Potential clients often ask about price per square foot. Many believe that this is a “good way” to compare builders. In reality, there's a secret about price per square foot that the building industry would rather I didn't share with you--it's a game that home builders use to reel you in. Honestly, using price per [...]
Once you've approved the floor plans and materials selections, custom home builders will charge for change orders. Why? Because changes cost time, slowing the project. Often, they also cost money, requiring completed work to be re-done and/or more expensive materials to be purchased. One simple way to avoid the price of change orders is good [...]
When building a new home, budget is an important consideration. Homeowners want assurance that the builder they hire is cost-conscious and will not over-charge to construct their house. Because of this, potential clients often ask how much builders charge per square foot to build a custom home. Although this seems like a simple question, it [...]
When building a home, budget is, of course, a very important consideration. The overall cost to build a house is not the only thing new homeowners are concerned about, though. Building a quality home that will remain structurally sound is also extremely important. Because of this, clients often ask about 2x4 versus 2x6 walls. They [...]
Recently, Elements Design Build attended the International Builders Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. What is the International Builders Show? What is the International Home Builders Show? Well, think of your local home and garden show. On steroids. Companies from around the world showcasing their home building products filled three huge halls of the Las Vegas [...]
Where do I even begin? That is often the first question asked when it comes to Green Home Building, and for good reason. The information available on the internet about green building is unbelievable! Of course, we all understand that a Green Home is going to help the environment. What many don’t understand, however, is [...]
Age in place is near and dear to the hearts of Elements. Experiencing a parent that had an unexpected disability first hand made us realize the importance of Age in Place. Also, watching as our grandparents, and now parents, get older opens your eyes. Because of this, Elements focuses on a home that will not [...]
As you’ve shared your dream of building a custom home with friends and family, you’ve no doubt heard a horror story or two about going over budget. Whether it’s $1,000 or $100,000, exceeding the specified amount the bank approved is not a good scenario. In this case, either you have to come up with the [...]
If you are going to build a custom home, you obviously need a set of custom house plans. But how do you find the right house plans designer? Well, read on to learn more… 5 Tips to Find the Right House Plans Designer Tip #1: Look past the pretty pictures. A good house plans designer [...]
At this point, you’ve already done a lot of work, gathering ideas and organizing them into must-haves and like-to-haves. (If you haven’t, please read Step 1 & Step 2 in this series.) Now, it’s time to find the person who can turn your ideas and lists into reality. That means, you must find the right [...]
