Building a home is a project that will result in something that will be a significant part of your life for decades, if not longer. When you are building a home, a place where you and your family plan to spend your lives – you want the absolute best. In order to get the best homes, though, you need the best home builder.
Homebuilders in Greensboro are numerous so you want to have a process to select “The One” for you. That is the builder that is able to achieve exactly what you want for you and your family. Below are five tips for selecting a trustworthy custom home builder.
5 Tips for Choosing a Builder, According to Homebuilders in Greensboro
The following tips are the top 5 tips for finding home builders in Greensboro and beyond:
1. Do Your Research
If you are reading this article, then you are already following the first tip given that is commonly sited: Read and learn about the topic and those you may employ to build your home.
Everyone has access to a plethora of information at our fingertips. One of the easiest and most important things you can do is look up a prospective builder and find what others have to say about them. Read reviews, and if you have to, make some calls. You don’t want to cut corners when it comes to knowing who will be building your home. One thing to be aware of though, is that many of the online directories are paid listing services and where a home builder is listed or how prominent their write-up is, might not have to do with their quality, but rather, has to do with how much that they have paid the service. This is true across many industries so be aware of the source of the information that you get online.
2. Find a Builder That Understands Your Needs
Designing a home is an art, and sometimes artists can get a bit passionate about their work. Ensure that the home builder you are working with understands your visions and has a successful history of completing similar projects in the past.
At the same time, being open to collaboration can often end with a better result than either party expected. A builder who understands your needs will be better able to adjust and collaborate in ways that work with your vision. And although you might be very confident in a particular adjustment to a floor plan or home layout, your homebuilder has likely been through this dozens and dozens of times per year and if the builder is advising against something, it’s probably worth it to seriously consider his or her advice.
3. Find a Builder That Communicates
When choosing a builder, find one who is open about the process and can provide you with a clear timeline and estimate. A good builder will be transparent about everything they do and should happily answer any questions you have regarding materials, employees, sub-contractors building philosophy, and methods. These questions also give you an opportunity to talk more broadly with your prospective home builder and see how well you are able to communicate together.
4. Know What You Want
It can be really difficult to figure out if a builder fits your needs if even you are not clear on what your own needs are. Sometimes taking the time to figure out what you want before contacting a builder will diminish the frustration for all those involved in the process. By laser-focusing in on exactly what you want, you and your builder can start the project in confidence.
5. Find a Builder You Like
For your sake and theirs, find a builder you can enjoy being around. The feelings will likely be mutual, and you don’t want someone building the home that dislikes you, plus the whole process will simply flow better if the rapport is easy and enjoyable.
Start Planning Your Dream Home Today
Call the premier custom home builder in Greensboro today at (336) 362-5225 or contact us to schedule a free consultation.
The Benefits of Xeriscaping
Water conservation is part of living a green lifestyle, and one of the best ways to reduce your home’s water usage is through strategic landscaping. Xeriscaping is the concept of landscape planning that requires very little or no irrigation. This is especially common and popular in dry desert climates, but it is gaining popularity across climate zones.
If you’re brainstorming landscaping ideas for your new home, Xeriscaping is a possibility worth considering. Some Custom home builders across the nation are seeing this alternative being used by many homeowners because of the myriad of benefits it offers. It might not be the hot thing among Greensboro, Summerfield and OakRidge Homebuilders, but that might just be a matter of time.
Conserve Water
The biggest benefit to xeriscaping is that it conserves water. The plants, bushes, and other vegetation don’t need to be watered. There’s no need for an expensive sprinkler system or for any other deliberate watering of the greenery.
Lower your Water Bill
Watering your lawn less, or not at all, will noticeably lower your water bill in addition to the environmental benefit it offers.
Less Lawn Maintenance
Are you tired of the hassle of yard work? Even if you don’t do it yourself, you’re paying someone to come and take care of your lawn, bushes, and trees with noisy and polluting lawn tools. With xeriscaping you can stop wasting time and money on the continuous manicuring of your yard.
Stop Fighting Nature
Are you tired of fighting to get grass to grow in places where it just won’t? In some areas the climate and soil are not fit to support certain types of grass and plants. Stop fighting nature and use plants that are meant to grow where you live with nothing more than the natural amount of rain and sun.
Customize Your Landscaping with R&K Custom Homes
If you’re looking for custom home builders that will understand your desire to include xeriscaping, R&K Custom Homes can give you an incredible home and work with you to see that you get a low maintenance, water conserving yard that will complement your beautiful home. Not only will you save water, but you’ll save yourself the time and hassle of endless yard work.
