7 Steps for Building a Home

You’ve done it. You’ve made that big decision, the one that’s been lurking in your mind for months.

You’re going to build a house.

Now that you’ve made the decision to build, there are many more decisions to make regarding your future home. As you begin this journey, there may be times when you are overwhelmed by everything you have to do. To help minimize the coming stresses, follow these seven steps to creating a new home.

1. Set goals

Goals are a fantastic way to organize your thoughts and desires for your project. When you set goals, you answer questions about your new home and set the foundation for the rest of the project. To help set your goals, ask yourself these questions:

• What do you want to achieve?
• Where do you want to live?
• How much will this cost?
• Does plan A make sense? Do you have a plan B?

2. Make your budget (And stick to it)

Your budget should definitely be included in your goals, but its importance earns it a separate step. At first, you’ll want to have an estimate of what you can afford and how your desired home fits into that. Then, you’ll move onto the smaller details and designs. Your budget should include everything from the cost of the land and taxes to landscaping, decorating, and furniture costs. Always include a margin for unexpected costs. You might not expect to need it, but as any builder can tell you, you probably will.

3. Find your future location

Though you have decided to build, this doesn’t mean you have to build from the ground up. If you find the perfect piece of land with a workable old home, use the old house as a starting place for the new one. Remake it to fit your needs and wants. Or, locate the perfect plot of land and create from scratch. Either will work just fine.

4. Make your team

Hiring professionals for this scope of project is always going to be the best decision. A professional builder, like Integrity Remodeling and Custom Homes, will know what to do and how to do it for the best results. Hired designers, architects, builders, and other professionals will bring a host of helpful contacts and experience to make your project as smooth as it can be.

5. Planning is key

You can never plan too much for a big project like this. Get as detailed as you can and play the “What If” game with every decision you make. This will probably be a long-term home and may be the only home you build, so dream as big as you can. Let budget and design concerns come later and get inspired.

6. Know that things will change…and accept the inevitable

No matter how well you plan, things are going to go wrong. Your team should be able to help you through these road bumps, but it’s important to handle the stress well. Just stay calm, keep laughing, and trust in the people you hired. Don’t pay attention to any grumblings you hear from the construction crew — people complain all the time and it usually doesn’t mean anything. Most importantly, don’t change your mind. Nothing will upset a project more than last-minute changes. Make your decisions and stick with them.

7. Enjoy it

Building a home is a unique and special occurrence. Savor every step and then take the time to enjoy your new home. Don’t sweat the small bumps you experienced or the things that didn’t go as planned. Sit back and breathe it in.

Have you built a home? What advice would you give?

Finding the Right Kitchen Size

You may have loved your kitchen when you moved into your home or you may have despised it from the first time you saw it. Either way, you’ve fallen out of love with your kitchen and it’s time for something new.

As you plan your new kitchen, it’s important to think about how much kitchen you need. You may want to knock down a few walls and double the current size, but is an extravagant kitchen really what your home needs? Read through these tips to select the right size for your new kitchen.

1. Price it right

A massive, $70,000 kitchen will certainly turn the neighbors green, but does it fit with your house and neighborhood? If you live in a $100,000 neighborhood, your remodel is not going to pay off in the end. If your remodel is cost-effective, but too big or too small for your home, it will likely discourage any potential buyers if you decide to sell. Choose a look that matches your home and neighborhood.

2. Don’t over-personalize

Adding personal touches, such as your favorite colors or wacky wallpaper, may be fun at first, but it can cost you when you sell. Buyers like houses they can see themselves in and your hot pink paint and zebra wallpaper can ruin this image. Choose a neutral decor you can enjoy without making it too personal.

3. Think of the future

Do you plan on moving in the next 5-15 years? The extent of your remodel should reflect your future plans. If you are going to move in the near future, avoid a complete overhaul and stick with a surface-level remodel. You don’t want to spend a lot of time and money on an extensive project only to move shortly after it’s completed.

4. Consider the rest of the home

How out-of-date is the rest of your home? It’s important to evaluate the relationship your kitchen has with the other rooms in the house. After all, you don’t want to put a brand new kitchen in an old, faded home. Instead, consider putting your efforts into refreshing the entire home.

