Old Meets New: The Many Benefits of Custom Homes in Greensboro, NC

13Old Meets New: The Many Benefits of Custom Homes in Greensboro, NC

Selecting a home to buy can be one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make in life. Choosing between new construction and an existing home, however, can be difficult since they both have their pros and cons. While newer homes have many benefits and lower maintenance issues, older homes can have character and features that can be very appealing. If you have a vision of what your dream home should be and can’t find an existing home that matches your vision, building a custom home is a perfect option. Choosing to build a custom home in Greensboro, NC could end up being the best option for you that offers you the best of both old and new homes.

Customized Homes in Greensboro NC

One of the biggest advantages of a new custom home in Greensboro is having a home that reflects the way you live. You can also incorporate the charming features you love in older homes in your design so you can get the best of both worlds exactly how you want it. With custom homes, you can select an individual design that is tailor-made to your specific needs and design preferences.

More Advantages to Building a Custom Home

Building your own home is perhaps the most exciting and rewarding journey for anyone to undertake. From the concept and design stage to the final walk through, you are involved in every step. You will know you’re putting together the house that meets your family’s needs and lifestyle every way you want it to. One of the biggest trends in new home construction is energy-efficiency. New custom homes offer more cost savings in energy and money in both the heating and cooling. With high-performance energy efficient HVAC systems, state-of-the-art ventilation, and air filtration system, you will have higher indoor air quality and lower utility bills.

Special Needs

A custom home also offers you the ability to design it to accommodate any special needs that you have. For instance, if you need space for an aging parent or have a family member with special needs, you can incorporate features to accommodate their needs. With custom homes, you can create a design layout that specifically works for your family’s present and future needs.

R & K Custom Homes will produce a high quality home that’s personalized for you with greater energy efficiency and indoor air quality than an average resale home. Custom homes, like those from R & K Custom Homes, are ideal for buyers who want a unique look and feel to their home that they can’t find anywhere else in the housing market. If you’re scouring the real estate market and can’t seem to find a home that fits your needs and design preferences, then a custom home is the way for you to go.

In Greensboro New Homes, High-End Kitchen Appliances are Cooking

Birkhaven-Lot-53-1A gourmet kitchen is not just about the style and décor; it should also have coordinating and sophisticated appliances to complete the overall design. R & K Custom Home Builders has new Greensboro homes that include modern kitchens with beautiful cabinets, countertops, flooring, and appliances. The kitchen is one of the most important living spaces in your home. Not only does the style and design of your kitchen contribute to this special status, state-of-the-art appliances that provide all the features and amenities also reflect your style and make your life easier. Kitchens provide a lot of value to a custom home. Selecting the right ovens and cooktops, refrigerators and dishwashers for your new Greensboro home can seem daunting. Here are some tips to help choose the right appliances to create the kitchen you have always wanted.

Burner Grates and BTU Are Important in Cooktop Selection

Integrated design, superior quality, and high level performance are essential characteristics for choosing a cooktop. Looking at BTU’s and finding the right type of burner grates will help you narrow your cooktop selection, according to www.hgtv.com:

“When shopping for gas cooktops, ask about BTU, which stands for British thermal units, a measurement of energy content. Serious ranges are 9,200 BTU and up. Ask about variable control, meaning how long can you maintain “simmer” without the flame going out. Look for burner grates made of cast iron or a metal that conducts heat for better heat transfer from the burner to the pan.”

Ovens can be either a high-performance convection oven, where a fan is used to circulate heat, or a baker oven that is more of a traditional style for baking, broiling, and roasting. Depending on your cooking style, a nice addition to any kitchen design it to include one of each, stacked or side by side, for the best options for cooking.

 Your Custom Home is Worthy of the Best Appliances

Does your grocery list consist of an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and organic food? Your refrigerator’s compressor makes a difference on how long you can keep the food fresh. Here’s a guide, provided by www.hgtv.com, for selecting a refrigerator for your Greensboro new home:

 “Freestanding models slide into a space and generally stick out 6 or 7 inches beyond counter depth (24 inches standard). But you can purchase counter-depth refrigerator/freezers that will look like built-in units. When evaluating refrigerator performance, quality comes down to the compressor. Single-compressor units that power a refrigerator-freezer work double-time to keep a moist fridge and a dry, cold freezer. A dual-compressor unit costs more but will allow you to keep fresh food longer. This might be worth it if you pay a lot for groceries. “People who are buying organic and better-quality products want them to be peak because they paid for organic or gourmet foods,” Divita says. “You want to get your money’s worth.”

As for configuration, French-door models are popular, as are French-door refrigerator (on top) with freezer drawer (on bottom). Units might have two side-by-side freezer drawer, or a refrigerator drawer that is accessible to children. The ideal (and most expensive) situation is completely separate refrigerator and freezer units.”

