Garabedian Properties is proud to feature Arch Tek elements in our home.  These innovative applications allow us to fill a home with arches, barrels and specialty ceilings at a much more cost effective price and decreasing the waste of lumber material.

Visit their site to see all they have to offer and we can then incorporate those features into your luxury Garabedian Properties home.

http://archwaysandceilings.com

If you have a question on how we can help you incorporate these elements into your newe custom home, please feel free to email your questions to our offices.  Garabedian Properties is a full service building firm serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  We offer new luxury homes, premium remodels, green building/remodeling, home care services, storm/roof repairs and commercial building contracting.

Please feel free to leave your comments, drop us an email at mike@garabedianproperties.com or call our office at               817-748-2669         817-748-2669. I also encourage you to visit http://www.garabedianproperties.com to see movies on our homes, hundreds of pictures and information on how we can be of service to your family or clients.  Or become a Facebook Fan.

If your family is not quite ready for us at this time, we will be at your service when you are in need or wish to request our assistance.  If you know someone we can help, we welcome and honor your referrals. Ģ

Architects, Designers, Interior Designers, Builders, Remodelers, Realtors and other related professionals are invited to join our networking group for Tarrant County.  Anyone in the industry is welcome from anywhere in North Texas.

We will be meeting each month to share refreshments, visit and develop relationships which will strengthen our industry during these trying times.

If you have questions or require additional information, please call me at 817-748-2669 or visit the web site to be notified of our events.  http://network.garabedianproperties.com

We hope to see you there!

Summer is here and Americans are hitting the highways for family road trips.  This brings to mind a story of an imaginary family on an imaginary road trip and two imaginary gas stations. 

Dad was driving along I-35 towards the beautiful Texas Hill Country (all of Texas is beautiful, however for this story we will focus on just one area).  He noticed his tank was getting low in gas so he pulled off into a town we will call Texasville.  He drove into a brand new Lexon gas station.

The Lexon was new, clean and bustling with activity.  Before filling up, the family ran inside to purchase snacks (essentials for a road trip) and use the restrooms.  The store was neat, clean and smelled fresh.  The clerks were polite, smiling and wearing uniforms.  They were prompt to answer questions, made eye contact and offered any help that was required.  They treated every customer as a friend and always encouraged them to return.  The children returned from the restrooms and remarked how clean and nice they were.

Dad knows Lexon well and recalls all their stations seem to be bright, clean and stocked with current merchandise.  It gives him a warm sense of comfort just being in the store after such a long grueling drive (yes this is a bit emotional for a gas station story but trust me I am going somewhere with it).

What A Deal

As the family piles back into the car, dad is about to start filling up and out of the corner of his eye, he sees another station.  Wow, the gas is $ .20 cheaper a gallon over there!  Dad thinks, forget this I am going to that station to fill up.  From a few blocks away the station looks similar to the one he just left, except the sign was a brand he had not heard of before.  Who is Vilgo?

No worries, all gas is the same and it is so much cheaper at the Vilgo station!

As he approaches the station he notices that it is not quite as new as the other station and the potholes in the driveway require careful navigation.  The windows are due for a cleaning and the trash cans outside have the Sunday paper stuffed in the overflowing lid.  That seemed odd as today is Wednesday.  As he pulls up to the pump he notices the yellow sign taped over the display which says in faded ink, credit card machine broken.  Dang, he has to walk inside to pay!

Oh well a small inconvenience to save money and since all gas is the same, it is so much cheaper at the Vilgo station!

As Dad enters the Vilgo the stale air hits him in the face like a brick wall.  The 1970s asbestos flooring reminds him of his elementary school and the store shelves had an assortment of products in no particular order and covered in dust.  Wow, spam, rolling papers and biker magazines all on the same shelf, nice merchandising skills.

Christmas In July

The Coke display has those cute polar bears cans, to celebrate the Christmas Season.  Dad loves those polar bears even on the Fourth Of July weekend.  Wonder how that Coke tastes now?

No worries, all gas is the same and it is so much cheaper at the Vilgo station!

