The Top 6 Mistakes To Avoid When Building Your Custom Home

DSC_0389Choosing the right home builder from the many available Greensboro home builders is just the first of many decisions that you will need to make when building a custom home. Making bad decisions, or making these common mistakes, can cause your custom built home to take longer to complete and to go way over budget. These are some of the most common mistakes that home buyers make when having a custom home built. Avoid making these mistakes if you want to make sure that your custom home is completed on time and is the home of your dreams: 

Not Carefully Picking The Lot For Your New Home 

Home buyers often are so caught up in the planning of their dream home that they forget that the lot matters too. The location, size of the lot, and the view from the lot will all have a big impact on how you live and how much enjoyment you get from your home. Don’t get so wrapped up in the idea of the house that you forget to notice the details of the lot. Check for things like traffic, the view, and the amount of noise around the lot to make sure you don’t end up with a great house in a bad location.  

Choosing A Builder Based Strictly On Price 

Budgets are important, but when it comes to having a custom home built you should always prioritize the quality of the builder and the home over the price. The lowest priced builder is not always the best value. Remember that this is the home you’re going to be living in for years to come, so it makes sense to spend a little more money now to ensure that you are getting a home that you will love for many years and that functions the way that you need it to function. Compare the quality and reputations of the builders and not just the prices that they bid.   

Making Big Purchases During The Construction Of The Home 

It can take up to a year for a custom home to be built and the mortgage for the home won’t be finalized until the house is finished. Often people assume that because they have a contract for the house and the house is being built that it’s ok for them to make major purchases like new cars or other large, expensive items. Doing that will drive up your debt to income ratio and could result in you getting a higher interest rate or paying more for your mortgage. Keep your spending low until you have a mortgage and are ready to move into your new home.  

Not Planning For The Future When Designing The Home 

Thinking long term is something that many custom home buyers forget to do. You think about the features and functionality that you want in a home now instead of the features and functionality that you will need in the future. When you are designing your home, keep the future in mind. Maybe a master suite on the ground floor isn’t appealing to you now, but in ten or twenty years when it’s more difficult for you to go up and down the stairs, you might reconsider a master suite on the lower level. Think about the future when you are planning the design of your home.  

Making Changes After Construction Begins 

Too often, home buyers want to make major changes to the design of a home after the construction has started. This can drive up the cost of the home and cause large delays in completing the home. Take your time planning the home during the design phase and once the construction has started, stick to that plan. Don’t make changes after construction begins unless you absolutely have to.  

 Not Planning On Contingencies When It Comes To Construction 

There are a lot of costs associated with a custom built house and the right Greensboro home builders will do their best to stay on budget. However, home buyers should always plan on a few contingencies popping up along the way that can cause delays or increases in costs. Every building project is bound to have some things that don’t go as planned and end up eating up the budget or the schedule for the new home. Smart home buyers plan for contingencies by making sure that have extra money set aside for any unexpected surprises.  

If you want to learn more about the common mistakes that home buyers make when they are buying a custom home and how you can avoid them, talk to one of the knowledgeable staff members at R&K Custom Homes today.  

Tips For Building An Energy Efficient Home

woodrose-13-IMG_3929One of the many advantages of a custom built home is that you can design a home that is energy efficient and has all the elements necessary to save you money on heating and cooling costs while lowering your carbon footprint. According to the best Greensboro home builders, there are several elements that you can incorporate into the design of your custom home to make it more energy efficient, such as 

Seal And Insulate Your Home For Energy Efficiency  

Using high-quality building materials and insulation should be a given when you are working with the best home builders. The best Greensboro home builders, like Don Mills, recommend making sure that your home is being built with high-grade insulation and that everything is properly sealed. Modern high-quality windows and doors that are properly sealed and insulated will save homeowners a lot of money on heating and cooling costs.  

Choose New Energy Efficient Appliances 

All new homes should come with Energy Star rated high-efficiency appliances including washers and dryers. When you are working with a design consultant to pick out your appliances be sure that you tell your consultant that you only want Energy Star rated appliances. Why is an Energy Star rating so important? Energy Star rated appliances have met governmental standards for energy usage and are certified to use less energy than other appliances. That means big savings for homeowners when it comes to the cost of running those appliances and it means lower greenhouse gas emissions that impact the climate.  

