adds that when considering building a home, think about your current lifestyle. Do you spend a lot of time cooking, do you entertain, or are you away a lot? Then think about what you would change in your current home. Do you want to learn to cook, entertain more, or spend more time at home? Working with a designer as you answer these questions can help determine a good fit for floor plans, cabinetry design and furniture layouts, as well as where the focal points should be in your new home. Giesbrecht also stresses that you should always look at the kitchen layout before building begins; even if you don’t cook often, the kitchen truly is usually where the hub of the house is and where everyone gathers. Even in small kitchens the staff at GV Kustom Kitchens can create a sense of space through a variety of design elements. It is never too early in the process to think about where your things will fit, and if they will fit, in your new space. GV Kustom Kitchens can really help you get the vision for how you will live in your new dream home.
At Vistar Homes, their philosophy is simply to design and build unique and affordable houses that people will love to call home. Vistar Homes proudly builds homes to fit your lifestyle, and strive to make all of their homes just a bit different than an average home while still incorporating all of the features you are looking for. They specialize in a variety of styles, including new-urbanism, two-story, townhome and ranch. The professional sales staff at Vistar Homes can enhance your home buying experience with insight and counsel on home designs, architectural and decorating options, contract details, and information on your neighborhood and community. Additionally, their innovative construction techniques help deliver a quality home with efficiency and value, and trained warranty personnel are ready to assist you so you get the most out of your new home. Vistar Homes also offers a complete appliance package for your new home, including a refrigerator, washer and dryer, which they have found to be a great added convenience. Lois Hartzell of Vistar Homes says a few of the special features that many of their customers have included are painted woodwork, window sills and an orange peel drywall finish because it gives the home a light and fresh look. She recommends that you don’t go with a builder that doesn’t listen to what is important to you or your personal wants and needs, as most likely the reason you are building is to get the home you want–not the home someone else wants to build you for whatever reasons. Hartzell also recommends that you consider the “now” and build to fit your lifestyle today, but remember tomorrow always brings change and in the future you may consider selling your dream home and moving on to other possibilities. This makes the potential resale value and how the home will grow with you important aspects to consider, even during the building process.
For anyone building a new home, Jeff Nelson of Husker Organics offers several recommendations based upon his experience. First, it will save you money in the long run if you can ensure whoever you hire or enlist to do the finish grading installs at least approximately six inches of high-quality top soil. He recommends hiring a reputable landscaping company to do this, and it will save you in fertilizer costs, weed control efforts and most importantly, water. This up-front investment in good top soil will very quickly pay for itself, both in your lawn’s appearance and in your wallet! Secondly, make sure that you hire a professional irrigation company, and also check their references before committing. Many companies do not design in such a way that provides good head-to-head coverage or matched precipitation. This leaves you with uneven coverage and in a year like we had last season, dry spots. Husker Organics spent a large amount of time last summer re-nozzling sprinkler heads to try and even out irrigation coverage on several properties that were designed poorly. Nelson, in addition to the other experts mentioned, also stresses that you only get one shot at a quality design. Your dream home is for you to enjoy, not labor for hours maintaining. He offers a couple easy ways to reduce your maintenance efforts, with the most important being to install an irrigation system. Husker Organics encourages a restrictive, “as-needed” use of groundwater, but if you let your lawn and landscape dry out and die, you will be spending more money in repair work, will use more water trying to re-establish plants, and you will be very dissatisfied with the appearance of your dream home. Additionally, make sure all areas of your landscape are easily accessible for maintenance. For example, if you are installing a fence around a large turf area, be sure to request a double gate so your mowing crew can access it with larger machines because if they can do it faster, your mowing costs will also go down. When landscaping your dream home, Nelson advises doing your best to select native plants as they are going to be much more tolerant of our conditions and require less maintenance. You should always do your own research on any trees or larger plants that show up in your landscape design. Too often, Nelson and his team sees larger scale trees placed way too close to a home or other structure, which will lead to much greater expenses down the road. That 15’ tree may look great there now, but what about when it is 40’ tall? Finally, he recommends a lawn that is a mix of bluegrass and turf-type fescues. Professional blends of these grasses will generally repair themselves, should minor damage occur, which is a great feature for less maintenance.
