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When you build your house you will be using subs, contractors, and suppliers to help you get the project done. Not every aspect of the project will require the service of each of those previously mentioned people, but you will be using materials in every aspect of building your home, so it is important to find good suppliers that will provide you with high quality items to use.
When you build your house, you will be buying materials from various suppliers, and you will want to have a pool of suppliers to choose from. So, before you can find a big selection of potential suppliers to choose from you should determine what suppliers you are even going to need.
Let's start by getting a general definition of what a supplier is and what they aren't:
You are going to want to have some insider knowledge about the supplier you are considering hiring, and buying materials from. So, once you have selected three or four suppliers and contacted each one to bid on your project, you can do some things in the meantime while you wait for your bids to get back to learn more about the supplier.
One of the best ways to get insider knowledge about a supplier is by asking someone that works for them. So, before settling on a materials supplier, interview one of the salespeople in charge of large accounts. You want to know everything you can about quality, pricing, discounts, delivery, terms, and advice.
Price per square foot is important for the same reason why car salesmen haggle over the monthly payment of a car rather than the total amount; when you sell in increments it is much easier to get the consumer to settle on a higher price. In the case of flooring a dollar or even fifty cents per square foot does not seem like that big of a deal because we typically see these amounts as negligible. However, having this mentality when it comes to flooring will quickly put you in quite the financial predicament.
Price per square foot is important because when you are talking about price per square foot chances are that you are most likely referring to a flooring project. Flooring is one of those permanent features of your home that you are going to have to deal with for years to come and the price for covering an entire home with various types of flooring can be staggering if you are not prepared.
There are a lot of things that you will want to make sure to take into consideration when you are building or remodeling. You will want to make sure that you take into consideration what things cost and how they are going to increase value. If you do not understand what this means here is some information on the rule of thumb for cost verses increased value.
Depending on what things you decide to add to the home you are remodeling or the home you are building will depend on the cost verses increased value. For example if you add certain electronic devices through out your house that turn on and off the lights with a remote that is not going to add cost to your home because of the fact that electronic equipment goes out of date and it isn't worth as much the day after it is bought as it is the day it was purchased. Because of this electronics would be considered cost but not increased value.
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Getting a loan to build a home has unique challenges. Additionally there are many different factors that your lender will need to take into consideration before lending you money. For example, a standard home loan is fairly straight forward. You make a deal with the current home owner to buy their home for a set price and the bank either approves your loan for the amount or they don't. The home is tangible, can be used for collateral and can easily be examined and fitted with a price. On the other hand, getting a loan to build a home is really getting a loan for something that does not yet exist. The lender has nothing to hold as a security and therefore take much more of a risk when they decide to lend you the money. As we all know, banks do not take risks out of the goodness of the bankers' hearts, there are stipulations. Hopefully now you have a little better idea for why getting a loan to build a home is going to be a more lengthy process than other loan applications processes may be.
If you are remodeling your home or thinking about possibly remodeling your home, it is likely that you are worried about keeping the existing value of the home. No body wants to put a lot of work and money into remodeling, just to find out that the value of there home as decreased! Instead, you want to make sure that the money spent on remodeling is an investment which will either increase the home value or at least keep it at the same level that it was at before. Here are some things that you can do to keep existing value when remodeling:
1. Be careful with garage transitions: One thing that you might want to be a little wary of is garage transitions, particularly if you are worried about keeping the existing value of your home. The absence of a garage can put a house at a disadvantage and subsequently lower the value of the home. One thing that you might want to consider is only remodeling one half-of the garage, particularly if you have a two or three door garage. This way, you will be able to keep at least part of the area as a garage for parking your car, so that your home will not go down in value. Above all, you should try to make the new room in the garage space appear to be like the rest of the house. Many people feel like garage transitions are not tastefully done very often. If you are set on remodeling part of your garage, make sure that the transition is smooth and works with your floor plan, so that you can keep the existing value of your house.
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Do you want to make some drastic improvements in your home, but you do not have a lot of money? Remodeling can be a very expensive project, but it doesn't necessarily have to be! In fact, there are a lot of ways that you can do an inexpensive remodel with major results! Here are a couple of ways that you can make your home more comfortable and nice through an inexpensive remodel:
1. Painting: One of the easier ways to make your home look nicer is simply by painting! Painting is a great way to remodel your home. In addition, the color of paint can also help a room to feel more spacious, so if you feel like a room seems rather cramped, look into repainting the room in a lighter color. White, cream, beige, yellow, and tan are all great paint colors that can help a room to seem a little more spacious. Dark colors often can make a room seem a little bit smaller, but sometimes a dark color adds a nice "rich" quality to a room. Paint cans for a home can range as little as $20, so try this inexpensive remodeling technique to get some major results in your home!
You are planning a big remodeling or building project and you go to the local "Home Depot" to find out how much you will spend on supplies. As you tally up the bill, you imagine all the money you have and will ever possibly make flying off into the sunset without you. Don't despair; there are several ways to get home building or remodeling supplies for a discount.
The first thing to know is that large home improvement stores have the highest possible prices. They are convenient for buying replacement parts and small items, but for a large project, you will want to use personal contacts, discount stores, and the internet.
Contractors and subcontractors are great resources for buying discounted supplies. The name of the contracting game is building for less, so they usually know somewhere to get supplies on the cheap. If you are using contractors or subcontractors, they will include the material in the bid price and you won't have to worry about making the purchases and finding the good deals. They will do it. However, if you are going it alone it never hurts to ask a lot of questions. If you know anybody in the construction business, find out where they get their supplies.
There are building supply discount stores. Habitat for Humanity has set of a discount building supply stores in Phoenix Arizona. There are hundreds of other discount stores that are run by nonprofit organizations. These are shops where you can buy home improvement supplies without paying inventory costs or operating costs. Supporting these discount supply stores not only saves you the money you would normally be paying to a retailer but the money that you do spend goes to a good cause.