 Dishwasher Types and Styles Can Compliment Your New Kitchen

There are quite a few choices to make when selecting a dishwasher for your kitchen. From colored surfaces that blend with your cabinets to the popular stainless steel, there are many dishwasher styles from which to choose. HGTV helps you to make a decision for the perfect dishwasher for your gourmet kitchen:

“Now you can get drawer dishwashers, which are easier to load and can be installed at various heights based on your needs Plus, they can handle smaller loads, so they are more efficient. Still, traditional dishwashers with doors that pull from the top down are the most popular style, and they can be paneled to blend with the cabinetry for a seamless look. Stainless steel still reigns in popularity.”

R & K Custom Home Builders provides outstanding service, high-quality materials and customized features for Greensboro new homes. From appliances to door handles, we help you select the best home features that will provide you with long-lasting beauty and reliable durability. Contact us today at 336-643-3503 to learn more about our custom homes.

(Source: Choosing Kitchen Appliances, www.hgtv.com, 2015)

Building Custom Homes in Greensboro Has Many Advantages

 There is much to consider when deciding whether or not to buy an older home vs. investing in a new custom built home – including cost, time and even your personal lifestyle and preferences. Here are some things to consider before deciding whether to buy or build.

Your Home Should Be All About You

One of biggest disadvantage in buying an existing home may be that you won’t get what you want. You may love the floor plan but may wish that there was another bedroom on the main floor or wishing it had another full bath. Older homes, in particular, may be functionally out-of-date, and no longer meet the needs of most buyers. Unless you find an existing home that is in perfect condition and is exactly what you want, chances are, you will have to spend more money on remodeling, repairs, upgrades and even landscaping.

When you build a custom home, you will be getting exactly what you want. Every detail in the home is chosen by you, right down to the doorknobs and light fixtures. This factor alone for some is enough to opt for building over buying. A custom home is built to meet your tastes. In other words, your house will be precisely what you make it. Building a house can give you a level of accomplishment and satisfaction that you can’t achieve through buying an existing home. There is a definite feeling of an emotional connection to living in a new home that you have created. This is a home that matches your style and personality, that you created from scratch.

A Greensboro Custom Built Home is More Environmentally Friendly

A new home is also more beneficial for the environment and your electric bill. A new home is more efficient, especially with the new energy codes including better HVAC [heating, ventilation, and cooling], insulation, and air filtration standards.

Factor in new high-efficiency appliances and certain new materials and you will have an efficient house, along with a much more pleasing electric bill.

There Are Health Benefits to a New Home

Another perk to building a new home is that it may be more beneficial to your health. Older homes may have toxic materials in the walls, such as asbestos, lead paint, and mold. Besides this, the indoor air quality may not be as healthy as a newer home due to the new appliances and systems designed with modern technologies so you can maintain clean, healthy indoor air.

Custom Built Homes Have Fewer Repairs

In addition, a new home will require fewer repairs and maintenance, which can save both money and time. Also, you will have a warranty with a new home, so even if something does go wrong, you may still be covered. When buying an existing house, there is always the imminent uncertainty of the condition of the foundation, structural integrity, or quality of materials originally used. When building a custom home in Greensboro, you have the assurance that your home is being built in accordance with the most up to date safety codes and with high-quality materials.

R & K Custom Homes can help ensure the planning process goes as smoothly as possible. Their experienced team will review your personal requirements and budget to make sure your criteria and preferences are being met. R & K Custom Homes in Greensboro and surrounding areas reflect the personality and style of the homeowner. The experts at R & K will listen to your ideas, and help you prioritize features to incorporate everything that is important to you for your new dream home. If you are deciding to become a homeowner, consider all the advantages of custom building your home.

Source:

Should You Buy or Build a Home? .investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/062614/should-you-buy-or-build-home.asp

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Home Building Process, newhomesource.com

What Does a Building Contractor Do?, chron.com

Expert Designing Guides for Wonderful Greensboro, NC Custom Homes

Designing the different areas of your home is the most exciting part of building custom homes in Greensboro, NC. As a soon-to-be homeowner, you need to have a clear mental image as to how you want your new home to look. In excitement, you might go “I want this, I want that”, but planning your home’s interior design, floor plan, and other aspects requires careful consideration to make your abode work best for you. Here are some tips for a more comfortable and functional home.

family

Kitchen

Imagine yourself having to walk through the house all the way to the other side, carrying several bags  of groceries. Not fun, right? It would be best to place your kitchen near a main entry point such as beside the garage or at the back area of your house for easier unloading. To help Mom monitor the kids, position the furniture so that she can still have a good view of the living room from the kitchen. To avoid turning your living space into a dining place, ensure that the eat-in space is large enough to comfortably seat your family.