The Best Greensboro Home Builders Incorporate Smart Home Technology To Improve Efficiency  

Smart home technology is a great way to make your home more energy efficient. Custom home builders can make your new home a smart home so that you can save money and have an easier time running your home. With smart home features, you can turn on the heat in your home from your phone when you leave work so that you don’t have to leave the heat running all day. Just turn it on when you’re on your way home so that it’s warm when you get home. You can also set lights and appliances on timers or turn them on individually when you need them. You can run your dishwasher or washing machine in the middle of the night to use less energy and use smart home technology in other ways to save energy and make your life easier. 

Consider Choosing an Exterior Design that Includes Overhangs 

Overhangs at the front and side doors of your home as well as over the patio will greatly improve the energy efficiency of your home. Overhangs protect your doors and windows from the elements so that in the summer your air conditioner doesn’t have to work harder to compensate for extra sun heating up the home and in the winter your heater doesn’t have to work overtime to make up for cold air coming through the doors and windows. Well-sealed windows and doors with overhangs help create a truly energy efficient home.  

The best custom home builders in Greensboro have many options to increase energy efficiency in new homes. If energy efficiency is something that you are concerned about in your custom home, be sure to speak with one of the building experts at R&K Custom Homes today to learn more about energy efficiency options in a custom-built home. 

Custom Home Trends for 2019

Custom homes bedroom with nookIf you’re planning to build a custom home in 2019, you’ll want to include all the latest features and design elements. Elite homebuilders in Greensboro follow these trends and can recommend the newest custom home designs for the upcoming year. Make sure your new home is state of the art by working with R&K Custom Homes to incorporate some of the biggest trends of 2019.  

Start with the Heart of your Home, the Kitchen 

One room where design trends are always rapidly changing is the kitchen. By the time you build a kitchen, it’s already out of date. Get ahead of the game with some of these kitchen features. 

  • No Upper Cabinets. What? But where will I store all my stuff? Enter, the minimalist. Home designs are trending toward minimalism and decluttering. Pear down your possessions to the things you really need. This is not just a trend for small urban apartments; it’s happening everywhere. Lower storage cabinets are for your small appliances, pots and pans, and other odds and ends. Open shelving is the new form of vertical storage, showcasing big items like colorful bowls, canisters, and pottery.  
  • Black and Bold Colored Appliances. Stainless steel is out, I’m afraid. Black appliances are coming back and bright colored retro-style appliances are in. Stoves, ovens, refrigerators, and more are available in bold colors to make a definitive statement in your kitchen. 
  • Elaborate sinks. Another area where stainless steel is long gone and even porcelain is old news. Brass, gold, silver, and other bold medals in hammered and elaborate finishes are replacing the old trend, turning functional elements into style elements.  

Bathroom Trends for the Next Most Important Room in your Home 

We also spend a lot of time in the bathroom, and style trends are ever-changing in these essential rooms. Homebuilders in Greensboro are incorporating some of the same design elements from the kitchen in bathrooms. 

  • Fancy Metal Sinks. The hammered metal sinks that are popular in kitchens are also present in bathrooms with similar finishes and designs in the bowl itself as well as faucets and handles. 
  • Bold Glass Shower Doors. The shower stalls of 2019 will no longer be clear as geometric patterns and colored glass take effect, giving ordinary bathroom features an extraordinary new look.  

House-wide Design Trends that you can Incorporate Anywhere 

Some designs aren’t relegated to just one room of the home. There are color pallets, tones, and textures that can be woven into any room.  

  • Shades of Blue. Blue is in in a variety of shades. Paint a wall, an entire room, or just add a blue accent rug.  
  • Bright Colors. Black and white and neutral colors are being replaced with bold, even primary colors used in combination. Paint, appliances, accessories, and furniture are adding a vibrant element to interior décor.  
  • Brass Accents. Brass is coming back in variety of ways, such as light fixtures, furniture, sinks, hardware, and accent pieces.  

Get Ahead of the Curve on your Custom Home Design 

Do you want your new custom home to be on the cutting edge of structural and interior design? The top home builders in Greensboro, such as R&K Custom Homes, stay up to date with current home trends. Build with R&K and get a jump start on 2019 designs. Call for a free consultation: (336) 643-3505.  

