Category: Before Building

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.

3 Floor Plan Ideas For Young Families in The RGV

Posted on June 2, 2022 by alien - Before Building

Young families looking to build in the RGV have unique needs when it comes to crafting a house that can serve them both now and as their family grows. One of the most fundamental, and important, elements in meeting these needs is the right floor plan.

Interior design, appliances, fixtures, and more can be changed with relative ease, but changing the floor plan can be expensive and time-consuming. As a result, young families need a design that is carefully built with their lifestyle in mind. To help you get started, here are a few floor plan ideas for young families in the Rio Grande Valley.

Idea 1: Make room(s) for the kids.

Families with children need space, and a good floor plan in the RGV will make sure they have it.

Bedrooms are, of course, the place to start. The home should have enough bedrooms for everyone, with one or two bedrooms to spare for guests.

The location of these bedrooms is also important. Families with infants and toddlers may want a bedroom close to the master in order to make supervising their young children easier.

However, families with older kids may want to create space away from the master bedroom, where the kids can relax, hang out, listen to music, and spend time with friends.

Some floor plans place the master bedroom on the first floor and the other bedrooms on the second floor, while others place the master bedroom on one side of the house and the other bedrooms on the other side of the house. Either way can work, as long as kids are old enough to enjoy their own space away from the parents’ sleeping area.

The best floor plan ideas for RGV families also often include extra space for kids (and parents) to relax. Playrooms, game rooms, lofts, and finished basements can all add enjoyable living space perfect for families looking for room to spread out.

Idea 2: Open (And Spacious) Living Areas

RGV floor plans for families should also include areas where the family has space to enjoy each other’s company and entertain the guests that are often a part of a young family’s life.

The best idea for a family-based floor plan in the RGV is to create an open concept living area where all barriers between the kitchen, living room, and dining room are removed.

Often defined by fireplaces, large kitchen islands, big windows, and vaulted ceilings, these open concept living areas are a beautiful and relaxing place to spend most of your family time together.

Thanks to their open design, they offer straight lines of sight throughout most of the primary level of the house for easy tracking of kids, make it simple to entertain and cook at the same time, and offer enough room to have a crowd over the Superbowl or to build blanket forts and train tracks with the kids.

Idea 3: Convenient Laundry and Storage

Families make a lot of laundry – And have a lot of belongings. Creating a home where they can be managed easily is an important part of any floor plan for young families.

Some families prefer to have the laundry on the main floor, so they can work on loads while they complete other household tasks or spend time with their kids. Others prefer to have the laundry near the bedrooms to make it easier to move laundry back and forth. The best floor plan is one that places the laundry where it will best fit with the flow of YOUR day, so you can easily keep on top of the laundry and your other daily chores.

Storage is also an important element of any floor plan in the RGV. From spacious closets in each bedroom to a separate mudroom and large garage where families can store essentials such as shoes, decorations, and yard tools, storage should be integrated into every room of the home.

The best floor plan idea for the RGV is the one that suits your lifestyle. Here at Guzman Construction, we can create layouts that work best for your family life and needs. Contact us today to discover how a #GuzmanStrong home can be the right home for your family!

Why is McAllen the Best Place to Build a New Home?

Posted on March 23, 2022 by alien - Before Building

Thinking of settling in one of the states of the US? Texas is one of the US states that have gained massive popularity in recent years. It’s amongst the top 20 affordable states to live in in 2022 in the US. Within Texas, McAllen is also amongst the top 10 most affordable towns.

As of 2019, the median household income in McAllen, Texas, was $46,804. Whereas the median household income in the US is $65,712, making it one of the most affordable towns in the US.

Not only this but there are various other reasons why you can choose to build a new home in McAllen.

Reasons to Build Home in McAllen

Affordable Cost of Living

The key that makes McAllen the best place to build a new home is its low cost of living. Be it custom-made homes or move-in homes, the property prices in McAllen have seen a sharp rise. A typical house property in McAllen can be bought for $187,000.

Also, the average commute time in McAllen is about just 18.6 minutes only.

Suitable Weather

One of the prime reasons you choose McAllen for a new home is its suitable weather. McAllen has perfect weather if you hate extreme winters and love to have long summers.

The winter season in McAllen starts in December and ends in mid-February. It has long summers from mid-February to August and the warm and hot summers in early February and March. The sweltering summers are in June and July, and after that, the climate switches to moderate summers. The maximum temperature in summers reaches up to 97 degrees F. In winters, the coldest days touch 52 degrees F.

Less Population

Do you want to live in a less crowded area? McAllen is best for people who like less crowded places. McAllen has a population of 1,060,000 people only. Also, this is only after an increase of 2.22% compared to last year.

The majority of people living in McAllen are Americans, and the rest include people from other countries. Also, the foreign-born population in McAllen is increasing. Still, it is a great place to live as less population means less crowded areas and better job opportunities.

