Let Expert Home Builders in Greensboro, NC Create Your Dream House

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For anyone planning to buy a home or move to the area, knowing what options are available are a huge help. It may seem unnecessary to have a home built considering all of the homes available for sale, but a custom-built house has several advantages. Expert home builders in Greensboro, NC like Don Mills Builders, Inc. are able to work with you build the perfect house including all the amenities you’d love to have in your home. Jean Folger in her article for Investopedia talked about some of the advantages of having a new house built:

A new house may literally be better for you. “A new home is less likely to have the health concerns or toxic materials of an older home – things such as asbestos, lead paint, mold, etc.,” says Burtt. And it can be built with certain materials making it better for the environment. “Green appliances/Energy Star rated appliances, and more efficient toilets, plumbing fixtures and electrical fixtures allow you to build “green” for a more sustainable home in the long run. And you have the option to install, sleeve and/or wire for future technology upgrades, such as home automation and solar,” says Burtt.

Another advantage to having a home built to your specifications is that the house will have all the features that you want. No need to look at all the homes for sale in Greensboro, NC, checking for ones that meet your specifications; with a home built according to your plans and preferences, you’ll be quite happy to immediately move into it when it’s finished. For example, if you want a house with a specific number of bedrooms or want a home with a workshop, you can just discuss it with your trusted builder and have him include it in the construction plan.

Building from scratch also means you don’t have to worry about any of the shortcomings of previous owners. Maybe an old owner modified the house to include a lounge that you don’t want, or the windows are too small. Needless to say, renovating a house to meet your tastes can be as expensive as building a new one. Therefore, as long as you have the resources for it, it’s much easier to invest in a brand-new home that reflects your personality rather than trying to change an old one.

Building a new home can, admittedly, have a high price tag and take some time. However, considering all the advantages, it can be well worth the expense.

(Source: Should You Buy Or Build A Home?, Investopedia)

Greensboro Home Building

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    There are many key decisions to consider when planning to build a home in Greensboro. A great home is one that you are happy to wake up in every day. It is efficient in its layout and usage, is interesting yet practical, and brings joy into the very basics of living. These 8 steps will help to guide you through the process:

  1. Plan and Design of Home Building

    2. The design process is the most important part of building your new home. No matter how good your blueprints are, no matter how competent your builder, your plan must be well thought out and logically developed to ensure a well constructed home that meets your needs, your lifestyle and your unique personality.

    The planning and design phase involves using creativity and visualization to realize your likes and dislikes. It involves honest communication with others: your spouse and/or children, your designer and builders, and your banker. Take the time to discuss compromises and different options. Visualize your finished home from the inside out, the feel of each room, corner and hallways. In short, what it will be like to live in.

  2. Home Construction Regulations

    3. Often there are many regulatory requirements that affect your project, from zoning to allowable setbacks, buildable area, height restrictions, sewage disposal, water and utilities and many more. We are familiar with all regulations to take this stress off of you.

  3. Budget for Building Your Home

    4. Too many people travel far down the road to their dream home only to find out that they can’t afford it, sometimes after construction is already finished. Not only is it important to be perfectly clear about the overall cost of the home you wish to build, but the amount of the monthly mortgage payment (factoring in for times of higher interest rates) and the effect on your overall life cash flow as well. And it is important to include all costs, not just construction costs in your budget.

    There are additional ‘soft’ costs including design and engineering fees, surveying, driveway and landscaping, septic fields, and building permit fees or development charges. Don Mills will help you decide on a budget that includes all costs with no hidden fees.

  4. Technical Aspects of the Building Process

    5. Don’t forget to consider the physical attributes of the building site: access, wind and sun exposure, and septic field capacity to name a few.

  5. Home Plan Evaluation

    6. Assign areas where specific rooms will be located. Look at access and circulation and begin finalizing a realistic budget. Undertake the difficult but extremely important step of matching your dream with the reality of your financial situation. It is important to build with unforeseen costs and extra spending for special features in mind. It may be necessary to modify your plan at this stage. Double up the function of a couple of rooms, eliminate some rooms entirely, finish the basement at a later date, or tighten up the entire floor plan. The importance of this step cannot be over-emphasized. These are the critical decisions that still allow you to have the well designed and beautiful home you want at a price you can afford. At this point you may not have even looked at floor plans nor put pencil to paper. But you are well on the road to having an exceptional home.