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If you are thinking of building a new home, the first thing that you are going to have to do is find the property on which to build it. This task is no picnic and often it seems difficult if not impossible to find a decent lot at a decent price. There are some steps you can take to make sure you get good land for your money.
Find out how much you can spend-the first thing you should do is meet with your financial advisor to discuss your money. If you don't have a financial advisor, you can talk with the loan broker or even the realtor who is going to handle the sale of the land. They will help you analyze your finances and the total amount that you will be able to spend on the building project. You can then figure out how much of that total chunk of money should be allocated towards the land.
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There are plenty of costs to consider as you get ready to build your home. Some are obvious like the cost of the lot and the cost of building materials. Some are not so obvious like all the permits and licensing fees. This is a list of the expenses involved with building a new home.
Property cost-- The first big chunk of change that you will throw at your new home will be to buy the property. The price on your property can be in any ballpark but do your homework and buy the best piece of land that you can for your money. Some people don't consider that the price of the property is included in the price of building the home but it is certainly a big expense and your house has to be build somewhere.
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When it comes to energy use, and energy savings, the choice of windows you purchase, whether for a new home, or to replace windows in an old home, will be a big factor. Basically you can't have an energy efficient home without energy savings windows. Why? Well it is because of the impact windows have on both heat loss and heat gain. The proper selection of products can be confusing because there is no one right answer. The perfect energy saving window for you will depend on where you live, the conditions the window will be under, etc. Choosing the right windows is complicated enough will all of the various factors that come into play, and to add to the complexity, window glazing technology has changed tremendously in recent years. The best window glazings today insulate almost four times as well as the best commonly available windows from twenty years ago. So, what once was is no longer, and so you want to find companies that have kept up with the times.
Regardless of where you go to purchase windows, there are some common features to look for. The following are features to look for in energy saving windows:
When you are preparing a house to sell you have several ways to increase its curb appeal cheaply. You will want to make the yard and front of the house as neat as possible to attract potential buyers. If the yard is not taken care of, potential buyers may not even stop to see the rest of the house. Hence, your house's curb appeal is an essential consideration when preparing your house for sale.
The yard can easily, quickly and cheaply be taken care of. If the grass is dead, start watering it immediately. Even if there is no grass in the yard and just weeds, water the weeds and mow. Having green grass or even weeds neatly mowed adds greatly to your curb appeal and only requires a little water and occasional mowing.
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Storm windows are defined as Multi-layered windows that are attached to the outer casings of regular windows to protect against the elements. Storm windows are normally used in conjunction with single-hung, double-hung and slider-type windows. So, let's take a look at the options we have for storm windows, and which is best:
Using landscaping pavers is a great way to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your landscaping. They can add depth, texture, and even color to your landscape design, so when you are to the point in your home design, or design project, don't forget to consider landscaping pavers to enhance your landscape design and curb appeal. They offer many great benefits that outweigh any drawbacks there might be, so look into them, and don't forget how much a little extra something can add to your overall design.
A water well is a great thing, but before you build your house or drill your well, plan your water supply. A well is worth little without an adequate supply of good quality water, which may be found where you had hoped to build the front steps! So, plan ahead so that you do not have to rebuild or deal with poor water. Thinking ahead makes life easier all around, so plan, organize, and get the most for your money.
When you build a home, you are going to want to create a budget so that you can stick to it as closely as possible, and stay on top of things. This will help you save money, and will help you come in under budget and not have to go to your lender asking for more money to be able to finish your house. You do not want to have to stop construction because you run out of money because you did not create a good enough budget. So, create a spreadsheet budget!
You have to have more than materials to build a house. Before you start building your home you will need a few other things. Pretty much everyone knows you have to have building permits, etc. What everyone doesn't always realize or consider is the importance of having insurance. Sure you get insurance for you house after it is built, but what about while it is being built? You may not think about it, but ignorance is not excuse. There are several insurance and legal issues that are associated with the home building process, and it is best to cover your bases by getting adequate insurance.
If you have a pool you probably know that it is one of the major users of water and energy at your home. Many people complain about the cost of maintaining and running a pool, but your cost does not have to be as high as you think. By reducing the pool's energy and water use, you will receive substantial savings on your utility bill, and get the added plus of benefiting the environment. You do not have to enjoy your pool less to use less energy, so lets take a look at some of the things you can do to save energy, water and money while still enjoying your swimming pool.
In order to get a relatively accurate cost estimation it is best if you have already you're your building site purchased (or at the very least picked out and under contract to purchase, i.e. earnest money paid, an agreement signed), and the detailed plans and drawings of your home. Once you have those, the best thing to do is start with a material's take-off list. There is no way to get an accurate cost estimation if you don't have detailed specs or plans and a good material's take-off to go from. You can have this drawn up by a number of people, but either way, you will need one in order to get a good cost estimation, which of course, you need as well.
Because most homes have a significant amount of electronic equipment in them, from the washing machine and dishwasher to the home computer, stereo, and television, a whole house surge protector is something that should be considered.
Why? Well, even the smallest surges can damage electronics. Every small surge deteriorates the electronic components in your electric equipment, which can drastically shorten their designed life, costing you thousands of dollars, not to mention several headaches. While the number may seem staggering, the average home has 2,200 or more surges annually.
When you build a home you must insulate it to make it comfortable. Insulation keeps the cool in and the heat out, or the heat in and the cool out, just depending on what you want. Insulation is the process of enclosing or covering an object with a material that serves as a barrier and reduces the flow of energy, specifically heat.
Insulation is used for things other than just your home, but in general it can be said that insulation is used for the following reasons:
To reduce heat energy losses.
To prevent nearby objects from heating up.
How To Deal With Suppliers
When you build your house you are going to be dealing with various suppliers for all the materials you will need. This means you will need to know which suppliers are the best to deal with. The following is a list of good rules of thumb when it comes to dealing with suppliers. It can mean you get the best supplies for the best prices.