Call For Mexican Food Lovers

If you are a big fan of Mexican food, you may find McAllen attractive. It is known for its delectable Mexican food. There are a variety of Mexican food joints in McAllen, like the Los Asados Mexican Restaurant, Costa Messa Restaurant, Don Pepe’s, and many others.

Best For Simple Living

McAllen is also known for its simple living. It is a modern city and still feasible for those who like to live a plain and simple life. Besides this, it also has good educational facilities. It nestles some good universities like South Texas College, Platt College, the college of Health are and Professions within its premises.

The town is also famous in specific major fields like general studies, criminal justice, safety studies, early childhood education, and training and welding technology. There is also scope for other majors like general business, nursing, social work, biological sciences, and many others.

Rich in Entertainment

You do not have to live a saint’s life while in McAllen. Entertainment is always a few minutes away. If you are bored on weekends, you could have fun exploring McAllen. There are always fun events happening in McAllen. You can stay tuned through the exploreMcAllen.com website.

You can attend special events, go shopping, and enjoy the nightlife. You can spend some quality time at McAllen historical entertainment venue, Cine El Rey Theatre, or Valley Symphony Orchestra. McAllen also has a performing arts center.

You can shop at Trenton Crossing, Northcross Shopping Centre, Palms Crossing, Las Tiendas, or La Plaza Mall.

Move-in or Build Custom Homes

Another reason to build a house in McAllen is the availability of options in real estate. You can either choose to buy a move-in house in McAllen. Such houses are equipped with all the amenities and are well-furnished. Some homes are also approved as energy-saving homes due to the usage of construction materials that keep the home temperature liveable.

There are also custom homes in McAllen that allow you to get your home constructed as per your choice. These homes allow you to customize your home as per your desires. You can find both choices in McAllen.

Conclusion

These reasons should convince you to build a new home in McAllen. Weigh in your options and make a wise decision. For more information and assistance, contact us now.

Do I Need a Lot Before Finding a Builder?

Posted on September 15, 2021 by alien - Before Building

If you are thinking of building your dream home in the Rio Grande Valley, location is obviously a priority. While some homeowners already possess plots, others rely on their builders to find them the best fit. So, you don’t mandatorily need a plot before finding a builder. And why is that? Because reputed builders have been in the business for long and know exactly what works and what doesn’t.

Here are a few reasons you don’t need a site beforehand and can trust your builder to find one for you:

A site needs to be inspected

Not every lot is suitable for building. Not every suitable lot is fitting for the house you desire. While most people think of views and facilities around the house, builders look at it differently. When you sit down with a floor plan you realize you need slopes or the lot needs to be modified. Sometimes the land you own at present may depreciate in value so much that you end up with an unsellable lot. Hence, don’t worry if you don’t possess one already.

Talk to your builder to understand the kind of site you need – elevations, soil properties, and the projected value of the site 5 years down the line.

Builders have the right connections

If you need an authentic site inspection you will have to go through the legal formalities, search for assessors, and do a lot of running around. All these are quickly solved when you hand over lot requirements to the construction company.

The more experienced a builder is, the wider is their professional network. From real estate agents to suppliers to local civic planners, your builder is highly likely to have connections at high places. All this makes it easier – not only land buying or assessing but the entire home building process itself.

Builders are always on the lookout for lots

There are many things a builder looks out for and plots are one of them. If you are training your eyes on a bit of earth to build your house on, chances are your builder is looking at it too. Most construction companies acquire plots for their projects throughout the year. They know how to negotiate with sellers and agents and get what they want. So why take on the burden yourself when your builder can do it for you?

Besides, your chosen home builder might already have a lot of plots ready to build on. And they are likely very carefully chosen and secured for construction.

Builders can help you with loans

Building a house is expensive and no one spends all of their life’s savings on it. Instead, they look for financing. Similarly, if you want to buy a lot, your builder can connect you with the right lender. They enjoy the support of many financial institutions or companies that help you with getting the loan, negotiating terms of repayments, fixing loan duration, and getting possible concessions. If you are doing it all alone, you will first need to find a reliable bank that offers a suitable loan. Then, you must get approval from the builder from the bank to finally get the money in your hand.

Home builders cut down on time and expenses

What an average homeowner does in 30 days looking for a plot, an experienced builder does in a week. And all because they know the right people and exude the right amount of influence. Time is money and every residential builder knows it. Just imagine how much time you would otherwise spend on just buying a piece of land – meeting sellers, visiting the site, connecting with assessors, visiting banks, and getting various approvals. And doing all these along with going to work and managing household responsibilities.

To sum up

Don’t despair if you don’t have a plot yet. It won’t stand in the way of building your dream house. So save up on your resources and let your builder take care of all your housing needs. Get in touch with a builder near you to find out the most suitable sites for your house.