Home Building Basics

Landon Homes | Custom Home

Building a new home is exciting! With the limitless possibilities of features, lay outs, and colors, your new home can be customized to your specific wants and needs. Your plans should go smoothly if you take the time to use the following suggestions before you begin your home building adventure.

1. Take tours of new homes. There are so many designs and styles of homes available today that it is impossible to know all of your options by looking at a few home building magazines or books. Arrange to take some tours of new homes in your area, especially homes built within the past six months. These homes will offer the latest in features and will give you a good idea of the most recent developments in home building and design. Keep an open mind as you look at these houses. Features that you consider unnecessary now may actually turn out to be just what you need.

2. Choose the right location. It is very easy to get caught up in the thrill of designing and building a new home, but it will pay off in the long run if you step back and take a practical look at your plans before making a final decision. Your home's location is the most important consideration. Is the new home's location convenient for you and your family? Do you like the location? If you decide to sell your home in five years, what will potential buyers think about the location? Rethink your home building decision if you are not happy with the location.

3. Think ahead. If you plan to stay in your new home for many years, think about the possible life changes ahead of you. You might want an extra bedroom or two if there are children in your future. Look at the layout of the home. Will you still want a two-story home in twenty years? Will the rooms be too small or too big for your family in a few years?

4. Get several estimates. Talk to at least two builders to get a good idea of what your new home will cost. Keep in mind that for most homes, the actual cost exceeds the estimate. If you are making plans to build a home in another six months to a year, you will need to add another three to six percent to the cost to account for inflation.

5. Ask everyone you know for opinions. Family and friends can be great sources of honest information. Ask them if they have ever heard of your builder or the builder's subcontractors. Find out what their biggest home-building mistake was. Gather ideas for home layouts and extra features. Use the expertise and knowledge of people that have "been there" and can help you by sharing their experiences.

6. If possible, put more money into the kitchen and bathrooms. If you need to cut back on the cost of building your home, try to make concessions in areas besides your kitchen and bathrooms. These rooms will contribute the most to the value of your home and will be the biggest selling points if you decide to move in a few years.

Common Home Building Mistakes

Landon Homes | Old Sebastian Point

You've been planning to build your dream home, but you haven't got a lot of construction experience. Regardless of how much of the building you plan to do yourself, the process is exciting but potentially risky. You will most likely work with a number of hired professionals at every stage of the build from the original framing work to the final finishing touches. Unfortunately, at every stage of home building there are a number of mistakes that can lead to costly consequences. Here are the top 5 home building mistakes that plague a new build.

You're No Expert
Many people who dream of their new home also want to get their hands dirty in the process. DIY can be exciting and satisfying but it is important to know your own limitations. You may think that you'll save yourself money by doing some or most of the work yourself, but if you haven't got the necessary skills or tools, you'll probably cost yourself more than you save. Ultimately, you want to build a solid, safe, and dependable home and to achieve this you will want to work with some professionals. Make sure to accurately assess your DIY abilities and hire professionals to help along the way.

Choosing Materials

You're building your home on a budget, which means you are going to look for cost savings wherever possible. Obviously, you're paying for the project so you have final say, but always choosing the cheapest materials is not always advisable. Inexpensive materials usually offer less in the way of durability. Speak to your contractor about the different materials available and ask for recommendations about what suits your budget and your long-term needs best.

Poor Planning

From financial planning to construction planning, there are pitfalls aplenty during the build of your new home. If you have limited experience building homes, you should take even more time to plan the build. Develop a budget that respects your long-term financial needs, and stick to that budget. You should work closely with an experienced contractor to ensure that your budget is feasible, and he'll also be able to help you plan your build so that you have fewer financial surprises down the road.

Hiring the Low-Baller

As is the case with materials, hiring the cheapest professional is not always advisable. While saving money on labor costs now helps you keep within your budget, those professionals that provide you with a low-ball bid are likely scrimping somewhere important. For example, the cheapest contractor may employ inexperienced workers, and ultimately the workmanship on your home suffers.