  6. Drawing Process

    7. This phase is best left up to us. It is helpful for all parties involved if you write down some of your thoughts on paper and have a rough idea of what you want.

    We will help you establish relationships between the various rooms, help choose the primary orientation and the general feel of the home. This is the initial step to creating blueprints and should be reviewed many times by our design experts and yourself, the client. This is the time to make changes and add detail, because once the schematic drawings are finalized, it becomes much more costly to make changes so it is wise to spend extra time getting it right at the beginning.

  7. Home Design Development

    8. Next comes the technical side of design; attaching exact dimensions to each room, calculating wall heights, roof pitches and stair details, construction methods, etc. Your home is definitely beginning to take shape.

  8. Working Drawings

    9. There is little opportunity to make plan changes at this point, which become more expensive, but of course, less expensive than changes during construction. These drawings may include detailed specifications for materials and construction and schedules for doors, windows, and finishes.

    Give Don Mills Builders a call today. With our help throughout the entire process of home building, we can take your vision and transform it into your reality.

By: Don Mills

Some Good Advice before Building Custom New Homes in North Carolina

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Buying a house and lot has its ups and downs. While a pre-existing home has its perks, it still has downsides. For one, they offer limited opportunity for customization, which would be a downside for people looking to own their true dream dwelling. Writing for Realtor.com, Michele Lerner provides an alternative:

If you dreamed as a child of someday owning a home with your own dance studio and ballet barre, or a personal game room with a Skee-Ball machine alongside an indoor putting green, then a custom home may be your best option to making that dream come true.

Thankfully, skilled local home builders in Greensboro, N.C. have been helping home buyers with building their own dream home, a place that is customized and designed according to their own vision, and thus can truly call it their own—from top to bottom. Before getting down to the business of customizing your home, consider some of these factors:

Finances – A large-scale financial undertaking, such as building a custom home, shouldn’t be pushed through without sound planning and design. Expenses concerning land, building permits, utilities, and professional services need to be settled before starting the project.

It is important to include the construction site, as well as the logistics of the design of the house or its architectural style into the overall budget. Building in haste without a solid game plan on design, budget, and schedule will result in a lot of wasted effort and runaway expenses.

Location – For this one, a homebuyer’s personal preference should be the primary guiding principle. A homebuyer should decide beforehand the type of community and specific location that would seem best to suit his or her lifestyle; if an individual is an avid surfer, for instance, a seaside location would be perfect.

Style – This is where the customer and the builder should work hand-in-hand. There’s virtually a limitless array of options when building custom homes—some of which may be purely personal in nature, while others may be dictated by the community. Still, what matters is the customer’s personal input on the kind of home he or she may want to build.

Avoid last-minute changes – Planning is absolutely critical. By making even the slightest changes after everything is nearly done, an owner could be looking at significant works, which would add up to the project expenses.

Building custom new homes in North Carolina is a major undertaking, but if a homebuyer should be conscientious enough to take some of these factors in mind, chances are the building project should go quite smoothly every step of the way.

Confidence in Skilled Home Builders in Summerfield, NC Steadily Rising

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Now is a great time to contract with home builders in Summerfield, NC to build your own home. Ideal interest rates and steady job creation contributed to the steadily rising confidence of builders this November, 2014 according to the latest study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders.

The steady climb of home builders’ confidence means that they are seeing an uptick on buyer interest and traffic. Ben Leubsdorf from the Wall Street Journal reported the statistics culled from the past few months:

An index of builder confidence in the market for new single-family homes rose by four points to a seasonally adjusted level of 58 this month, the National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday. A reading over 50 means most builders generally see conditions as positive.

The index jumped in September to 59, its highest reading since November 2005, then fell to 54 in October. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal expected the index would tick up to 55 in November.

The index has remained above the 50-point mark for five consecutive months, said David Crowe, the home-builder group’s chief economist. “Low interest rates, affordable home prices and solid job creation are contributing to a steady housing recovery,” he said.