Insulating your home well is one of the fastest and best ways to improve and ensure energy efficiency. However, many people struggle with insulating because there are so many different types of insulates available. With so many different types, how are you to know which is the best type for your project and why? Also, insulation is all given an R value, and before insulating your home, you should know what exactly that R value means.
When you are building your home and working towards finishing it you have to insulate it. The big question becomes how much insulation do you need? Some contractors will quote you one number and others will quote you another. However, the real answer depends on a number of factors. So, let's take a look at these factors and figure out what is the right amount of insulation for your particular needs:
You need t get materials lists and sub bids at the same time. If you can get your lists and materials together, subs are more motivated to help with the materials lists in a timely manner. Does that make sense? Once you have your list of items needed to build your house all put together and checked over for accuracy it is time to get bids.
Of course, if you really wanted to you could do all the figuring yourself, but why would you that would be a royal waste of time? These are the people you will be paying, so their numbers will be deadly accurate for your cost estimation because their bid is what you will be paying.
When you own a home, are building a home, or are buying an existing home, you will be required by your lender to have homeowner's insurance, which is also referred to as home hazard insurance. This is very important, but you should know that not every home hazard insurance policy is created equal, so the following are a few common, and potentially costly, mistakes that people often make about insurance, which you should avoid when purchasing home hazard insurance:
With homes today, the idea is to build a home that allows you to stay home more and still get all the conveniences of going out. For example, many homes have offices, theaters, game rooms, and of course home fitness centers.
In order to have a home fitness center, you need some basic home exercise equipment. This is a great way to stay fit. However, many people decide they want a home fitness center, and never do the research to figure what to buy for their specific needs. So, before you buy, you should do your homework. This will prevent your new exercise machines from becoming over-sized clothes hangers or dust collectors.
Mulch obviously comes in organic and inorganic materials. When people think of mulch they generally think of the organic materials such as the wood chips, etc. Most do not think that a stone mulch would give many benefits. If you are tired of replacing that worn out old mulch, then take your landscaping to the next level with hassle-free home improvements such as stone mulching!
So, for the question of which is better, mulching with rocks or with an organic mulch like bark chips, let's look at the answer, and compare mulch vs stone. Both will help maintain soil moisture, reduce soil temperature and reduce weeds. However, organic mulch breaks down over time and releases nutrients into the soil, while rock mulch does nothing to improve the soil, but has other benefits. You might consider an organic mulch for around the plants, and stone along the paths, or you may want to evaluate your lifestyle and determine which is best for you and your property.
Construction has a lot of parts, there are inspections, dimensions, specifications, sequences, and lots of different contractors and sub contractors that will need to be hired to get the job done. When you build a house, if you do not have a good system for keeping track of everything, your project will be chaos, and you will likely go way over budget, and not be able to finish your house. So, the solution to this problem is to spend sufficient time planning, and make sure you are organized. Then, you will have no trouble at all (haha, not true, but the amount of problems you run into will reduce significantly) and you will save a lot of money by
Solar heating is a great way to heat your home. Solar power is an effective and environmentally friendly source of energy. Let's look at it this way...the sun gives us energy in two forms: light and heat. While solar power seems new because it is fairly new as an option for residential use, for many years, people have been using the sun's energy to make their homes brighter and warmer. However, due to increases in technology, and an ever increasing need for alternative energy, today, special equipment and specially designed homes can be used to capture solar energy for lighting and heating.
Mulching is a common method used in gardens and landscapes. A mulch, by definition, is a layer of bark, sphagnum peat moss, muck peat, compost, pine needles, gravel, plastic, or any similar material uniformly spread on the surface of the soil under plants. Why? Well, mulch, or in other words mulching is done for a number of reasons. Let's take a look at some of these reasons:
The objectives of applying mulch or mulching are to:
Before you can build a house you need to answer to the question "How much house can you afford?" This question is not always very fun to answer, but it is an important one if you want to get a dream house that fits in your budget. Just remember, the question is not how much you wish you could afford, or what you want to build, it is what can you build?
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When it comes to home security systems, the home security monitoring is the most crucial and critical part. It is home security monitoring that most often results in lives being saved, firemen getting there before the house is burnt to the ground, etc. When it comes to home security monitoring the ideal would be 24 hour operators, and 24 hour monitoring, all done with two standby power generators (natural gas and diesel fuel) and state-of-the-art software and hardware.
When it comes to mulches you have a two choices: organic mulches, and inorganic. Each of these two categories has multiple options that fall under it. For example, with inorganic mulches you get landscape fabrics, plastic, rocks, etc. With organic mulches you get everything from compose to pine needles, and bark.
Both types of mulches offer specific benefits. For example, inorganic mulches do not need to be changed or replaced nearly as often, thus the cost and maintenance is lower. However, organic mulches provide extra benefits to the soil and plants.
When you own a home, are building a home, or are buying an existing home, you will be required by your lender to have homeowner's insurance, which is also referred to as home hazard insurance. This is very important, but you should know that not every home hazard insurance policy is created equal, so the following are a few common, and potentially costly, mistakes that people often make about insurance, which you should avoid when purchasing home hazard insurance:
When it comes to home repair grants, most fall under the FHA and HUD programs for home rehabilitation and repair. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), administers various grants for the rehabilitation and repair of single family properties. Most of these grants are directed towards specific communities and neighborhoods to help with that community and neighborhood revitalization, and also to help with expansion of homeownership opportunities.
The main goals of HUD are to revitalize homes and neighborhoods, thus the home repair grant programs are a large part of their programs. The main program for home repair grants is Section 203(k).
Building a house is a great way to save money, if, and only if you go about it the right way. What is the right way? The right way is plan, plan, plan, and then build like mad. What does that mean? It means that once you break ground you start paying interest on the loan to build the house. So, take advantage of the time before you break ground to plan really well, and then once you start, get your project done fast so you don't pay any interest you don't need to.
