There are very successful general contractors who would say I am not making money by being out in the field….Money is made in the office. I agree with that philosophy; however, I really enjoy being in the field. I guess I will never be in the 1% when I retire! It was apparent to me at an early age that I would rather be outside than eat when I’m hungry. Wearing a suit, sitting in an office and carrying a briefcase was never in my future.

If you drove by one of my under construction custom homes on Wednesday this week, you would have seen me there after the end of the regular work day taking care of business. You would have had no clue that I was Matt Grace, the owner of Grace Construction, Inc. I am a hands on small business owner and like it that way. When I take on a contract for a custom home or start a spec home, I want to ensure that the work is happening on schedule, meeting regulatory standards and of the quality that I and my customers expect. I can’t do that from my office, or by sitting in my truck in the driveway of a current project – I have to see it up close myself.

Much of what I do is about relationships. My vendors and sub contractors know my expectations, but they also know that I will be checking on the quality of materials and work in process. The inspectors who evaluate our work know that I will take care of any issues noted without making a scene or wasting their time. Knowing the folks I do business with on a daily basis is important. You can learn a lot about a person from just talking about their weekend, favorite sport or family. You just don’t get the same connection from a text, phone mail or email. Don’t get me wrong – My phone rings and pings constantly but technology will never take the place of face to face interactions for me.

 

Have you ever heard people who have just moved into a new home say…..I wish I had thought of that when I was building or I wish my contractor had suggested that to me? I’ve said before that planning is the most important part of the process and NOW is the time to do it. Whether you are ready to build, thinking about remodeling or just planning for your dream home you can’t spend enough time in the planning phase.

I thought I would share some of the things I have heard homeowners tell me that they want in their homes and some things they wish they had included. This post will cover the Kitchen, Baths and Laundry/Mud Room. Let’s take it area by area:

Kitchen

Recess the refrigerator
Add outlets in the pantry for charging
Built in paper towel holder
Small appliance “garage” with outlets – easy access locations to store small appliances
Set up for both gas and electric appliances in case you change later
Pantry light with motion sensor
Drawers for all lower cabinets
Two soap pumps on sink – one for hand soap and one for dish soap
More can lights and under cabinet lighting
Switches to turn off all lights in kitchen as you exit
Knife drawer

 

 

 

Baths

Outlet in master toilet closet for night light
Outlets inside vanity cabinets upper and lower
Make sure master bath tub is easy to access as you age – isn’t too deep 

High ceilings in bath and extra-large walk in showers are COLD
Design shower with aging in mind –  with no lip to step over, grab rails and deep shower seat
Pull out step stool under vanity

 

Laundry Room / Mud Room

You can’t make the laundry room big enough
Built in cubbies in mud room with outlet in each for all family members
Pull out laundry baskets and bins
Built in ironing board
Elevate washer and dryer and add storage underneath
Built in drying rack and folding table
Sink

In my next post I’ll share ideas for the Bedroom, Closets and Outdoor Areas.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the hardest things for a client building a new home is to see the unfinished product and not worry.  The construction process is a bit of Art and Science and it’s the Art part that is hard to visualize for most.

When a homeowner walks into their slab foundation home during the framing process and sees small stress cracks in the concrete slab they have trouble understanding that “it’s normal” and does not negatively impact the integrity of the foundation.  Once the trim is installed but before the painters have sanded and caulked, the homeowner walks in and all they see is the gap between the trim and the ceiling.  When the cabinets have just been set in place and anchored the homeowner sees the gap between the doors and is concerned but that gap is easily adjusted by the contractor after the finish process.  My point here is that you have to wait for the work to be finished.

As a contractor I am glad to answer questions as we go along and have become quite good at responding to home owners concerns.  The bottom line is that you need to choose a contractor with integrity who ensures that the underlying quality of the structure is top notch.  The true value of the home is in the structural integrity.  The cosmetics are important…but you have to wait for it!

Why do millennials get a bad rap?  I’m an older millennial born in 1981 and I don’t understand it.  We are generally a generation of tech savvy, financially conservative guys and gals who think the home is for enjoying – not a status symbol. The home is for LIVING!  What is so hard to understand about that?  We don’t need expansive formal rooms with ornate trim or gigantic master bedrooms and master closets.  What we need is a smaller functional home that offers utility and flexibility and is simple and also stylish.  Our homes should be comfortable, easy to maintain, eco-friendly, energy efficient and a good value for our money.

As a builder who now builds not only custom homes but starter homes – I get it.  Many millennial buyers are searching for a highly functional home within their budget.  They might ask –  What floor plan offers the most usable space for our money? Many articles I read are calling it the  ” Responsive Home” – one that responds to the owner and their needs.

