Custom Home Design And Residential Construction Advice

Custom Home Design And Residential Construction Advice

Custom Home Design And Residential Construction Advice
For Building Your Own Home
Paul Lunick offers expert advice on custom home design and residential construction, under 3 headings:

FAQ About Custom Home Design And Residential Construction
The Steps To Completion When Building Your Own Home
Helpful Relocation Tips

Additionally, Paul has provided 3 informative articles to help anyone who is considering building their own home in the Buffalo - Niagara Falls region of WNY:

1. New Home Builders Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Custom Home Design And Residential Construction

What Steps Are Involved In The Construction Of A Custom Built Home?
The construction of a custom home design proceeds along the same path as any residential construction project, except that you choose just about everything about your new custom built home, based upon your personal tastes and budget. Building Your Own Home?

What Specifications Are Custom Home Designs Normally Built To?
You choose where you spend your budget with a custom built home. Choices include brick vs. vinyl siding, high or standard ceilings, expensive rugs or carpeting, etc. A competent builder will help you optimize the custom home design, construction materials, fittings and fixtures around your budget, so that you get the features that are most important to you, with assured durability and low maintenance. Custom Built Home Specifications

Where Do We Begin In The Construction Of A Custom Built Home?
Building your own home is a rewarding experience if you understand your budget and know what you want and need so plan first. Deciding how much you can afford to spend depends upon two things: what monthly payment you can afford and what down payment you can invest. Because there are so many variables, sit down with an experienced new home builder /general contractor to discuss your financing options in detail. Contact Us

Where Do We Start In Deciding On A Suitable Custom Home Design And Site?
Initially, consider everything you want in your new custom built home: location, size, type of lot, and specific features like a separate dining room or detached garage. Decide about the importance of community amenities such as a pool or jogging trails, proximity to public transportation or commuter routes, the local schools, and shopping. Consider potential noise nuisances such as flight paths, railway lines, quarries, highways, etc. Then determine what your top priorities are, so you can be prepared to make some tradeoffs when deciding where and what to build. If relocating to a new area seek the guidance of a local expert. Contact Us

How Do We Select A Builder To Construct Our Custom Home Design?
Choosing the right new home builder / general contractor is critical for success in building your own home. It is essential that the new home builder has an excellent reputation and has been around for a long time to ensure both the quality of your custom built home and the reliability of any warranties. You should also look for a locally based new home builder who understands the local building code, climate, and land. Find an excellent communicator who offers exceptional customer service, an effective warranty package, and who can provide many quality references. Contact Us

How Do We Select A Suitable Neighborhood?
Numerous factors determine what a neighborhood is like. Its age, natural features like woods and hills, the style of existing construction, the recreation facilities, and schools. How the individual homes as well as the community are maintained has an effect, too. The neighborhood will have just as much effect on the future re-sale value of your custom built home as the architectural style or the particular custom home design that you choose. Travel around to find the neighborhood that is right for you, your budget, and your particular custom built home. Contact Us.

How Do We Choose A Site For Our Custom Built Home?
After deciding upon a neighborhood, consider the overall layout of the community and choose a specific site for your new custom built home. Decide whether you want to be on a through street or a culdesac, near woods or a school, and so on. An experienced new home builder / general contractor, wellversed in explaining site plans and easements, will walk over a number of potential sites with you. Contact Us.

How Do We Find The Best Custom Home Design / Floor Plan For Our Lifestyle?
First, determine how many total rooms you need, especially bedrooms and bathrooms, and decide what room sizes you require and where you want them located. Also consider whether you want an open foyer, separate living and dining room, eatin kitchen, basement, attic, family room, den, laundry room, workshop, garage, sun room or porch. A competent local new home builder will be able to show you examples of the different architectural styles (Cape Cod, Colonial, Contemporary, etc.). and house 'types' (Single Story, Two story, Multi-level, etc.). Contact Us

Can We Watch Our Custom Home Design Take Shape?
A competent new home builder will involve their clients throughout the residential construction process, encouraging frequent visits to the site during construction. These visits should be scheduled (for safety reasons), and will help you to literally know your custom home design inside and out, and from the ground up, as it is being built. Ask your new home builder / general contractor how you can learn more about your custom built home during construction. Contact Us