While the US house market has been struggling to regain sales momentum in the previous years, this uptick on home builders’ confidence signals a resurgence of people’s interest in buying their own homes.

Due to these favorable conditions on housing, this could be the perfect opportunity to browse for affordable new homes in North Carolina. While some people prefer condominium units over homes, building your own home definitely has advantages over renting a small space. If you choose to build your home from scratch, you have total control over every aspect of the look and feel of what you want in your home. With a home, you gain privacy, whereas apartments or condominium units are closer to the living spaces of others.

Although many homeowners have opted to ‘make do’ with their existing home, low interest rates and an improving economy make this an excellent time to go ahead and build a home perfectly suited for your family.. Custom home builders like Don Mills Builders, Inc. can help turn your dream home into a reality, and with an improved housing market, now is a good time for you to consider building a house.
(Source: U.S. Home-Builder Confidence Rose in November, The Wall Street Journal, November 18, 2014)

New Trends in New Home Amenities for Home Builders in Greensboro, NC

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Trends are always changing, and this goes for popular features for new homes as well. While a high-end kitchen and upgraded bathroom will always help sell houses, there are other features that home builders in Greensboro, NC can include in the home.

In an interview by MainStreet with Stephen Melman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), “A good walk-in closet or laundry room might not be sexy, but they do make a household run better — and what’s the point of moving to a newly built home if it’s not going to make your life easier?”

The second thing that new-home buyers are looking for is an advanced laundry room. Buyers want built-in ironing boards, more storage, upgraded appliances, and other convenient features. Tied with laundry rooms in a survey by NAHB on new home features are low-e windows. Windows treated with Low-E coatings are proven to reduce energy consumption, can help decrease fading of fabrics, such as window treatments, and increase overall comfort in your home.

A Great room is also something that is desired in new homes, and the bigger, the better. If the trend continues, it looks like we’re going to see more and more houses with Great rooms. Another trend that would go well with this is the addition of high ceilings. Elevated ceilings are for buyers who want to open up rooms such as the great room, dining room, and living room.

Overall, it seems like new-home buyers are looking for houses that are highly-efficient and spacious. If this sounds like you, then inquire with builders with homes for sale in Greensboro, NC and arrange to see houses that would fit your lifestyle better and fit the trends, or discuss building yourself a new home in order to get all the trendy features you want in the house. Don Mills is a trusted home builder that has been providing quality custom homes in the Greensboro area for years.

119 Cobblestone Walk Drive Greensboro, NC – SOLD

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119 Cobblestone Dr

  • Beautiful open plan great for entertaining and living.
  • Mable hardwood on main level.
  • Formal dinning room.
  • Impressive family room with fireplace and raised ceiling.
  • Open kitchen and screen porch.
  • Amazing kitchen with fabulous cabinetry and marble tops, great appliances.
  • Huge walk-in pantry.
  • Breakfast room just off kitchen.
  • And much more!

Year Built 2015

Address 119 Cobblestone Walk Drive, Greensboro, NC
Price $540,000
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 3
Elementary School Northern Elementary
Middle School Northern Middle
High School Northern High

Buy or Build: Greensboro, NC Home Builders and the House You Want

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When you’re checking out homes for sale in Greensboro, NC, finding one that meets your exact specifications can be difficult. People in the market for a new home typically have two options: they can either buy one or have one custom-built. Each type of purchases has its advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a quick review of both to help you with your decision:

Buying a New Home

The primary advantage of buying an already built home is that once the deal is done, you can just move in. Of course, you may want to put a personal stamp on the house by doing renovations or interior decorating, but it can wait for the time when you have more funds. There is also a significant amount of savings when you buy a house that’s already been built; you’ll only pay for the property’s price tag and not worry about construction or material expenses.

There are a few downsides to buying though. One disadvantage is that you will inherit the home’s preexisting quirks like drafty windows or creaking floors, not to mention a decor that may not be to your taste. Repairs or even upgrades may be needed to get the house up to what you desire. Older homes may be unique, but they also were built for another time. A house built in the 80s wouldn’t have all the features of a modern one and may also not meet any of the up-to-date building codes.

