F.A.Q.
With so many builders in the area, where do I begin my search for a builder?
How can I lower my energy costs?
Can you tell me the square footage cost of my new home?
With so many builders in the area, where do I begin my search for a builder?
You should shop for your builder as thoroughly as you shop for the style you want in a home and the location of your new home. Remember that buying a new home is one of the biggest and most important purchases you will make in your lifetime. By doing your homework, you will be able to shop for a home with a sense of confidence and knowledge that will help you make the right decision.
To begin your search, create a list of builders you might be interested in. An excellent place to start is by visiting some of the homes on this year's Spring Homes Tour. This year's tour, which features 514 homes, offers the 
chance to view homes built by several hundred builders in the metro area. On the following pages of this guide and on the HBA's web site at www.kcspringhomestour.com you will find lists of builders, sketches of elevations and floor plans for each home on the tour.
Don't forget to ask friends and relatives for recommendations about builders they have dealt with directly or ask them for the names of acquaintances who have recently built a new home. Another source of help can also come from Realtors, who often have a good pulse on the marketplace and on the builders who might be a perfect match for your many needs.
Once your list of builders is complete, research their companies. One of the best ways to learn about a builder is to visit homes they have built and talk to the owners. Ask the builders on your compiled list for the addresses of their recently built homes. Consult more than one home buyer for each builder. The more people you can speak with, the better the cross-section of opinions you will receive. Look at the homes built by your potential builder that are the same style as what you plan to buy. If you are interested in a two-story home, look at two-story homes he or she has built rather than split-levels. Take a visit on a Saturday morning to an area where your potential builder has built when people are outside doing chores or yard work. Just introduce yourself and say that you are considering buying a home from the builder that built their home.
Consult more than one home buyer for each builder you consider. The more people you talk to, the better the cross-section of opinions you will receive. Ask people if they are happy with their homes and if the builder did what was promised. Ask if they would buy another house from this builder. Usually people will tell you if they are pleased with their homes. If they 'are not, they will probably want to talk about it.
When you are speaking with the builders on your list, you should ask as many questions as possible and never hesitate to ask a question for fear of sounding uninformed. Additionally, you should ask for as specifics as possible. When receiving answers orally, be sure to take notes. Make a special effort to learn what type of customer service and warranty the builder offers. You do not want to wait until after you' ve purchased a new home to learn what is covered under the warranty and what is considered maintenance.
Finally, as a customer, don't overlook how comfortable and how well we communication is with the builder. Keeping lines of communication open will help make the building experience pleasant and enjoyable.
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How can I lower my energy costs?
Reducing home energy usage can add comfort, provide long-term financial gains and cut down on monthly bills. "Energy conservation" means taking steps and adopting habits that decrease the amount of energy used to operate your home. "Energy efficiency" means using improved technology to decrease energy demand. Both of these ideas offer homeowners ways to reduce their energy bills - ranging from very simple efforts like closing windows and turning off lights to installing new, high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment and using energy-efficient appliances.
According to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB)
Research Center, the typical U.S. household spends $1,000 to $1,5QO each year on utility bills.
The first step toward energy efficiency is to talk about energy with your builder. If energy efficiency is a major concern for you, there are steps that can be taken in the construction of your home to make it more energy efficient. Talk with your builder about the HBA's BUILD GREEN Program and the energy requirements for participation in the Program.
When it comes to selecting products for a new home, many people look for the best deal. As a result they often make choices that do not improve energy efficiency in their home. For example, when given a choice between more expensive widows that can reduce heat loss by up to 50 percent or amenities such as higher-priced countertops or hardwood floors, many consumers opt for the additional amenities. The result is higher heating and cooling bills for the life of the home.
When you are building your home, consider the placement of windows.
For example, southern windows act as a solar collector that can be controlled by window coverings in the hot months and should be left unobstructed in the winter months to let the heat of the sun in a room. Windows on the west side draw large amounts of heat into a room during the afternoon.
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The typical U.S. household spends $1,000 to $1,500 each year on utility bills |
Color can also make a difference in the amount of heat a room holds. Light colors reflect light and heat; darker colors absorb them. If you want a cooler room, choose lighter colors. Remember your ceiling-when choosing colors. The ceiling should be painted a lighter color so that solar energy will bounce around and finally settle on darker colored walls, furniture, drapes and carpeting which store energy. |
If stone, tile or concrete floor sections are bathed in sunshine, they are storing solar energy for later use. If the floor is allowed to absorb the solar energy during the day, it will release the energy in the evening when the outside air is colder and the house needs the extra heat.
Choices regarding appliances, heating and cooling equipment and insulation have similar cost versus benefit decisions. Choosing more energy-efficient equipment and additional insulation will cost more up front, but could save you thousands of dollars over the years.
An important question to ask your builder or supplier is the cost payback of the appliances you are considering. A more energy-efficient furnace may cost more up front, but the savings on your annual heating bills may pay you back for the additional cost in as little as five years.
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Can you tell me the square footage cost of my new home?
This is probably the most often asked question of building industry professionals and it's one to which there is no answer.
Because no two homes will be the same, looking for an answer to this question is like walking into a restaurant and asking the waiter how much your meal will be before you've had a chance to order or even look at the menu. Without knowing your options, there is no way to know the cost of your meal.
Without knowing the choices available in your new home, there is no way to determine the square footage cost of your home. If all homes were built the same, the question could be easily answered. they are not, there is no consistent answer to square footage cost.
The cost differences on your new home begin with your lot. Depending on your home's plan and the type of lot you choose, costs can vary by thousands of dollars. If the home of your dreams is a ranch plan or a home with a walkout basement, you can expect to pay more than you would for a home without these characteristics. The lot's physical conditions are also calculated in the cost of your home. For example, if extensive grading is required you will have charges that the home down the street did not incur.
Another variable in the cost equation is where you plan to build. Throughout the metro area, utility hookup and tap fees vary by municipality
Additionally, product upgrades can mean that your home costs more per square foot than the seemingly identical home next door. To fit your lifestyle needs, you can upgrade your carpet and your countertops. For example, you may also choose to upgrade your plumbing fixtures, locksets, cabinetry, furnaces, windows and doors.
In many ways, buying a house is like buying a car. You do not pay for a car or house by the inch. Homes vary in price due to the options and upgrades that you find necessary to meet your lifestyle. If you have shopped for a new car lately, you know there are more options than ever before. The some is true in your new home. If you choose, you can add things to your home that will make your life and your home more enjoyable and will fit your lifestyle.