What Is Involved In 'Closing' On Our New Custom Built Home?
Closing on your new custom built home, is the last step in the residential construction process. Your builder will set the date and time for your closing, inform you of the exact amount of money to bring and explain the settlement documents. At your closing, you'll sign the documents and pay your balance and any closing costs. You'll need to bring a cashier's or certified check for this purpose. Lastly, you'll get the title and the keys to your new custom built home. Contact Us

Highview Homes
Fairly priced custom home design and residential construction expertise
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2. The Steps To Completion When Building Your Own Home

Qualify at a lending institution.
Choose the optimum custom home design for your lifestyle, and cost out.
Choose a suitable new home location for your custom built home.
Obtain approvals (Lot, Lender, Zoning, etc.).
Obtain permits (Septic, Sewer, Water, Building, Electric, etc.).
Obtain insurances.
Survey lot.
Strip lot and excavate for foundation.
Form for footers and pour concrete.
Form for walls and pour concrete.
Strip forms.
Stone drainage weeps.
Set basement posts and beams.
Waterproof foundation wall.
Backfill corners and fill garage.
Frame floor deck.
Prepare basement floor, draintile, sump crock.
Frame first floor external walls and partitions.
Frame second floor deck.
Frame second floor external walls and partitions.
Frame gables, roof trusses, and sheathing.
Install roofing.
Install windows and external doors.
Pour slab in basement, garage and porch.
Backfill against foundation.
Run sewer and water lines, hang conductors.
Rough plumbing.
Rough heating.
Rough electric.
Have utility companies install electrical and gas services.
Arrange for telephone and cable hook-ups.
Install brick, siding, fascia, soffits, shutters, gutters, and fireplace.
Insulate floors, walls, roofs.
Hang drywall, tape, cement, finish smooth, and then apply any custom finishes.
Paint and stain.
Install kitchen and bathroom cabinets and tops.
Install interior doors, casings, bases and moldings, railings, stairs, etc.
Finish heating and electrical.
Install sheet goods, flooring, and ceramic tile.
Finish plumbing.
Clean and touch-up inside.
Install carpet.
Finish grade.
Pour driveway, sidewalks and any patios etc.
Build any exterior wooden decks.
Landscaping.

Compliance with local building code requires that a building inspector inspect and sign-off certain phases of the construction. For more information Contact Us

Highview Homes
Fairly priced custom home design and residential construction expertise
Contact Us Today!....

3. Helpful Relocation Tips
Relocation to your new custom built home requires careful consideration and planning. Consider these useful guidelines:

6 to 8 Weeks Before:

Confirm moving dates
Discuss your employer's moving policies/restrictions
Confirm insurance coverage needs
Prepare uptodate inventory with pictures
Order phone book

4 Weeks Before:

Sort your belongings and decide what you don't want to take
Hold a garage sale or give items you don't need to family or friends
Contact schools in the area
Arrange for storage of your items if needed

3 Weeks Before:

Obtain records you will take: medical, dental, school
If necessary, obtain veterinary records and arrange for transport of your pet
Make travel arrangements and reservations
Research clubs, organizations and church affiliations in the area
Schedule disconnection of telephone, utilities and appliances in your old house
Arrange connection of telephone, utilities and appliances in your new house
Begin packing, unless you have arranged for all packing to be handled by the mover
If necessary, arrange special transport of plants

2 Weeks Before:

Organize important documents, such as insurance records and automobile registration
Send changeofaddress announcements by letter or card
Arrange for transfer of bank and other financial accounts
Handle necessary financial correspondence, such as payment or transfer of bills
If you have a young child, schedule a baby sitter for moving day

1 Week Before:

Cancel newspaper subscription and other delivery services as needed
Arrange for transfer of prescriptions
Inspect/tuneup of your automobile
Defrost and dry refrigerator/freezer (about 3 days before move)
Remove/pack items not to be moved; label "DO NOT MOVE"
Pack box of essentials needed for movein; label "LAST ON, FIRST OFF"

Highview Homes
Fairly priced custom home design and residential construction expertise
Contact Us Today!....