The Builder In You

As modern medicine changes and life expectancy grows, so does our need for products and services that cater to the elderly and those with injuries, illnesses, or various disabilities. A group of architects, product designers, and engineers thought long and hard about this issue and came up with the “Universal Design” concept: The design of products and services applicable to all people regardless of age, ability or circumstance.This concept is already a part of our everyday lives. Some examples would include the “undo” command in most software products, cabinets with pull-out shelves, kitchen counters at several heights and low-floor buses that kneel and are equipped with ramps rather than lifts. Even our kitchenware has started to move towards this concept, such as color-contrast dishware with steep sides assisting the visually impaired or those with dexterity problems.

Why is this important to you?

As an owner-builder, you might be asking why Universal Design would be important to you. There are a large number of reasons to incorporate Universal Design concepts into your home.

Longevity- How long will you live there? Chances are that if you are putting your heart and soul into a customized home, you plan to stay there a while. You may not retire there, but you’ll certainly age there. So what happens if you get arthritis and can’t turn the door knobs anymore? What if you are confined to a wheelchair yet your hallways are too narrow for passage or you’ve had a permanent knee injury and can’t manage the few steps down from the dining room to the living room? Think about sight issues and extra lighting or dexterity problems and toggle versus touch light switches? There are so many things to think about when designing a home around what future use you may require.  Talk with your designer or UBuildIt Construction Consultant on how you may incorporate these into your home’s design.  The cost to remodel a home to include these features can be substantially more than carefully and aesthetically designing a home around them.

Unforeseen illness or injury – We all have the best intentions of living a long and healthy life but what if something happens? Will your home be able to work with your newly introduced needs? 

Resale – With the estimated 78.2 million graying baby boomers and the already established 54 million Americans living with disabilities, the need for human centered design for people of all ages, sizes, and abilities is growing exponentially.

So now, you might be thinking about how to incorporate some of these ideas into your home building plans. There are a number of resources available to help you with any design enhancements. Among the most informative are:

• The Directory of Accessible Building Products offered by the NAHB Research Center
• The Fair Housing Act Design Manual.

Both will give you design enhancement ideas for your home that are both functional and aesthetic. Universal Design features need not look institutional since there are many beautiful products currently available and an ever increasing trend for creating more of them.

These are examples of just some of the Universal Design features already available and in use in home design:

• Step-free entrance
• Various heights of kitchen counters 
• Larger bathroom
•  Adjustable hanging closet rods and shelves
• Front loading washer and dryer
• Open knee space under all sinks
• Windows that can be opened for cross ventilation
•  Slip resistant flooring
• Central vacuum system
• Energy efficient windows with Low-E glass

The world is very different than it was 100 years ago. People are living longer and surviving smarter. As stated by The Center for Universal Design, “All consumers deserve to be recognized and respected.” Developing devices, services, programs, buildings and even homes must be done with an increasingly diverse clientele in mind.   

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The following are the top some tips to help you plan a successful and cost effective remodel.  When you work with a UBuildIt Construction Consultant, they will help you in these areas and many more.

• Save money by planning ahead – Go through the design process first and choose everything you want to include in the new room(s), from appliances to light fixtures, etc.  Making product selections early can prevent costly delays later.  These early selections will define your budget and prevent hasty (and costly) decisions later in the project. Then be sure to include all your product and material selections in the contract to avoid confusion and unnecessary change orders. Include the model, size, color, and other specifications. It is also wise to save 10–20 % of your budget to allow for items added to the project.
• Financing – Talk to lenders to determine the loan amount you qualify for.  This is essential to determine the extent of the remodel you can do.
• Draw your ideas – Sketch out your ideas before you talk with a designer or architect.  If you are adding a room, consider how it will affect the traffic patterns for you and your family.  If you are adding a room or story to your home, how will it affect the overall look of the structure?
• Make a portfolio of all your ideas – Assemble your dream home portfolio with pictures, samples, brochures, swatches and other materials which meet the needs of your project.  If you see an element of a friend’s home such as their cabinets, ask them where they were purchased and add them to your notes. 
• Labor – Pay attention to how labor intensive some design features may be, for example, laying ceramic tile on kitchen counter-tops and the back-splash. Labor will be a significant portion of your remodel budget.  By planning ahead, you can spend your labor dollars where they are most important to you.
• Compare – Compare products and their prices carefully before you make final decisions. And keep an open mind when you discuss product and design ideas with your contractor. The cheapest is not always the best.  While some items may be a little more initially, the cost of their ongoing operation and maintenance is less expensive over time.  A front loading washer may be more to purchase but you will use 40 -60% less water and 30-50% less energy than the typical top loading machine.
• Be creative – There are often multiple solutions to accomplish a design objective, some more expensive than others. If your remodel project is to add a bathroom, rather than adding square footage to your home, maybe you could “borrow space” from your linen closet. Discuss various options with your contractor.