So, part of the planning you should do before you start paying interest, is plan what materials you will buy, and from where. When you plan and look for deals before you break ground you are going to save money. Where? Well, obviously you will save money in interest, but you are going to save money elsewhere as well. Think of it this way. It costs nothing to plan; you aren't causing delays by looking for deals, and you don't have anyone on the clock waiting for materials. You can take as much time as you need to in order to uncover bargains. You take the time to negotiate for better prices. And you can take the time to find opportunities for superior options for your house and the construction process.
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Insulation means comfort in your home. A well insulated home will be more energy efficient as well as being more comfortable all year round. It will maintain desired temperatures longer and with less effort. Insulating your home well is one of the fastest and best ways to improve and ensure energy efficiency; however, while it is a simple way to increase your home efficiency, there is more to it than always meets the eye. One of the most common issues with insulating is knowing of the many different types of insulates available, which is the best for your project and why? Many people want to know what the difference is for example between a rigid insulation and a fiberglass one, and which is better. Price is not everything with insulation, as you will see.
Suppliers come in every shape and form, and every price range and quality of materials. You will want to do some research and find suppliers that are known for supplying only the best materials out there. You will want to make sure that they will have the supplies you need, when you need them, and that they can deliver them to you on time. You will also what to make sure that other builders use these suppliers and that they are not too good to be true. There are a lot of things to do when it comes to picking a good supplier, but the biggest thing you should do is get 3 separate bids, from 3 separate suppliers, for the same materials.
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Construction planning is crucial to getting your house built efficiently and on schedule. Your planning starts the first time you look through a magazine or drive down a street and notice something you like in a home. You make a mental note of that for your future home, and maybe even write it down or cut out a picture to put in a portfolio. Then you further your planning by having plans and specs drawn up for your dream house. You have blueprints made, and lists of things to buy. You interview general contractors, and subs, and you plan, plan, plan. You plan out how to save money, and you plan out how to save time. You do your job so that everyone else can do theirs, and you can save money.
When it comes to construction loans you are basically paying interest on a loan until your house is completed, and then you start making regular payments where you pay off principal. This is your permanent loan. With your construction loan, it is interest based, and you pay interest on the money that you have pulled out with each draw. So, there are ways you can build your home and save money, just by being aware of how you are paying, and taking advantage of it.
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Chances are you have heard that radiant heating is a great way to go, and that it will increase the value and comfort of your home. You may be considering installing radiant heat into your existing or your new home, but don't quite understand the advantages or the differences between heating applications. Without understanding the benefits you won't understand why radiant heating is such a great way to go, so let's take a look at seven awesome benefits of radiant heat:
No one likes the feeling of not being able to use the things in their house due to a power outage, especially if their livelihood or comfort depends on it. When bad weather or other conditions interrupt power service, you could very easily find yourself unable to heat or cool your home. In the summer or winter this could be very problematic and uncomfortable. You may also find that when the power is out you can't run necessary appliances and lights. Now, many people think, So.I can use flashlights, etc. While fireplaces can provide some heat and flashlights or lanterns can provide light, many appliances will remain unusable until power from the grid is restored, and it is amazing how dependent you will realize you are on some of these simple appliances.
When you are building a home, you want to save as much money as possible in order to build a great home for a smaller price. The following is a list of ways you can cut construction costs during construction, and save money:
There are going to be many of the aspects of construction that should be left strictly to the professional. However, there are some jobs you should consider doing yourself, and by doing them yourself you will save a lot of money.
Many people want a radiant heating system to warm the floors of their home. They have heard good things about this system type, and know they want it, but that is about it. Unfortunately and fortunately there are dozens of products available to purchase, and there are even more companies telling you that their product is the best. So, how do you know which really is the best? Then questions start popping up; should you install a hydronic heating system that pumps hot water through your floors, an electric cable heating system, or a low voltage screen system? When choosing a radiant heating system, how do you know what you need? Well, the answer lies in the type of project you are doing. Obviously not every system is ideal for every project, but the good news is that there is an ideal system for every project. So, let's take a look at some of the different types of radiant heating systems, and learn how to choose which is right for you:
Home energy conservation is not only good for the environment it is good for your utility bill. Did you know that the average house uses 38% of its total annual energy use on heating? Because this is true, and other statistics are equally stunning, let's talk about some things you can do with what you have for home energy conservation. For example, when your house is occupied, the thermostat should be set at 65 to 68 degrees F for maximum energy efficiency. Heating is not the only issue, so let's talk about several.
If you want to make some home improvements and you do not have the cash to do it, it is possible to get a home improvement loan. These loans work in a number of ways, the most common home improvement loan is obtained through a home equity loan or line of credit you. Whether you're adding on a room, remodeling your kitchen, or completing several different household improvements, a home equity loan or line of credit can help you finance the project, but if your home does not have a lot of equity and you need to make improvements, you have to explore other options.
You may be able to get a loan similar to a construction loan where you will need to take plans, and specifications to your lender, and show how making those improvements will increase the value, and therefore equity in your home. If you need this type of loan you will need to talk to the lender to see what they require from you. This type of loan will require that you have decent credit, or at least some creative financing options.
Building a house costs money. When you build, why not try and save some money by using things you already have and trade services, or at least negotiate for the best price. The following will show you how useful bartering or negotiating can be o getting a good deal.
Barter
A great way to save money and get good work done, is to trade. Often by trading what you have for what they have is the best way to get a good deal. For example, trade a boat, motor home, real estate property, professional services, promissory note, snowmobiles, motorcycles, etc for them to do your framing, lay your floors, provide supplies etc.
Construction planning is crucial to getting your house built efficiently and on schedule. Your planning starts the first time you look through a magazine or drive down a street and notice something you like in a home. You make a mental note of that for your future home, and maybe even write it down or cut out a picture to put in a portfolio. Then you further your planning by having plans and specs drawn up for your dream house. You have blueprints made, and lists of things to buy. You interview general contractors, and subs, and you plan, plan, plan. You plan out how to save money, and you plan out how to save time. You do your job so that everyone else can do theirs, and you can save money.