Garage

Connect your garage directly to the mudroom or the kitchen. This way, you not only reduce the traffic in the living space; you’re also keeping the dirt away from it. To make the most out of your garage, install brackets and hooks where you can hang wet coats and shoes. Maximize its high space by adding shelves where you can store items that you only use occasionally.

Laundry Room

Ideally, the more accessible this room is to the living quarters, the better. Such an arrangement means that you won’t have to carry linen and clothing up and down the stairs.

Home Office

As much as possible, place this at the quietest part of the house to ensure better focus. Since this usually has a limited area, design it vertically and be space-efficient with the equipment you use. If you can find a smaller alternative, then choose it. HGtv.com suggests placing the home office on a section with a good window view because this can help enhance productivity. Lastly, don’t forget to brush up on color psychology when you are deciding on wall colors.

When designing for your new home, you can seek professional advice from contractors like R & K Custom Homes. Such firms work with interior designers and architects who have rich experience in building stunning new homes in Greensboro, NC.

Building Ideal Greensboro, NC Custom Homes is Possible with Some Help

When you’re looking at the available homes in Greensboro, NC, it can be difficult to find one that fits all of your requirements. The most effective solution to this dilemma is to have experienced custom builders like R & K Custom Homes construct your dream home for you. It may seem like a difficult task, but with experienced help, you can have a house that meets your needs for an affordable price and in a reasonable time

The first thing you need to remember about building Greensboro, NC custom homes is to have a solid budget and financing plan. The main factor to consider is that many lending institutions consider building a home a risky proposition. Thus, you need an excellent credit score as well as provide a down payment of at least 20 to 25 percent of the loan amount. Lenders also may require that you prove that you have cash reserves available in case there are delays or extensions in your construction project.

The next step is to pick the right location. You’ll want a place that has easy access to the basic utilities like water, electricity, and gas, as well as vital services like schools and hospitals. This can easily be solved by buying a property in a new home community, which also gives the benefit of providing you with a neighborhood to connect with. Another factor to consider when choosing a location for a new home is the condition of the soil and other elements that can affect your construction; if you’re breaking ground on a new home, you’ll want to be aware of what difficulties you may be facing like loose soil or tough bedrock.

After you’ve chosen the parcel you want to build on, it’s time to develop a plan for the house itself. A custom home builder will often have pre-made designs available; however, you may also have your own plans implemented. If this is so, a home builder can point out if the plans are feasible and offer advice on how to improve the design. In addition, builders will also be able to provide insight on any building codes that need to be observed.

Once the plans have been finalized and the property bought, your builder can finally get started building your ideal home. Missing your construction schedule can create cost overruns, leading to budget problems. Experienced home builders know how to avoid any difficulties that can cause you to miss your schedule, which is why you’ll want their help.

(Source: How to Fulfill Your Fantasy With a Custom Home, Realtor.com)

Building Custom Homes in Greensboro, NC for All Ages, Young and Old

Looking for quality new homes in Greensboro, NC? You might consider building a new home with customizations to make it accessible to older people. The number of older adults in America has been rising steadily and is projected to grow by as much as 133 million by 2030, more than a 70% increase since 2000.
New Homes Must Meet the Needs of an Aging America, Custom Home, September 3, 2014

This is according to a study conducted by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies titled “Housing America’s Older Adults – Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population”. There have been similar other findings over the years so the news is really nothing new. However, despite America’s awareness of the fact about its aging population for a long time now, the study added that most houses still do not have the necessary construction details to accommodate the elderly, such as wider doorways or lever-style doors.

Lauren Hunter from Custom Home further explains the study:

Researchers note in the report that as people age, they are less likely to relocate, and that the “residential mobility rate drops sharply after age 50.” and continues to decline among homeowners in their 60s and beyond. For builders, this means introducing aging-in-place and universal design features into homes that will make younger buyers take notice, enticing them to find a new home that will help them and their family grow old gracefully.

Indeed, targeting younger home buyers may be essential. The Harvard report notes that more than 70% of homeowners aged 50-64 were still paying off their mortgages in 2010.

A separate study from the AARP has shown that three out of four people prefer to remain in their homes for as long as they can. This makes more economic sense, instead of going to assisted-living facilities, which can cost over $34,000 annually.

The need for a more universal design for homes that accommodates fixtures and details for senior living, is earning some appeal.  Inside most homes today are fixtures and built in areas that can present some risks to older folks, especially when they’re all alone. Raised doorway thresholds, rugs, and electrical cords can be hazardous as they can cause a slip or a fall.

Whether you are considering keeping your home until you have retired, or you are looking for a safe home for your aging parents, you might want to consult with builders who specialize in building custom homes in Greensboro, NC.  Building contractors, such as R and K Custom Homes can help you with ideas during the design stages so that you can enjoy a happy and safe home for years to come.