Location, Location, Location

Even though you don't have complete freedom when deciding where to build your home, you still have important choices to make. You want to build somewhere that you actually want to live, so avoid lots near busy streets or those in proximity to industrial parks. But location is about more than just appeal; factors like soil conditions, hills, sources of water on the property, and the slope of the property may interfere with construction and increase building costs.

How to Find the Right Home Building Location

One of the basic steps in building your new home is deciding where you want to build it. Home designs vary widely, along with the different home building locations to choose from.

Decide on what type of neighborhood you want to live in. It is good to drive around different areas. Take some notes. If you see an empty lot, take note about its location and try to imagine having your home there. If that lot is listed with a realtor, take note of their names and contact numbers.

Landon Homes | Old Sebastian Point

You might also want to consider the distance of the site to your workplace. If you have children, then you might also want to know how far the school is. Other important places would be the nearest hospitals, clinics, and police stations.

o Find out if the lot is developed or undeveloped. You can expect the developed land to be less expensive in building your home. Developed land already has existing streets, gas, sewer, and electric lines. All you have to do is tap into these services to connect your new home.

A disadvantage is that many of the developed lots may have already been sold and built on, especially if it is a highly popular development. But if you opt to settle at a quiet and rural home building location, then undeveloped land is not a problem as long as you are aware of the additional costs involved. Undeveloped land has no gas, sewer, and electric lines. Developing such land will add to the expense of building your home and should be budgeted into the cost from the beginning of the project.

o Consider the topography of the land. Is it suitable for your building plans? A steep or hilly lot is ideal for a house with a walk-out basement. However, this requires a lot of excavating to make the land suitable for that type of house.

o Learn about the zoning laws and building restrictions. Be sure that the lot where you want to build your home is zoned for residential use. Also, check with the local building commission so that you will know if there are restrictions on the type of home that can be built in that particular area.

o Be ready for additional costs. If you have chosen a lot in a new development, find out if there is a Home Owners' Association and if you are required to join. If so, you would need to know the annual fee. Being a member of the Home Owners' Association can be beneficial. It can provide neighborhood amenities. It can also pay for some of the maintenance fees.

However, the Home Owners' Association may have rules such as how tall your grass is allowed to grow, the maintenance of the exterior of your home, and even the decorations that are acceptable for the holidays.

When looking at the price of a lot, also check on the cost of similar lots. Then, price compare to the lot of your choice. You want your lot as well as your home to be a good investment. If you plan on selling your home in the future, then you want a location/property that is likely to make a good profit.

There are many home building locations to choose from. In the end, it usually comes down to which property suits your budget and meets your lifestyle needs.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3764252

Eight Steps to Home Building - Saving Guide

Landon Homes | Pablo Creek Reserve

Are you building your home? Apply home building saving guide to uncover home building plans, building lot location, home plans, residence construction specs, contractors, construction project guides, and also just about anything to total a home building decision.

1 - Get Prepared

We will present you just how to utilize easy organizing procedures to make the most of ones time too as prevent stress and also chaos. Home building decision isn't easy, this is the very first step in home building.

2 - Select Your Construction Team

Constructing a home is all about working together. Starting from day one, you will be building a working relationship with numerous folks and also personalities.

3 - Get Your Economic Reports Together

Your monetary strength will determine the framework for the size, style, composition, and also location of your house. So that you can get towards the bottom line question, you must do a complete and accurate economic analysis in your home building plans.

4 - How do You Strategy a Budget

A nicely planned budget is vital for obtaining construction and also mortgage loans, keeping construction costs under control and also having stress-free mortgage obligations over the period of your loan.

5 - What Home's Design do You Like

From the roof to the foundation-and anything in between-you will have a fantastic deal of style choices, product or service choices, and decorating decisions to make.
6 - Uncover the Ideal Home Program

The strategy you select will not only ascertain your homes cost and how well your house will fit your land as well as community, but it will likewise effect how nicely your loved ones will live together even long right after moving into your brand new residence.

7 - Learn concerning the Anatomy of the Residence - Residence Structure

If you know nothing in regards to the construction of a residence...do not be scared you aren't alone. Not everyone is aware every thing about home-building. Nonetheless, should you want your experience to become successful and rewarding you require to know much more than just the basics.

