Author: Guzman Construction

Designing Your Dream Home – Doing It The Right Way

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Guzman Construction - New Homes

You might also need a qualified architect’s approval to build your home

Start the process with a vision

Before drawing the design, consult an architect. There are software applications that can help with the design process. An architect will help you create the right design. You might also need a qualified architect’s approval to build your home.
Tour your favorite neighborhoods to draw inspiration. Maybe there are homes you like. You don’t necessarily have to like all of their features. But there will still be something that you like about them. Draw inspiration from those features.

Visit open houses

These homes will have many features that you like and don’t like. While designing your home, incorporate those features that you like. You also need to take note of the features you dislike.

Take photographs

If you find a home that you like, shoot it from every possible angle. These photos will have more detail than what you saw in person.

Get organized

Buy a computation book. You should keep it until you have finished building your dream home. If you draw your sketches on scrap papers, you will lose them. A numbered book will keep your sketches neat and organized. You can also use this book to record everything associated with the project, including numbers, quotes, contractors, and everything else.

Prepare a list of all the features you want your home to have. Once you have got this list ready, it is time to get specific about what you need and what you don’t need.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Where would you like to live – in cities, suburbs, or rural areas?
Do you want to build an expansive bungalow or a small home for two?
Do you prefer detailed craftsmanship to clean, modern lines?
Will you be happy with conventional building techniques? Are you looking to build a LEED-certified home?
There is one more thing that you need to consider – your budget.

Provide as much information as you can to your builder or architect. The more information you provide, the easier it becomes for them to build the home of your dreams.

Consider the landscape

Building on level ground is a whole lot easier than building on a hilly area. If the home is going to be built in a heavily-wooded area, you will perhaps have to forget about solar panels.

Have realistic expectations

The energy considerations should match the locality and available facilities. If the lot is near a busy intersection or freeway, you need to consider acoustics as well.

Develop a design

Hire a professional architect. You want your home to give you years of fulfillment. The best way to make this happen is to hire an architect. Prepare a rough sketch of your home. You can use software to prepare the floor plan. There is a limit to what you can accomplish using the software. While building the home, you have to consider practical aspects such as flood planes, structural integrity, slope, drainage, and other details. The best way to take care of these aspects is to work with a professional architect.

Feel free to make mistakes during the vision phase. They won’t cost you anything. If you make mistakes during the design phase, you will lose time. And if mistakes are made during the building phase, they will cost you money. So hire pros whenever that is necessary.

Why You Need to Find a Custom Builder

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Guzman Construction - New Homes

The Importance of Hiring a Custom Builder

Most people who build a custom house aren’t familiar with building codes or ordinances. And they lack knowledge of construction. So unless you’ve got plenty of time to spare, you will need to partner with a custom builder. The builder plays several different roles to make your project a success. Here are some of the things they do.

Keep a track of costs

They track costs and collect payments from your mortgage company or bank. They will also process lien requests on your behalf. In addition to these, the builder will act as liaison with local jurisdictions, building inspectors, and others for inspections, approvals etc.

Obtain certificates

They will obtain the certificate of occupancy for your home and order and install all building products. They will also review the home before the completion of the project and if they detect problems, they will get them repaired. The builder will also be able to offer maintenance tips and information on the operation.

A good builder has a thorough understanding of the various aspects of construction. They can help you choose the right materials and make the right decisions.

Finding the Right Homebuilder

Finding a good builder is not all that difficult. You may have friends or relatives who got a custom home built. Ask them if they can recommend a good builder. The National Association of Home Builders maintains a list of custom builders across the country. Make sure that you are choosing a home builder who has experience with the style and size of the house you are building.

Choose an experienced builder who has been in this business for over 5 years. The Better Business Bureau allows you to check whether there have been any customer complaints against this builder. You should also consider talking to past customers of this builder. See if you can set up an appointment with them to assess the craftsmanship and quality of their home.

It takes 9-18 months to build a home. Therefore, it is important that you build a good rapport with the builder. If you suspect that you won’t be able to get on with a particular builder, it’s best to find another.

Get Quotes

It makes sense to get quotes from 2-3 builders. Put together a wish list before getting a quote. You need to ensure that your home has every amenity you need. You also need to ensure that you are not being quoted for things you don’t need.

