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re: Wife and I seriously considering building a house
Posted on 8/12/13 at 3:55 pm to TIGRLEE
Posted on 8/12/13 at 3:55 pm to TIGRLEE
TIGRLEE,
My wife and I are looking to build on a lot we have in Pineville. We would like to have some plans drawn up and some other things. Could I send you an email to see who you would recommend for around here (to draw up some plans, bank,....)
Thanks.
My wife and I are looking to build on a lot we have in Pineville. We would like to have some plans drawn up and some other things. Could I send you an email to see who you would recommend for around here (to draw up some plans, bank,....)
Thanks.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 4:22 pm to fishbig
We picked michael campbell designs for house plans, you can google it.. website says laffayette.
My uncle is vice president of bank so we went through them just to speed things along.
Several good builders in the area...
I only have my work email now... Id rather not post it on this website.
FWIW Im not from pineville/rapides parish area.. wife is a lawyer in alexandria, we've been here since she got out of law school.
My uncle is vice president of bank so we went through them just to speed things along.
Several good builders in the area...
I only have my work email now... Id rather not post it on this website.
FWIW Im not from pineville/rapides parish area.. wife is a lawyer in alexandria, we've been here since she got out of law school.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 4:34 pm to TIGRLEE
Gotcha. My wife is an attorney also in Alex. We would like to build something in the near future.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 4:35 pm to TIGRLEE
Whatever your budget, plan, and blueprints are originally, make sure that you stick to them. My parents deviated away from what they had originally budgeted and planned for and it turned around to bite them in the arse eventually.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 7:49 pm to STB
Plan, plan, plan. It will make everything much easier.
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do a layout and walkthru of everything before it's constructed. don't be like my idiot neighbor and build your driveway so close to the property line that you can only get 1 car into a 2 car garage. they cut it down to the point that the turning radius makes it impossible. 250 grand house that's unfunctionable. unbelievable.
_______________________________________
do a layout and walkthru of everything before it's constructed. don't be like my idiot neighbor and build your driveway so close to the property line that you can only get 1 car into a 2 car garage. they cut it down to the point that the turning radius makes it impossible. 250 grand house that's unfunctionable. unbelievable.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:05 pm to TigerDeBaiter
If not spray foam or batt, what would you recommend?
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:11 pm to TIGRLEE
Build around the lot you want. If you are patient, especially if you odn't know exactly what you want, you can take your time preparing the lot for the house. Once you know where the house is going to go on the lot, you can start putting in utilities, water pipes, and a sewage plant as well as building up the pad. The more time you have to let the dirt settle and compact naturally, the less you will have to pay for someone to do that for you. Being able to build up the foundation pad in stages allows for less expensive excavation and a more compact and stable foundation.
Another great way to help is by keeping your options open. If there are additions you'd like to make in the future, planning for them when you build the house can save you a ton of money in the long run. A few examples follow:
1. When my dad built my family's house, he wanted to have an upstairs, but couldn't afford to build a two-story house. So, he used larger wood beams where he wanted the second story to go, designed the attic to have enough room for a 2nd story room, and left room to put a stair case. This cost him a couple grand extra at the time, but it allowed him to add an upstairs a couple years later for a fraction of the cost of what it would have been had he not taken those precautions
2. Running a gas line to your patio opens up the possibility of a future outdoor kitchen, heated swimming pool (not a practical feature in Louisiana), outdoor gas lamps, or a hot tub.
3. Running axial cable to the patio allows you to later install a patio TV.
4. Planning where your bathrooms go can save you thousands by sharing plumbing walls, you can also save money on a wet bar by having it share a plumbing wall with a bathroom.
Another great way to help is by keeping your options open. If there are additions you'd like to make in the future, planning for them when you build the house can save you a ton of money in the long run. A few examples follow:
1. When my dad built my family's house, he wanted to have an upstairs, but couldn't afford to build a two-story house. So, he used larger wood beams where he wanted the second story to go, designed the attic to have enough room for a 2nd story room, and left room to put a stair case. This cost him a couple grand extra at the time, but it allowed him to add an upstairs a couple years later for a fraction of the cost of what it would have been had he not taken those precautions
2. Running a gas line to your patio opens up the possibility of a future outdoor kitchen, heated swimming pool (not a practical feature in Louisiana), outdoor gas lamps, or a hot tub.
3. Running axial cable to the patio allows you to later install a patio TV.
4. Planning where your bathrooms go can save you thousands by sharing plumbing walls, you can also save money on a wet bar by having it share a plumbing wall with a bathroom.