Customizing your Master Bath

bh8-DSC_0536Your master bathroom should be a place for relaxation, pampering, and privacy. When designing your custom home, the master bath is a very important room. You need plenty of space and your own unique style. Your bathroom should reflect your personality while also achieving maximum functionality. Often a master bathroom is used by two people, both of whom may need to be in the room at the same time. Plenty of space is helpful, but a strategic layout can help to maximize square footage. Professional custom home builders in NC have the expertise to design a master bath that is beautiful and easy to use.  

The Right Layout Streamlines the Flow of Movement 

When two people are in the bathroom getting ready for the day or preparing for bed in the evening, the flow of movement can make all the difference. You need enough clearance between shower stalls, tubs, sinks, and counters to keep from bumping into things and each other. It’s important to consider which way doors open, such as the linen closet, water closet, and shower door. Will it be necessary to walk through the bathroom to get to the master closet? These are important layout considerations for your master bath that custom builders in NC will be able to walk you through.  

Ample Storage Helps Keep a Luxurious Master Bath Neat and Tidy 

A beautiful master bath will look more beautiful when it is not cluttered with stuff. Only keep the bare minimum of the things you use daily on the counters and put the rest away in the cabinets and drawers you will have built in. You can never have too much storage space in a bathroom. A linen closet inside the bathroom itself offers a place for towels, cleaning supplies, paper products, and any other items you wish to storeThe right amount of storage space, when used properly, can significantly improve the everyday look of your bathroom. 

Create the Atmosphere you want by Carefully Choosing Style Elements 

The style in your master bath should reflect your personal tastes while creating your desired mood. Do you want your bathroom to look and feel like a luxury spa? A large steam shower, stone tile, a jetted soaking tub, and subtle hues will help to achieve this. Are you trying to achieve a Zen type of atmosphere? Include Asian inspired elements such as bamboo and wood tones, artisanal sinks and water elements, and ornate screens over windows or on shower doors. Are you going for an antique or classic bathroom? Incorporate a deep claw foot tub and install antique hardware, faucets, and light fixtures. To achieve the right lighting concept for any bathroom, include dimmable lights and a variety of lighting elements throughout to serve different purposes.  

Design the Master Bath of your Dreams with Custom Home Builders in NC, R&K Custom Homes 

When you design your master bath as part of your custom home, the experts at R&K will help you to achieve the look you want with an organic flow that makes sense for everyday use. Explain your vision to these award-winning custom home builders in NC with decades of experience and watch your dream bathroom come to life. Call (336) 362-5225 for a free consultation.  

Top 5 Splurges for Building your New Home

randk-lr7-2018-04-26 11.38.03Designing a custom home is exciting. You get to create your dream home with all of the features and styles you like best. Are you wondering which areas are worth splurging on? It really depends on you and your family and what your top priorities are. But if you want to make the best decisions for resale value, some are more likely to be worth the investment. Here are the top 5 areas to splurge on according to some of the best home builders in Greensboro.  

  1. Kitchen. Hands down, this is the most important room of your home. It’s where you cook, eat, congregate, entertain, and more. Even during parties it seems everyone ends up in the kitchen. You’ll need more space than you think. You’ll need more storage than you think. You may even need more appliances than you think, like a second oven or cooktop. Design your kitchen to be functional as well as beautiful. Choose durable countertop materials that are also stylish. Carefully consider the flooring material in your kitchen, as it will get wet more often than other areas of your home. Tile is extremely durable and moisture resistant. Hardwood floors are not. Most importantly, make the kitchen a room you will enjoy. 
  2. Lighting. It is important to design a lighting scheme that is both beautiful and functional. It is much more difficult to add lighting after the home is built. Plan accordingly so that you’ll have plenty of light in all the areas where quality lighting is needed. Splurge on the ornamental pendant lights you want for the dining room and the elaborate chandelier for the foyer. It will be worth it. 
  3. Storage. This may seem like less of a splurge, but it is incredibly important. Storage space seems to be an issue for most households. Storage units as a business are booming for this exact reason. Build in enough storage in your home and skip the extra expense of storage units outside the home. When it comes to resale, potential buyers will love the abundant storage. 
  4. Garage. Besides just their cars, there are many other things that people tend to store in their garage. Mowers, lawn equipment, gardening tools, bicycles, sporting equipment, golf carts, and more will probably live in the garage. If you have a boat or camper, storing them in a garage keeps them in better condition. Splurge on a garage that is spacious enough to house all of your vehicles and equipment. 
  5. Outdoor Space. Don’t forget about the outside of your home. If you like to spend time outdoors or plan to entertain, having a back patio, deck, or screened in porch is an amazing addition to your home. Outdoor kitchens are convenient for grilling, frying, or smoking foods and are often equipped with sinks and refrigerators so you can do it all from outside.  

