2019

Having a new customized home built can be an exciting experience. Getting through the process however can be a long and at times difficult ordeal. People having a new home built often rely solely on their builder to help guide them through the construction. Unfortunately he may not be the best person to advise them on their project.

Consider the following:

Home builders and many contractors involved in home construction are not licensed professionals
No license means no mandated formal training or apprenticeship, no continuing education, and minimal accountability

City building inspectors check for code compliance, not quality

Codes do not cover all aspects of the building process

These are facts that the majority of people building new homes or for that matter having work done on their existing home, do not know. But who can a new construction home buyer find who will objectively and competently oversee an entire building project and provide knowledgeable, unbiased information on construction techniques and materials? An independent, licensed, professional home inspector.

Most often home inspectors are called in after the new home owner has been experiencing problems with the house, often for many months or even years after it was built. What new construction home buyers almost never consider is hiring the inspector while the house is being built.

When problems do occur and the homeowner is asked about new construction inspections some reasons heard for not enlisting the help of an independent home inspector are:

The local building official is inspecting the home

As previously stated these inspectors look for code compliance, not quality. They are in the home only briefly during different phases of the construction. Do they miss things? Yes they do and no they are not usually held accountable for their mistakes. Also they are municipal employees and are not directly responsible to the persons buying the home. In other words they won’t contact the buyer if there are problems. They simply instruct the builder to correct the issues and move on to the next home.

Cost

It’s always about the money and for good reason. Costs can escalate quickly when building a new home. Buyers often want upgrades and these push up costs. So hiring an independent inspector can be an expense that is hard to justify. After all they believe the city building official is inspecting the home.

The builder has a good reputation

He may, but how do you know. Many people do not research the builder before signing on with them to build their home. This may be even truer when purchasing the home through a third party such as Realtor. Get references and check them before signing a contract.

It is also important to understand specifically what the builders’ job is. He generally is the person who manages the entire construction process. He must hire and coordinate many sub-contractors to install the vast amount of components that make up a house. This can be an overwhelming task for just one home, but if he is building several homes at once it can be nearly impossible to effectively manage.

It’s a new house; there should be nothing wrong (Very likely the biggest misconception related to new homes)

If you have ever bought an item, taken it home and it broke the first time you used it then the absurdness of this statement should be glaringly apparent. But never the less many people who have a home built believe because it is new and there is a one year builders warranty there will be no problems.

Since the financial crash of 2008 one of the major changes that has taken place on the home building industry has been the rise of the green building in new construction. In 2011 the green segment of the market accounted for 17% of all construction projects with an economic impact of $17,000,000,000. In 2013 this rose to $87,000,000,000. Green buildings, also known as sustainable buildings, are designed to incorporate building processes and materials that are resource and energy efficient. Because of the long history of standard house design and construction methods, the new goal of going green requires the cooperation and feedback from not only the architects and engineers but also the end user at all stages of the building process.

The goals of more efficiency that are being demanded by consumers are being helped by the development of new technologies that complement current practices. Some of the new practices that are being implemented are more efficient use of water, energy and other resources. Other items of concern for builders are homeowner health and the reduction of waste and pollution in the building process.

One method that is being put into practice to achieve this is new construction using natural materials. One of the materials of choice that is being widely used is the straw bale. Straw is a material that is widely available and modestly priced. If you use straw bales as the material of choice in your home, after they are placed they can be sealed with plaster or adobe to help increase the bales structural integrity. Another common design is the Earth Ship. This housing unit uses discarded automobile and truck tires that are packed with earth. After they are packed the tires are then formed into the house shell, which can then be covered with adobe or plaster for additional structural integrity. Many of these Earth Ship homes also use plain dirt and grass for the roof structures. This type of structures emphasizes the green goal of using sustainable resources and reducing the environmental impact of standard construction techniques.

Although these types of structure can seem extreme to some, it is a viable subset of this whole movement. This movement has also had an impact on standard construction practices. New construction techniques may not embrace these types of materials but they have embraced and are utilizing more energy efficient electrical appliances, water and heating systems. One of the big shifts in this area is the use of appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, and HVAC systems that are Energy Star rated. Energy Star is a government organization and an Energy Star rating will give prospective buyers an insight into how the new construction ranks in terms of overall energy efficiency.

If you are planning to move to a new house or to a new office, consider choosing a new construction instead of buying an existing one. Buying a new construction in can be an expensive affair but you won’t regret it. When you choose a pre-owned home, you may have to accept it the way it is but when you choose to get a new construction then you have the choice to get it designed as per your requirements. Everything is new and you can choose the colors and patterns you like. Here are some other advantages of buying a newly built home.

When you are building your own house then you can get it designed just like the way you want. If you have ever dreamt of a special design for your kitchen or wished for a patio overlooking your garden then you can easily get it in a newly constructed house. You can explain your ideas to the architect who would then turn your dreams into reality and ensure that it is practical as well.

Whether you need a fireplace, an open kitchen or a Victorian style bedroom, you can get them all. You can make sure that they are well insulated and the plumbing system works efficiently as well. If you want to make your house more environment-friendly then you can choose the doors and windows accordingly as well. You can also get French windows or sliding door and leave space for it.