Subcontractors become your best and worst friend when you build a house. They are going to offer you advice that is valuable, they provide services that are needed to build, and they are also going to screw up your schedule and make you crazy when they do not show up on the site.
Despite the good and the bad, you have to have subs, and you need to have them give you bids. You need 3 bids for each job, so you need to have 3 different subs to choose from, and ask for bids from. These bids are the foundation of your project staying on budget, and coming in at a reasonable final price, so they are very important, so you want to get them as detailed and accurate as possible. To give you a better idea of their importance you need to realize that getting detailed accurate bids is the only way you are going to be able to A) compare the bids to each other, and B) save money!
Energy conservation in the home has more benefits than just lowering your utility bill some. When you conserve energy in your home, you can maintain or actually improve the quality of your life. Now many people think that the word conservation somehow means their lifestyle has to drastically alter, and the quality of life they live must decrease. This is incorrect. To conserve energy doesn't always mean to 'cut-back.' Energy conservation in the home can simply be a result of increased awareness. For example, when you are energy conscious you may be more inclined to turn off the lights when you leave a room, this does not interfere with your quality of life, and it conserves energy. So, as you can see, by noticing how you use power, you can find where you're wasting power, and change that by taking some small steps a bit.
Everyone has exterior doors in their home, as doors are necessary for access to and from the house. Doors are also often used for ventilation and illumination too. Doors are something we pass in and out of without much thought. This is understandable, however, if these doors we are not thinking much about are in poor condition (or are very old) they can contribute to more than 40% of a home's air leak related energy losses. This is something we should think about as it costs time and energy.
So, if your doors need replacing it is something worth doing as it can make your home look nicer, but also for the energy efficiency of exterior doors today. Modern exterior doors often fit and insulate better than old ones, and their associated heat losses (or gains) only come from opening and closing the door. This means that the only energy you lose happens when the door gets opened and closed, not just because there is a door.
A home equity loan or line of credit allows you to borrow money, using your home's equity as collateral. Meaning, borrow the difference of what you owe on your house vs. what it is worth.
To understand how a home equity loan works, let's look at some definitions:
Home improvement grants are an interesting topic because often times an actual grant is difficult to obtain, rather a loan with low interest rates is a more practical option. Most government programs offer low interest loans for home improvements, and a few offer specific improvement grants.
For example, you may be able to get a grant to improve aspects of your home that will add to the energy efficiency of the home, but not for other home improvement projects. So, you could get a grant to replace old appliances with more energy efficient ones, or to insulate your attic, but to remodel an old bathroom you would be on your own.
A heat pump moves heat from one place to another. This can come in very handy in say your home in the summer. In the summer, a geothermal heat pump in a cooling mode lowers indoor temperatures by transferring heat from inside a building to the outside ground. This is a great thing, and it sounds an awful lot like air conditioning. However, unlike an air conditioner, a geothermal heat pump's process can be reversed. Thus, in the winter, a geothermal heat pump extracts heat from the ground and transfers it inside. This means that instead of needing two systems for your heating and cooling needs, you only need one!
Let's take a look at some of the other benefits of a geothermal heat pump as there are many:
Whether you are building or just replacing an old furnace, choosing a furnace for your home is not difficult if you know what to look for. The following are features that you should look for when buying your furnace:
Obviously there are two choices when it comes to choosing a furnace, you can choose a gas or an electric furnace, so let's look at each one, and see what it has to offer.
You will save money on long distance by using a discount phone rate versus using a primary long distance carrier. A great source for discount long distance is to use a dial around. When you use a dial around number you are in fact dialing around your long distance carrier, and can even use a dial around plan if you have no primary carrier.
With dial around you are not limited to using just one dial around number if you don't want to. So if you find a plan that has low cost long distance for state-to-state calls, use it. But if that plan has a higher rate for in-state calls, you can always use a different dial around number to get the best phone rate within your state. It is a great option, but it can mean keeping track of several different numbers and rates.
If you are planning on building your house, and want to try and save significant amounts of money, you are probably going to act as your own general contractor. Since you won't be hiring a general contractor, many people think that they become obsolete. This is entirely untrue. Although you aren't planning on actually hiring a general contractor, why not go ahead and just check to see if they can give you a good enough deal to change your mind? It is worth a shot. They probably won't, but by asking for a bid from them you get some valuable things, in fact, you get two things, and just those two make it worth it. You get the following: free information, and a possible builder if you should change your mind.
Chances are you won't be changing your mind about owner building, especially if you put in the time to learn about it, and if you see the amounts of money you could save by building a house yourself. However, it is always worth having a backup plan, and you just can't go wrong doing that. What if you have a serious health issue come up and end up hospitalized? What then? Do you just leave your project unfinished? No, you hire someone to finish it for you. So, having a list of those someone's and their bids will be very useful if the occasion and need for it arises. So, go to at least three different general contractors from your area and get them to give you a bid-it's free and very valuable to you.
1. Make it easy for bids to be right: if you want to make money you have to know your costs, and control them. You can't do that if you give shoddy or incomplete plans to subs and suppliers for bids. Your job means working out all the potential problems on paper, before they come up on site. If you can do this, your bids will be right on, and you will make tons and tons of money.
2. Keep walls simple and lined up: if you want to stay under budget, and build your dream house for a reasonable amount, you have to plan it so the construction costs are low, and the value is high. Fancy, and broken up walls, that don't align are expensive to put in, and don't make the resale value that much higher. So make money by saving money and keeping things simple. You will get more of a return that way, and you really won't notice a difference.