Krista Rickman of True Value Hardware Store in Bishop Heights says that even though they are not affiliated with builders in order to give construction advice, they do see many of their customers, who are also homeowners, experiencing problems with their homes as a result of being poorly built. Accordingly, she recommends installing quality plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, appliances, carpet and flooring in order to minimize many future problems commonly associated in these areas. Rickman recommends priming and prepping all surfaces correctly before you paint or stain them, and that you should pay a little more for high quality paint, brushes and rollers. This ensures that the job with be done with no, or very minimal, imperfections and in her opinion, is well worth the investment. Also, choose the sheen of paint depending on the use and location of the surface being painted. The shinier the paint sheen, the more wash ability and durability it will have; however, the shinier it is the more it will show imperfections on a surface. For example, if you are painting a bathroom, kitchen, trim or a child’s room pick a satin or semi-gloss paint. If you are painting a living room, master bedroom or front hallway a flat or eggshell sheen will work just fine. Always use exterior paint if you are painting an outdoor surface because exterior paint is designed to expand and contract with changes in the weather. A local, neighborhood hardware store like Bishop Heights True Value can be a great resource for all your future home projects and repairs. The True Value stores offer many products for your home, such as interior and exterior paint, all of the painting supplies you will need, cabinet hardware, door locks, kitchen and bath faucets, plumbing materials, tools, and all kinds of lawn and garden supplies. Rickman also offers several tips that will preserve the investment you have made in materials and labor for your dream home. First, purchase a quality vacuum cleaner, know what type of filtration system or bag it uses, and change the bag or filter often. Second, know what size furnace and air conditioning filter your system need and change it often. Both of these will reduce dust and allergens in your home in addition to preserving your investment in those items. Finally, a simple but important item that you should always have on-hand is a plunger, as drains and toilets don’t choose business hours or convenient times to clog. Bishop Heights True Value welcomes all current or future homeowners to visit their store and see for yourself the products and assistance they have to offer for all of your home building and improvement projects.
When doing research on what you will need to assemble your team and your dream home, insulation should definitely be considered. Nathan Krieser of Krieser Drywall & Insulation says that when working with clients who are building a dream home that they will be in for many years, he always discusses upgrade options—especially on insulation. There are many things you can upgrade down the road with little disruption to the house, but one thing that is impossible to upgrade later is the insulation in your walls. As with upgrades, some take only a couple of years to pay for themselves, while others take a bit longer, but insulation will begin to pay for itself instantly once you begin living in your new home. Krieser Drywall & Insulation is a full service company that focuses on all aspects of drywall and insulation, and has been in business since 1993 with an emphasis on quality and exceptional customer service. They can insulate and drywall the smallest of remodeling projects all the way up to the building of multi-million dollar homes. For drywall, they offer a variety of custom ceiling and wall textures that will transform the appearance of any room, as opposed to plain walls that may feel a bit sterile. They also offer a variety of insulation products and options, from typical batt insulation to blown in blanket system (BIBS) insulation. BIBS insulation is a technique where netting is stapled to the stud facing with dense fiberglass packed behind, and adds an extra 2-4 R-value depending on the depth of the stud cavity. Krieser also offers spray foam insulation, and one of their most popular features for upgrades is applying spray foam on the rim joist area between the basement and main level of a house. Another option is a Hybrid flash and BIBS system, where they spray two inches of closed cell foam on the exterior walls and follow it with a densely-packed netted cavity, and in a 2×6 wall you can expect an R-value of approximately R-28, which is optimal. In order to insulate attics, they use fiberglass, cellulose, spray foam, or their Energy Star air sealing package. This involves caulking all framing penetrations, using special baffles above the top plate and air sealing the attic space before they blow the insulation. They also offer complete home audits with blower door testing by an experienced auditor with recommendations on what is needed to make your home, newly built or existing, more energy efficient. However, as previously mentioned, it is always better to have your home insulated, with quality and energy efficiency in mind, sooner in the process than later on after the home is built and lived in.
