Selecting a Custom Home Builder
Choose a builder that understands that using sustainable practices and materials is not and option but an essential part of the costing and the process.
Poorly designed and built homes cost more over time as money is spent on repair and maintenance of areas that are not performing well. The installation of less efficient windows,doors and insulation makes the home less comfortable and the savings realized by installing less efficient components are quickly lost.
Time and money can be saved by using a professional to plan, design and check the structure of the home. They have years of experience and access to intellectual property that helps to ensure peak performance of your home.
Use materials that are renewable or recylced where appropriate.
The size of your home should be given serious considerationsince the long term costs to maintain , heat and light it will only increase as time passes.
Your lifestyle should dictate the size and types of rooms. A guest room or extra bathroom are not needed if you do not entertain overnight guests on a regular basis. If your family style is casual a formal dining and living room make no sense. Plan your house for the life you live and will live, not the life a designer envisions or for resale.
Greatrooms that can accomodate individual activities give the illusion of space in a smaller area.
Plan for easy traffic flow, plenty of storage and the correct placement of windows, doors and heating/cooling vents. Proper design that allows for optimum use of space and less wasted space will help you to reduce the size and cost of your home without giving up any of the amenities.
Building is a very cost competitive industry. A "level playing field" is essential to support the builder's role in creating more sustainable housing. Make sure your quotations itemise such things as insulation levels, shading details, window performance and durability of materials and appliances. They are essential elements of a home just like the roof and walls and should not be treated as "optional extras".
An excellent site for learning more about selecting a custom home builder is....custom-home-builders.org.