Author: alien

5 Reasons Why You Should Call a Custom Home Builder Over a Contractor

Posted on December 20, 2022 by alien - Before Building

Foreman showing house design construction plan to a happy young couple new house real estate concept

Home is where the heart is, so it would make sense to put your all into making it the perfect haven. While the project to build your home from the ground up and planning every detail may be enticing, it would be in your best long-term interest to enlist the help of professionals to ensure you are going about it in the best and most efficient fashion. Here is where your custom home builder comes into the picture.

Read on to learn more about custom home builders, how they differ from contractors and how they will make your new home in McAllen a beautiful reality.

Custom Home Builders vs. Contractors

While some may use the terms synonymously, custom home builders and contractors work in very different capacities, and enlisting the help of one over the other can make a huge difference in the home-building process and the eventual outcome.

In the simplest of terms, a contractor could be seen as someone who deals with a team of subcontractors. They deal with different types of construction-related things in your home. In contrast, a custom home builder specializes in building homes and can take charge of special custom projects from start to finish.

Given below are five reasons why a custom home builder would benefit you more than a simple contractor:

Advantages of a Custom Home Builder over a Contractor

There from the A to the Z

General contractors enter your home building project only when the construction plans have already been set and are ready to begin. Since they work to hire people to do different building projects, they can only act once a blueprint is in place.

On the other hand, a custom home builder comes into the picture on day 1. They accompany you from the day you start the project to the day it ends. They handle most of the nitty-gritty of home building, all while keeping your vision in mind.

By the end of your time with a custom home builder, they can even hand you the keys to a fully furnished home. A custom home builder allows you to take a hands-off or hands-on approach to the building process. It ensures your home-building process never stagnates or strays from the goal.

Reliable support networks

With regard to building your own home in RGV, a general contractor may have employees under them who can help with the various projects. But, a custom home builder goes one step further.

With extensive networks and more personalized employee-company on-call or in-office teams, a custom home builder is more reliable. Even if they need to reach out to individuals (like architects and designers) outside their company, they often already have dependable contacts and relationships that help them address the entire building process effortlessly.

Specialized custom home-building skills

While a general contractor may have handled various projects, building a custom home is, frankly speaking, not their area of expertise. This often results in homeowners having to hire additional professionals like architects to draw up plans which can then be given to the contractor. On the other hand, the custom home builders would most likely handle the aforementioned areas of the job themselves. As mentioned before, they’re here from A to Z.

Large building projects are better tackled

Large building projects that involve building structures from the ground up would best benefit from the help of a custom home builder. Since they have extensive practice and experience in this specialized field, they know how to best deal with such building endeavors. They have in-house capabilities that would make them most suitable for such projects.

Less expensive and more flexible

In the long term, general contractors tend to be more expensive and less flexible than custom home builders. They have to deal with many different crews, all hired to handle different parts of the already planned home. Any changes would be seen as deviating from the original plan and thus unwelcome, as it would require re-negotiation with the various subcontractors.

That being said, though more expensive, contractor projects tend to end quickly as the sooner the project is over, the more profit they make.

So, All Set?

We at Guzman Construction work with the motto that while great work is never easy, it is always worth it. We are custom home builders RGV who guarantee 100% commitment to the cause and vision of your home and promise customers the highest-quality residential and commercial construction services available.

10 Things to Do After Purchasing a Home: Checklist

Posted on November 30, 2022 by alien - New Homes

luxurious home in McAllen cover by Guzman Construction

Buying a home is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many people. So much planning, effort, and investment go into purchasing the right properties. But what follows after that is just as important. Yet, it often goes overlooked, which is why many home buyers make glaring mistakes.

10 Things to do After Purchasing a Home

Purchasing a home is an exciting milestone, but the journey doesn’t end once you sign the papers. After the keys are in your hands, there are several essential tasks that will help you settle in smoothly and protect your investment. From securing your home to personalizing your space, these 10 steps will ensure you’re ready to enjoy your new place with peace of mind.

Took mortgage? Understand the statement

Mortgages are easy to get, but they come with a host of terms and conditions. If you’re a home buyer who took a mortgage, it’s better to review the statement and understand it. Previously, you might have only looked at basics like billing amount, billing cycle, due date, etc.

After purchasing a home, it’s time to delve into the absolute details. Sit down with your mortgage agent over tea or dinner and get clarity on terms you had missed earlier. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Understand home warranties

If you’ve employed a custom home builder or a construction company, you probably have home warranty coverage. But not all warranties are the same.

There are two types of warranties: builder warranty and home warranty. Builder warranty covers the permanent structure of your home, like floors, plumbing, electrical circuits, etc. On the other hand, a home warranty is like a service contract. It only covers HVAC, appliances, or other custom installations.

Like the mortgage statement, deeply understand the home warranty coverage of your home.

Keep an eye on refinance scam offers

After you’ve bought a new home, your records become public. This makes you a suitable candidate for refinancing offers. Thus, it’s not uncommon for new homeowners to receive a flurry of phone calls, emails, and visitations by finance agents.