Call (336) 362-5225 today or get in touch to schedule a free consultation.
Building a Home with a Wellness Space
When you’re designing your custom home, be sure to incorporate a wellness room into your plans. It can be an entire room in your home, a separate building on your property or even just a special nook carved out of a larger room.
Here are some ideas for building a wellness space from one of the most experienced Greensboro home builders.
A Wellness Space is Not a Home Gym
First and foremost, don’t confuse a wellness room with a home gym. They are not one in the same. You may want to incorporate a home gym into your custom home, but your wellness room should be a separate room or area. The idea is for you to relax and enjoy the space. Your wellness room should be a space for you to get away from the obligations and stresses of life without having to leave your home. If that’s what a gym workout does for you, then that’s great. But it does not need to be the sole purpose of your wellness room.
Decide How You Want to Use the Space
It may help to know how you plan to use your wellness space before you incorporate it into your custom home plans. If you’ll be playing music at a high volume or dabbling in a loud hobby, you may want to consider a location that is away from bedrooms and main living areas. This is when a separate building on your property could be a good choice. If you’re planning on having a quiet reading or meditation space, consider locating your wellness room away from the main areas of the house where there tends to be a lot of activity. The size of the room will also depend on the intended purpose for the space, as well as any built-in features such as storage or plumbing.
Consider How Lighting Will Affect the Room
Lighting, whether natural or artificial, has a large impact on the mood of a room. You may want to incorporate lots of natural light for a reading room or art studio, but not so much if you’re a photographer in need of a darkroom. Artificial lighting is also important in your wellness room. Soft lighting will create a relaxing atmosphere and bright lighting will provide the necessary illumination for some purposes. Consider a combination of different lighting schemes and incorporate dimming switches so that the amount of light is adjustable to match the current activity.
Add Your Own Flare to the Decor
Make the wellness space truly your own when it comes to the decor. Use colors that you love, textures and materials that are comfortable, and artwork that inspires you. Add some personal touches that reflect your unique style so that the room truly feels like your own. Use calming colors and patterns that will help you feel relaxed. Include furniture pieces that are stylish and comfortable. Remember, you may be the only one who sees this space, so the only person to worry about pleasing is yourself.
Design the Wellness Space of Your Dreams with R&K Custom Homes
If you’ve decided that a wellness room is a must-have feature in your new custom home, you need a Greensboro home builder who can create a space you will love. R&K Custom Homes builds luxury homes in Greensboro and the surrounding area in some of the most highly desired neighborhoods. An R&K home is truly custom-designed to include all of the features you want in your own personal style.
5 Tips on How to Choose a Trustworthy Custom Home Builder
Building a home is a project that will result in something that will be a significant part of your life for decades, if not longer. When you are building a home, a place where you and your family plan to spend your lives – you want the absolute best. In order to get the best homes, though, you need the best home builder.
Homebuilders in Greensboro are numerous so you want to have a process to select “The One” for you. That is the builder that is able to achieve exactly what you want for you and your family. Below are five tips for selecting a trustworthy custom home builder.
5 Tips for Choosing a Builder, According to Homebuilders in Greensboro
The following tips are the top 5 tips for finding home builders in Greensboro and beyond:
1. Do Your Research
If you are reading this article, then you are already following the first tip given that is commonly sited: Read and learn about the topic and those you may employ to build your home.
Everyone has access to a plethora of information at our fingertips. One of the easiest and most important things you can do is look up a prospective builder and find what others have to say about them. Read reviews, and if you have to, make some calls. You don’t want to cut corners when it comes to knowing who will be building your home. One thing to be aware of though, is that many of the online directories are paid listing services and where a home builder is listed or how prominent their write-up is, might not have to do with their quality, but rather, has to do with how much that they have paid the service. This is true across many industries so be aware of the source of the information that you get online.
2. Find a Builder That Understands Your Needs
Designing a home is an art, and sometimes artists can get a bit passionate about their work. Ensure that the home builder you are working with understands your visions and has a successful history of completing similar projects in the past.
At the same time, being open to collaboration can often end with a better result than either party expected. A builder who understands your needs will be better able to adjust and collaborate in ways that work with your vision. And although you might be very confident in a particular adjustment to a floor plan or home layout, your homebuilder has likely been through this dozens and dozens of times per year and if the builder is advising against something, it’s probably worth it to seriously consider his or her advice.