Dad runs to the restroom and has to step over the plunger and a pile of paper towels by the trash can.  The dripping faucet, overflowing trash can, empty soap dispenser and missing paper towel holder validate why the last entry on the bathroom cleaning schedule was 9 months ago.

He drops off his credit card and goes to fill the tank.  The pump was slow in pumping gas and he had time to ponder the area.  He looked up and noticed all the cars he saw at the Lexon were long gone. They were already on the highway heading to their vacation.  He starts to wonder if the Vilgo gas is as old as their Coke.  Then the pump clicks off as the handle catch broke.  Crud now he has to hold the handle while it pumps.

No worries, all gas is the same and it is so much cheaper at the Vilgo station!

22 Gallons?

As the counter rolls past 20 gallons, Dad thinks to himself, that’s weird, I usually only need 20 gallons.  He consoles himself that he probably remembered wrong as the pump stops at 22 gallons.  Standing in the hot sun while the pump trickled along was not very relaxing but the tank is now full.  He starts to make excuses for all the inconveniences but he is very proud for being able to beat the system and find the cheapest gas on the Interstate.  It is perplexing that none of the other nicer late model vehicles were stopping at the Vilgo.

No worries, they are suckers for paying more as all gas is the same and it is so much cheaper at Vilgo!

Dad goes to pay and again notices the cars were zooming in and out of the Lexon station.  Wow, it seems like he has been at this Vilgo station for 20 minutes. 

Once inside the clerk brings out one of the old credit card imprinters.  Dad is thinking crud, now this guy who is wearing a stained T-shirt and worn out jeans is going to have an imprint of my credit card.  The clerk never looked up or speaks while struggling with the credit card machine.  Finally he gets it done and returns dad’s slightly bent credit card. 

Dad asks for directions to world’s largest ball of twine (yes everything in Texas is the world’s biggest).  The clerk mumbles he does not know and tosses dad a five year old map.  Never mind!  As Dad walks out of the door to his car (which magically holds 2 more gallons of gas) he hears from behind him …. nothing.  The clerk never acknowledged him leaving.

No warm fuzzies here, but all gas is the same and it is so much cheaper at Vilgo!

Now back to the highway!  Wow those cars at the Lexon are coming and going so quickly. 

Back On The Road

After Dad gives himself one more imaginary high 5 about his great deal and the children chime in on their last observations on how gross the Vilgo station was, the family is back on the road.  After awhile dad notices the engine is sounding a bit different than he remembers and the acceleration is somewhat sluggish.  In the back of his mind he says nothing a tune up and fuel injection cleaning can’t fix.  Another $200 dad had not planned on spending.

But all gas is the same and it is so much cheaper at the Vilgo station!

As the family progresses down the highway the tank nears empty again.  Strange Dad wonders as he normally gets 400 miles to a tank, why is it only at 375 miles?

But all gas is the same and it is so much cheaper at the Vilgo station!

Dadcomes across another Lexon and pulls in.  The family runs inside to buy fresh snacks and use the clean restrooms.  The gas is about what he expects to pay however dad cannot help but take one last look to see if he can find another Vilgo.  After filling up, dad notices it only took 20 gallons.  That is weird!  Why did it take 22 gallons at Vilgo?

No worries all gas is the same and it was so much cheaper at the Vilgo station!

Ok our imaginary family is off to see the world’s largest ball of twine. 

But you have to wonder if there is a difference in gas and if buying what appears to be a deal can cost you more in the long run (tune ups, fuel injection cleaning, lower mileage, etc…) then maybe staying with the tried and true is a safer choice for your family’s large investments.  That could relate to your vehicles or your home.

If you would like to learn why all builders are not the same and how trying to save money building your home can cost you more in the long run, please feel free to call or visit our website.  There is a reason many builders go broke and why the cheapest homes often have the highest utility bills.

Ask about our Miles For Dreams Program where you can earn up to 500,000 American Airline AAdvantage Frequent Flier Miles for building a new home, remodeling your existing home or sharing the program with someone else. www.milesfordreams.com

Thank You

I hope this helps remind you that just like in almost any other industry, you get what you pay for.  Sometimes tripping over dollars to pick up pennies will end up costing you many times more than if you started out with the proven professionals from day one.