When you own a home, are building a home, or are buying an existing home, you will be required by your lender to have homeowner's insurance, which is also referred to as home hazard insurance. This is very important, but you should know that not every home hazard insurance policy is created equal, so the following are a few common, and potentially costly, mistakes that people often make about insurance, which you should avoid when purchasing home hazard insurance:
Owner-building has some great benefits such as huge savings. One of the best ways to take advantage of these huge savings is simply to make your money more worthwhile. What do I mean by this? I simply mean that while you may save a lot of money on not paying the general contractor's fees, architect's fees, and some labor costs by building a home yourself, your biggest saving is found in the value of your home for the price you spend on it. This idea will become more clear to you as you read further.
Continue reading "Get more for your money when you're owner-build" »
When you are building a home, you want to save as much money as possible in order to build a great home for a smaller price. The following is a list of ways you can cut construction costs during construction, and save money:
When it comes to construction, 3 is going to be your magic number. You need three of everything, so let's talk about each of these:
3 references for each sub3 bids for each job
3 subs as potentials3 prices for each material
3 of pretty much everything!3 references for each sub or contractor: When you consider a contractor or subcontractor you need to look into their references, and with 3 being the magic number, it is safe to say that you should get a minimum of 3 references. This is a great way to cover your bases, meaning that if you check on them with 3 separate people you are pretty sure to get a good idea of what you are getting yourself into by hiring them.
Because more than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and approximately 20,000 are injured, fire safety is a real concern, and something that should not be taken lightly. Every year, tons of fires occur in homes, not just factories and warehouses, so you are not without risk. However, there are time-tested ways to prevent and survive a fire in your home. By implementing some fire safety procedures, your chance of survival if a fire should occur in your home will not be a question of luck, rather a matter of planning ahead. So, let's look at what fire safety procedures, etc. should be implemented in your home:
1. Every Home Should Have at Least One Working Smoke Alarm
Smoke alarms are not expensive at all, in fact you can buy a smoke alarm at any hardware or discount store, and it will usually cost you less than $10. It's inexpensive protection for you and your family. Most of the smoke alarms you purchase at a hardware or discount store are very easy to install, and can be installed in a matter of minutes. It would be best to install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. It is fact that while they are not full proof, a working smoke alarm can double your chances of survival. So, make sure yours is working: test it monthly, keep it free of dust and replace the battery at least once a year. Smoke alarms themselves should be replaced after ten years of service, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
When it comes time to build a house, you need to have a good idea of what your costs are going to be. Having a great cost estimation is going to be important. You won't finish your project if you don't have at least a somewhat accurate cost estimation. Most people think that somewhat accurate is just not good enough, rather getting a great cost estimation is essential.
So, when it comes time to get an accurate cost estimation of what the total is going to be to build your house, you need to do a little (or in most cases a lot of) work. Although this is a somewhat daunting process, it doesn't have to be if you use your resources well, and rely on the help of expert to get your costs as close to realistic as possible. Those professionals will make it easier, although it will still be time consuming.
If you are remodeling and you decide that you want bay windows in your home, and you go out to shop for them, you first need to know a few things about what type of bay window you want. Different types of bay windows will make a difference in the look and feel of the home, so whichever bay window you're considering, review the following five questions before you buy:
What size window? The size of the window will impact the cost. It's easier and cheaper to put in a bay the same size or smaller than the old window. A wider bay that requires a larger opening and a new header typically adds $300 to $500 to the job. However, larger windows have an upside, so if cost is not an issue, think of it this way.a larger window will bring more light into the room and create a greater visual impact inside and outside of the house. So, decide what is important to you when you look at size!
Granite countertops are the hot new thing, and why not? They look great, are durable, and can withstand all kinds of abuse making them a great investment. Granite countertops are not just something you should consider for your kitchen counters. The great thing about granite is that it can be used anywhere you need a countertop surface, whether the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or any other place you want counter space. Besides the fact that granite countertops are great, here are five of the top things you should consider when shopping for granite countertops:
Number one: Remember that it is a natural piece of stone, thus, your look will not be entirely uniform, and since no two pieces of granite are identical, adjoining pieces should come from the same source. If you think that a non-matching piece is going to bother you, or a future potential buyer of your home, consider a granite with a lot of variation in patter to begin with, then the pieces will go together better.
Number two: Granite, if properly taken care of, is virtually the most durable countertop you can but, but don't just assume your countertop is indestructible. As you shop take precautions, meaning, as you shop find out from the supplier what they recommend to keep your countertop in the best shape possible. For example, although granite is practically nonporous and therefore resistant to staining, acids such as lemon or orange juice will mark it if they sit for long periods of time. Cooking oils will also penetrate it. Thus, granite should be sealed once or twice a year with a product containing fluoropolymers to prevent stains. Find out what product your supplier recommends. This is not difficult to do, and will ensure that your purchase of granite (which is not cheap) will last and be a good one.
When you build a home, you want all the money you spend to be put towards the home itself, not towards other people. You want your money to stretch as far as it can, and make your dream house perfect, without making your finances scary. So, you are going to want tips and tricks to save money.
Of course there are several ways to save money before you start construction, like shopping aggressively for pricing, and planning really well so you don't do anything twice, and there are great ways to save during construction, like painting yourself, and using common sense in your big purchases and labor, but there doesn't seem to be much you can do AFTER construction to save money.
Although you may think there is not much you can do, there are a few little tips and tricks that can make those after construction hours much less expensive. Like what? Well, the following list will explain what and why.
When it comes to interest only loans, the name "interest only loan" is misleading. It should be "interest only payment." There is no such thing as an interest-only mortgage, because eventually you'll have to pay the loan principal as well. What you're really getting is an interest-only payment method which can be combined with any type of traditional mortgage.
Not paying any principal now means that you'll pay more interest later. Interest only loans, or in other words, interest-only payment mortgages aren't new. They originally grew out of the less-rigid and more inventive jumbo mortgage markets. Originally aimed at well-heeled, savvy-investor-type clients who preferred to utilize what would have been the principal portion of their payment for other, hopefully more productive investments. For these type of purchasers, this loan is great because they are jumbo loans, thus the difference in monthly payment was a substantial amount of cash that could be put to better use. However, for a typical home, the difference is minimal, thus the "interest only" option is something many people convince themselves is more valuable to them then it really is.