5. Budget well

As much as you might want an expensive fridge or high-end oven, consider the effect such a purchase will have on the rest of the project. Instead of using the majority of your budget on one item, use it to update all of your kitchen with less expensive updates. Simplicity is often the best option. Balance what you need and what you want and look at the overall picture before making your purchases.

6. Be practical

As you plan your project, consider the practicality of each decision. Are your appliances in the ideal locations? Do you have enough counter space for your needs? An island is nice, but does it take up too much room? Consider every angle and enjoy a smoother project for it.

Do you have any questions about remodeling your kitchen?

Designing the Perfect Laundry Room

Although we tend to spend hours washing clothes every week, our laundry rooms often fall to the wayside when designing or remodeling. Tucked into empty corners or banished to the basement or garage, laundry rooms are usually designed for space instead of use.

There is no standard design for a laundry room, but you can get the most out of yours by asking yourself these easy questions.

1. What is your goal?

Are you planning to remodel your laundry room in its current space or are you going to move it to another part of your house? If you’re just planning to buy new appliances, repaint, and rearrange, your project will be relatively easy. If you want to restructure and change your room’s layout, there’s more to consider. Carefully evaluate the changes you want and the timing of your project. Ask for expert help to get the most out of your remodel for the lowest cost.

2. What will you use your laundry room for?

Depending on location and space, your laundry room can serve as a mudroom, storage space, dog washroom, and more. However you’re changing your laundry room, you want to make sure it will fit your needs. Save space for a hanging area, for your appliances, and for room to store clothes. More room is better than less.

3. How do you do laundry?

For some, laundry rooms are only used for washers and dryers. Dirty clothes are stored in other rooms and clean clothes are dumped on beds or sofas for folding. Others keep the entire process in the laundry room. Hampers, folding counters, drying stations, and ironing boards are kept and used in the same space. Your method will dictate the design of your laundry room. Are you in there enough to want a window? How do you want to position your appliances? Think carefully through all of your needs.

4. Do you want additional features?

Your laundry room can be as simple or fancy as you want. Do you want a sink for soaking/hand washing? Should you put a drain in the floor? Do you want a countertop for folding or do you want to splurge on an island? Adding a dog-washing station is a recent trend, but it might not fit your design or budget. Decide on your essentials and then see how much space and funding you have left for special features.

Do you have any tips for designing a laundry room? Share in the comments!

Flooring for Your Lifestyle

Flooring is one of the most important decisions in the design process. Unlike most decisions, such as paint color and cabinet material, flooring can affect more than just your home’s appearance. As you design your new built or remodeled home, keep these questions in mind regarding flooring:

1. What will the room(s) be used for? Play, entertainment, study, etc.?
2. Do you have pets?
3. How many children use the space and how often?
4. Will your family eat or drink in this room?
5. Is there an outside entrance to the room?
6. Is moisture present in the space (basement, bathroom, etc.)?

Your answers will vary and you’ll have multiple options no matter what your lifestyle entails, so consult with your contractor before choosing. Their experience will help you choose the right option.

For a head start on understanding your options, read through our list of popular flooring types:

Carpet

Carpet has more styles, colors, and textures than any other type of flooring. Carpet durability is usually measured by the density of the fibers used to make it — the more fibers, the more durable. Most carpeting is made from wool or synthetic materials — including nylon, acrylic, polyester, or polypropylene — and each has different properties, so consult with an expert before choosing.

Laminate

Laminate floors are low-maintenance, easy to install, and can mimic most other flooring types, which can get you the look you want without the cost or maintenance. This flooring uses a plastic-coated picture of your desired flooring, backed with layers of plywood or a compressed fiber backing for stability.

Wood

Hardwood floors are both beautiful and durable, which makes them a top choice for many homeowners. Options usually include domestic, regional, or exotic wood types and some are more expensive and difficult to find than others. Unlike some flooring options, hardwood can be refinished several times over its lifespan, so this flooring can last longer than others.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is made of a baked and hardened mixture of shale and clay and comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. The four basic types include glazed, quarry, porcelain, and terracotta.

There are many more flooring options, so research carefully to choose the best one for your lifestyle. To get started, contact Integrity Remodeling & Custom Homes at 407-625-8286 or integrityremodeling@me.com.