3. Find a Builder That Communicates
When choosing a builder, find one who is open about the process and can provide you with a clear timeline and estimate. A good builder will be transparent about everything they do and should happily answer any questions you have regarding materials, employees, sub-contractors building philosophy, and methods. These questions also give you an opportunity to talk more broadly with your prospective home builder and see how well you are able to communicate together.
4. Know What You Want
It can be really difficult to figure out if a builder fits your needs if even you are not clear on what your own needs are. Sometimes taking the time to figure out what you want before contacting a builder will diminish the frustration for all those involved in the process. By laser-focusing in on exactly what you want, you and your builder can start the project in confidence.
5. Find a Builder You Like
For your sake and theirs, find a builder you can enjoy being around. The feelings will likely be mutual, and you don’t want someone building the home that dislikes you, plus the whole process will simply flow better if the rapport is easy and enjoyable.
Start Planning Your Dream Home Today
Call the premier custom home builder in Greensboro today at (336) 362-5225 or contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Ideas for Getting the Most from your “Bonus Room”
The “bonus room” has become a staple of modern homes. Whether it’s the extra space over the garage, a finished basement, or even a den off the main level of your home, this room can be used for many different purposes. The key is to find a use for the room that is in line with your lifestyle. Custom home builders in Greensboro can design your bonus room with your intended purpose in mind to ensure you’ll get the most out of it.
Home Office/Homework Room
If you or your spouse work from home, a home office is a necessity. A bonus room can make an ideal home office, as long as you consider the location. If you need the office to be quiet and private, make sure it can be closed off from the rest of the house when necessary and don’t put it right next to the kitchen or living room. The office can also double as a homework room for the kids.
Home Gym /Yoga Studio
Dedication to fitness and a healthy lifestyle is much easier if you have a designated space for exercise. High ceilings give you plenty of room to move and natural light helps you feel more energized. Incorporate different types of equipment for the varied workout styles you and other members of your family prefer. Create a Zen space for yoga, Pilates, or martial arts. Include machines and weights for the lifters and treadmills for cardio. Don’t forget technology, such as a TV and audio equipment. Climate control is also important, so HVAC and ceiling fans are a wise addition.
Music Room/Art Studio
Does your family participate in the arts? Having a dedicated music room or art studio can give some members of the family a place to use their talents. Consider soundproofing if the intended use is a music room. You could even include a recording studio.
An art studio may need a sink for cleaning up and plenty of storage for supplies. Flooring should be durable, moisture-resistant, and easy to clean.
Game Room
Are games a big part of your family dynamic? A game room may be the best use of your bonus room. From pool and foosball tables to a big screen TV and video game systems, your game room can be a place for family fun or for the kids to hang out with their friends. Include a small kitchenette with a refrigerator for drinks and snacks, a microwave, and a sink for clean-up.
Spare Bedroom
You never know when you might have guests, and a spare bedroom can come in handy for those times. If you want to be able to use the space on the regular when you don’t have guests, you could incorporate a fold-out couch or a murphy bed so that the space can be made into a bedroom at a moment’s notice.
Get the Most from your “Bonus Room” with R & K Custom Home Builders in Greensboro
When building a custom home, your “bonus room” can be designed around the intended purpose for the room, with built-in features and specially selected materials. R & K Custom Homes has decades of experience designing homes around the homeowner’s interests so that the home is truly customized.
Call the premier custom home builder in Greensboro today at (336) 362-5225 or contact us to schedule a free consultation.
The Best Décor for your Home Office
A home office may not have been a priority for homeowners in the past, but with the recent pandemic, it has become more important than ever. You may even find that you need more than one home office to accommodate everyone who is now working from home. Even as many employees return to the office, the increase in work from home ability may change the workforce forever.
Homebuilders in Greensboro are seeing an increased focus on home offices, and with that comes the need for home office décor ideas. Consider these options for designing an ideal home office as part of your custom home plans.
Lighting Should Be Stylish and Functional
Lights can not only illuminate your home office, but also add style. Your office should be a place that inspires your sense of focus and motivation. Office lighting should be bright to help you feel awake and make it possible to see what you’re working on, but it should also be easy on the eyes. Choose bulbs that provide a soft glow. Include different types of light fixtures throughout the room and dimmable lights so that you can achieve the ideal level of brightness at any time of the day. Natural light can be both a help and a hindrance, so include plenty of windows with adjustable treatments to let in the right amount of light without causing a glare on computer screens.