What I have seen is that a builder needs to listen to their potential client, not talk to them about the cookie cutter plan that has been working for the last 20 years.  With some research and my personal impressions, I have listed below what the “typical” millennial home buyer may like.  Given there are about 90 million millennials in the United States I’m sure there is a lot of variation in what “typical” is and it will vary based on the region – but here goes for my area and personal preference:

• The most square footage and usable space for the money
• Open floor plan that offers options to expand later on if they like the area and the family is growing
• Wireless Automation
• Lots of windows to give natural light
• Outdoor room – not necessarily a big one
• Room to entertain inside and out
• Low maintenance  exterior and yard
• Flex space dedicated to organization and work ( home office becoming more popular with growth of work at home opportunities)
• Home theatre wiring and sound
• Location with good internet and wireless service and good schools
• Scrap the built-in bookcases – they have tablets and e-readers – focus on good lighting and lots of outlets for charging
• NOT BEIGE – Grays with bold accents
• Unique affordable features – Functional separate laundry room with landing zone for STUFF or niches for charging stations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes I just shake my head when I hear how some contractors do business and how naïve homeowners can be.  Recently I quoted a substantial home remodeling job.  I always offer to bring over the quote to review with the homeowner face-to-face so that we are on the same page as far as what I have quoted and the allowances that are taken into account.  Many times the homeowner just wants me to email the quote since they are anxious to see it.  In this case the homeowner had gotten four so called “quotes”.

When I called to ask if they reviewed the quote and had any questions they said they were going with someone else.  They said my quote was not the highest but they were going with the lowest quote which was substantially less than the other three.  The difference was so significant that I had to ask a few questions and when I asked them  whether they were sure that we had quoted the same work, quality and allowances they said they only had a total price from the contractor they were going with and did not have anything in writing or any of the details.

I spent probably 7 hours of my time let alone the time of my sub contractors and vendors making sure that I had everything they asked for included in the quote and provided a specific detailed estimate showing exactly what they would get for their money.  I had outlined the allowances for all of the fixtures, carpet, tile, etc.  The homeowner had a PDF of the plans but not a copy and I had even gone to have a print copy made so I had the exact information.

I know that I will do many quotes where I will not get the work for one reason or another.  Sometimes the reason is out of my control but I know that taking the time to do thorough quotes benefits the homeowner and myself.

The message I want you to take away is to proceed with caution when a  contractor tells you that he/she can do exactly what you want for the budget you have set without giving you anything in writing to show what you are paying for and what he/she is committing to.  In that situation someone is going to be VERY disappointed in the end and it’s probably going to be YOU.

I’m not what I would call a superstitious person but I do think there are signs that mean something.  The last home that I built was for a couple in their 60’s who wanted their forever home.  I worked with them to ensure that the home would accommodate their needs in their later years and even if confined to a wheelchair.  They are very happy in the new home and in the neighborhood they selected.  Recently, when visiting them, a storm came through and quickly was replaced by the photo that you see above.  Now is this a good sign or what?

 

 

My clients experienced an “AH-HA” moment recently when I was estimating their new custom home. The clients are in their 60’s and thinking about aging as they picked out a house plan. Of course they wanted the living space to be all on one floor to allow for ease of access and to include handicap accessible options should that be needed in the future. They looked around the area before deciding to build and actually really liked the house I was just completing that was about the same square feet they were looking for. Once I had prepared the estimate for them they were confused by how the similarly sized home they wanted to build was more per square foot than the one they had looked at earlier. I naturally went back and checked all of my pricing and calculations and told them the numbers were correct and the estimate remained the same. I then explained to them the difference between the cost to build up versus the cost to build out:

 BUILD UP – Two Story Home – Pro’s: Ability to add considerable square footage without adding cost for roofing and foundation materials- -Can purchase Smaller Lot since the footprint is smaller

BUILD OUT – One Story Home – Pro’s: Can Age in Place and live more independently since all on one floor, No stairs for Arthritic knees or baby gates for  toddlers, Parents and Children on Same Floor, Easier Egress in case of Emergency- Provides multiple choices for Ceiling height and Can accommodate Vaulted or Tray ceilings since no second story.

Each family needs to look at their personal preferences, financial situation and items they are not willing to give up or compromise.  With these things in mind discuss with your contractor what makes sense for your situation before you make any firm decisions.

The popularity of Craftsman architecture, both old and new, lies in the fact that it looks like home.” [/su_pullquote]

The floor plan for the house I’m building at 1001 Vicksburg Drive in Winterville, NC was designed by another builder who refers to it as a Traditional Craftsman style. I’ll be putting a few of my own ideas into the finished product but thought you might be interested in knowing some of the key design features of the original ” Craftsman Design” and it’s history. The first true craftsman style started in California in the 1900’s  with open floor plans and influence from Spanish missions, Japanese Imperial buildings and the Arts and Crafts movement.  Two brothers, Charlie and Henry Greene are credited with the original American Craftsman style architectural designs and many of their original craftsman style bungalows can still be seen today.  Henry Wilson and Gustav Stickley were key in making the Craftsman design popular. Stickley, in his magazine The Craftsman, that was published between 1901 – 1916; used the magazine and catalogs to sell house plans and strong, simple home furnishing. In each issue those interested in the Arts and Crafts movement could find a unique Craftsman floor plan. Wilson also wrote a book in 1910 titled, The Bungalow Book, that showed photo’s and floor plans for 112 bungalow style homes.

