I look forward to receiving the Forum Winner prize. Thanks again! Craig D., Chapel Hill, NC

More Recon

Posted to Beckynray by Becky in Powhatan, VA on 10/24/2007 7:57:00 AM

Despite my list of disappointments outlined in my last blog, we were able to find good resources at the Parade of homes.  We found one builder who we would trust if the bank required us to have a GC.  He faxed us references after our meeting and seemed to meet our criteria.  We also met with another GC , who's mill work we have admired for years,  and would be a great sub for any custom milling we would need.  We've toured Parade of Homes for so many years, that we know who is a flash in the pan, and who has built in this area for a long time.  This year we focused on homes that were not yet sheet rocked, and we looked for problems.  We tried to categorize problems as a result of a bad sub, or from a bad management (GC). 

We have also attended two trade shows this fall, and have started files on each building trade.  We met with many, many designers. Most urged us to not pay for the house plan we've picked out, but rather, to let them draft the plans "for cheaper".  We finally met with a designed who seemed ethical.  This designer is doing a lecture on green building practices on Saturday, which we plan to catch.  Every designer we have spoken to claimed to have taken all of the classes required for a BS in Architecture, but they "just never took the test". 

It looks like there are a lot of tax credits available for using energy star rated materials when builing a house.  I hope that program is still availible when we build.  There seems to be some discussion in congress to pass legislation to do away with tax deductions for mortgage interest on larger homes.  This "carbon penalty" would not apply, however,  to homes that are energy star certified, so we are going to try to be an "energy star".  Having low energy bills is a great goal in itself. 

Recon Work

Posted to Beckynray by Becky in Powhatan, VA on 10/21/2007 12:10:29 PM

We are habitual open house visitors and we have toured many houses in the Home Builders Association Parade of Homes over the past few weekends.  It reaffirms my desire to design and supervise the construction of my own home.  I don't want a loft area upstairs, which is a strong local trend.  The current style is a large loft overlooking a great room, with several tiny bedrooms hubbed off of the loft.  I'd rather have larger bedrooms with larger closets and no loft area.  I've toured house after house in the $600,000-$1.5 million range with 10x12 bedrooms.   Spec houses seem to not take efficiency of space and functionality to heart.  Because there is more square footage in the newer spec home around Richmond, compared to 20 years ago, builders waste a lot of space and don't plan out the floor plans very smartly.  Lastly, the trend of having a tv over the mantle needs to stop.  I've seen a flat panel tv over most fireplaces in the Parade of Homes.  It is at an unnaturally high location for normal viewing.  This set up wasn't too awkward when homeowners had smaller televisions.  The large plasma tvs today, however, lead to neck strain if they are located above the mantle.  

Greetings

Posted to Beckynray by Becky in Powhatan, VA on 10/17/2007 8:35:21 AM

Greetings, welcome to the Blog for Ray and Becky as they build their home in Powhatan, Virginia.  Our story unfolds with a couple stuck in limbo...we have purchased a lovely lot, in an anonymous subdivision.  We are not building until we sell our current home, and aye, there's the rub.  We have not had a single offer on our current home, despite it being in great shape and well staged.  I've put personal items in a storage unit, keep everything very clean, but our 15 year old home isn't competing very well with new construction, that is currently offered at a great discount.  We are using this lag time to thoroughly research the home we wish to build. 

Nick in Goochland, VA 3 forum posts Send Private Message 1/3/2008

Our house was on the market for 10 months before it finally sold (in Goochland). We just moved out over the weekend. We've had our lot for about a year and we are really ready to get started. Good luck to you!

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