Your home is your family’s most significant and most expensive asset.  Be careful on who you trust it to, that low price on the sign may distract you from bigger bills hidden in the gas tank.

If you have a question on how we can help you build a custom home, please feel free to email your questions to our offices.  Garabedian Properties is a full service building firm serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  We offer new luxury homes, premium remodels, green building/remodeling, home care services, storm/roof repairs and commercial building contracting.

Please feel free to leave your comments, drop us an email at mike@garabedianproperties.com or call our office at               817-748-2669         817-748-2669. I also encourage you to visit http://www.garabedianproperties.com to see movies on our homes, hundreds of pictures and information on how we can be of service to your family or clients.  Or become a Facebook Fan.

If your family is not quite ready for us at this time, we will be at your service when you are in need or wish to request our assistance.  If you know someone we can help, we welcome and honor your referrals. Ģ

Our Miles For Dreams Program offers you three ways to earn American Airline AAdvantage Frequent Flier Miles. Build a new home, Remodel your existing home or share the program with a friend. Details at www.milesfordreams.com

A football team would never go on the field without their quarterback.  Successful game plans and winning teams are led by proven quarterbacks.  A quarterback does not become proven by luck or happenstance.  It takes years of hard work and extra effort to become a leader in the NFL.  This also relates to how important it is to have a proven builder in place early in your building process can expedite your home building experience.

The Best

The best quarterbacks are those who spend hours studying films, reviewing game plans, practicing and tweaking plays so the entire team is ready for game day.  They spend extra time in the gym and seek out ways to continually learn and better their education.  They understand how all the various components of how a team fits together.  They realize that different techniques are required for the different player personalities to maximize each player’s peformance.

The best quarterbacks do not become that way from luck or talking big.  They develop from years of hard work, preparation, education and commitment.  When others are out partying, they are studying game plans.  When others are posing for the press, they are watching film. 

Professional quarterbacks are professionals when no one else is watching.

Building A Home Is Football

Building a home is much like a football game.  You have a team of professionals (contractors) who are good at what they do.  Each player is focused on their individual responsibilities without a global view of the project.   One bad play or small mistake can cost you the game so everyone has to be on their toes at all times.

The quarterback (builder) is the one who pulls the team together and leads them on and off the field.  Think back to the most successful football franchises and you will find the leadership of a strong quarterback with a proven work ethic is one of the common denominators.

Just as proven quarterback is imperative to a successful football team, a proven builder is the key to a successful home building experience.   A builder has an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of team.  He knows how the field is stripped (town ordinances) and the officials (town staff).  Just like a quarterback, he can make decisions on the fly and can recover from a turnover (mistake).

Professional builders are professionals when no one else is watching.

Invest In The Best

The best general managers (football teams) know that to win they need a top tier quarterback.  Top tier quarterbacks cost more than the guy from the practice squad but they are also able to deliver when it counts.  These GMs learn how to blow away the smoke and look at what a quarterback can truly do to contribute to his team.  He knows that there will always be someone out there that will promise him a championship on the cheap but he knows that you get what you pay for.  Just as a quarterback can’t learn a team’s play book in a few days, a builder needs time to fully digest all the aspects of creating your family’s dream home.

With that in mind, it is disconcerting how many families will treat their builder as an afterthought.  They will spend years seeking out neighborhoods, stay up late at night looking at house plans on the internet and touring open houses.  They will hand over thousands of dollars to an architect and consult interior designers before they have a grasp of the costs.  However, when the time comes to start building they will wait until all the major decisions are made and then seek out a builder at the last possible minute. 

When you give your builder the time to properly prepare, he can lead your team to victory.  If you give him the resources to use proven professionals he can trust the entire lineup will be there to support his decisions.  If you trust his decisions, he can have the freedom to execute the game plan so he can bring your family home a big win.

Sweet Nothings

There will always be someone who will whisper sweet nothings in your ears and tell you what you want to hear.  They make big promises just to get the starting position. 