Most interest-only payment schedules are offered on Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs), but they can be found on a fixed rate mortgage (FRM) as well.
Construction loans can be complicated, and sometimes take some time. If you plan to break ground by a certain date, you will want to make sure your loan will go through by then so that you can pay for the work.
There are a lot of lenders out there, and each offer similar, yet slightly different options for you. You will want to make sure you find a lender that can give you the options that best fit your needs. In order to do this, you may want to ask your lender the following questions:
1. Will you give me a copy of my appraisal including all documentation? (This is something that are going to have done, as they have to know what the value of your home is before they can lend you money, so ask for a copy. There is no sense in your paying for an appraisal as well, so get a copy of the appraisal and all documention.)
2. Will you give me an amortization schedule and allow prepayment of principal without penalty. (You may or may not live in the house forever, so you will want to know what will happen to your loan if you should choose to sell the home and pay off the loan early.)
3. How soon after I complete the loan application will you give me a loan commitment? (This needs to fit your specific timetable.)
With the convenience of the Internet, it is even easier now than it has ever been to find a loan that fits your needs. Finding loans online has become a popular way of getting the loan product you want, and browsing your options. The danger of finding loans online comes in doing so unprepared. So, use the following tips to finding loans online, and getting the best loan possible:
1. Know your credit score and what it means- your lender will pull your credit, but you should never look for a loan before first having a good idea of what your credit looks like. Your credit score is a number, and that number is going to determine a lot about what type of loans you can and can't get. So, in order to get the best deal out there on a loan, know your credit score, and what it means BEFORE you start finding loans online.
2. Shop interest rates- while most places will offer similar interest rates, the loan industry is competitive, as there are many lenders out there as you could ever want. So, take the time to shop the interest rates, know what the going rates are, and with your credit score what kind of rates you should be getting. Doing this BEFORE you find a loan online will ensure that you do not get yourself into a loan that has too high of an interest rate. Also, if you know the basics, you will be able to detect fraudulent loan advertisements, and not waste your time, or give out your personal information to a phony.
Houses are expensive to build, but they do not have to cost as much as they could cost. You could use some time tested tips to cut your costs, and plan a house with high value for less money. So the following is ten tips to cut costs:
Continue reading "Ten House Plan Ideas that Will Cut Costs" »
Solar power is becoming increasingly popular, especially as rates for utilities rise, and the availability of resources for natural gas slowly diminish. Solar powered homes are on the rise, even if the home is not entirely powered by solar energy, a few well placed solar panels can greatly impact the energy use and cost of the house.
Your enemy in construction is not your supplier, or your subs. It is not your lender, without them you probably would not be able to build. Your enemy is the interest clock. When you break ground a little timer goes off, it is the timer on the interest clock...this means from the second you start actual construction, until your house in complete, you will be paying the bank, or lender, for the house.
So, who wants to pay for something they aren't even using yet? Nobody. It would be like paying interest on a house that is already built for 6 months before you move in. But, that is how it goes. If you can plan well, and set a schedule that allows you to finish your house by your deadline, you will pay a lot less interest, and defeat this enemy that is going to cost you a lot of money. Interest is one thing you can't avoid. So save yourself some money by beating the interest clock and finishing sooner rather than later.
To motivate yourself to get your plans working faster, you should figure out how much interest you are paying each month, day, and hour. That should give you an idea of how much money you really can save by sticking to a schedule, and having actual figures in your head will be a great motivator.
Building homes becomes more and more expensive each year as lot prices raise, and materials become scarce. Sometimes it takes months to get a foundation laid because of a cement shortage. With the rising costs of homes, many people looking to build are seeking alternatives to the traditional stick built methods. Manufactured homes are a great alternative for a variety of reasons, one of which is time. When you build a home the interest clock is always ticking, a manufactured home can be assembled and dried in in a day or two, saving you lots of time, money, and labor. Also, with new technology and upgrades, the quality of manufactured homes, even if it is just manufactured portions of homes, is greatly increasing. Stick built is still more popular, but manufactured is finding its niche.
So, if you decide you want to go the manufactured route, how do you find a good retailer? One way is to ask existing homeowners for recommendations. If you do not know anyone with a manufactured home, you can contact your state manufactured housing association for the names and addresses of manufacturers and retailers in your area, or check the Yellow Page listings under manufactured or "mobile" homes.
Manufactured homes does not mean mobile homes, or trailers, in fact, many manufactured homes are identical to stick built, and you would not know the difference by looking at them. They are less popular, but viable options, and with increasing technology, the boxy, small shapes are no longer your only option for these homes, especially if you should choose to assemble the pieces rather than have it delivered whole.
Most manufactured homes are sold through retail sales centers, some of which can be found online, others in the phone directory. Many of these sales centers are independently owned and operated, others are owned and operated by a manufacturer. Why am I telling you this?
Propane heating is an option that ought to be considered carefully when installing heating equipment in a home, whether it is a new home, or replacing old furnaces, consider propane. What are the advantages of a propane heating system to another system?
Being your own general contractor is one of the best and fastest ways you can save money building your own home. The benefits outweigh any negatives by a ton, and you would never guess how rewarding it can be to be your own GC until you try it.
Most people think that in order to build their own home they need to know how to frame, lay carpet, grout tile, and put in the plumbing and electricity. Luckily for you this is entirely untrue. You should know something about construction, but in fact, most GC's act more as managers than anything else. The hammering, nailing, and wiring is left to the specialists. So, even with a limited knowledge of construction you can act as your own GC as you build your house.
So, why would you want to act as your own GC? Well, being your own GC allows several things to happen, first, it saves you money because you are not paying someone else to do something you are capable of, and second it increases your chances of getting exactly what you want because YOU are making the decisions. Sounds pretty good huh?