The right custom builder will make the construction process a whole lot easier and finding one isn’t all that difficult.

How to Save Money When Building a Home

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Guzman Construction - New Homes

Can’t afford your dream lot?

If it is a large lot, consider buying it with a family member or a friend. After the purchase, you can split it into smaller lots. This way you will be able to acquire a great site for a good price.

Consider buying a narrow, infill or hillside property

These are problem lots that don’t fetch a good price. But if you have got the right house plan and an efficient contractor, you can build a great home even on a difficult lot.

Waterfront properties

If you are interested in a waterfront site, buy a bay or a canal lot. It is less expensive, but it still has access to water. Also, these properties provide better protection against hostile weather.

Choose low maintenance materials

Buy building materials that require less maintenance, for example, metal roofing and vinyl siding. They may be costlier as far as installation is concerned, but they require less maintenance and you don’t have to replace, repair, or repaint them.

Use salvaged materials collected from demolition sites

You will most probably be able to have these materials for free. Of course, you will have to haul them away.

Resist the temptation to build a house that is too large for the neighborhood

If your home is bigger and better than other homes in the neighborhood, it might make you feel proud, but when it is time to sell, the property won’t fetch a fair price. The assessment will most probably be influenced by the less expensive homes around it. That said, do not skimp on important structural components. Buy the best doors and windows you can afford.

Hire an experienced general contractor

Their experience is invaluable. What’s more seasoned contractors have trade relationships with subcontractors and suppliers.

Omit features that are not exactly necessary

Do you need a fireplace? Your home will run without it. So omit it if you can and you will be able to save hundreds of dollars on labor cost and materials

Do you really have to build a well-furnished game room in the basement? Game rooms are a great way to make use of the basement space, but they don’t have to be fully furnished.

In some climates, the porch isn’t useful all year round. In this case, you can omit it. In any case you can add the porch later.

Many houses have full basements, but they are not a necessity. If you need a full basement, it will require more digging and deeper foundations.

Build a two-story house

If you plan to build all the rooms on a single floor, the cost of construction will be higher. Two-story houses require less excavation, less foundation walls and less roof.

If you are keen on cutting costs, choose simple architecture. Rectangular houses cost much less than those with an irregular shape.

If you live in an area where winters are particularly cold, you cannot omit insulation. But it is not all that important in other areas. So, use the kind of insulation you can afford.

Planning to Build a House? Keep Feng Shui in Mind

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Guzman Construction - New Homes

The science of Feng Shui is testament to the interconnectedness of all organisms, which are in turn interlinked with the universe. The principles of Feng Shui can be used to enhance a living space to maximize its potential as well as to ward off all negative energy.

Be it your garden, your choice and placement of furniture, or even the materials used in your house, Feng Shui can be applied to every component that makes up your house. Everything contains and emanates energy. According to Feng Shui principles, the least productive area in your house is the living room – which in most houses takes the central position. This space is believed to receive the least amount of cosmic energy. Living room spaces are mostly associated with a space meant for relaxation and casual interaction.

If the living room space is synonymous with low energy, why have a separate bedroom space – you may ask. While low energy might be appropriate for times of rest, positioning of a bedroom and the furniture within can play a huge role in determining your quality of life. It is important to be able to sleep well in order to wake up refreshed and charged up for the tasks and challenges that the new day will bring. A wooden bed, and its appropriate positioning can make or break a good night’s rest, which will in turn affect your mood and functioning for the following day.

Feng Shui makes use of a number of aspects, including magnetic fields, axis of the plot, cardinal magnetic directions and planetary associations, among other factors. For example, doors placed on the cardinal directions are considered to be in a bad position, as are furniture and heavy items placed in the northeast sector of your house – an area associated with knowledge and learning.

Feng Shui places great importance on the location of the kitchen within a house as this is the space that provides the inhabitants of the house with energy – in the form of edible material – using a number of elements like fire, water, and metal, etc. The location of the kitchen also influences other spaces within the house. Experts advise that the main door of the house must not open into a kitchen. Feng Shui principles also govern that toilets are to be planned well away from the kitchen area. This principle is based on the belief that the energy that emanates from the toilet may not be beneficial for the energy that is associated with the food from your kitchen. As you can see, not only does keeping your washroom/toilet spaces away from your kitchen area promote hygiene, but this practice is Feng Shui approved as well.