The reason the top tier quarterbacks get paid more than the rookies is they know what it takes to win and are willing to make the commitment.  You might get lucky with a rookie but when you are talking about the playoffs, wouldn’t you rather have a proven professional taking the snaps.

Work Together From The Start

Once you find your star player (builder), bring him (or her) into the process as early as possible.  The more time he has to contribute to your program (home) the more valuable he will be to your family.  His input in the design, selections, financing and lot choices will help your home building process run smoother and be less stressful.

 Thank You

I hope this helps illustrate the importance of picking a proven builder and incorporating him into the process as early as possible.  Your builder wants you to be successful, the more time and information he has to work with your family, the greater the likelihood of success.

If you have a question on how we can help you build a custom home, please feel free to email your questions to our offices.  Garabedian Properties is a full service building firm serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  We offer new luxury homes, premium remodels, green building/remodeling, home care services, storm/roof repairs and commercial building contracting.

Please feel free to leave your comments, drop us an email at mike@garabedianproperties.com or call our office at 817-748-2669 . I also encourage you to visit http://www.garabedianproperties.com to see movies on our homes, hundreds of pictures and information on how we can be of service to your family or clients.  Or become a Facebook Fan.

If your family is not quite ready for us at this time, we will be at your service when you are in need or wish to request our assistance.  If you know someone we can help, we welcome and honor your referrals. Ģ

Tags: builder, football, interview, professional, quarterback, select

Many times when I share my profession with someone, they immediately say “Oh, you build all those big homes”.  Although it is nice to be acknowledged for our work, it is frustrating that this common misconception keeps many families from enjoying the satisfaction of working with a small custom builder.

This misconception persists due to some realities that govern our industry.  Here are some of factors that are at work;

Lot Prices

The least expensive lots are often found in large master planned communities.  The economies of scale in these developments combined with selling the lots off very quickly allows for these lots to be sold for a low price.  Very few small builders have the ability to purchase hundreds of lots at a time.  Hence the large corporate (production) builders will often be the buyers and builders of the homes in these communities.

Lot Ratios

If a custom builder is not able to buy the least expensive sites, he must often buy in smaller communities with more expensive lot prices.  These more expensive lot prices have a multiplier effect on the type and size of home that can be built.

A home value/price is often dictated by the cost of the land it is built upon.  There are formulas on how the price of a lot should relate to the price of a home.  In North Texas, the ratio is about one to five.  This would mean that if you have a $100,000 lot your total home & lot should be priced at about $500,000 (20% lot cost is 20% of the total).

In addition to more expensive lot prices, these smaller communities often have more rigorous architectural standards.  These standards add to the cost of construction and require a builder to build a larger more expensive home to be compliant with the developer’s standards.

Creativity

 Smaller builders are often able to be much more creative on their homes as they are directly involved in the day to day construction of the home.  This is appealing for families who wish to design and build a custom home and they will often seek out small custom builders for large luxury homes.

  Homeowners Pick Where

 Often a small home builder is building on a site that a family has specifically selected.  These sites are seldom in large communities and often have unique features that require additional supervision.

 When a family seeks out a builder to build their home, they are usually looking to build their dream home.  These homes are often larger and more elaborate than a typical corporate built home. 

 Often when families go on home tours, they gravitate towards these types of communities and notice the small custom builders are the ones who build these homes.

 However

 A good builder can help your family build almost any size home.  Before settling for the local tract/production/corporate/mega-builder Goliath, reach out to your local custom building community.  You may be pleasantly surprised that you can get a custom home for about the same as it would cost to purchase cookie cutter home.

 Your extra effort could result in you working directly with a true building professional who can offer you more choices, enhanced quality and a whole different perspective on building your home.

 Thank You

I hope this helps remind you that small custom builders can accommodate the construction of almost any size home.  When considering who to build your next home, don’t discriminate against the small guy just because some of his projects are big.

If you have a question on how we can help you build a custom home, please feel free to email your questions to our offices.  Garabedian Properties is a full service building firm serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  We offer new luxury homes, premium remodels, green building/remodeling, home care services, storm/roof repairs and commercial building contracting.