You will find a number of elements that are essential to the function of the nicely balanced house. Some are required, others are optional, but all need to become considered. If you know nothing in regards to the internal elements of a house, or you don't do your research, you could end up with some real problems. Always, always, usually discover out what is needed for your home and also its proper installation-from the correct source.

8 - How as well as Where to Find Excellent Creating Goods

Have you been searching the internet for home building goods but you can not appears to keep track of all the web sites? When you take the time to investigation creating goods properly, the selection making procedure becomes much easier. Therefore, it's wise follow a research plan to be able to utilize your research time effectively.

Tips For Controlling Home Building Costs

Landon Homes | Payasada Estates Home

Home building cost overruns can plague any home building or remodeling project. This occurs so frequently that it is recommended you include a 5 - 10% contingency fund in your budget. This will be used for items that you will have no control over, such as problems found with the land once excavation has begun.

Use the 5 tips in this article to control home building costs & minimize cost overruns.

Tip 1: Planning Your Home Building Costs Take the time to plan on paper what you want your house to look like. When doing your budget, visit stores to look at appliances, fixtures, cabinets, flooring, etc. In doing so, you will have a clearer idea of what you want and more importantly, what it will cost. Then, build that amount into your budget so there are no surprises later.

Tip 2: Specify Home Building Materials When working with a contractor, be sure that the specific materials you expect to be used are included in the bid and subsequently, in the contract. If your plans say wood floors and you are expecting teak and get oak, your recourse is limited because you did not specify it in writing.

Tip 3: Change Orders If you take the time to plan your home building project on paper before breaking ground, you can minimize the number of Change Orders. Change Orders frequently increase the cost of your project because they were not planned for in the original budgeting. If you agree to a change order and there is an expense involved, you are responsible for those costs unless the contractor has agreed he will pay for the change. Depending upon the extent of the change, it can involve modifying the original plans and having the local building authority review the changes including the labor and materials. Always keep an eye on any changes to the original plan and design and take the time to determine the financial impact of the change on your project. Changes to construction projects represent the single most common reason a project goes over budget and/or the completion is delayed. Take the time to plan before you build.

Tip 4: Size, Style and Shape of the Home These three factors can significantly contribute to the cost of building your dream home.

Size - Work with even numbers and have your home size rounded up or down to increments of two (2) feet. This reduces wasted materials. Also, build a home no deeper than 32 feet to eliminate the need for specially designed trusses.
Style - Typically, it will cost less to build a two-story home than a one-story home of similar square footage. A two-story home will have a smaller roof and foundation. In addition, plumbing and ventilation are more compact in two-story homes.
Shape - Having more corners and angles will increase the amount of labor and materials needed to build your dream home. A rectangular or box shaped home will cost less to build.

Tip 5: Two Most Common Times for Cost Overruns The beginning of your home building & construction project - when you are doing excavation and possibly putting in a well. You won't know what is under the ground until you begin to excavate. If you are drilling for a well, you will have no control over how far down you will need to drill for water. This is where having a contingency fund is essential.

The second most common time for a cost overrun is near the end of the project when you are selecting your finishes, i.e., cabinets, counter-tops, lighting and plumbing fixtures, flooring, appliances, etc. If you took the time to shop around before you did your budget, you can more easily stay within your budget when you do your final selections.

Cost overruns are common in any home building project, but with knowledge and planning they can be kept within manageable boundaries.

For New Home Construction, Practicality Is Key

Landon Homes | Custom Home

The hottest trends in new home construction are not things like glass sinks and marble floors. Ostentatious architectural behemoths are no longer being seen in newly created neighborhood. New homebuilders are listening to buying trends, watching their pennies and making wise eco-friendly choices in materials. Practicality is the new key word in the home building industry.

Perhaps, the biggest change in new home construction is the size of the home itself. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average size of new US homes dropped between 2007 and 2009. The overall size of a new home shrunk from 10% to 15%, which in turn brings down the price of the property. Buyers no longer see the need or have the funds to care for the spacious way of living anymore. Amenities are still present, quality finishings are still used, granite countertops are still popular but the kitchens and bathrooms are smaller.