Remodeling your home is a big step.  With careful planning and thought, you can create your dream home without having to uproot your family and move.

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Green Building takes some additional effort and, in some cases, the initial costs can be somewhat higher.  So why would you want to do this?  Let’s look at the benefits to you and your family to undertake this type of construction. 

Dollar savings today and into the future

• Using energy efficient appliances and durable building materials will reduce the ongoing operating cost of your home by using less energy and water
• Improve your productivity while at home by reducing the amount of time you spend maintaining your home.
• Take advantage of possible tax cuts through the Federal Residential Energy Efficiency tax as well possibly your local power company.
• Increase the value of your home by utilizing green building techniques which decrease your ongoing energy and maintenance costs. 96% of homebuyers said they are willing to pay more for a home with building green features.

A healthier and more comfortable home for you and your family

•  The EPA ranks indoor air quality among the top 5 environmental risks. Enhance the comfort and health of you and your family through improved air quality.
• Many families are learning they can minimize the strain on the local communities for utilities and natural resources by building green.
• Improve your overall quality of life by living in an environment which contributes to the health of your and your family.

Protect and improve the world around you

• You and your family can enhance and protect a diverse number of ecosystems by reducing your impact on them through the planning and design of your dream home.
• Your actions impact the air and water quality outside your home.  You can have a positive impact by building green.
• Reduce waste both during construction as well as after you have moved into your dream home by practicing a few simple recycling principles.
• Many home owners have found they can conserve and restore natural resources by careful selection of the materials used in their homes.

Using Green Building principles and techniques is a long term investment that continues to payoff for you, your family and the environment in which you live.

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The more you know the better prepared you will be to discuss construction financing. There are many terms that might be new to you, and helpful as you research your options.

1. Soft Costs – These are permit, architectural, engineering, survey, school taxes, utility connection fees and any other fees incurred before your actual construction begins. Funds from your construction loan become available at the beginning of actual construction. These soft costs frequently occur before construction begins. Based on your choice and your lender’s options, you may choose to be “paid back” for these costs when your funds are available at the beginning of construction.

2. Hard Costs – These are the actual costs for all materials and labor associated with the actual building of your home.

3. Closing Costs – These are the costs associated with closing your construction loan such as title cost, loan fees, discount fees, insurance, and appraisals.

4. Interest Reserve – This reserve account is established to pay the estimated interest on the loan during the construction process. This way, you do not have to make any payments during the construction of your home. In the rare occurrence that this reserve is depleted due to lengthy construction times, then you will begin to make interest only payments on your loan.

5. Contingency reserve – This reserve is created to cover unforeseen cost overruns in the construction of your home. It is usually equal to 5% of the hard cost of your construction.

6. Lot Value – The value of your lot will be determined by one of two methods. If the property was purchased in the last 12 months, the purchase price is used to determine the value of the site. If the property has been owned for more than 12 months, an appraiser’s estimate of the site value will be used.

7. Inspection fees – Some lenders require that inspectors determine of the progress of your construction project. If these are needed, there may be a fee charged for each inspection.

8. Loan to Cost Ratio(LTC) – This ratio compares the project cost of your home to the total loan amount. As an example, if the project costs for your home are $350,000 and your loan is $325,000, your LTC ratio is 93%. Maximum LTC ratios vary from lender to lender, and may be a factor you want to take into account when selecting a lender.

9. Draws – Monies drawn during construction to pay for materials and/or suppliers.

While there are a few more elements to construction financing than with your traditional mortgage, you are now better equipped to talk with lenders to determine how they can help you build your dream home.

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Remodeling can come in various shapes, sizes and levels of complexity.  It may be as simple as painting a room or as complex as adding a second story onto your home.  Statistics show that the average person moves once every six years, so why go to the time, effort, expense, and, sometimes, aggravation of a home remodel?  Families consider remodeling for a variety of reasons.

1. They need more room for an expected addition to the family.
2. The house is older and they want to update its interior and/or exterior.
3. They want a place for the teenagers to be with their friends, separate from Mom and Dad.
4. They need a place to store their boat or they just need more storage, period.
5. Loans for New Construction are not available.