Please feel free to leave your comments, drop us an email at mike@garabedianproperties.com or call our office at               817-748-2669         817-748-2669. I also encourage you to visit http://www.garabedianproperties.com to see movies on our homes, hundreds of pictures and information on how we can be of service to your family or clients.  Or become a Facebook Fan.

If your family is not quite ready for us at this time, we will be at your service when you are in need or wish to request our assistance.  If you know someone we can help, we welcome and honor your referrals. Ģ

Tags: builder, custom, dream, estate, luxury, production, tract

One of the hardest aspects of construction for home buyers to understand is how homes of similar size and room counts can have so many variances in their respective prices.

In one of my continuing education classes Steve Zbranek, our instructor, placed a very simple drawing on the board which helps illustrate the quandary homeowners face when reviewing pricing on their home.

Example

Please note the illustrations below.  They are not to scale but you can see the differences in the exterior dimensions of the two structures. 

Structure A measures 10’ x 10’ for a total size of 100 square feet in size.  This creates a total of 40 linear feet of wall space.

Structure B measures 2’ x 50’ and also has a total size of 100 square feet.  However it has 104 linear feet of walls.  This is over 2 1/2 times as much linear footage in walls than Structure A. 

If both of these structures are 8’ tall and were covered with bricks you would have approximately 1,600 bricks required to cover Structure A. However, even though Structure B is the same square footage in size, it will require over 2 ½ times as much brick (4,160 bricks) to cover Structure B’s exterior walls.

The Math

Assuming brick costs you $1 per brick (labor, material, brick costs, etc..), then Structure B will cost $2,560 more to have it covered in brick than Structure A.

This translates into an additional $25.60 per square foot of the structure for the additional brick.  Remember both structures have the same square footage.

Even if Structure A was 15’ tall and Structure B was still only 8’ tall, the numbers are still not equal.  It would require 3,000 brick to cover the 15’ walls of Structure A, which is still 1,160 bricks fewer than Structure B with 8’ walls.  Structure B will still cost an additional $1,160 or $11.60 per square foot.

This is why building higher can often cost less than building out (larger footprint) when designing and building a home.

Cost Variances

Brick is not the only costs associated with an exterior wall, there is framing lumber, carpenter labor, insulation, bracing, house wrap, windows, roof bracing, gutters, paint, siding and the like.  You will find that the variances we illustrated with brick will also hold same for these costs as well. 

Numbers Need Facts

We share these examples to help illustrate why comparing builders/homes on per square foot pricing is seldom an accurate reflection of the value and costs associated with each structure.  Designing and building a custom home is a very complex exercise and if some just throws you out a price without serious and detailed analysis of what you are hoping to accomplish, be prepared for surprises.  And I am not referring to the type of surprise that makes you smile.

When you interview a custom home builder, spend time on understanding how they work and guide your family through the process.  Their experience can help you understand how the design and layout of your home can create or save you on the costs of construction.

Real Life Example

One of the most illustrative examples I have shared with families is from two homes we built about 4 years ago.  They were both about 5,400 sqft in size and had very nice finish out.  However, due to the architecture, homeowner selections, floor plan and design elements, there was over $500,000 in price variance between the two homes.  This excludes the land costs.  That works out to $92 a square foot for homes of approximately the same size.

Small Changes Big Money

It can be frustrating for families to understand how small changes can affect the costs of their home.  Experienced builders will avoid giving you a firm price on your home until they have final plans, complete specifications and all the inclusions accounted for and priced out.

Small changes such as moving a wall, redesigning a roof or adding windows can add thousands to a home without ever changing the size of the home.  Even deleting some items can cost you more money, such as removing a wall that was designed to brace the roof.

Custom homes are very complex projects and although on paper a change or modification may seem simple, the reality can be much more involved.  Don’t become blinded by the price per square foot trap.  Give consideration to all aspects of the home, its amenities, location and design.

We were always taught that 2 + 2 = 4 but when building a new home sometimes 2 +2 = 9.

Thank You

I hope this has given you seemingly simple choices made early in the process can had significant costs to your home budget.  By working with your builder all the way through the process you will have opportunities to learn about these factors and make educated decisions.