(Source: New Homes Must Meet the Needs of an Aging America, Custom Home, September 3, 2014)

What Makes a House a Home? The Value of Custom Homes in Greensboro, NC

Cookie-cutter houses just don’t cut it anymore, and this rings true for many people looking for homes in Greensboro, NC and other states across the nation. Those who are willing to invest deeply into their properties are opting to work with custom builders to make sure that their houses will be a clear reflection of their wants and needs down to the tiniest details. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) underscores the reason why custom homes are rising in popularity: Read more

Tips on Choosing the Final Site for Custom Homes in Greensboro, N.C.

When looking to build new custom homes in Greensboro, N.C., most people are often faced with two major questions: how the house should look, and where should it be built. However, several people tend to focus on designing the house first, before even choosing an ideal location for the style they want. Architecture expert and About.com contributor Jackie Craven explains why carefully choosing the initial site should always be top priority: Read more

Needs and Wants List For Your Custom Home in Greensboro

Custom HomeThere are many things to keep in mind when designing your custom home. One of the major things that home buyers stress about is trying to remember everything they want in their dream home. Nobody wants to forget that one detail that will continue to bug you long after the home is completed. It may be too late to go back and fix or change something. At R and K Custom Homes in Greensboro, we suggest our clients create a needs and wants list. This process helps our clients pinpoint everything they need and everything they want, which is vital when it comes to the design and building process.

Custom Homes Needs and Wants List

A needs and wants list is simple and can often be created during our initial consultation. At R and K Custom Homes in Greensboro, we will sit down with you and your family to discuss your list and what things need to be added. A needs and wants list may look something like this.

NEEDS WANTS
4 Bedrooms
At least 3 Bathrooms
Large Living Room
Large Kitchen
Dining Room
Study Area
Laundry Room
Basement
Garage		 Fireplace
Patio
Counter Space
Play Room
Pantry
Library
Media or Entertainment Room
Exterior Options (Garden, Firepit, etc.)

 

Having these few things decided can really help with the custom home design process. We will discuss these with you and your family in great detail to help you decide which should be in the want section and which should be in the need section. Keeping these in mind when designing your custom home will ensure that your every desire is met.

At R and K Custom Homes in Greensboro, we also have a variety of spec homes available at varying stages to show our home designs and the quality of our work. Looking at these homes can help when planning your own. We may have thought of something in our past designs that you have not. When you see it, you may say, “I want that in my home.” This can help alleviate some of the stress of figuring out what you want and need in your custom home.

Keeping these things in mind when designing your custom home can make the process go smoothly. Call R and K Custom Homes in Greensboro today. We are passionate about what we do: “Crafting Homes… Building Memories”.

By: Kathleen Dumas

Greensboro Custom Home Building Process

Building ProcessWhen it comes to designing, planning, and building your custom home, there are many steps. At R and K Custom Homes in Greensboro, we want your custom home building process to be as stress free as possible. But what is our custom home building process?

The R and K Custom Home Building Process:

 

Step 1 – Custom Building Consultation

The first step is our initial consultation with you and your family. We want to discuss your design ideas as well as your wants and needs when it comes to your new home. You may decide to use one of our many available design plans, or you may want to create your own. We will help you customize the building plan to meet your personal needs and budget while maintaining your vision.

Step 2 – Custom Home Contract

The next step in the custom home building process is the contract. A detailed set of specifications are included as part of the contract to answer the most common questions during the building process. The contract is approved and signed, then we can move on to the next step.

Step 3 – Pre-construction Meeting

The pre-construction meeting comes next. Before construction begins, we will meet with you to review the project, making sure that nothing has changed or needs to be corrected. We will review the construction and selection schedule, change orders, and allowance summary, so that you are kept in the loop about every detail of your custom home.

Step 4 – New Home Construction

Now construction on your custom home can begin. Our Operations Manager and Site Superintendent assigned to your home will supervise your project personally. There will be several site meetings during this step. These meetings are to ensure that everything is going along smoothly and on budget.

Step 5 – Selection Process

The next step is the selection process. Every detail in your home is chosen by you: from bricks, lighting, and cabinetry, to colors and more. The details in your home should be exactly what you want. R and K Custom Homes will work hand-in-hand with you so that all your personal selections are coordinated throughout the home.

Step 6 – Final Walk Through

The final walk through is the sixth step in the custom home building process. Before you close on your new custom home, you will have the opportunity to conduct a final walk through inspection with the R and K Custom Homes team. This is to assure a satisfactory completion.

Step 7 – New Home Orientation

The final step is a meeting for orientation to your new home. We will discuss your closing package and any final details that may need attention. Your closing package will contain information relative to warranty, utilities, and caring for your new custom home.

Call R and K Custom Homes in Greensboro, and we will get you started on the custom home building process today. We are passionate about what we do: “Crafting Homes… Building Memories”.

By: Kathleen Dumas