Splurge on These Items and More with the Best Home Builders in Greensboro 

R&K Custom Homes wants you to have the home of your dreams, whatever that means to you. Don’t be afraid to splurge on the items you really want. This is your place and it should be everything you’ve always wanted. Call the best home builders in Greensboro, R&K Custom Homes, today: (336) 362-5225.

Simple, Smart Ways to Create More Space in your Home

pexels-photo-1027512Are you embarking on the exciting journey of designing and building your very own custom home? Working with Greensboro builders to create the home of your dreams is an amazingly rewarding process. When it comes to the layout of your home, one of the most important design aspects to focus on is maximizing space. There are many design elements that can be incorporated into your new home design to maximize both storage and living space. Consider the following and discuss your favorites with your builder. 

Natural Light Makes a Room Feel More Spacious 

Plenty of windows, especially large ones, let in a lot of natural light, which makes any room seem larger. Natural light is also more efficient, meaning you won’t need as much artificial light and your energy bill will be lower. It’s important to choose well-insulated windows that won’t let in outside air or let conditioned air escape, or you won’t be saving as much energy as you thought. 

Households of Today Need Plenty of Storage 

You can never have too much storage these days. Ample storage spaces allow for greater organization so that the rooms that are meant to be lived in can be used for their proper intention without too much clutter. Less clutter means less stress for people of all ages. So don’t skimp on the closets and built-in storage spaces. 

Add Vertical Space with High Ceilings 

Incorporate higher ceilings in your home to make rooms feel larger without taking up any additional floor space. This can look like cathedral ceilings in foyers and living rooms or just 9-foot ceilings throughout the home instead of the typical 8. Intricate ceiling designs can draw visual focus upward, also creating the feel of more space in each room.  

Open Floor Concepts Create Space with Fewer Walls 

When you have fewer walls separating rooms, the main living areas can feel much larger. Instead of a closed-off kitchen, living room, and dining room, the whole space can be opened up into one large room. Furniture can be used to designate the use of each part of the open space.  

Pocket or Sliding Doors Prevent Wasted Space for Swinging Doors 

Pocket doors where the door itself slides into the wall can save a lot of space in your home. You don’t have to design space for doors to swing out into the room. This can work well with bathroom doors, closet doors, bedroom doors, and more. The whole layout can be much easier to design by taking swinging doors out of the equation. 

Skilled, Experienced Greensboro Builders Can Maximize Space in Your Home Design 

If you want to make the most of interior space in your new custom home, discuss this with your builder. Experienced Greensboro builders, such as R&K Custom Homes, can design your home to be as space-friendly as possible so that not a single square foot is wasted. State-of-the-art design features and current technology make home layouts smarter than ever before, which are just a couple of the many benefits of building a new custom home. Call R&K Custom Homes today to get started on your space-saving home design today: (336) 362-5225.

Are Sunrooms Back?

porch-1046156__340Perhaps the better question is, did sunrooms ever go away? Over the years there have been times when sunrooms were incredibly popular, and other times when they weren’t. If you’re trying to decide if you want to include a sunroom in your custom home design, it mostly depends on your lifestyle. You should consider the pros and cons of a sunroom and discuss them with your new home builder in Greensboro before deciding one way or the other.  

Sunrooms Offer Many Benefits  

Including a sunroom in your plans may be a great decision for your family. Sunrooms offer: 

  • Additional living space 
  • Abundant natural light 
  • Exercise space 
  • A reading room 
  • A playroom 
  • A green room for plants 
  • An office space 
  • A feeling of being out in nature without the influence of weather and bugs 
  • Screened windows allow you to transform the space into a screened-in porch in nice weather  

The uses for a sunroom are virtually limitless. How you use it depends on your lifestyle and the needs and interests of your family members. It can be a transitional space that will change over the years as your family changes. 

