Secrets to Building a Quality Custom Home- Chapter 5 Eight Design Mistakes You MUST Avoid in Your New Home By Len Pratt Pratt Homes
This book is a work of advice and opinion. Neither the authors nor the publisher is responsible for actions based on the content of this book. It should be used as a general guide and is not intended as a definitive source on the subject of house building. Moreover, materials, techniques, and codes are continuously changing, and the information printed here may not be the most current information available. Contents Ke y Te rms... 3 1. Eig ht De sig n Mista ke s to Avo id... 4 Pra tt Ho me s 651-429-8032 Pa g e 2
Key Terms Custom builder: A builder with the ability to create a one-of-a-kind home based on your desired lifestyle. Design/Build: The process of designing a home and building from the chosen architectural design, specifications and scope of work. Semi-custom: The process of modifying an existing floor plan by a home buyer to better suit their desired lifestyle. Budget: A listing of all the items involved in building in order to come up with total price. Price per square foot: The total cost of a new home including architectural design, product features and scope of work divided by total square feet of finished living space. Land costs, garage space and unfinished space do not apply in this equation. Lower level (below grade) finished space is sometimes part of this equation (if applicable). Price: The total price you pay for your new home at the time of completion. Cost: The operating or ownership cost of living in the home after it is completed. Financing: Bank loans and other sources of funds needed for building projects. The two types of loans used in new home construction are Construction-to-Perm and End loans. Finishes: The hardware and materials applied to your home in the last phase of a building project. Examples include countertops, light fixtures, floor covering, cabinets, and appliances. (The term stems from finishing touches. ) Scope of work: A document that specifies the exact work to be accomplished, including installing the finishes and other materials. Used as a guide for the person doing the work and as a checklist for the builder's quality control process. Specs: The specifications for the materials used in the build. Used as a reference for producing a budget and ultimately becomes the purchase order for suppliers at the time of construction. Square footage: The total size of the new home; floor plan area measured in square feet. Turn Key: When a new home is completed and handed over to a customer completely finished and ready to occupy; no more work is required except to turn the key and step inside. Pra tt Ho me s 651-429-8032 Pa g e 3
1. 8 Design Mistakes you MUST Avoid in Your New Home We ve all heard a few horror stories related to building a new home... It was the most stressful time of my life. It put so much tension in our relationship. I couldn t wait until it was over. Then you ask yourself, what could be so horrible about building the home of your dreams? Chances are none of those homeowners had the opportunity to work with a knowledgeable, professional design/build firm during their home building process. If they had, their stories would have been quite the opposite. How is a design/build company different? A design/build firm has internal resources for designing your home around your lifestyle and building it within your budget. It's a collaborative approach where the process is transparent. Here are some things a design/build firm would recommend to build a more positive experience: 1. Don t be afraid of color. Beige should be banished from color chips. Boring whites and off-whites lack the ability to attract interest, drawing the eye to furniture and accessories instead. When used appropriately, color can add volume and drama to a room making it feel larger because the walls and corners are more noticeable. Paint is also relatively inexpensive, so it can be changed easily when you grow tired of the look. 2. Don t get caught up in trendy. When making decisions about more permanent items such as tile, countertops, cabinetry and flooring, choose classic, timeless materials and colors that are more versatile and less likely to become dated. Putting your own personality into more expensive areas can be a big risk. What will it cost you to remodel when the look becomes dated? 3. Consider the future. This is one time you don t want to live for today. Don t limit future opportunities for space in a child s bedroom, home office or lower level family room. Kids rooms should be large enough to accommodate a full or queen sized bed. Office space should have a window and closet so it can function as another bedroom down the road. Lower-level family rooms should be easy to transform from a rec room to an entertaining space for grown-ups. Remember, the children won t be young forever. Pra tt Ho me s 651-429-8032 Pa g e 4
4. Don t break the bank. You don t have to spend a small fortune to achieve the look you want. And working with a professional design/build firm will actually help you SAVE money and avoid making costly mistakes. It s the firm's job to be creative and find ways to choose appointments and accessories while respecting your budget. You don t have to buy the most expensive products to get a high-end look. Choose lower priced tile and mix in splashes of more expensive designs can result in a luxurious master bathroom. Mixing up the layout (diagonal vs. straight, etc.) can also add interest without adding cost. 5. The right light. Good lighting is essential in the kitchen, bathrooms and frankly all over the house, but it takes someone who knows what they re doing to get it right. Your home will need a combination of functional, task and accent lighting and an experienced design/build professional can recommend methods and styles based on room size and function. She or he can also recommend outlet locations that you may not have even considered. 6. Go with the flow. When choosing carpet, wallpaper, paints and window coverings, ask for guidance to ensure that your home flows from one room to the next. Hodge-podge design creates a very unsettling feeling and that is not how you want to live in your new home. 7. Shop smart. A design/build professional is an outstanding resource for the best places to shop for furniture and accessories and, once familiar with your style, can save you time and money. There are a lot of best-kept secrets and exceptional deals to be had out there. You just need to know how to find them. 8. Don t go it alone. If you ve ever walked into a tile store or a carpet showroom or lighting studio, you understand completely. It can be totally overwhelming and you won t know where to begin. A design/build professional will always save you money by getting it right the first time. It is their job to be knowledgeable about the thousands of different products and finishes that are available to you. They should understand where it is worth spending a little more money and where it simply won t matter. They can help you achieve your vision while sticking to your budget. And they can relieve a lot of the stress decision-making can bring as you move through the building process. Not all builders are equal. A seamless integration of design, building techniques and your budget is imperative to a great experience and home that will stand the test of time. If you talk to any builder that doesn't integrate design into their process, you could be walking into the biggest nightmare of your life. Pra tt Ho me s 651-429-8032 Pa g e 5
This is the end of this chapter in our custom home planning guide. Additional chapters of this guide will be delivered via email every few days. If you have ideas or questions about your specific project that were not addressed here, feel free to schedule your personal 10 minute phone conversation by calling or clicking on the image below. Pra tt Ho me s 651-429-8032 Pa g e 6