Hills Architectural Properties

Archive for March, 2011

In total, there are literally thousands of details to consider when planning out custom homes. From the layout and design to curtain rods, the entire process involves a huge amount of effort and discipline, encompassing a span of months, sometimes years. But by having a set plan and choosing a professional, qualified team of help you through the process, the possibilities regarding your custom home are virtually limitless. In this article, we will walk you through the steps of building your very own customized abode.

Step 1 – Start with a dream binder. This binder will hold your notes, magazine spreads, flyers, brochures and contact information. A good sized binder will have roughly 20 tab dividers to help you stay organized. A few examples of possible tabs include: Interior, exterior, lighting, plumbing, mill work, paint, and flooring. Alongside your binder, you should invest in a large basket to help store bigger items such as carpet and tile samples.

Step 2 – One option when designing the layout is house planning software. Online, you’ll find a variety of free computer programs the help you through the design process. If none of these programs meet your fancy, you always have the option of seeking out paid software, which may offer ease of use and added tools.

Step 3 – A wonderful way to obtain ideas and visualize your dream home is by touring as many model homes as possible. Bring along a note book and write down any ideas that come to mind. Inspect every nook and cranny; opening doors, closets, shower doors and curtains. Pay attention to the general layout and the materials that were used in the building process. If you enjoy the way that the model was decorated, consider obtaining the decorator’s contact information.

Step 4 – In total, you will need to find yourself an architect, interior designer and builder to realize the results you’re after. These three individuals or companies will need to work side by side in the design process. Talk to friends, family members and co-workers in hopes of obtaining referrals. You can also get in touch with your local area building association to obtain additional recommendations. Make sure to be thorough in your search and ask for references from any contractors that interest you.

Step 5 – Perhaps, even before you’ve gotten this far, you’ll want to plan out your budget. Having a solid budget will help you in the decision making process throughout the build. It’s not uncommon for custom houses to go a bit over budget, but if you can stick to a number you can afford, you’ll be much happier in the long run. Be sure to keep any new window treatments and furniture items in mind.

Step 6 – Once you’ve got your budget, you can begin really digging into the design and feel of your home. Try to have as many ideas and selections decided on prior to breaking ground. The more thought out your plan is, the less likely you will be sidetracked. Make sure to communicate all of your ideas and plans to your building team.

There have been thousands of beautiful floor plans created for log homes over the years. Selecting one for your new log home can be the most enjoyable part of the home-building process. However, it can also be the most stressful! Before you delve too deeply into all of the available designs, take time to consider your needs and outline the features of the home that work best for you and your family. Here are a few questions to be asking.

Begin with the Basics

*Will the home have one floor or two?

*How many bedrooms and bathrooms?

*Will the home have an open floor plan with cathedral ceilings and lofts?

*What should be the appropriate square footage? If you don’t have an understanding of this number, look closely at your current home and other homes of family and friends. Learn their square footage and what that number means in terms of space in the home.

*Will there be a garage or can that come later?

While you are going through this process consider your lifestyle and how the home will be used. If you entertain frequently or have a large family, your needs for space will be different from someone who does not. Also consider how the home suits your needs both in the present and in the future as your family ages.

Fit the Home to the Property

*How will the driveway approach the home?

*What style of home works best for the grade of the lot?

*What direction gets the most sun? It is better to have a sunny kitchen than a sunny bedroom.

*What are the privacy considerations with other homes in the area and where are the outdoor living opportunities?

*Will additions be necessary later on and if so where will they go?

Make a Budget

Finally, determine your budget and be sure the homes you like are within your price range. If you pre-qualify with the bank, you will know exactly how much of a loan you can afford. From there, your builder can advise you as to which plans and styles fall within your budget.

During your research, keep one thing in mind: features are as important as footage. For example, many features of a new home do not increase the living space, but certainly raise the price. These features include: porches, cathedral ceilings, dormers, windows and fireplaces, to name a few. Consider both the size of the home and its unique features when you think about budget.

There are many questions to be answered before selecting your perfect floor plan. Find the answers to these first and it will help you narrow your search, save time and ultimately save money.

Your friend asked if you want to build a home, offering good housing provisions in a high-class community. You presented your design, floor plan, and home theme, but when you gave the housing plan documents to him, he refused to accept them. He said that you will be the own builder of your house. You were neither an architect nor an engineer, so you decided to turn down the housing proposal. At this point, your friend began to discuss the modern concept of building your own home.

In engineering, there is a concept called prefabricated housing. Prefabricated houses have mass-produced house construction materials. Plywood, cement, grain, blocks, and other materials are developed in manufacturing companies. Prefabricated engineering materials are akin to Lego blocks: they are ready for assembly and construction.

Because they are ready for construction, homeowners can build houses themselves. They can build their own house, or they can ask for the help of engineers and architects. In some cases, engineers and architects themselves offer the prefabricated housing program to homeowners. Homeowners present their housing plan to them, and then they engineers for high-quality housing materials, while architects enhance the aesthetic appearance and structure of the house.

Prefabricated houses have leverage over commercialized built-in houses. First of all, they are cost-efficient. By building your own home, you are spared from the costly profiteering of real estate companies. It is your choice whether or not to hire architects or engineers. DIY build a home company provide booklets and instruction manuals for prefabricated houses. Hence, you can assemble construction materials by yourself.

Second, you can specify your taste and preference for your house. You do not simply give in to conventional architecture of commercialized houses. Instead, you can personally design and decorate your home from the inside out.Building your own house gives you the privilege to amalgamate different architecture designs and concepts for a unique home structure.

Third, you can handpick materials for home construction. You can use energy-efficient materials like green roofing, vinyl windows, and hardwood floor. Energy-efficient materials are a good investment for your abode. By building your own house, you can become the master engineer and architect of your home construction project.By Marvin Mills

Children enjoy playing with toy blocks back in the day. They lay down the base plane and place different bricks on top until they form a house. They position little toy people acting like dealers and buyers canvassing newly-built homes, and then adorn the houses with matchbox cars and trucks. Given enough blocks, they can build a neighborhood of miniature homes, cars, and people.

Building a mini house out of toy blocks is easy, but building a real one is a completely different story. House financing plays a big role in the development of a house. Architecture and engineering greatly depends on a tight budget. Generally, big-budgeted housing projects are more stylish and classy compared to small-budgeted ones, since raw materials and construction equipment are costly. Likewise, architects and engineers request for high project fees. A magnificent housing project can easily cost millions of dollars.

An average American cannot afford costly housing projects. Hence, housing companies have devised a way to lower homebuilding costs. Today, they offer prefabricated houses and DIY home kits. Prefabricated houses have mass-manufactured construction materials. They are built ready for construction and assembly. With prefabricated housing, you can develop your dream house by yourself.

Similarly, DIY build your own home kits enable you to assemble your dream home. With an instruction manual and booklet, you can arrange and assemble materials based on your blueprint. Prefabricated houses and DIY home kits are less expensive than commercialized houses. You neither need numerous workers nor costly housing contracts. You can divide costs with different subcontractors who offer cheap supplies and construction materials. Hence, you can save a lot of money for construction equipment, materials, and labor.

Aside from this, you are spared from costly project fees of engineers and architects. By DIY building a house, you produce and create your own home blueprint design. You do not need to hire architects for housing plans.

You can simply ask for their assistance in choosing energy-efficient materials for house construction.

DIY build your own home and prefabricated houses are cost-efficient ways to build your dream home. It’s akin to playing with toy blocks: you assemble materials brick-by-brick until you come up with a home. By building your own house, you become the architect and engineer of your own house construction project.
By Marvin Mills