Building A Custom Home

Home builders in Greensboro, NC like Don Mills Builders, Inc. would be the first to promote the main advantage of having a custom home built; it can be customized to meet your needs. Most new homes that are constructed follow either pre-designed floor plans or custom plans; both of these options give homeowners the freedom of picking out what they want for their dwelling. Another advantage of having a home built is that everything is new. From the plumbing to the furniture, you can be sure that everything in your house is up-to-date and won’t suddenly break down on you.

Like with any project, building a custom home takes time. Working with an experienced homebuilder like Don Mills Builders, will help make the process of getting the home of your dreams stress-free and rewarding. From initial plans to the final design, building your home that is unique to your style and preferences is worth every step in the journey. Don Mills Builders is an experienced homebuilder with experience and expertise to get the job done right for you.

(Source: Is It Cheaper to Build or Buy a House?, GOBankingRates.com)

Greensboro Homebuilders Will Help You Fulfill Your Dreams

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Shopping for homes for sale in Greensboro, NC or elsewhere can be a challenge. You are preparing to make a major investment and commitment. You may have already chosen the area that works best for you. Now you want to find a house that meets your needs and lifestyle.

Before you take the plunge into buying a home, it is good to weigh all the options. While there may be many established homes for sale in the locale you’ve selected, are you sure that it will have everything you are looking for in a home for your family?

Building a Home Offers Many Advantages

The most apparent and arguably the most significant advantage to building a custom home is that it will be designed around your personal preferences. Builders like Don Mills Builders, Inc. offer a number of floor plans or home designs for you to choose from, which you can have modified to your preference. Building your own home gives you the freedom to create a living space that matches your vision. In other words, your house will be precisely what you make it. There aren’t any compromises that have to be made when it comes to building your dream home, you can have exactly what you envision.

Another benefit of building a new home is that it is also advantageous for the environment and your electric bill. A new home is more efficient, particularly with the new energy codes in place today. Plus,with the new Energy Star-rated appliances, new water efficiencies, and electrical fixtures, your home will be a green, sustainable house, along with a much more pleasing electric bill.

Choose Where You Want to Live

Choice of location and layout is a major plus when it comes to building a custom home. Every detail is a reflection of your family, and how you live including the lot on which you choose to build. Custom homes are a one-of-a-kind house built with an endless array of design choices. The neighborhood you choose should also reflect the preferences and needs of your family right down to the landscaping.

There are many pre-existing houses for sale on the market today. But if you are looking to fulfill a dream of a home that encapsulates everything you envision, then building a custom home is the best choice. With the assistance of a reputable builder like Don Mills, who will provide you with communication every step of the process and exceptional craftsmanship, your home will be constructed to match your vision.

Sources: Should You Buy or Build a Home?, Investopedia.com

What is a Custom Home?, About.com

New Home Builders in Summerfield Find the Best Lots for New Homes

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You’ve found the perfect neighborhood and a wonderful new home builder in Summerfield. Now, it’s time to choose the lot for the location of your new home. Your builder may have a few lots already designated and ready for home building within the neighborhood, so it is your personal choice to decide which lot is the best for you. This decision involves many factors and lifestyle details, which will help you narrow your choices for the perfect lot for your new custom home. Take the time to view the daily traffic patterns, research the land for easements, and review the shape of the lot and sun-facing direction for your ideal location. Don Mills Builders has home lots that work with our custom home designs, offering the best value and natural characteristics for you to enjoy the best views for peaceful and comfortable living. You can be sure you will get the best of both worlds when you chose Don Mills to build your home in one of their premier neighborhoods.

Each Lot Location Has a Different Traffic Pattern

Visit the neighborhood that you are going to build in with your building contractor from Summerfield, and get a feel for the amount of traffic during the peak hours of the day, from 7-9AM and 4-6PM. This will help you to discover which lots provide the best setback and location. You may need to be near an entrance to get to work quickly, or you may prefer to be near the back of the neighborhood where it is quieter. According to an article in www.bhg.com, the various lot locations, such as T-shaped intersection, Cul-de-sac and corner lots, are explained:

“Corner lots have traffic on two sides and are typically larger, requiring more landscaping and yard maintenance. If there are sidewalks on both sides, you’ve got more snow to clear in the winter. On the positive side, corner lots allow a side-load garage. They also bring higher visibility to a home, so you’ll need a design with street appeal on two sides instead of just the facade.