If you are considering building outside of Lincoln, but close enough for convenience, Oak Prairie Estates is a great option. While enjoying the country setting, it is great to know the excitement of downtown Lincoln is only ten minutes away. Oak Prairie Estates offers 3+ acre lots with many unique qualities that you will not find with other developments. The developer is close by and will help with any issues in the building process and the development itself is smaller than most which gives buyers ultimate privacy and a real sense of ownership, unlike larger more commercial developments. There is a man-made stream that runs into a beautiful lake with two docks and a sand beach. This gives owners the opportunity to enjoy their own private area in many ways, such as hiking around the creeks and prairies, fishing, swimming, or kayaking in the lake. Oak Prairie also offers a number of mature trees on each lot. T.J. Beck, a representative of Oak Prairie Estates, says it is important to find a Realtor and then a builder in that order, or to find a Realtor that represents a builder to make the communication process as smooth and effective as possible. There are many different builders in the Lincoln area that are more than capable of building a quality home. The important thing is to find one that you feel you have a positive connection with. Have your Realtor set up times to meet with multiple builders, even ones they may not represent. This will give you a chance to go over blueprints, price options and get a feel for what kind of company you are dealing with. Building can be like riding a roller coaster–fun but a little scary and overwhelming at times. That is why it is so important to find a Realtor and builder that you are comfortable with and you feel are working for you. Beck also suggests visiting the Spring Parade of Homes or other homes on the market to get ideas on layout, styles and different finish options that is a tangible presentation, as opposed to a test swatch or online resources. An experienced Realtor or builder will be able to show you all of the many different options that are available.
If you don’t have access to your own lake, you may consider adding a pool or spa. Think of your backyard as an extension of your home. A well-designed backyard space adds more than square footage and value to your home, it gives your family and friends a place to spend quality time together outside. Swimming pools and hot tubs are perfect gathering places to relax or entertain. Jeff Bonsall of Bonsall Pool & Spa advises that the ideal time to install a swimming pool or hot tub is during the construction of your new home. The staff of Bonsall Pool & Spa includes ten full-time and four or more part-time pool and spa professionals with over 100 years of combined experience, some of which are also qualified engineers. Several employees have over 20 years of experience in the pool and spa industry! Bonsall Pool & Spa employees also travel all over the country to attend the latest industry technical training seminars available, and have received an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. This all assures that you will get the very best advice, service and products available and that you will be able to enjoy and relax in your Bonsall-built pool or spa for many years. Bonsall emphasizes that they are happy to offer design help as early as possible in the building process, and can consult with you over the phone or at their store location. By allowing for your pool or spa to be planned and coordinated into the building project, this facilitates a much smoother design and installation process. Spending a little on design during the construction of the house can save you a lot of money, time and hassle–as with many other features–as opposed to making the decision to add a pool or hot tub later on down the road. There are plenty of aspects to consider with respect to coordinating your installation of your pool or spa with the construction of the home, and a good designer will also consider things like utilities, electrical, gas, plumbing, irrigation, sod and landscaping. The last thing you want to do is pay to move the underground electrical service because it was installed right where the pool is going to be.
Building your new dream home should not (and cannot) be a passive exercise. A myriad of decisions have to be made, by you. Where you are unable, or unwilling to make decisions, you will force the builder to make them. To make sure your new home fulfills your own vision, follow these guidelines:
It is incredibly vital that you fully understand the terms of your building contract. You will be party to a contract involving a massive amount of money when you sign on the dotted line for the construction of your new house. By doing so, you abdicate NONE of your basic legal rights; therefore, know them and exercise them!