Wallpaper Adds Texture and Depth
Patterned walls are back and easier than ever with new removable wallpaper. It goes on like contact paper and easily peels off again when you’re ready for a change. The right design can make your home office seem more spacious and vibrant to enhance your work at home experience. The wallpaper you choose can set the color pallet for the whole room, making it easy to choose other decorative pieces in complementary colors.
Make Your Office More Engaging with Mirrors and Wall Décor
Give yourself (and any office guests) something to look at besides 4 plain walls. Incorporate inspirational art and messages that help keep you motivated when focus is a struggle. Keep the walls of your office from feeling like they’re closing in by adding decorative mirrors to broaden the space. Clocks are a timeless office staple that can be both artistic and useful.
Office Furniture Should Be Purposeful
Choose furniture that makes sense for your line of work. Do you need additional seating besides your desk chair? Do you sometimes work better stretched out in a comfortable chair with your feet up? Will you need storage for files or bookshelves for reading material? Does your job require a drafting table, easel, or other specialty equipment? Your furniture should be functional but also reflect your own decorative style so that your office is a place you want to be.
Design the Best Home Office with R & K Custom Homes
House builders in Greensboro can design each room in your home to be just the way you want it, including your home office. R & K Custom Homes will create a home office you’ll love so you can work from home with style and ease.
Call the premier custom home builder in Greensboro today at (336) 362-5225 or contact us to schedule a free consultation.
When Should You Build Your Home?
Building in the Spring
Pros:
Cons:
Building in the Summer
Pros:
Cons:
Building in the Fall
Pros:
Cons:
Building in the Winter
Pros:
Cons:
The Final Decision is Between You and Your Greensboro Homebuilder
There are about the same number of pros and cons for each time of year when it comes to building a new custom home. The final decision may come down to when your builder is available, the projected building timeframe for your home, and other personal factors such as your needs and your personal considerations.
The best option is to consult with your builder. Schedule a free consultation with Greensboro homebuilder R&K Custom Homes by calling (336) 362-5225 or request an appointment.
Upstairs or Downstairs Master Bedroom: Pros and Cons
Pros to a Downstairs Master Bedroom:
Cons to a Downstairs Master Bedroom:
Pros to an Upstairs Master Bedroom:
Cons to an Upstairs Master Bedroom:
Designing a Home with Greensboro Custom Home Builders
One of the biggest benefits of a custom home is that you can have it your way. Your master bedroom can be upstairs or downstairs, depending on your personal preference. Discuss your thoughts with your builder and get some insight from their experience as one of the best Greensboro custom home builders. Each family has their own needs when it comes to the location of the master bedroom. There’s no right or wrong choice here, just the choice that is best for you.
Interested in building a custom home? Call R&K Custom Homes today at (336) 362-5225 to schedule a free consultation. You can also visit our website and click the “Contact” tab on the right side of the screen to fill out a contact request and we will be in touch.
To Landscape or Not to Landscape: Pros and Cons of Landscaping your Custom Home
Pros of Landscaping:
Curb Appeal
Landscaping the front yard makes a great first impression when guests arrive at your home. Flower beds, walkways, lighting, shrubbery, and anything else you choose to add can work together to make your home as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside.
Better Use of the Land
It is not only attractive to the landscape, but it is also functional. A walkway to the front door with lighting will help guide your guests in the dark. Backyard landscaping can create beautiful spaces for entertaining and enjoying time outdoors with the family.
Property Value
Landscaping also adds value to your property, which is not only helpful when you go to sell the home, but it helps increase the collective property value of your neighborhood.
Cons of Landscaping:
Cost
There is an initial cost associated with landscaping. However, that amount can be added to the overall price of the home, which may be nearly unnoticeable. If you’re trying to find ways to cut costs though, landscaping is one way. You can also choose simple landscaping that will cost less to implement.
Maintenance
In addition to the initial cost, there is a cost associated with regular maintenance of the landscaping, from bags of mulch to yard tools. Even if you choose to handle the maintenance yourself, that’s a significant time commitment and requires a good bit of energy, especially for elaborate landscapes.
Impact on the Environment
Drastic landscaping changes are not always environmentally friendly. Cutting down trees and using chemicals to kill weeds is potentially harmful to the wildlife in the area. Consider landscaping around the natural elements and using a plant-based weed killer.
Ultimately, the decision should be based on your personal preferences more than anything else. You may decide to skip the landscaping now to save money and plan to do it later. However, you will likely find bringing in a landscaper later for the project will end up costing you more. Including landscaping costs in your total home price from the beginning is more practical.
Planning to Build a Custom Home in Greensboro?