Posted on 8/12/13 at 9:20 pm to TIGRLEE
Ask builder for the names of 2 - 3 of people they built for. Contact them. Ask them about their experience with the builder.
Find out how many homes the builder is building at one time...what are his pinch point crafts (eg, land filler guy may be schedule weak link...delaying you). Know what % of mindshare you have with him.
If 10% down (no construction loan), do your homework on builder's credit.
If contract says 180-days to build, expect no less than 179.5-days to build.
Minimize your change orders post contract signing.
Don't get too excited once it is framed. It is still a LONG way away from completion.
Hire an inspection at the end. Trust no city inspector. I don't think they get out of their trucks and just do drive bys.
Negotiate in price: landscaping, sprinkler system, fence, gutters...put it in mortgage if in your budget (low interest rates!)
Negotiate builder's price on lot (assuming they own lot upon which you are building).
Find out how many homes the builder is building at one time...what are his pinch point crafts (eg, land filler guy may be schedule weak link...delaying you). Know what % of mindshare you have with him.
If 10% down (no construction loan), do your homework on builder's credit.
If contract says 180-days to build, expect no less than 179.5-days to build.
Minimize your change orders post contract signing.
Don't get too excited once it is framed. It is still a LONG way away from completion.
Hire an inspection at the end. Trust no city inspector. I don't think they get out of their trucks and just do drive bys.
Negotiate in price: landscaping, sprinkler system, fence, gutters...put it in mortgage if in your budget (low interest rates!)
Negotiate builder's price on lot (assuming they own lot upon which you are building).
Posted on 9/10/13 at 9:30 pm to TIGRLEE
Are you building in Rapides?
Posted on 9/10/13 at 10:29 pm to TIGRLEE
My wife and I have been working with our contractor for a year to "get it right." The plans have been certified by an engineer and are on their way to permitting. If all goes well, we pour the slab this spring.
Must haves: 6" walls for better insulation, high quality windows, radiant floor heating with geothermal heat pump, 10kw pv system, proper orientation to take advantage of passive solar, large laundry/pantry with dog washing tub, professional cook top and dual ovens, large kitchen island with food prep sink, lots of light including under cabinet lighting in kitchen, lots of storage in kitchen and baths, finished attic for storage, large garage with attached shop area, receptacles in baseboards, hardwood floors(bamboo), lights or solar tubes in all closets, inside/outside sound system (e.g., Sonos).
Must haves: 6" walls for better insulation, high quality windows, radiant floor heating with geothermal heat pump, 10kw pv system, proper orientation to take advantage of passive solar, large laundry/pantry with dog washing tub, professional cook top and dual ovens, large kitchen island with food prep sink, lots of light including under cabinet lighting in kitchen, lots of storage in kitchen and baths, finished attic for storage, large garage with attached shop area, receptacles in baseboards, hardwood floors(bamboo), lights or solar tubes in all closets, inside/outside sound system (e.g., Sonos).
Posted on 9/11/13 at 11:13 am to TIGRLEE
Appliance garage on wife's vanity , cable/elec for outdoor tv.
Posted on 9/11/13 at 1:48 pm to TigerDeBaiter
quote:
at a reasonable cost.
How does pricing compare to other methods?
Posted on 9/11/13 at 2:29 pm to islandtiger
Are you doing separate bath rooms? That's the rage. I highly recommend it. Not his/her vanities. His/her bathrooms.
Posted on 9/11/13 at 2:48 pm to islandtiger
quote:
Must haves: 6" walls for better insulation, high quality windows, radiant floor heating with geothermal heat pump, 10kw pv system, proper orientation to take advantage of passive solar, large laundry/pantry with dog washing tub, professional cook top and dual ovens, large kitchen island with food prep sink, lots of light including under cabinet lighting in kitchen, lots of storage in kitchen and baths, finished attic for storage, large garage with attached shop area, receptacles in baseboards, hardwood floors(bamboo), lights or solar tubes in all closets, inside/outside sound system (e.g., Sonos).
If your building in baton rouge, radiant floor heating wil be great on all 8 cold days a year you will actually use it, IOW, its a waste of $.
On double oven, im going to suggest if wife is 5'5" or shorter, buy two single ovens or one single oven and commercial gas cooktop with oven. My wife has trouble reaching out of a 400 degree top oven.
Other than that, like everything, can never have enough storage or lighting. Make sure those garage doors are 9' & insulated. Just say no to vinyl windows
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