Building A Custom Home Vs. Buying

For many people, the purchase of a home is the biggest expense they will ever encounter. For this reason, it isn’t something to be entered into lightly and needs to be thought about for a while. One of the first considers is choosing whether you want to go with the effort of building a home vs. buying. If you are unsure, consider a few different options

Choice
When you decide to hire a custom home builder to build a new home, you have control over everything that your home will become. You can select your floor plan, your color scheme and the materials that you want to be used. Every decision is up to the homeowner. The builder will have recommendations and standard materials that they use but you can always decide on something else. Keep in mind that the decisions that you make will likely affect the end price of your home.

Budget
If you are on a tighter budget, building a home vs. buying can work out to your benefit. If you or someone you know is a qualified contractor, you may be able to negotiation doing your own work. This will allow the builder to focus on other elements and allow you to save money. If you are considering this option, make sure to bring it up with the builder while you are discussing your needs. There may be rules or regulations governing what you will be allowed to do.

A Bit of Both
Another great option when working directly with the home builder is that you can get a bit of both worlds. Many builders will build homes on spec that you can buy and then decide on the different elements. You are able to see the floor plan already built but you can select the flooring, the wall colors, cabinets, and appliances.

Buying
Buying a home removes a lot of the decisions from the home owner. The home is already built and finished and ready for you to move into. If there are any renovations to be done, you will be able to make the decisions on those, but otherwise, it’s as simple as moving in and enjoying your new home.

How Much Does A New Fence Cost?

Installing a fence around your home or business can have many perks that not only add to the value of your property but also make it more convenient and safe to enjoy your property. Whether you are interested in giving your kids the freedom to run around out front without the fear of them wandering into the street or in adding an extra bit of privacy to your yard, you may be wondering, “How much does a new fence cost?” While there is no way other than a professional estimate and proper measuring to get an accurate figure, this simple guide will give you a basic rundown on which materials tend to be the most costly as well as the pros and cons for each of our most popular fencing materials…

Wrought Iron Fencing
Wrought iron is considered the pricier material for fence construction. However, this material is extremely durable, known for its beauty and can last a lifetime if you care for it properly. The main con of a wrought iron fence is that it can rust in inclement weather. This can be avoided with the proper sealing and upkeep. We can help you to learn more about what you can do to keep your wrought iron looking stellar for years to come.

Vinyl Fencing
Coming in less expensively than traditional wrought iron, vinyl fencing is a popular choice for those who do not want to have to worry about excessive upkeep. Vinyl will not warp like wood or rust like iron and is impressively strong for a material that you would not expect to be such a work horse. Vinyl’s only true con is that it can crack in high temperatures and become brittle.

Cedar Fencing
The most economical option of the three materials covered in this article, cedar is considerably lower priced than both vinyl and wrought iron. Cedar is a great option for privacy fencing, is inexpensive and can be painted or stained any hue you prefer. The cons of cedar include the need for timely upkeep to prevent warping, rotting, and termites. With that said, any wood item comes with these same issues and what cedar lacks in letting you be lax on upkeep, it makes for in traditional, timeless appeal.

From adding beauty to your home to keeping the neighbor’s pesky pooch out of your prized begonias, we can help you to create a fence that meets your needs and splashes a hint of character on to your property all at the same time. Contact a fence contractor in your area for a quote or to learn more about all material options.

Smart Ways To Use Led Lighting In Your Home

If you are looking for a simple way to make your home more energy efficient and lower your electric bill, replacing your existing light bulbs with new LED versions is one of the most effective changes you can make. LED lights use far less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and even compact fluorescent ones. The usefulness of LED lighting goes far beyond replacing the light bulbs in your lamps. There are plenty of other ways to incorporate Home LED lighting into your home decor, including the following ideas.

1. Light Up Hard-to-Get-to Places
Whether it is the area above the basement steps, that high ceiling in the entryway of your home or the light in the garage, replacing those existing lights with long lasting LED ones is a smart idea. One of the biggest benefits of LED lighting is that the bulbs last a long time, and that means less work for you.

If you are tired of climbing the ladder or dragging out a step stool every time a light bulb goes out, pick up a selection of LED bulbs and give yourself one less thing to do. Whether you wait for the current bulb to burn out first or replace it now, you can benefit from the long-lasting nature and energy efficiency of LED lighting.

#2. Light Up Your Aquarium
If you have an aquarium in your home, replacing the existing lighting system with a LED version can make fish keeping more fun. Fluorescent lighting looks good but LED lighting is far brighter and lasts longer too.

There are plenty of ways to retrofit an existing aquarium for LED lighting, so you do not have to disrupt your existing setup to upgrade your fish tank. The upfront cost of a LED aquarium light is higher, but the overall cost of operation should be much lower.

#3. Dress Up Your Medicine Cabinet
If there is one place you need true light, it is in the bathroom medicine cabinet. LED light bars are perfect for the bathroom- they look great, the lights last a long time and the lighting is less harsh than the fluorescent version.

LED lights for the bathroom are widely available and easy to install. You should be able to do the work yourself in just an hour or so.