While some of the offers are genuine, several of them are outright scams. They lure you with heavy discounts or never‐before pricing. Chances are high that it is a scam. Therefore, be aware of such refinance scams.

Safeguard documents

Housing documents are like ID cards for your home. Without them, you will surely be in trouble and denied essential services. Therefore, after taking home possession, safeguard your documents. This involves making multiple copies of the documents, digitizing them, and storing the original copies in a bank or locker.

All of this takes less than half an hour to complete. So do not procrastinate and leave it too late.

Connect utility

Before you move in with your family or rent it out, connecting the essential utilities is important. This includes water, gas, and electricity. This streamlines the move-in process and helps you adjust faster. Many homeowners leave it to the very end. So they are then forced to spend a few nights without water or electricity.

The connections can be complicated depending on the city and neighborhood you move in. The process might be different for new homes in McAllen and Houston, even though they’re in the same state.

Take note of your inventory

You’re likely to move in with your luggage and belongings. Before you start unpacking them, make a list of inventory. This will help you expedite insurance claims in case of damage or burglary.

Besides taking notes, you should also take photos on your smartphone and videotape them. This will make your case stronger.

Install home security

Security is paramount, especially in places where crime rates are higher. New homeowners are often an easy target for local gang members and robbers.

Thus, after purchasing a home, install a security system. Do not wait till you move in. Get in touch with a local security company and install the latest systems. You need to determine a budget and pick the services you want. You can also schedule an in-home consultation to make the decision.

Prepare a yearly maintenance scheduling plan

Your new house will likely need regular maintenance, even if it doesn’t make sense to schedule regular check-ups to ensure the longevity of your home.

Thus, after signing the paperwork, your next job should be to devise a yearly maintenance plan. Things like electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, and roofs would need inspections. Again, take help from an expert if you’re unsure how to create such a plan.

Update your address

You’ve bought a new home. But the world doesn’t know yet. Therefore, updating your address is necessary, so your employers, creditors, and friends stay informed about the change. Otherwise, they will keep sending important items to your old address.

For US Post Office, you should set up mail forwarding to your new home. This way, you don’t miss out on crucial correspondence.

Get to know your neighbors

Lastly, after purchasing a home, get to know the people who will be living around you. Having a few down-to-earth neighbors can make your living experience so much better. Visit the local clubs, associations, and event halls to familiarize yourself with locals.

The above things apply to all, irrespective of whether you hire a contractor or build your own custom home. You’re encouraged to improvise and find creative ways to make your life comfortable after purchasing a home.

5 Home Construction Project Pitfalls to Avoid

Posted on October 28, 2022 by alien - Before Building

Home construction is always a big and important decision to make. Whether you’re building your own home in RGV, renovating, or adding new structures to your existing home, the construction process can be overwhelming. And you might end up making some wrong decisions, which can lead to costly mistakes.

But don’t let that scare you. Sure, many things can go wrong during a home construction project. However, with proper planning and preparedness, homeowners can anticipate and avoid construction mistakes and bad decisions. To make things even easier, we’ve put together a list of 5 common construction mistakes you should be aware of and avoid at all costs.

5 Common Construction Mistakes to Avoid

Wanting Things to Always Go Your Way

The prospect of building your own house is exciting. So, it’s obvious that you’d want to be involved in every aspect of the construction project to ensure that you build the perfect home for your family. And you’d want things done your way when it comes to the design and features of the house. But at the end of the day, the contractors and workers have the necessary skill and expertise to carry out the project.

You might have a particular idea or a specific type of design in mind, but your contractor may tell you that it may not be very practical to build such a design for some reason. In such cases, don’t try too hard to make things go your way. Patiently discuss with the builder and take their suggestions seriously.

Lack of Involvement

Contrary to the above case, some homeowners tend to be relaxed during construction and leave everything in the hands of professionals. While it’s good to have faith in your contractors and builders, sitting back and not getting involved enough in the project is a big mistake.

As the homeowner, you should know all the nitty-gritty about your house:

What are the basic construction materials?
How strong will the entire structure be? How well can it resist weather effects and even natural disasters?
What will be the layout of electrical wiring and water pipelines? How will the drainage and sewage system be constructed?

Then think about things like chimneys, flooring, roofing, and so on. Home construction is complex, but you are the one who has to live in it and with it. So, get involved in every necessary detail of different elements of your home.

Poor Handling of Budget and Expenses

Once the contractor provides an overall cost estimate, many homeowners make the mistake of believing that the project will be done within budget. But that rarely happens, and it’s common for some complications to arise, or it becomes necessary to change some plans. In such cases, surplus expenses may arise, and the homeowner could be unprepared for it. Even after you have a final quote for the total cost, always remain prepared for 10-20% additional expenses.

Another mistake when it comes to budget handling is trying to cut costs. You might find some cheaper materials, or you might want to consider decreasing overall floor space to save on total expenses. It’s not always bad to look for lower-price alternatives, but that should not come at the cost of your home’s structural integrity.