Landscaping is just one part of the process of planning a custom home. It is often tacked on at the end of the process, but it should actually be part of the initial planning phase. The landscaping you want for your home may have an impact on the structural design of your home and where it will be situated on the property. Don’t just tack it on as an afterthought.
If you plan to build a custom home in Greensboro and landscaping is a priority for you, keep that in mind when you’re choosing a home site. R&K Custom Homes can help you find a home site that will work for both your home and landscaping plans. Call (336) 362-5225 today to schedule a free consultation.
Myth Busting: 5 Home Building Issues in the Winter
Myth#1: It Costs More the Build in the Winter
This one is definitely a myth. While there may be some aspects of building in the winter that cost more, there are other aspects of building in the winter that cost less. Construction expenses may arise, but materials are priced much lower in the winter, which could actually save you more money overall.
Myth#2: Labor Quality Suffers
This one doesn’t really make sense. Building during the extreme heat of summer is much more oppressing and potentially harmful to builders than the winter weather. Most builders would actually prefer to build in colder weather. Winters in Greensboro tend to be pretty mild anyway.
Myth#3: Lumber Gets Damaged by the Cold
This one is understandable, yet still false. The cold dry weather does affect lumber, which is why it is specially treated during the winter to account for the difference in weather. Framing will not be damaged and the wood will not lose its shape just because it is exposed to the cold. If anything, the wood that is treated for winter will be less affected by the cold weather in future winters, even though it won’t be directly exposed.
Myth#4: Concrete Poured in Winter is Weak
For concrete to properly set in the cold, calcium chloride is added to it. The myth is that this additive makes the concrete weaker in the future. This has been proven false by years and years of solid concrete foundations, driveways, and walkways that were poured during the winter and have stood the test of time. Even concrete experts will tell you that there is no difference in strength.
Myth#5: The Ground is too Frozen to Dig the Foundation
This is especially untrue here in Greensboro, NC where the ground rarely gets cold for extended periods of time. Even so, in colder climates where the ground does freeze, there is strong enough machinery to dig in anyway.
Don’t Be Afraid to Start Building your Custom Home with Homebuilders in Greensboro
One advantage of building in the winter is that some homebuilders in Greensboro are more readily available to build your home than they would be in the spring or fall. R&K Custom Homes can only handle so many new home projects each year. Get yours planned out with your newly acquired knowledge of homebuilding. Call (336) 362-5225 today to schedule a free consultation with R&K Custom Homes.
7 High-Tech Appliances for your Custom Kitchen
Perfect Bake Pro
Like to bake? Eliminate the margin for error with the Perfect Bake Pro. Using a system of scales connected to your smartphone, you will know immediately if you put too much of an ingredient into the mix. The app can even help you to correct the problem by compensating for the error.
Bluetooth Thermometer
Using wired probes that are Bluetooth connected to your smartphone, this thermometer can monitor two dishes as they are cooking to let you know when they reach the desired temperature.
Sous Vide
This latest cooking technique involves vacuum sealing food (usually meat) and cooking it fully submerged in water. It keeps the food moist and not overcooked. Sous Vide devices are available or you can purchase just an immersion circulator that fits on a pot you already own.
Steam Oven
Control your oven from an app on your smartphone and cook your meals and desserts to perfection using the power of steam. You can look up recipes through the app and even preset your oven to come on at a certain time and temperature.
Alexa-Controlled Microwave
If you have an Amazon Echo device you can purchase a microwave that responds to commands through Alexa. Save time and effort in preparing simple meals and snacks.
Smart Phone-Controlled Coffee Maker
Tell your coffee maker to start brewing coffee before you even get out bed using your smartphone. Sleep in longer on the weekends and save time on busy work mornings.
Smart Refrigerator
The latest smart fridges allow you to adjust temperature settings, monitor ice-making, and some even have cameras inside so you can see what you’re out of before going to the grocery store.
Get the Latest Kitchen Design Trends from Greensboro Home Builders
Do you want your kitchen to be on the cutting edge of technology and design? R&K Custom Homes creates kitchens that are attractive and functional with the latest smart features and appliances built right in. Enjoy your time in the kitchen more than ever by making it easier to cook your favorite dishes. Or spend less time in the kitchen by controlling your kitchen appliances from your phone. Whatever your culinary goals, there are high-tech kitchen appliances that can help you achieve them.
Work with Greensboro home builders who keep up to date on the latest kitchen design trends so that your kitchen will be as current as possible. Call R&K Custom Homes today at (336) 362-5225 to schedule a free consultation.