Popularity of the Craftsman home spread across the United States driven by the growing middle class and has seen a resurgence in the past 10 years.  Quality and value is now very important and the pre-housing slump “McMansion“, no longer represents the lifestyle or values of the average family. Robert Winter, an author and lecturer, summed it up in these words; ” The popularity of Craftsman architecture, both old and new, lies in the fact that it looks like home.”

Today, the Craftsman style home takes on many forms and maintains a lot of the unique characteristics and quality of the original architects and artisans.  I am a craftsman and love the history and inherent quality and usability of a Craftsman design…..not to mention that I love to build houses and would enjoy talking with you about your plans for a new home.

 

Some Identifying Features of the Craftsman Style Home

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• Low pitched roof
• Natural materials
• Open floor plan
• Broad eaves
• Porches with tapered columns
• Brick or stone fireplace

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• Shingle or lapped siding
• Knee braces and exposed beams
• Multi lights over single pane
• Multiple windows together in banks
• Built in custom crafted cabinetry
• Dormers of various styles

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Pictures below are of the Edward Schulmerich home (1915) and the Abernathy-Shaw Home (1908) both are original Craftsman designs. (images from Wikipedia)

When I started the planning process for the current spec house we’re building, I tried to think about anything unexpected that might pop up or issues that I would have to address.  Some of the potential culprits that came to mind were:

• Would there be delays in finalizing the financing
• Would skilled, reliable sub contractors be available when I need them
• Would material prices increase significantly between estimate and purchase
• Would the home sell in a reasonable time

I was trying to prepare in advance for contingencies and think about what my headaches would be.  Never, did I once think that ” Mother Nature” would be numero uno on my list.  While I was thinking ” SPRING”  mother nature could not let go of “OLD MAN WINTER.”    It has rained, snowed, sleeted, iced and every other form of precipitation known to man since I put up the permit board.  I hadn’t expected the delays to be that the lot was so wet the concrete truck would get stuck and have to wait for the next truck load to pull it out or that my dumpster would be filled with limbs and debris rather than construction materials   or that the rain would have to stop and the plastic dry before we could pass inspection.

This is where the idea of “Don’t sweat the small stuff”  comes into play.  I need to frequently refer to the chart below since I doubt I will ever be able to control Mother Nature……Although the bad weather is inconvenient it will change soon and we’ll be wishing it was not so hot, humid and dry.

According to the National Home Builders Association 2014 is stacking up to be a good year for new home construction and remodeling which makes me happy since that is how I make my living.  I clearly remember the day I was told that my employer could no longer afford to keep a superintendent for his custom home building business.  He probably kept me on his payroll longer than he should have and I am truly grateful to him for that and for all that he taught me in those 7 years.  I was scared as you can imagine, but decided that with my technical and trade skills and General Contractor license I could try to make it in this tough economy by picking up any type of work that was available.   In order to have more opportunities I learned to do all types of tile and flooring installation and was able to make it financially when many did not.  It’s now been several years and Grace Construction, Inc. is a successful small business and we look forward to growth in 2014.

13 Top Remodeling/Building Trends for 2014:

 

Remodeling:

• Granite is still the favorite countertop but expect to see more Quartz in 2014 –   Quartz is nonporous and there is no need to seal and it doesn’t crack or stain
•  More homeowners are choosing to mix and match counter tops in the kitchen and you will see quartz counters and marble or granite islands in the same room
• Stainless Steel appliances are still the most requested and that will remain the same
• Limited use of bold colors in the kitchen or throughout the house as far as paint goes but you will see bold accents like in a backsplash or pillows but not on the walls

 Design:

• Open Kitchen plans will continue to gain popularity because families want the kitchen to open up to the living spaces to give more room and access
• 2014 is about functionality with improved storage being key – Laundry room layout and storage are critical and most folks want a linen closet in each bathroom
• Homes will be Universally designed which means the design allows for young families and/or those in their 70’s with aging needs
• Energy Savings is important in design and in appliances but green construction does not seem to be as critical

 Products:

• Electrical outlets will have USB or Usockets so that you can charge iPads and iPhones or other mobile devices
• Curb-less showers and drains will make showers accessible with a wheelchair – Newer strong and lightweight shower systems are now available to reduce curb-less installation costs
• LED kitchen lights
• One of the highest things on the kitchen wish list is a “Chef” stove in the kitchen…..gold standard is a gas six burner stove
• Hoodless range fans with little noise