As opposed to this, when you buy a pre-owned house, you might have to accept whatever is being offered. Making changes to the existing structure would mean more expenses. Then you may have to deal with leaking pipes, peeling paint and faulty electrical wiring. With old constructions you may have to deal with a lot of repair work and you can never be sure how strong the structure is.

If you have considered your options and have decided to build your own house then you need to make sure that you choose a good company. You can look for a construction company that deals in residential construction. A well reputed company generally has a good team of experts who can provide with all the services related to constructions and remodeling. They have architects who can help you to design the house better.

The company also provides you with plumbers, electricians and other professionals who make things more convenient and efficient for you. This means that you don’t have to run to different professionals and hire them to work for you. It saves your time and effort. When these professional are from the same company then they are able to work together and can help you to get your dream house. The company that provides with new construction services can provide with repair services as well. So if you need to add a new room or repair your house then you can contact them.

Jenny Kim Watson is a professional writer. She spends her most of the time to write various informative articles. She has been writing online articles for past 5 years. To know more information about new residential construction in Los Angeles and kitchen remodeling contractors in Beverly Hills, please visit website.

After purchasing your home builder’s model home, the new construction phase is exciting and filled with anticipation. You’ve signed the contract and construction is about to start. What do you do? You need to make sure that your home is built correct.

What is correct?

The first thing that commonly comes to mind is the home being built to ‘Code.’ In a general sense, the code issue is reviewed by the governing municipality. Commonly they have inspectors that look for your house to be built to code.

By the way, the ‘Code’ is only the MINIMUM set of standards. Kind of scary to realize that your new home is only being inspected to a minimum set of standards. You would have a fit if your children were taught to a minimum set of standards. The bar is not being set too high here.

The most important factor when your new home builder or general contractor starts construction of your model home is having a game plan. Ask your self these questions: Do I understand the new home building process? No, truly ask yourself! Do I REALLY understand the new home building process? Can I tell if my new home is being built to today’s standards?

If your answer is not a definitive yes; you should consider choosing between one of the following options.

Home inspector or not
One solution is to hire a home inspector with experience reviewing the new construction home building process of your new home. This type of inspection process is not the same creature that you may have experienced when purchasing an existing home. Fees for this type of service will be at least $500. Multiple visits along with fully documented reports at specific milestones during construction process are necessary. The trick here is to make sure that your inspector understands the finer elements of the new construction process.

There are three likely pit falls with the home inspector route. First, in an effort to prove his worth, the report is filled with issues that don’t matter much. The concern here is provoking and creating an adversarial relationship with your new home builder or construction company. Second, issues which are truly important in the construction and ultimately performance of your house are missed in the process. The third and final area of concern lies with accountability. Home inspectors do not guarantee or provide a warranty for the accuracy of their services.

Is there another way?

There sure is; just to do it yourself. I know what you’re thinking. Hold on there partner, don’t you remember the questions asked at the top? Of course I do. This is where with a little help, you can take the bull by the horns and make sure the work is completed correctly yourself. It is possible for you to manage this task.

What if you had a step by step process? What about a process that not only tells you what to look for, but when to look for it? And, how about a process that even provides photographs as examples of what to look for. With all of that, I’m confident that you’ll have the skills necessary to make sure your new home is built to today’s standards.

Now you understand that it you can make a difference in the quality of your home builder’s new home construction.

After choosing a neighborhood to focus your search for a new condo, one of the other key decisions that you will face is whether to purchase a resale or new construction condo.Many buyers are attracted to new construction condos and there are a wide variety of reasons why. On a subliminal basis, we have been trained by Madison Avenue to yearn for the biggest, fastest, latest and newest products. It is pretty easy to go out and buy a new iPod, while it is not so easy to upgrade your condo decision.

With new construction condos, you can elect to have the unit finished exactly how you want it, purple glass tile in the shower….not a problem! We all want to feel a connection to our surroundings and customizing the finishes in your condo are a great way to achieve this connection.

New construction means that all your neighbors are going to be new as well. As you are all in the same boat, it should definitely be easier to meet friends and not have to break into established social circles. You will also have a clean slate with regards to your condo association. A new development will not have major systems facing obsolescence that require expensive assessments. Also your individual unit will come with a warranty, giving you peace of mind regarding unbudgeted repair expenses.

Modern condo designs offer more interesting interior spaces than what had been available in the past. The explosion of loft-designed condos has made cookie cutter boxy interiors feel very dated. Open kitchens and living areas, coupled with high ceilings and over-sized windows are all staples of high-end new construction condos. As more work is shifted to the home, these open spaces with plenty of light are very desirable. When it comes time to sell, a fresh modern design is sure to attract a premium at the closing table vs. an outdated condo design.

When you start your search for a new construction condo, it is especially helpful to work with an independent buyers agent. The buyers’ agent can assist when you visit a new community so that you are not dependent on the builders’ sales representative. Having this resource on your side of the negotiating table will prove helpful throughout the purchase process.

Mark Washburn is a real estate agent serving the urban Washington, DC condo market. Mark and his team can assist clients in their search for a DC new construction condo, loft or town home in neighborhoods throughout the District including Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Logan Circle, Mount Vernon Triangle, Penn Quarter, Shaw, U Street Corridor and the West End.