Energy efficiency is the next biggest trend in new home construction, which is not surprising. Builders are using better methods of construction, choosing to spend money in areas that will not only make the home more green but will also appeal to the buyer's wallet. Choosing better windows that help maintain a higher R-value in the home is one way to increase energy efficiency. Properly sealing duct work so the homeowner gets the maximum possible benefit of air flow, is now a regular part of home construction. Using closed cell spray foam insulation in walls, cavities and attics, instead of pink batted insulation, increases the home's R-value tremendously. Perhaps, builders are choosing to construct energy efficient homes for the good of the environment. Or perhaps, it is an attempt to stay competitive in a market where foreclosure real estate is cheap and plentiful. Either way, the buyer benefits.

Anyone who has been in the real estate market for a few years knows that the best way to increase the value of your home is updating the kitchen and/or bathrooms. The reverse is also true if your intention is to decrease building costs. New home-builders have begun to scale back the size of kitchens. Bathrooms are losing square footage as well, but they are also decreasing in numbers. Homes, previously having two or three bathrooms, will now have one or two depending on the number of bedrooms. The kids' exclusive bathroom or a downstairs' powder room is no longer the trend. Most often there is the main bathroom for guests and an ensuite half bathroom for those who occupy the master bedroom. Resort style door-less showers are now a rarity in new homes. Instead, there is the built in linen closet. The kitchen is smaller but as the most used room in the home, it is constructed with practicality in mind. Traditionally, this is a multi-use space so new home-builders are adding features for those uses. Perhaps, there will be a charging station for cell phones and laptops. Or the ability to sit in multiples ways; at a breakfast bar, at a kitchen table or at a built in desk area.

In Europe, laundry facilities in the home are traditionally located in the kitchen. In North America, we do not see that too often. However, the practicality of the arrangement is pleasing and perhaps new home builders will catch on at some point. For now there does seem to be a trend towards building a dedicated and organised laundry room on the main level of the house. Instead of sticking the washer and dryer in the basement or a closet, home-builders are creating a dedicated space. Now the never-ending mundane task of laundry can be completed without bumping elbows with the furnace or closet doors. Plus if space allows, the laundry room can double as a mud-room.

As the US continues to struggle with recovery from the infamous economic downturn of 2007, home-owners will continue to seek ways to lower the cost of living. Foreclosure sales are great if you have the cash in hand but those homes do not necessarily come with the components to make the cost of living less. Rooms will usually be larger and more expensive to heat. More bathrooms means a higher water bill. Most homes are not properly insulated, which is a huge factor in energy consumption. Windows today are far more energy efficient than even five years ago. If you are looking to get into the real estate market, take a good hard look at new home construction. After all, practicality is key.

The Basic Home Construction Process

Landon Homes | Adams Lake Model

We don't always have a good idea what happens during the construction process of our homes. For this reason, a lot of home buyers ask a lot of questions such as: How long will the house take to build? What does the construction process involve? When can they visit the site?

If you find yourself asking the same questions, this article will help you understand the basic home construction process; although this article only offers a brief overview, it will still help you get a general idea of how the construction process works.

Stage One: Pre-Construction

Before the home construction begins, the floor plans must first be developed, finalized, and then submitted to the municipal office for review to get a building permit. The building permit is needed for various construction work including electrical, sewer connection, septic system, plumbing, and home building. Additionally, the home builders will also perform site tests to examine the soil, the capacity of the ground, water table, and environmental tests.

Stage Two: Foundation

After getting the necessary building permit and doing all the initial tests, the land of your house will be prepared. The topsoil will be removed and piled somewhere else to be used later on. Excavation is also done, along with the footings- which are concrete slabs to support the wall foundation, are formed and poured. The wall foundations are also erected. This process may use concrete temporary wooden forms or preserved wood, or permanent insulated blocks. Weeping tiles are also installed so that the ground moisture will be drained away from the house. During this phase, the home builder may ask you to decide on flooring, cabinets, tiles, and many more.