The list is as long and as varied as there are homeowners but in each case they had to decide if remodeling versus moving to another home was the right answer for them. 

When considering whether to remodel or move, there are several factors you will want to think about.  With your family, consider these questions.

1. If we moved, what additional costs would there be over and above the cost of the new home itself?  According to the American Homeowner Foundation, selling your home and moving typically costs about 8-10% of the value of your current home.  Much of this cost goes to moving expenses, closing costs and a real estate broker. So any comparison to the cost of a remodel would need to take this into account.

2. How important is your current location to you and your family?  It is not very likely you will find a new home in your same neighborhood and school district. Moving to another neighborhood could change the schools your children attend as well as impact your daily commute.  If staying where you are is important to you, then remodeling may be the answer.

3. How much room is there on your current lot?  If you need to add a room, you will need to take into consideration what space there is on your land and if there are any setbacks or easements that could limit your usage.  If you were thinking of adding a second story, you will need to check for any height restrictions in your area.

4. Do you have any time constraints?  If your decision to either remodel or move is driven by, say a new addition to the family, you will need to determine if the remodel or a move are most likely to meet your timetable.

5. How long do you plan to stay in your home and if you remodel and what will it do to the value of your home?  The general rule of thumb is that any remodeling project that brings your home’s value up to the neighbor’s is a worthy investment.  Real estate experts recommend that a remodeling investment not over-improve (raise the value of your home) more than 10-15% above the median sales price in your neighborhood.  If you over-improve, you will have to hope that when you sell your home, you can find a buyer who likes what you have done, loves the location and is willing to pay your price.

6. Will it cost more to remodel than find a house that has the features we are looking for?  To answer this one, you will need to do some homework.  Take some time to do some preliminary design work and talk with a contractor about estimated costs.  Then, talk with your real estate professional about comparable homes in the areas in which you and your family want to live.  If the cost of one choice is significantly more than the other, then you will need to determine if cost is the most important factor for you and your family.  If the costs are roughly comparable then some of the other factors we’ve talked about here can help you determine what is right for you.

7. Can you to stay in your home during the remodel?  If not, where will you and your family live and for how long?  Ask your contractor what he/she recommends.  In some cases, you can live in the home throughout the remodel but may be limited in using portions of the house such as the kitchen, a bathroom or a bedroom.  In other instances you and your family will have to move out.  If you can stay in your home, you will need to take into consideration whether your lifestyle will accommodate the chaos and confusion created by a remodel.  As an example, if there is a new baby in the house, can your coexist with the noise that is normal to any building project?

Once you have answered these questions, you and your family can make an informed decision on what is the best way to create your dream home.

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While selecting a toilet for your bathroom may seem a pretty straightforward task, there have been many changes in this market in recent years.  Since the National Energy Policy Act of 1995 mandated standards for the manufacture of toilets, there have been many improvements in their operation and efficiency.  As part of that 1995 Act, any new toilets must use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush.  This is compared to 3-7 gallons used by many of the older models.  This represents a considerable savings to you in utility costs, and to the conservation of water throughout the county.

 

While the law mandates no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush, manufacturers have developed high efficiency toilets (HETs) that use an average of 1.28 gallons per flush, a 20% decrease in water usage.  What this means to a family of four with an average of six flushes each per day, is a savings of 8,760 gallons of water each year.

Toilets are available in one or two piece construction.  A two piece model consists of a separate tank and bowl.  The one piece toilet, sometimes called a low profile toilet, is made with the tank and bowl as a single unit.  While the two piece toilet typically costs less, it is more difficult to clean than the one piece which does not have a crevice between the tank and the bowl.

The function of your toilet depends on the technology used for its operation.

Gravity flush system toilets use the weight of the water to provide the flushing pressure. These are more likely to clog and a not as likely to thoroughly clean the bowl.

Pressure assisted flush system toilets use water line pressure or a device in the tank to air pressure to flush the toilet.  This type of toilet typically averages 1.1 to 1.2 gallons of water per flush.  While there is significant water savings, these toilets can be louder than the gravity flush models.

Gravity fed Single Flush toilets operate like the gravity flush system but uses 1.1 to 1.28 gallons of water per flush.

Dual flush toilets are designed for light and heavy flushes and typically use a handle that moves up or down, a two button system, to indicate what type of flush is needed. This type is quite common in Europe.

