Ideas, Tips, Advice, Oh My!

One of the most exciting things that you'll ever do in your life is move into your brand new custom home that you have spent months (or even years) dreaming of. You can finally enjoy the space with your family, and you have a blank canvas that's ready for your personal decorative touches.

With so many things that you want to do upon moving into your new home, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed about where you should start. To help you map out a game plan while relishing all of the newness, here are a few key things that you'll want to do in your first month at home:

If you're like many of today's homeowners, you want to stay in your existing home for the long haul, but have grand renovation plans in mind to truly make it your dream home. 

While you may find yourself daydreaming about a spacious master suite complete with spa-like oasis of a master bathroom, it's important to keep reality in check and think about what your budget really is. 

​Having completed a number of home remodeling projects in Central Florida, a common question that we hear from clients is which home improvements yield the highest return on investment. While the answer to this question can vary, another question worth exploring is which home remodeling projects yield the worst return.

While no building contractor can guarantee a rate of return on a home remodeling project, here are 5 improvements that typically yield the lowest returns on investment:

1. Master Suite Addition
We've used our blog to touch on the concept of aging in place, and some homeowners that are choosing to stay in their existing homes through retirement are adding a master suite addition on the main level.

It comes as no surprise that a spacious garage is included on the list of features that buyers want most in a home. However, for those going through the custom home building process, they expect this space to offer more than just shelter for vehicles. 
Here are 5 features that today's high-end homebuyers want in a garage:

1. Space to accommodate 3+ vehicles.
Considering that very few homes in Central Florida have basements, the garage has become the go-to storage space for most homeowners. Therefore, even if homeowners only own 2 cars, they want the extra garage space to accommodate their storage needs. For this reason, the demand for 3-car garages nationwide is increasing.

​We've talked about the recent uptick in demand for home remodeling, and as we approach mid 2016, it's clear that this trend is only going to continue. According to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, home improvement spending is expected to reach its highest level in a decade in early 2017.

But what's behind this renewed passion for home remodeling?

Low inventory of homes on the market.
According to the National Association of Realtors, there was 4.5 months of housing inventory on the market as of March, which means that it would every house on the market to sell at the current pace of sales. In other words, the current real estate market benefits sellers rather than buyers as there is a shortage of housing inventory.

​A home with smart and ample storage space is certainly a priority for many people looking to build a custom home. One of the hottest design trends that we've seen recently in Central Florida custom homes in regards to storage space is the rise of the walk-in pantry.

The thing that is so attractive about a walk-in pantry is that they tend to be more unique, efficient, and cost-effective than the option of building extra cabinetry for food storage. In fact, what really has people buzzing about the walk-in pantry these days is the ability to put their own fun and creative design touch on the space. 
For instance, one way that we see homeowners customizing the walk-in pantry is through the entry point. If you talk to your building contractor about your options for an entryway, you could hear anything from a "secret" cabinet entrance to a sliding barn door.

​While some people may think of a bathroom as one of the more practical spaces in a home, those building their dream homes tend to think of a master bathroom as a sanctuary dedicated to personal health and relaxation. 
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As you talk to your building contractor about some of the features that you'll want to include in your design, here are 6 must-haves to take into consideration for your luxurious master bathroom:

Let's say you already have your dream home, but it just needs some re-vamping. If so, you're not alone.

A popular trend that we're seeing in Central Florida is that more people are looking to stay in their homes for the long-haul, which is directly related to the increase in demand for home remodeling.  

To have a positive home remodeling experience, you need to carefully consider what you hope to gain from the renovation and what your goals are. We suggest exploring the big design moves that really matter: site, context, function, structure, materials, and style. 

The weather is absolutely spectacular this time of year in Central Florida, so naturally you'll want to be spending as much time outside as possible.

Because our climate allows for year-round outdoor entertaining, most of our custom home building clients want to incorporate this type of space into their home's design. Of course, the perfect compliment to any good outdoor entertaining space is an outdoor kitchen. From grilling to pizza ovens, having a luxurious outdoor kitchen can transform your outdoor entertaining space to a cook's oasis.

​One of the most important decisions that you'll need to make in a home remodeling project is your choice of flooring, and the number of available options can be quite overwhelming.

However, if there is one type of flooring material that we're seeing a lot of Central Florida custom homes, it's tile. While we've historically seen tile as the top flooring choice for bathrooms and kitchens, today's homeowners are now using tile throughout the home based on its durability and resistance to moisture.