4 Things to Consider Before Remodeling Your Kitchen

Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms of your house. It’s where you cook your food, entertain your guests, and have those important late night chats over cocoa and cookies. When you decide to remodel your kitchen, you want it to be perfect — somewhere you can enjoy, use, and proudly show off.

Kitchen remodels tend to be some of the most complicated projects you will complete in your house, but they can be worth the stress when done right.

As you prepare to remodel your kitchen — whether it’s in-progress, planned, or dreamed —  here are the five things to think about before you begin.

1. Think about what you want

The first part to planning any remodel is to think about what you want from your kitchen. Do you want to add an island? How about one of those nifty potfiller faucets? Think about your appliances, counters, cabinets, and flooring. Consider the color of the walls. Look at the layout of your kitchen and decide if you want to keep it or change it. Design your dream kitchen and see how it can work in your home.

2. Think about what you need

Now that you’ve spent some time in dreamland, it’s time to come back to earth. Your dream kitchen may not be what you need or can afford. Instead of scrapping your design, adjust it. Do you really need a commercial stove, double-oven or convection? Do you want to put all of your budget into the design when you desperately need new appliances? Take the time to make your plan more practical.

3. Think about the logistics

Once you have an idea of what you want, it’s time to make it happen. Create a budget and stick to it. Research and make a plan. Find professionals who know what they are doing and will work with you to stick with your budget. Lean on their experience and wisdom as you move into the project.

4. Think about life during the remodel

Face it. You don’t know how to function with your morning coffee and you’re not sure you’ll survive the remodel. The good news is that you won’t have to go without your kitchen essentials if you plan well before the project begins. Have a kitchen stand-in ready before your remodel starts and use it for making school lunches and cooking your meals. You won’t want to eat take-out for the whole project. Make sure to keep out your cooking essentials and store the rest. You won’t need them. Stock up on non-perishable and disposable foods and take it one day at a time. Or, go on vacation. That might be easier.

Are you planning a kitchen remodel? What are you most excited about?

The Top Ten Reasons to Build Instead of Buy

Total home sales are expected reach the highest levels since 2006, realtor.com reported this week.

For many, this is a chance to finally get the home you’ve been dreaming of for years. As you enthusiastically begin to shop for your new home, you have two choices: buying or building.

Buying is often the easier choice, especially if your move is temporary. You can move in on schedule, you don’t have to worry about dealing with builders and contractors, and you can always just remodel anything you don’t like, right? At Integrity Remodeling & Custom Homes, we often are called in to remodel homes because of damages, appearance, and a home’s inability to serve a family’s needs. So why not get it all done right the first time?

Building a home is a big decision. You are committing to staying in the area for at least a few years and you are in charge of choosing your new home’s design, which may or may not fit your budget. Integrity Remodeling & Custom Homes works closely with our homeowners to ensure they get exactly what they want at a price they can afford, but, as with any new home, the process can be stressful.

So, why should you build instead of buy? Here are New Homes Source’s top 10 reasons:

1) Design Your Dream Home Your Way: Why settle for someone else’s choices when you can select your favorite cabinets, countertops, appliances, carpets and flooring? While you’re at it, you can choose gorgeous bath and kitchen fixtures, lighting and other options that you love. Your new home will reflect your style, not someone else’s taste.

2) Choose a Floor Plan and Room Layout that Meets Your Needs: Want a master bedroom on the first floor? It’s yours. With massive his and her’s walk-in closets? Done! Want high ceilings and a luxurious, resort-style master bath? Perhaps you’d like a sitting room with a fireplace in your owner’s suite or French doors that open to your private patio or the pool? It’s easy, when you build your master suite your way.

3) Energy and Cost Savings: Today’s new homes are far more energy efficient than homes built just five years ago. Versus homes built ten or 20 years ago, it’s game over, advantage new.Why settle for drafty, energy-wasting single-pane windows in a used home? Many new homes offer double or even triple-pane windows. Special window coatings and inert gases between the layers of glass are often available, saving you even more energy and money in both heating and cooling season.