Sunroom Concerns Now Have Solutions 

Sunrooms fell from popularity for a time due to some possible drawbacks: 

  • Increased energy costs 
  • Difficult to heat and cool 
  • Recoup value was historically low 

The many windows can make insulation a challenge for sunrooms. The room can be hot in the summer, making cooling costs rise, but may actually be pleasant during the winter when the sun warms the room naturally. It may also be difficult to extend the central air to the sunroom, but that is more of a concern when a sunroom is added onto a home after it is already built. The biggest concern is probably the fact that most homeowners won’t recoup the expense of adding a sunroom in resale value. Again, this is more of a concern for homeowners that are adding sunrooms onto an existing home, rather than including it in the original plans drawn up by a new home builder in Greensboro.  

Window insulation technology has improved in recent years, making sunrooms more efficient to heat and cool. When you include a sunroom in your original home design, the central air can be extended to the room easily. The additional square footage the sunroom offers may be an advantage when selling the home in the future, especially if you plan on staying in the home for many years.  

Make the Best Decision for You 

The biggest advantage to custom home building is that your home can be exactly what you want. If you want a sunroom, have a sunroom. Don’t include one just because it’s the popular choice, and don’t let the drawbacks dissuade you from getting what you want. Weigh the pros and cons, think about your lifestyle, and discuss the options with your new home builder in Greensboro. New technology has made sunrooms much more efficient and useful for families. Your builder will know how to design a sunroom with the best possible benefits. Call R&K Custom Homes today to start planning your dream home, with or without a sunroom. (336) 362-5225.

5 Common Home Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

beautifully decorated living roomDecorating can be difficult. Not everyone has a natural eye for home décor, and if you fear you may be lacking in that particular skill, don’t worry. When you work with custom home builders in NC to design your new home, your interior will be like a fresh canvas to develop as you please. Even if you don’t wish to hire an interior decorator, you can still achieve the look you want by avoiding these 5 common home decorating mistakes.  

  1. Wrong-Sized Furniture. The furniture you choose has the biggest impact on the interior décor of your home. Choosing items that are too big or too small for the space can make a room look all wrong. Before you shop for furniture, measure your rooms to be sure you know what will fit and what won’t.  
  2. Bad Lighting. Too much light or too little light can be a problem for any room. Think about the purpose of the room and design the lighting to be functional and to set the right mood. Dimmer switches are ideal because you can brighten the lights when you need more light and dim them when you want a softer atmosphere.  
  3. Misplaced or Improperly-Sized Rugs. A rug that is too big, too small, or out of place can ruin the décor of a room. The living room rug should be the size of the seating area only. A dining room rug should fit the size and shape of the table, leaving some room around the edges for chair legs to remain on the rug even when pulled out for seating. Foyer rugs or hallways runners should lay in the direction that traffic moves naturally.  
  4. Wall Art Too High or Too Low. Any wall hangings, whether framed or otherwise, should be at average eye level (between 5’3 and 5’8). Art that is misplaced will look awkward and feel awkward to view.  
  5. Everything Matches. When everything in a room matches too well it can make the room look monotone and boring. Mixing and matching colors and textures, using accents such a throw pillows, will create a complementary look. Too much contrast can make the room look scattered and disorganized though, so be sure all items come from a similar color palette. 

Experienced Custom Home Builders in NC Can Offer Ideas and Suggestions for Interior Décor 

The builder’s job is to design and build homes from a structural standpoint, including the layout and features of your home. In addition, custom home builders in NC with years of experience like the team at R&K Custom Homes can offer suggestions from an interior décor standpoint as well. Working with many different customers and building a variety of original homes gives R&K extensive knowledge of varying styles. Choosing wall colors, flooring materials, cabinet colors, and countertops are all part of the décor in your home. Knowing the look you want to achieve is important when selecting these items. Avoid the 5 mistakes above and you’re sure to have a beautifully decorated home that you’ll still be happy with for years to come. Call R&K Custom Homes to get started on your new home today: (336) 362-5225.

Master Bedroom: Upstairs or Downstairs? The Pros and Cons of Each

pexels-photo-90317There are a couple of different schools of thought regarding whether or not the master bedroom should be upstairs or downstairs within the home. Choose wisely, as it could possibly affect your home’s resale value. If you are building a new home, consider the pros and cons of an upstairs master bedroom versus a downstairs bedroom, and get more information from R&K, leading custom home builders in Greensboro.