If you have a question on how we can help you build a custom home, please feel free to email your questions to our offices.  Garabedian Properties is a full service building firm serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  We offer new luxury homes, premium remodels, green building/remodeling, home care services, storm/roof repairs and commercial building contracting.

Please feel free to leave your comments, drop us an email at mike@garabedianproperties.com or call our office at 817-748-2669. I also encourage you to visit http://www.garabedianproperties.com to see movies on our homes, hundreds of pictures and information on how we can be of service to your family or clients.  Or become a Facebook Fan.

If your family is not quite ready for us at this time, we will be at your service when you are in need or wish to request our assistance.  If you know someone we can help, we welcome and honor your referrals. Ģ

Tags: builder, custom, home, luxury

With spring approaching, the hunt for the perfect home lot is underway for most families.  This reminded me of an article I wrote a few years back on the pros and cons of selecting wooded lots over lots with few or no trees on them.

Now please don’t get me wrong, I love big trees as much as the next person and few things are more beautiful than a yard full of mature trees surrounding a luxurious Garabedian Home.  However, there are some hidden costs which should be considered when selecting a wooded lot to build upon.

Lot Premiums

It is commonly accepted that wooded lots are some of the most desirable properties.  Developers have added premiums to these lots when marketing them to builders/homeowners.  Frequently a wooded lot will have a $15,000 to $25,000 premium (or more) over sites with no trees.  Often families fall under the misconception that the lot premium is the only significant cost in selecting a wooded home site.  However the truth is much more complicated.

Hidden Costs

Building a home amongst trees can add costs and time to the construction process.  These costs can break out into three primary categories.

Code compliance is the first category and includes items such as; tree surveys, tree removal permits, code compliance, tree fencing and signage.  These items can add several thousands of dollars to the cost of construction all before anyone has started to work on your actual home.

Construction costs are the most visible factor that families will notice in this process.  These include; tree removal, stump & root removal, backfilling & compacting where the trees were removed, haul off & dump fees, trimming the remaining trees and additional tractor time.  Other costs include more expensive irrigation systems, adding retaining walls for drainage & tree protection and tree clean up/pruning. These costs can add up in to the tens of thousands of dollars in the blink of an eye.

Ongoing maintenance after the home is complete can add up as well. Regardless of how much care is taken during construction, trees can go into shock months or years later.  If treatments are unsuccessful in saving them, you will spend hundreds if not thousands to have the trees and stumps removed.  The remaining trees will require annual maintenance including trimming, pruning, lifting and supplements.  (Yes trees do need vitamins.)

Other costs include periodic clean up of your property.  These mature trees will often be in locations that may lead to their branches & leaves filling up your pool, ponds and gutters.  The cleanup is a year round process.

Alternative Choice

An alternative is to select a lot with fewer trees and then used your savings to have the landscaper place trees in locations that would compliment your property.  In addition to only paying for the trees you want, you would also be covered by the installers warranty if the trees went into shock after planting.  $35,000 could purchase dozens of mature trees that are covered by a warranty and installed where you want them. 

Conclusion

We do not want to talk you out of selecting a site that appeals to you, we do want to help give you an understanding on why your home may cost more to build on a heavily wooded site than a similar size home on a level clear lot.  Selecting a wooded lot can offer you a home site with character and charm, however, please understand your builder has to account for these additional costs mentioned above.

Thank You

I hope this has given you seemingly simple choices made early in the process can had significant costs to your home budget.  By working with your builder all the way through the process you will have opportunities to learn about these factors and make educated decisions.

If you have a question on how we can help you build a custom home, please feel free to email your questions to our offices.  Garabedian Properties is a full service building firm serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  We offer new luxury homes, premium remodels, green building/remodeling, home care services, storm/roof repairs and commercial building contracting.

Please feel free to leave your comments, drop us an email at mike@garabedianproperties.com or call our office at 817-748-2669. I also encourage you to visit http://www.garabedianproperties.com to see movies on our homes, hundreds of pictures and information on how we can be of service to your family or clients.  Or become a Facebook Fan.

If your family is not quite ready for us at this time, we will be at your service when you are in need or wish to request our assistance.  If you know someone we can help, we welcome and honor your referrals.