Stage Three: Framing

This phase involves erecting a framing skeleton. The exterior sheeting is also applied or other framing technique can also be used. Frames are also constructed on the floor, one wall at a time and then lifted in place. The windows and doors are also installed during this stage.

During this process, the basement floor is also constructed and installed. Electrical and plumbing are roughed in, along with the heating, cooling, and ventilation. During this stage, the municipality will conduct a structural inspection to make sure that the house is built according to the building codes. Electrical and plumbing inspections will also be conducted.

Stage Four: Interior and exterior work

During the next stage, interior and interior work will be done at the same time; thus, proper scheduling must be observed. The insulation of the exterior walls is done, heating and cooling systems are installed, and vapor barrier will be applied. During this process, the walls and ceilings will also be painted, the flooring is laid, and the cabinets for the kitchen and bathroom are installed. These are just some of the work involved during this stage. Additionally, during this stage, the homebuilder will stay in contact with you to keep you updated on the construction progress.

Three Top Reasons For Opting For New Home Building

Landon Homes | Beach Haven Model

New home construction is often a better option than buying an existing home. Getting your dream home constructed is the best way to fulfill your specific residential needs. There are several benefits of getting a new home built, such as energy efficiency, modern decor, latest appliances, customized design and cost effective construction. However, you should consider a few things before you actually get your home constructed, such as:

1. Select a reliable builder with an excellent track record.

2. Select the design and layout for the home after proper consideration.

3. Don't forget to check with the builder during each construction phase.

4. Remember to keep a check on the amount of money being spent.

5. Try to time box the whole process.

According to official reports on residential construction trends in the metropolitan regions of America, the number of residential units constructed annually, between the years 2001 and 2005, grew substantially across all regions. However, a sharp decline in the construction of residential units was observed between 2006 and 2007. The decline rate was higher in single family units than in multifamily units.

Here are top three reasons that have made new home construction the preferred option:

Tailored Design

You can decide on the design depending on your particular requirements and tastes, such as a spacious home office to conduct business, an extra bedroom for guests, a gourmet kitchen, choice of flooring, etc. Also, if you take well thought out decisions during the building process, you will not need to redecorate your home for a long time. Building your own home also ensures that your home is constructed according to your life style and other functional needs.

Modern Facilities and Energy Efficiency

In case you opt to buy a preexisting home, you may have to face several problems, such as lack of adequate insulation, inefficient and obsolete appliances, leaky window panes and chipped tiles. New home construction enables you to install the latest, energy efficient materials, such as energy saving appliances, advanced energy saving windows and high R-value insulation. These energy efficient appliances help to reduce electricity consumption and result in long-term savings.

Superior Quality Workmanship

Hiring the services of reliable and experienced home builders eliminates concerns that are otherwise associated with buying a preexisting home. Further, the superior quality of workmanship ensures that the job gets done in the best possible manner.

Renovate or Reinvent? 7 Reasons Why Building a New Home May Be Your Best Choice

Are you wondering whether you are better off going out and building your dream home from scratch, or buying an existing house and renovating it to suit your needs? Everyone's situation is unique, but here are 7 powerful reasons why building a new home may serve you better than trying to re-create a house that already exists.

1. It's your own dream! When you build from scratch, you can design the home of your dreams. You create the house the way you want it, to suit your family's individual needs and priorities.
2. No skeletons in the closet. The existing housing stock is invariably old, and in need of renovation, requiring more money. Often, when you buy an existing home, you will need to replace plumbing, and install a new kitchen, and and and. These costs add up fast.
3. Location location location. Many people believe that they can't afford to build new in the location of their choice, and can only choose from the existing housing stock. In reality, there are many small to medium builders who can build you a new home in the location you desire at a competitive price. Their building techniques differ from Volume Builders which allows them to access more challenging blocks, without charging the Earth.
4. New homes, well built, require little maintenance. The older the existing home, the greater the maintenance that is needed, whether you tackle these jobs yourself, or hire someone to do them for you. This includes attending to hot water systems that may be antiquated, spouting, roofing and decking. When a good builder puts it in place new, then you will have no headaches about any of these areas.
5. Orientation. You can design the orientation of your home specifically to suit your land, maximizing your particular location both for view and for sunlight.
6. Save money. Lots of money. When you maximize your orientation to North, and build accordingly, you save enormously in your ongoing costs of living, both for heating and cooling.
7. Last but not least, New Houses are better built. Much better. Building standards have improved enormously in recent years, now incorporating 6 star energy efficiency, and double glazed windows. Double glazed windows will make a house more comfortable, far beyond most people's expectations.

