Tips and Tools for Building Your Custom Home
Why the Time to Build a Custom Home in Las Vegas is NOW
New homes won't be any more affordable in a year or two. Potential Las Vegas homebuyers who are waiting for costs to come down before building their dream home might want to reconsider. The fact is that the past year's rise in new home prices will most likely continue. While higher interest rates and a weak dollar could play a role, the biggest factors will likely be the most basic ones of supply and demand.
The Successful Outdoor Kitchen in a Custom Home
Creating a backyard gathering space that works hard and looks great. Outdoor kitchens in Las Vegas are “cool” even in our summer heat. In a 2012 survey by Professional Builder magazine, a fourth of the respondents named outdoor kitchens as one of their top selling features. There's no shortage of ideas for these spaces, as a simple online search will show, but the best ones have some important things in common: they're easy to use, work well in less than ideal weather conditions, and are outfitted with thoughtfully chosen appliances and materials.
Eliminate Surprises by Clearly Defining the Job
Steve, Bart and the Merlin Custom Home Builders team understand that building a new home is one of the most important investments a family will make. In many cases it represents the single largest financial investment. The home is designed and built to provide years of pleasure, comfort, and security. It is the physical manifestation of "family" and the place where celebration and joy are expressed and experienced.
The Launching Pad: Preconstruction Meeting
Without a successful take-off, a safe landing is impossible. All homebuyers want their new home to turn out just as they envisioned, built on schedule, and for the agreed upon price. As a Professional Builder, we want exactly the same thing. That's what makes the preconstruction meeting so important. This is a time for builder and client to ensure all of the new home’s details are clear and agreed upon. Clients who get the most from the preconstruction meeting know what to expect and come prepared to fully participate.
Minimize Stress and Maximize Sanity
Building a home can be stressful. Savvy homeowners choose a builder who will make it less so. But beyond making certain the company is licensed and insured and has provided a fair bid and a professional contract, how do owners determine whether a company will deliver on its promises and not tax their sanity? The answers lie in good systems. Companies with clearly defined management systems tend to be better organized, communicate more effectively and minimize unwanted surprises.
Fighting Moisture and Mold
No one wants to think about house mold or its underlying cause, moisture. As professional builders, however, we are aware of the dangers created by moisture infiltration and we are in a position to prevent it. That makes it our responsibility to lead the discussion.
Sensible Green Custom Home
Happy St. Patrick’s day!! Building Success 101 Q: What is Thermal Mass? A: Thermal mass describes how certain building materials can help flatten out temperature swings. Masonry is probably [...]
Is Geothermal in Your Future?
Improving home energy efficiency and building more sustainable housing is no longer a trend -- it's mainstream. As a professional builder, we feel it's important to keep up on emerging technologies that will down the line help our clients save money, improve comfort and reduce our impact on the environment.