Power assist toilets use a pump to force water down at a higher velocity than gravity toilets.  These models require a 120V power source to operate the pump.

Toilets come in a wide assortment of colors to match the décor of your bathroom as well as many types to meet the needs of your family.

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This term originated with UBuildIt in the late 1980’s and is commonly used in the home building industry today. An Owner/Builder is someone just like you who has chosen to manage their own home building or remodeling project without the use of a General Contractor. In doing so, they assume the entire Project Management responsibility for their dream home.

What does it really mean to “assume the entire Project Management responsibility?” If you choose to become an owner/builder, you are your own Project manager and are responsible for:

1. Working with designer or architect to finalize the plans
2. Obtaining construction financing
3. All tax, insurance and safety issues relating to your subcontractors
4. Working with your local municipality to file permitting and engineering paperwork
5. Finding, evaluating and hiring all subcontractors and suppliers needed for your project
6. Issuing, reviewing and accepting bids for the different trades needed
7. Scheduling all trades when needed and in a timely manner
8. Managing the construction budget to remain within the limits set by your lender
9. Paying subs and suppliers
10. Daily oversight of the project including signing off on the work done by subcontractors

Being a Project manager, you assume the legal, financial and daily oversight responsibilities for the building or remodeling of you dream home. You may choose to do part of the actual work on your home but that is not a requirement.

So what are the benefits to being your own Project Manager?

• Cost Savings – Acting as your own Project Manager means more of your construction dollars go directly to labor and materials instead of contractor fees and overhead. Many owner/builders can save from 15- 30% depending on their project.
• Instant Equity – By being your own Project Manager, your time and effort results in instant equity the day you move in.

“We had our one-story bungalow converted to a two-story English Tudor. We spent under $200,000 on the remodel through UBuildIt (one builder wanted over $300,000 to do it). Now our “new” old home with a captured view appraises for $590,000. Considering we bought it for $225,000, we have $165,000 in new equity for our remodeling efforts and UBuildIt helped us save more than $100,000 by not going with a contractor.”- Mark and Katie, Engineer

• Pride – You will have the pride of building the home you want, the way you want.

“I catch myself many times sitting in a room just staring and thinking “WOW! I did this”- Erica, 29, social worker

Is it right for you?

Today, one in 10 custom homes is built by an Owner/Builder. There are some great benefits and some new responsibilities associated with becoming an owner/builder, so how do you know if being an owner/builder is right decision for you?

Take a few minutes and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you have the time available to give daily oversight to the project including being on the job site every day?
2. Are you the type of person who is organized and can keep many balls in the air at one time?
3. Do you know what trades need to scheduled and in what sequence?
4. Do you have basic knowledge of construction to determine if the subs and suppliers have the done the job you need them to do?
5. Is managing the construction budget a strength for you?

Building a home may be the single most expensive undertaking of your life. Being the Project Manager for the job can be immensely rewarding, both financially and emotionally. If you decide it is important for you to do this but are unsure that all of your skills are up to it, contact your local UBuildIt office and they can help you through every step of the process.

“Working with UBuildIt really paid off. We benefited from their strong business relationships by receiving more favorable financing terms and supplier discounts, and we were linked with high quality, highly skilled subcontractors. UBuildIt reduced our risks considerably.”- Bob and Sally, retired

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Skylights let natural light stream into your home, bringing warmth and a feeling of spaciousness. When properly selected and used, they can reduce your need for electric lighting and minimize your heating and cooling costs. There are also health benefits to this wonderful sunlight that shines on us.  

If you lack sufficient sunlight on your skin, you will suffer health effects. That’s because the human body was designed to be exposed to sunlight on a frequent basis. We evolved, after all, under the natural sun, not under fluorescent lighting. Our environment was one with plentiful sunlight. Read the rest of this entry »

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When looking at one of these windows, doors and skylights, whether you are replacing old ones in your current home or buying ones for your new home, there are some factors you will want to take into consideration. These are called fenestration factors.

According to Wikipedia, fenestration is defined as, “Products that fill openings in a building envelope, such as windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls, etc., which are designed to permit the passage of air, light, vehicles, or people.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Cooling your home involves air being circulated over a surface which has been maintained at a lower temperature. This surface may be in the space to be cooled or at some remote location with the air being ducted to and from the space. Usually water or a refrigerant is the cooling medium.There are three basic cooling technologies you may choose to use in your dream home. They are air conditioning, heat pumps and evaporative cooling. Read the rest of this entry »

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