Sometimes adding rooms can create a smaller home while having fewer rooms can translate into more space in your home. 

We have observed a trend of families designing multiple specialty rooms into their homes.  These rooms were usually dedicated to just one activity.  Some of the more common ones included; theaters, wine cellars, craft rooms, exercise rooms, etc… 

Specialized Rooms

I would first like to define what we mean by specialty rooms and multipurpose rooms.

Movie theaters (media rooms) are some of the most common specialty rooms.  They can single layer or multi tiered.  Often the only activity that can occur is watching movies/tv or playing video games.

Wine cellars have become increasing popular with cabinets, refrigeration, iron gates and they may be sunken down to simulate the effects of walking into a cellar.

Many families like to have designated craft rooms with cabinets, sinks and tables.

Exercise rooms with mirrored walls and rubber floors are often about the size of a bedroom.

An exterior element that we see many families request is the balcony.  Balconies are great architectural elements, however, sometimes their location is more a factor of how it looks on the outside than how it is utilized from the inside.

Hidden Costs

Often homeowners forget to account for the hidden costs of these spaces.  By adding rooms, you not only have the actual costs of construction but you have costs associated with ownership.  These costs include the mortgage debt, insurance, property taxes, utilities, cleaning and upkeep.

An extra 1,000 sqft of space could add $10,000 or more to your ownership costs each year (excluding the house payment).

The Motivation & New Priorities

Often the motivator for including these rooms is not so much a “need” as it is a “want”.  Homeowners like the idea of having a room similar to what they have viewed in model homes or their friend’s homes.  For families who have the wherewithal, it was a comfortable decision and they were willing to pay for these new spaces. 

However as more and more families begin to seek out reduced home sizes; we are seeing a greater struggle on how to balance the “wants” of all of these rooms and their “needs” in a home.  This often results in families having to take away footage from the rooms that are used on daily basis so they could accommodate these new spaces.  (kitchens, family room, bathrooms, etc…)

The answer is you may not have to omit anything.  Instead consider allowing rooms/spaces to serve more than one purpose.  By designing rooms to accommodate more than one activity/task families can maximize their housing dollars while still adding new versatility to their homes.

Space Utilization

Here are some of the most recent trends in multi use spaces;

The combination of media and game rooms into one larger space allows for watching movies while participating in activities with the family. 

Craft rooms are incorporated into utility rooms.

Studies are being designed to accommodate two work stations. 

Many families are forgoing the formal dining and choosing to oversize their nook area.

Sitting areas in foyers or over-sized studies/libraries are taking the place of formal living rooms in many homes.

Butler’s pantries can incorporate a wine station in lieu of a dedicated wine cellar area.

These are samples of how combining rooms can maximize a house’s space utilization while still preserving the functionality of your home.

Builders Have Feedback

Builders are able to offer feedback from families who have built homes with a variety of spaces and rooms.  This feedback can give guidance on how spaces drawn on the plans may or may not perform as desired when they are actually built.

Lifestyles are fairly consistent.  Our experiences and feedback from our families indicates that building a new room won’t change the way most people live in their new homes.

Please give thought to how you live now when designing a house, as that is probably very similar to how you will use your new home.

Thank You

I hope this has given you insight to how creativity in design can help maximize the utilization of your new custom home.  By finding ways to make rooms serve multiple purposes you may be able to create a “bigger” house and still spend less money.

If you have a question on how we can help you build a custom home, please feel free to email your questions to our offices.  Garabedian Properties is a full service building firm serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  We offer new luxury homes, premium remodels, green building/remodeling, home care services, storm/roof repairs and commercial building contracting.

Please feel free to leave your comments, drop us an email at mike@garabedianproperties.com or call our office at 817-748-2669. I also encourage you to visit http://www.garabedianproperties.com to see movies on our homes, hundreds of pictures and information on how we can be of service to your family or clients.  Or become a Facebook Fan.

If your family is not quite ready for us at this time, we will be at your service when you are in need or wish to request our assistance.  If you know someone we can help, we welcome and honor your referrals.