Staying on Budget

A satisfactory custom building experience involves a few key elements: Professional service, quality workmanship, and a home delivered on time and on budget.

Staying on budget is often an area of concern especially for first time custom home buyers.  Here are a few tips to help keep you on budget.

• Know your priorities - What areas of the home are you most particular about? Where would you rather spend more money and where would you rather spend less?   For example, if no one will ever see the play room upstairs, put more money into the entertaining areas in the home.
• Spend the money now if it will cost more later - There are certain items that can be easily updated as you live in your home. For larger projects such as flooring or cabinetry, it might be worth paying the cost before you move in.
• Leave a little wiggle room - There may be something that comes up during the construction process that you wish you had thought of during the design phase. Leave yourself some room in the budget to make these changes.
• Talk with your builder - Be clear from the very beginning about your budget restraints, what type of look you want to have, and what products you want in the home. Keep clear communication lines throughout the building process so there are no misunderstandings.

Building a custom home should be a fun and unique experience. By planning ahead you can stick to your budget while still building the house of your dreams.

How to Choose a Custom Builder

Choosing a custom builder is the first important decision you'll need to make when buying your new home - so be picky!  Ask questions, check references, and see examples of past work.

Here are a few questions to ask during your initial meeting with a potential builder:

1.  Do you have a current license and liability insurance?

2.  Have you built this size and type of home before?

3.  Who will be overseeing the construction of the home? Will we be updated on the home progress?

4.  What kind of warranty comes with your homes?

5.   How long does it typically take to complete a home?

6.  What type of building products will you be using?

It's imperative that you have a good relationship with your Custom Builder.  Paradime Construction can walk you through this process because of their experience and level of customer satisfaction.  So shop around and then come back to Paradime. You'll be happy you did!

Seasonal Maintenance

As the weather turns cooler it's a good time to find ways to prepare your home for Winter and perform some basic maintenance items that will keep your warm and secure.

1. Seal and Caulk. Look for openings around the base of your home's exterior, windows, or around doors.

2. Have your heating system checked by a professional HVAC company. Change your air filters on a regular schedule.

3. Reverse your ceiling fan so that it pulls warm air down from the ceiling and distributes the heat through your home.

4. Clean, cover and store outside furniture, grills and play equipment.

5.  Walk your home to make sure that no furniture or objects are blocking the heat vents.

Keep your home happy and healthy this Winter!

Fall Fun in Lexington!

Paradime Homes is proud to be a part of the award winning Saluda River Club community in Lexington.

Our featured home is located at 224 Shoalwood Drive in Saluda River Club. This 3 bedroom, 3 bath home contains 2480 square feet of living space and is listed at $394,900.

Living in the growing community of Lexington definitely has it's perks. Shopping, dining, entertainment - it's all here.  This Fall enjoy the following seasonal activities as well!

Oktoberfest!

Clinton Sease Farm and Corn Maze

South Carolina State Fair

See us at the Tour of Homes!

Paradime Construction is proud to be a part of the 2012 Tour of Homes starting this weekend and running every Saturday and Sunday through September 30.

Come see our featured home on the Tour at Saluda River Club.

The Tour is FREE and the hours are Saturday 11am-6pm and Sunday 1pm-6pm.

Find out more at ColumbiaBuilders.com

              I am often asked ‘How do I make my home more energy efficient?’ My first reaction (being a custom home builder) is for them to sell their old inefficient home and let me build them a new one that might have half the energy bill they are paying now. I know that this option is not for everyone and so here are some principals that I use in new construction to make a home as energy efficient as possible.

         It starts with air sealing. You always hear the government tell you to caulk and weather-strip – unfortunately, they are right. This is the easiest and least expensive method to make a leaky home a tighter home. If you were to add up all the cracks in an existing home it would surprise you to find out that it is like leaving a 4’ x 4’ (or larger) window open all day. On days where the temperature is over 100 you would never think about doing that but that is exactly what'ss happening with a leaky home.

         When I build a new home, I seal every possible opening including the base-plates. These are the boards that connect the wall to the floor. This is a great spot for air and bugs to come in. If you were to pull up your carpet, you might see a black ring around the edge. This is dust that is pulled in from outdoors. By sealing the base-plates, you eliminate the air infiltration. Electrical and plumbing penetrations are also a source of a large amount of leaks. Get in behind your sinks and caulk/foam these holes and you will notice a difference in the temperature under your kitchen sink. HVAC vents are also a good place that is often overlooked. Remove the vents and caulk around the perimeter between the boot and the floor/ceiling and this will help remove air infiltration in these spots.

         The key is to not let your conditioned air out to heat/cool the outdoors. Your system works hard enough to control the temperature inside your home – don’t let that air mix with the outside. This will make your home more comfortable and save you money on energy expenses.

How are Energy Star 3.0 homes different?

Energy Star was created to help homebuyers recognize homes that have been built with a stricter level of energy efficiency requirements than homes built to standard building code.

Over the years standard building code has improved, making all homes more efficient.  Energy Star has also increased its level of program requirements that extend above and beyond standard code. Energy Star’s continued adherence to superior construction practices makes Energy Star homes efficient, proven and reliable.

In January of this year Energy Star rolled out a new set of regulations, called Energy Star 3.0, for homes seeking to become certified. This new set of standards applies to all Energy Star homes that began construction after January 1, 2012.

The 3.0 program includes new requirements such as:

-       Increased efficiency for HVAC units and water heaters

-       Increased efficiency requirements for windows

-       Mandatory programmable thermostats in all homes

-       Tests for leaks and drafts in the overall construction of the home

When buying a new home, the Energy Star symbol is a good way to differentiate between new homes on the market.  Energy Star provides assurance that your new home is built efficiently – helping the environment and your wallet!