So while you will have your own check list to consider, take some time to look beyond any apparent differences in cost and feasibility. Building new does not have to be a financial nightmare, if you find the right builder. And in terms of comfort, quality, ongoing expenses, and your freedom to bring your own dreams to life, building your own home will often prove to be by far the most satisfying solution.

3 Fatal Mistakes When Buying A New Home

Buying a new home is truly an exciting venture and if its family home then its even more exciting. A home is so much more than just a roof over your head. It reflects your life, your lifestyle and gives a family that sense of belonging and feeling safe inside the four walls. Apart from that, any home is a significant investment and its probably the biggest investment you will ever make. For that very reason its important that you make the investment wisely.

So many people make silly mistakes when buying a new home. Some mistakes can be costly financially while some mistakes can cost you in terms of space and comfort. Lets quickly look at 3 very common mistakes.

1. Impulse Buying
Buying a pair of shoes on impulse is probably okay. Buying a new home on impulse definitely ain't. So many people get swept up by their excitement when they first see a home they really like and end up buying it - on impulse. You need to set your emotions aside when making any investment and look at it from a practical and logical perspective.

2. Location
No matter what property you buy, location is critically important. No matter how great the property, you need to look at the broader context to truly access its value. Proximity to schools, public transport and amenities are very important aspects that can affect the resale value of the property.

3. Price
No matter what you are buying there is one important thing that is always negotiable and that is the price. Sellers want to get as much as possible while buyers want to save as much as possible. Its important that you always get an accurate evaluation of the value of the property in the current market and never pay more than that.

The Benefits of New Home Construction

Landon Homes | Kingsmil Home

New home construction has a number of benefits. When you're in the market for a new home, you have to determine if you want a new home or a pre-owned home. This means you have to consider costs and features to figure out where the best deals are. To learn of all the benefits, you have to find the right builder. Once you locate the right builder, the benefits become more and more obvious.

When you're looking at new home construction, you have to remember that no one else has ever lived in the home. This means that you're not inheriting someone else's problems. Many people buy homes but don't truly know how to take care of them. This means that you may find all sorts of problems with wiring, plumbing and even cleanliness as you get situated into the home. With a new home, you don't have those issues.

You also have to remember that with new home construction, you're the one making all of the decisions. You get to choose the color schemes, the design of the tile, the color on the walls, the wood on the cabinets and everything more. If you buy a pre-existing home, you're stuck with someone else's decisions. If you want to change anything, you have to spend thousands of dollars with a contractor to do so. Even a DIY project can cost a significant amount of money.

With new home construction, you are in charge of many details. You not only get to choose the details about the interior but you get to choose the lot you want and much more. When you buy pre-owed, you buy what's on the market. If there are no homes on a corner or in a cul-de-sac, you have to take what's available, whether you like it or not. A new home being constructed gives you a little more power about all of the little decisions.

Ultimately, you have to decide what you want. When you buy a new home, you want to be happy with everything. This includes location, interior and exterior. With a new home, you have two options: new construction or pre-owned. A pre-owned home is completely left up to the market. You choose where you want to live and a realtor tells you what's available. You must then choose from what's available at the time you're looking. With new home construction, many of the decisions are left up to you to make.

You may only have a limited budget to spend. With new home construction, your money may go farther. Part of this is because you're not dealing with an individual that's emotional about their house. Many homeowners charge more than what the home is actually worth because there's sentimental value rolled into the price. You shouldn't have to pay more just because someone is emotionally connected to the house you want to buy.