Short-Sightedness

During the construction process, most homeowners mainly focus on completing the project and the prospect of moving into their brand-new home as soon as possible. And in this excitement, they lose sight of long-term plans. Once built, the home is yours forever, whether you keep living there or choose to shift and sell at some point. Either way, it’s important to plan for the prospects of the house.

Do you have plans to get one or more pets? If you are a married couple, are you thinking of having children soon? How long do you plan to live in the house? Have you made plans to move to another place someday?

These are all things you should consider when building your home so that you have all the required features to live a comfortable life in the home for as long as possible. And also to ensure that your home will have a good value whenever you choose to sell it.

Lack of Communication

Lack of communication with contractors and professionals is a common mistake many homeowners make. But for the contractors to build your home exactly how you want it, they first need to know what you want. So, it’s essential to convey your preferences and expectations to them at every stage of the project.

Things like the direction of windows, lighting in rooms, and various aspects of interior design need your input. As long as you specify your expectations, there are expert custom home builders in RGV that can get the job done. But communication is the key.

Conclusion

Now that you know these five pitfalls of home construction projects, you’re better prepared to avoid them.

Here’s an additional tip, even though it is quite obvious – be very careful when choosing your contractors. Make sure they have a good track record of building new homes in McAllen and are vetted and verified professionals. Some contractors may try to lowball and offer you cheaper bids. It’s always best to avoid them.

With a reliable contractor handling the project and your involvement, your dream home can surely be a reality as long as you avoid the above common construction mistakes.

Why Are Homes in McAllen Texas so Cheap?

Posted on October 8, 2022 by alien - Uncategorized

Named the cheapest city to live in America in 2017, McAllen has long had a reputation for affordability. And that affordability extends to its housing. With average home prices a full $126,300 below the national average, purchasing or building your dream residence is much more attainable in this family-friendly locale. Here is a look at some of the reasons why homes in McAllen, Texas, are so cheap.

Affordable Real Estate Market

Despite the fact that McAllen is becoming one of the , it enjoys an extremely affordable real estate market. The of a home in this city is $165,400, significantly lower than the national average of $291,700.

When compared to Texas, McAllen housing still comes in cheaper. The median home price in Texas is $243,600. Rent is equally affordable. The median monthly lease for an apartment is just $918.

That means that you can find a home as big, luxurious, and feature-rich as you desire for much less than the same home would cost anywhere else. Need room for the whole family? Looking for a place where you can entertain every weekend? Dreaming of luxury finishes or outdoor entertaining? You can get for a budget that is more than less than the national average.

Low Property Taxes

Purchasing or building your home in McAllen isn’t the only way to save money on housing. McAllen is also home to that are significantly lower than those in most of the rest of Hidalgo County. That means that McAllen rates could save you hundreds of dollars every year on your home.

If you have to pay less money per year on your housing, you may be able to afford to invest more into a home that meets all of your expectations. Instead of scaling back on your vision because of concerns about affording the annual taxes, McAllen makes it possible to pursue the home of your dreams, whether you buy a pre-existing home or are

Low Cost of Living

Another factor in the affordability of McAllen homes is the in almost all of the most important areas of life. It costs about 15 percent less than the Texas average to live in McAllen, and 22.4 percent less than the national average.

That dramatic dip in costs means your entire life in McAllen should cost less than almost anywhere else in Texas. Save 7.9 percent on groceries over the national average, 10.9 percent on utilities, and 13.8 percent on transportation.

When your daily costs are less, the amount of money you have to devote to finding the perfect housing is greater than it would be in other parts of the state, or the country. Consider directing some of those saved costs toward adding luxury features, a backyard pool, or an extra-large island in your dream kitchen.

A builder like Guzman Construction can help you identify, and build, the features that you have always been hoping to have in your home, while the low cost of living in McAllen makes all of those features much easier to access financially.

Steady Job Growth

McAllen is at the center of some promising economic growth in the Valley. Thanks to its strategic location on the border with Mexico, the city serves as an international hub for trade and in 2019 was named by as one of the best places for business and careers. Over the next almost 40 years, McAllen is expected to maintain a steady pace in job growth, with a massive 122.7 percent expansion in by 2060.

Over the last year, the area’s grew a healthy 2.1 percent, and in the next 10 years, McAllen is expected to enjoy job growth of more than 36 percent – Almost 3 percent more than the expected national average. With a favorable business economy and a booming manufacturing industry, McAllen is positioned to offer steady job growth and employment opportunities for the foreseeable future.

How does that impact your home buying or building journey? When you choose to take up residence in McAllen, you discover a locale that has the ideal mixture of affordable housing and good job prospects. That makes it more likely that you can afford the home you are envisioning, and less likely that you will need to compromise for financial reasons on the features you want in your home.

Affordable homes are available in abundance in McAllen, but perhaps even more exciting is the opportunity to build your own home here. If you want a lifetime of strength and beauty crafted just for you, consider Guzman Construction, leading