Pros and Cons of an Upstairs Master Bedroom vs. a Downstairs Bedroom

Around 2016, it became more popular for home builders to put the master bedroom downstairs closer to the main living spaces and incorporate the other bedrooms upstairs. Here are a few of the pros and cons of each setup.

Master Bedroom Downstairs:

Pro: With the master bedroom being on the main living floor, this can be ideal for empty nesters and those soon to retire because it allows for better mobility and eliminates the hassle of constantly climbing steps.

Pro: This can also increase the energy efficiency of the home if no one permanently resides upstairs; cooling and heating the home can be focused only on the ground level unless there are visitors.

Con: However, with the master bedroom residing downstairs and in the main area, it is more susceptible to intrusion and less private. Depending on where your master bedroom is located and whether you have to pass it to get to common areas, people may find themselves walking past your private space often, and that may be a deal-breaker for you.

Con: If you have your master bedroom downstairs and you do have other people living upstairs, it could be a noise concern as well depending on where the top floor activity is.

Master Bedroom Upstairs:

Pro: More often than not, an upstairs master bedroom may allow for a better, broader view. Not only is this more pleasant, but it might be a greater safety measure because it allows you to see a greater distance.

Pro: An upstairs master bedroom also provides you with more privacy. Most of your living occurs downstairs within the kitchen and main living area, therefore, very little traffic should take place upstairs leaving your private space safe from view.

Con: Residing upstairs could be too close for comfort if you have children, for them and for you. You both probably enjoy your own privacy and this could be dampened if everybody’s bedroom is upstairs.

Con: Another downfall to an upstairs master bedroom is the mobility factor. If you plan to live in the house for years to come, as you age, getting up and down the stairs could become a hindrance.

Where Custom Home Builders in Greensboro say Your Next Master Bedroom Should Go

Having double master suite, one upstairs and one downstairs allows for convenience, more options, and even a current trend known as “night divorce”, where couples are choosing to sleep in separate quarters and opting for a better night’s rest. Typically a home can have a better resale value in Greensboro if the master bedroom is on the first floor but for most people, this is not a deal breaker.

Whether you decide to put the master bedroom upstairs, downstairs, or opt for both, have R&K, the premier team of custom home builders in Greensboro handle the design and building of your new home. Call for a free consultation (336)643-3503.

Tips for Creating Your Dream Master Closet

14960117921_40484c85b1_bWhether you are looking to add value to your home or to indulge for yourself, the master closets built by R&K, a premier custom home builder in the Greensboro area, can be personalized to your tastes, incorporating personal touches such as shelving and custom vanities.

Build to organize your closet.

According to Organized Living, closets are the second most desired feature in a dream home, and are used twice per day; therefore, you should have your closet exactly as you want it to make it organized, pleasing, and comfortable to your specific style and taste. When it comes to building your dream master closet, think about custom shelving to organize and categorize your belongings. A builder may suggest top shelving be fourteen to sixteen inches in depth to store large items overhead. By adding accessory drawers and shelving directly in line with where the master closet door opens, this will create an open-layout feel. Placing a mirror at the top of this will provide the appearance of a larger space. If you decide to add shelving for shoes, consider flat lay and slanted shelves to accommodate your heels.

To make your dream master closet pop and add a bit of luxury, build a vanity or dressing table inside of the master closet. Be sure that your closet has plenty of light or add proper lighting if needed. The benefits of having your vanity inside the closet is that this will keep any clutter out of sight, it is convenient to your dressing routine, and you can enjoy the privacy of being in the closet space instead of possibly crowding the bedroom or bathroom while you dress and apply makeup.

Think about additions to enhance your master closet.

Once you have decided on the custom built shelves and vanity, think about other additions to bring your dream closet to life such as lighting, décor, and a sitting area. Proper lighting will be highly important to see everything in the closet, especially if you are dressing in here. Adding a rug or using a couple of shelves to decorate on will allow your personal style to show through and make it feel more like its own room. If you have some extra space, try adding in a chaise lounge sofa or an upholstered sofa bench.

Trust R&K, the experienced team of custom home builders in NC, to make your home beautiful. Call for a free consultation (336) 362-5225.