In construction everything is negotiable, especially bids. So, negotiate well and save lots of money. Make sure that when a sub gives you a bid, that it specifies the following:
1. A clear scope of the work to be done. This should be as specific as possible, meaning that the sub works from a good set of plans, and initials each page of the plans on which their proposal is based.
2. Anticipated start and completion dates, along with requirements for advance notice.
3. Insurance provisions: who is providing coverage and for what.
4. The bid price: how and when it is to be paid (the draw schedule). How long the bid will hold.
When it comes to building your home, you want to save money in as many aspects of the process as you can. One of the areas you can save the most in is materials and suppliers. As the materials are what your house is made of, you want to get as good a deal as possible, but keep the quality high. So how can you do this? The following is a list of suggestions
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When you build a home you want it to be as comfortable as possible. Homes are supposed to be enjoyable. You are supposed to want to spend time in them. You should love your home, but you should not have to spend a million dollars (unless you want to) to get a house that is comfortable. It is possible to have a both cost effective and comfortable home.
1. Lay plumbing out efficiently: this will save you hot water expenses if you have good equipment choices, water-saving shower heads, and simply lay your plumbing out well. This will also make you more comfy because you won't have to worry about running out of hot water each time you shower.
2. Use compact fluorescents and halogens: this will save you money each month in electricity because these are efficient light fixtures. However, the delay in some of these bulbs can be quite the nuisance, so check on that because you may find, that you might prefer the standard bulb, but see what your preferences are before you install lighting.
Continue reading "Eleven House Ideas For A Building A More Comfortable, Cost Effective Home" »
In order to build a home, there are two types of funding required: the construction loan, and the permanent loan. The construction loan is the short-term funds used to build the structure. The permanent loan is the long-term mortgage of 15-30 years.
Before you can get a construction loan you have to show that you can pay your bills. In other words, you have to have some credit and qualify for a permanent loan. This is something you should have worked on for years prior to getting a loan. Your lender will pull your credit, so make sure your credit is good enough that you can even qualify for a loan.
Once your credit has been pulled, etc. and you have been qualified you will get a Letter of Commitment. This is what you will take to your construction loan lender to show that after construction is complete you will have a permanent loan in place to take-out the construction lender's involvement. You may use the same lender for both loans.
When it comes to construction, having a construction organization binder is going to be crucial to staying on top of things and saving money. Your construction organization binder should include the following:
• Have a folder for bids from subs: You are going to get a bid from each sub you talk to, and there are a lot of subs, so keep these organized by creating a folder for them. If you organize the bids it will be easy to see which sub is a better deal, and will be able to get the job done for the right price by the right date, you can compare the information from the subs with your plan schedule, and know whether or not a certain sub will work for you.
Continue reading "Organizing your project - creating a construction project binder" »
Home energy conservation is a popular subject. With the way gas and electricity prices are rising, and the difficulty is getting fuel, it would be wise to build your home as energy efficient as possible. Some of the things you can do to conserve energy are not as realistic as others. For example, one of the best forms of home energy conservation is to install a central air conditioning system only when whole house air conditioning is needed. However, people want AC available to the whole house, so, what can you do to conserve energy, but not damage resale value, or comfort?
One thing you can do is build your home as a sun tempered superinsulated home. This home type uses passive solar design concepts with superinsulation construction techniques, and is a great way to conserve energy.
Another thing you can do is simply go shopping! That sounds fun, right? Go shopping for new appliances so that you can replace aging appliances with newer energy efficient models. This can be done for everything, from the toaster and curling iron you use daily, to the washing machine and dishwasher you install in your home.
First let's talk about sun tempered superinsulated homes. Sun tempered superinsulated (STS) homes use passive solar design concepts with superinsulation construction techniques. The elements in an STS house include: solar orientation; increased insulation levels; effective air/vapor barrier; controlled ventilation; and energy efficient window treatment. All of these elements will make a big difference in whether or not your home is energy efficient, and whether or not your home energy conservation efforts are going to make much of a difference.
Having a budget for your building and remodeling projects is key to your project's success and personal satisfaction.
I know it's sometimes tough to have and adhere to one, but here are five key ways having a budget helps you save money.
1. You will know what a good price is, and what it isn't: When it comes to building your house, you will be working with numerous subs, and you will be getting quotes and bids from every direction. If you don't know the price of work, how do you know if you are getting a deal or getting ripped off? You don't! This goes for construction as well as everything else in life. Knowing what prices should be will save you money. By creating a budget you give yourself an idea of what you should be spending on each item. Then, when a sub or supplier gives you a bid, you know if that is a reasonable price, or an exorbitant price. You won't be able to keep every price straight in your head if this is your first time building, so rather than run the risk of forgetting what is an acceptable price, consult your budget! This will help you save a lot of money. It will also give you some leverage when it comes to negotiating prices with subs. Saying, "that doesn't fit my budget," is a great way to get better prices.
Continue reading "Five ways having a strict budget helps you save money" »
The biggest rule to saving money when it comes to building your own house is to NOT do things you are not qualified to do. If you insist on trying to do things yourself first, you need to create room in your budget for paying extra to fix your mistakes. You should also know that doing things you are not qualified to do can be hazardous and dangerous, not to mention that your work may not hold up, and probably won't pass inspections. Paying professionals to do things that are beyond your scope of knowledge is worth every penny. You are paying them for their expertise.
If you insist on doing things yourself, the following are some examples of things you can do that will actually save you money rather than cost you money:
Continue reading "Construction cost savings - work you can do yourself to save construction costs" »
What is a bid? What is an estimate? A bid is an amount that a sub will do a job for, what it will cost, what is included, and the timeframe. An estimate is your idea of what a job will cost, it is usually found by looking at supplies, calculating the cost of how much you need, and then estimating labor on top of that.
When you are building or remodeling a house, saving money is one of your goals. The following information is included to give specific examples of where you can save money before you even start construction.
Continue reading "Start saving money before construction begins!" »
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