Start by reading the contract and understanding it. You are paying (or will pay over the next 25-30 years) for the knowledge of the builders — their experience and ability. Additionally, you are paying your builders a profit above their expenses. What do you expect in return? How do ensure that you get what you expect? Are your expectations clearly outlined within the prospective contract? All of the professionals we have highlighted can offer a wealth of guidance, information, reliable contacts that they have done business with already, and services that are well worth the investment you are making in them. There are some general guidelines to keep in mind with the overall cost of your new home. First, the total labor cost will generally run a little higher than your total material cost. Many builders are also passing along a discount on materials that they have recommended based on partnerships with companies that they regularly do business, so that is a nice advantage to working with these types of professionals. Secondly, it is not unusual for a builder or general contractor to charge a fee based upon a percentage of the combined labor and material costs for managing the overall project. Finally, don’t forget to add the cost of site improvements such as utilities, sidewalks, and landscaping when calculating the overall cost of the project.
Additionally, as mentioned by many of our experts, communication is the key to successfully building your dream home. The process should look something like this: COMMUNICATE – WRITE IT DOWN – COMMUNICATE- WRITE IT DOWN – COMMUNICATE – WRITE IT DOWN. Anything you add to the house after the contract is signed, the builder will keep track of; conversely, anything you delete or reduce, YOU should diligently keep track of.
Consider how much space you will actually need and occupy, and plan accordingly. The average house contains approximately 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, so if you are contemplating more or less space you should also consider your reasoning behind this. You pay for each square foot of space in your house, whether it is occupied, has viable uses, or otherwise. Whatever that cost may be, make sure everything has a purpose—or several. When doing research, you will find that there is a good balance to be found between the cost of options or materials and the quality. Do not go too cheap, but also do not go too opulent unless that is your main goal.
While you can control just about everything with a building project, some things are okay to estimate. Don’t expect to control the number of nails or shingles used. Do expect a substantially built house, free of defects, and in accordance with all applicable codes and regulations. Moreover, require proof of this compliance at the closing of your mortgage. Always question anything that just doesn’t look or seem right, as most of the time they are not right, and seek a reliable source of outside, impartial advice—other than your father or uncle, even if he is a builder! You should pay attention to as many aspects of the process as you can, and during the building process it is beneficial to keep your own checklist of to-dos or concerns so that when the project is done you can review this list to make sure that everything has been attended to and completed properly. You may also want the contractor to keep a list of things they feel are important to remember or be completed in order to manage different viewpoints and cover all angles. Have your contractor make their list first, so that you are not micro-managing too much but rather offering more of your focus on what may have been missed. Experienced builders often have a better eye for things that need to be corrected, so before the builder ultimately leaves your new home for the last time make sure you have done a final walk-through and that everything is as you wanted it to be. It is also a good idea to consider having an independent home inspector look over the project to offer an outside opinion. The National Association of Home Inspectors can provide resources and contact information for home inspectors near you, and you can access their website for more information at www.NAHI.org.
You should be prepared to resolve any situations and problems that arise by compromising. Be aware of what you may be giving up in this process, and be able to examine and understand both sides. Your builder will be fully capable of doing anything you wish, or finding someone that can, but this will all come with a price. Consider whether your requests are feasible or unique as opposed to far-fetched, outlandish, or utilize new technology or materials and equipment that have not been thoroughly tested. Construction can be an imperfect science at times. Combining natural elements such as site conditions, weather, human error and potentially defective materials means that things could—and will—likely change, so be understanding and open to the process. Be pragmatic, and absolutely businesslike in all of your dealings with the builders. They are working FOR you; you are not seeking them as new friends (although you will likely be closer after the process, and most are wonderful people). Also, if a friend or relative performs part of the work, treat them in exactly the same manner and always have a contract, no matter what, who or why.
It is also beneficial to do business with local experts whenever you can, and this can include larger companies as long as they have operations set up in Lincoln. There are plenty of highly capable, talented professionals that have made home building in Lincoln their main area of expertise. They will be there for you before and during your building process, but also down the line to help you answer any new questions or assist with problems that may arise. You will be much happier having local access instead of following the communication trail to track someone down in a year.
The more time and effort spent up-front in programming, planning, designing, and understanding, as well as in establishing specifics of the project, the better the chance for a smoother construction period and a satisfactory result. Building your dream home is an exciting undertaking full of options and decisions, and can be a great experience if you put together a great team of professionals to help you each step of the way.