4) Comfort and Indoor Air Quality: Today’s new homes meet stringent energy standards and codes not in place in the past. They combine high-performance energy efficiency with state-of-the-art ventilation and air filtration. The result is year-round, draft-free comfort and higher indoor air quality.

5) All New, Under Warranty: A used home likely has tired products that may soon need replacing. Your new home — and the products that comprise it — are brand-new and under warranty. What’s the cost to replace a roof, appliances, countertops or a water heater on a used home? Those components of your new home feature the latest designs and building materials and should offer you years of comfort and enjoyment before needing replacement.

6) Low Maintenance: New cars today are computer-designed and computer-equipped. That’s why they perform much more reliably than a car that’s 15 or 20 years old. Homes are the same. Today’s new homes have open floor plans and high ceilings that reflect the way we live today. They’re also made of cutting-edge building products that require less care and maintenance. Another plus? The latest building systems and components are designed and engineered to work together.

7) Community Amenities: Many new homes are built in lavish master-planned communities with resort-style community centers, pools and clubhouses. Many new home communities also feature hiking trails, protected open lands and some of the best new schools and shopping near (or even within) your new home community.

8) Advanced Technology and Design: It’s possible to replace all of the single-pane windows in a resale home with today’s high-performance windows. It’s also possible to add insulation to a used home. However, it’s very expensive to replace dated appliances, cabinets and countertops in a used home — and you still won’t have the high ceilings you dream of on the first floor of an older two-story home. All are reasons to build your new home your way, to reflect the way you live today.

9) Safety: State-of-the-art circuit breakers. Electric garage door openers with infrared beams that stop if a tricycle or child is too near. High-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners that use the latest environmentally-friendly coolants. Cabinets, carpets and paints that use fewer volatile organic compounds, so that you and your family can breathe easier.

10) That New Home Feel: A used home was someone else’s dream, not yours. It reflects their choices and family memories. You may learn to love avocado-green appliances (and you may be willing to scrub stained countertops or grease-encrusted ovens and cooktops) but more and more people prefer that never lived-in feel.

Interested in making memories in a home built just for you and your family? Contact us at (407) 625-8286 and visit our Facebook page.

Remodeling Your Bathroom

Kitchens and bathrooms often make all the difference. Whether updating your bathroom for selling or giving it a facelift for your own enjoyment, it’s important to make it both comfortable and appealing.

As you get ready to renovate your bathroom, there are some important questions to consider. Do you know the space required for your bathtub, toilet, and sink? What should be the first feature you see when entering your bathroom? Do you know how much the remodel is going to cost?

Bathroom Remodel: Before

These tips will help you know what to expect and give you some ideas for your bathroom makeover.

Know Your Budget

While you might have your new bathroom designed and decorated in your mind, you might not have the funds to complete it in your bank account. Integrity Remodeling & Custom Homes will take you through a process where we perform a Feasibility Study to determine the budget for your project based on your selected finishes. By assisting you in the beginning, this will eliminate surprises to your budget once the project is started.

Design Based on Your Future

Do you plan on staying in your current home for 10 or more years? Or are you planning on moving in the next three? Whatever your plans, design your bathroom accordingly. If this is your “lifetime” home, let us help you create a design that your family can grown in and will accommodate your needs for the future.

Know Your Space

As you plan, know how much space you have to work with and identify what features are a priority for you.  This will help you plan efficiently and maintain your focus on areas that are important to meet your specific needs.

Bathroom Remodel: After

Think Outside the Box

If you’re having trouble with fitting everything into your space, don’t be afraid to get creative. We are constantly educating ourselves on new industry products that are available, and will work together with you to plan out a bathroom space that will achieve your goals.

Add Some Pizazz

Bathrooms are small spaces compared to other areas of the home, so this might be a time to choose some higher-end materials and go for some luxurious options in flooring, decorative tile for the shower, or trendy lighting.  Or, if your budget allows, get a little more elaborate by installing radiant floor heating. These small touches will provide additional comforts without breaking the bank.

These tips will get you started on a satisfying remodel for your bathroom. For more tips, read Houzz’s “15 Design Tips to Know Before Remodeling Your Bathroom.”

And once you’ve finished your remodel, you can start decorating. For some inspiration, try this photo gallery of bathroom decorating ideas.