Before you rule out new home construction as being too expensive, think again. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you get and what it will cost.

If you're looking for a new home builder that will act as your partner in the residential home construction process, call Landon Homes. Landon Homes is a Jacksonville home builder that listens to your wants and needs.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7555883

Green is More Than a Trend, It's a Standard in Home Building

With help from the new first-time home buyer tax credit and improving rates on home mortgages, the long downswing in production activity is slowly but surely putting us back on track to a healthy housing market."- Sandy Dunn, former president of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The road back to a healthy housing market must include green and sustainable design and building techniques. Old ways of building, without concern for the environment and energy consumption will be replaced with careful consideration of each site environment and ways to incorporate renewable energy. Every positive action counts.

From the vantage point of a home builder, any improvement to any portion of the building process helps the environment. An incredible 40% of energy consumption in the United States is attributed to residential buildings, and of that, 32% is consumed in heating and cooling.

Homeowners desiring to make the largest effect for the smallest effort & investment will build a better insulated, energy efficient home with renewable heating and cooling systems, utilizing natural day-lighting and incorporating a renewable energy system such as solar to produce hot water and/or electricity or geothermal system, which uses stable ground or water temperatures near the earth's surface to provide heating, air conditioning, and in most cases, hot water.

Small steps in aggregate will have an enormous impact on our global environment - and give you a comfortable, energy efficient home with a great return on your investment.

Landon Homes is a locally owned and staffed new home construction company in Northeast Florida that is committed to a personal, hands-on approach to building homes. Our goal is to not only build an exceptional home, but also deliver an memorable homebuilding experience for our customers. Communication, honesty, integrity, a commitment to doing it right, and creating a relationship that extends beyond the home sale and closing are our top priorities when helping homeowners discover their dream home. Once in their new home, homeowners can rest assured that we will stand behind our product long after the sale. Give us a call today (904) 567-3430 and let's get started!

5 Reasons to Build a New Home

More and more people are interested in building a new home rather than buying a fixer-upper that could take years and thousands upon thousands of additional costs to complete. When you build new, you'll have the luxury of a comfortable living space that will SAVE you thousands of dollars through the years by reducing the waste of energy.

Below are 5 Reasons to Build a New Home

1. New Heating and Cooling System. When you build a new home you'll get "top of the line" Heating and Cooling equipment to make sure you can keep your house comfortable while these ENERGY STAR rated products use and waste far less energy. These new HVAC systems can sometimes pay for themselves within the first few years.
2. New Appliances. Once again, look for that ENERGY STAR appliances such as a refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, lighting fixtures, fans, etc. These new appliances use less energy and will last A LOT longer than your old stuff. If you find the right home building company, they will include appliances within their overall bid so you'll be able to see the savings.
3. New Windows. Windows are one of the major problem areas when it comes to wasting energy. Older windows will send your dollars "flying out the window" since they are not usually "air tight" like new windows would be. ENERGY STAR windows can also allow less sunlight to shine through on the hot summer days, while keeping your warm air inside during the cold winter days.
4. Properly Sealed Air Ducts. Air Ducts are where you'll lose the most money. 15-20% of air is lost through cracked and leaking air duct systems. These crack and leaks can also bring unwelcome moisture and dust within your home. With a newly built home and a newly built air duct system you will save a significant amount of money through the years. We are all looking to lessen our carbon footprints in this world of high energy costs anyways, so why not build new and start living Green.
5. New Insulation. With building a new home comes newly installed insulation. Insulation can slide and become less effective through the years. With new insulation installed and installed properly, you'll be able to control the climate of your home and save A LOT of money with no problem at all.

The more economical choice really would be to build a new home rather than buying and fixing up an older home. You'll be able to save energy and save money by building a brand new energy efficient home. When looking for your dream home, why not build new, customize it just the way you want it, and enjoy a climate controlled environment that will allow your dollars to start working for you.. instead of always working against you. With all the "fixer-upper" projects your could potentially run into if you buy an older house, it's worth the extra up front money to just build a brand new home.

If you're considering building a new home, give Landon Homes a call today (904) 567-3430 and let's get started.