Lots at the end of a T-shaped intersection must contend with oncoming headlights from nighttime traffic. Homes on these lots should be designed to minimize unwanted light in living and sleeping areas.”

Detailed Lot Information Helps Homebuyers to Make Informed Decisions

Prospective homebuyers need to be well-informed about the particulars of their lot. What you physically see on the lot is valuable information, and what is below the lot and surrounding the lot is even better information. As a new home builder in Summerfield, Don Mills Builders provides accurate and updated information on the lots so the homebuyer will know exactly what is included with their individual lot. On www.bhg.com, easement locations help with your decision making:

“Before proceeding, you should have chosen a house plan or have a good idea of the dimensions of the house you plan to build. Make sure the plan fits within the buildable area of the lot. Watch out for lots with rock outcroppings, embankments, or other physical characteristics that will reduce the buildable area. Check for unusual setback lines or utility easements. Easements usually run along one side of the lot, but in some cases there may be more than one easement, or they may be plotted through the middle of the property. Consult with your builder or developer to check the location of easements.”

Landscape Enthusiasts Search for Sunshine

If you would like to grow a garden or have a beautiful landscape design, the direction of the sun is a high priority factor to consider when selecting a lot. Different lots provide various benefits for gardeners, according to www.bhg.com:

“If you’re a gardener, look for lots with maximum sunlight for your backyard gardens. If you want showy landscaping at the front of your home, make sure it gets enough sun. Corner lots often provide a large side yard in addition to a front and back yard and can offer more flexibility for growing plants.”

As an experienced new home builder in Summerfield, Don Mills Builders will work closely with you to help select the lot that will meet all of your needs. All of our lots are located in distinguished neighborhoods offering the best environments for your new dream home. Don Mills understands the importance of location and are here to help you discern the best location for your new home. Your building requirements, outdoor living space plan, and family’s lifestyle are all necessary for creating the optimal home that is specifically for you. When you need a building contractor in Summerfield, contact Don Mills Builders at 336-362-1777 for more information.

(Source: How to Select a Building Lot, bhg.com, 2015)

Experienced Home Builders Share Tips for Designing Your New Kitchen

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The kitchen is regarded as the ‘heart of the home’ and for good reason. It often serves as the gathering place for the entire family. More than a place to prepare meals and dine together, the kitchen is also a place where guests gather; family schedules are discussed and planned, or even where homework is completed. All of these reasons are why designing a kitchen is a vital step when building a new home in North Carolina. This is why properly designing your kitchen is a vital step when building new homes in North Carolina. Integrate these tips when planning your kitchen for a space that is practical and easy to work and live.

You Can Never Have Too Much Kitchen Storage Space

When designing your new kitchen, you’ll want to allow for as much storage space as possible. One of the biggest mistakes often made is underestimating the amount of storage you will need. Use every nook and cranny of your kitchen space to your advantage. Some suggestions are to extend the overhead cabinets right up to the ceiling, consider deep drawers for easier storage and access to pots and pans, and don’t forget to allow ample storage for appliances so they don’t clutter up countertops. Designing the kitchen storage and living space wisely results in a clean, spacious, uncluttered area that you will enjoy spending time with your family.

Proper Lighting in Kitchens Changes Everything

Sufficient lighting in kitchens is important to create an open, bright area to prepare meals and congregate. Many times, the position of the kitchen lighting, which may be similar to other rooms in the house, casts shadows on the workspace making it difficult to see properly. Under-cabinet lights are the best because they shine directly on countertops and illuminate the workspace. Apart from overhead lights, you may want to include a bay window to allow natural light to enter your kitchen.

Design Walkways That Redirect Traffic

Another recommendation is to be sure that there is enough room in the kitchen to accommodate one or two cooks. Pathways throughout a kitchen should be at least 36 inches wide. The cooking zone should have a path area of 42 inches wide for a one-cook kitchen and 48 inches wide for a two-cook configuration. If you have children, designing the kitchen so the cooktop is out of traffic areas is also very important. The placement of the refrigerator is also critical to be sure that both the passerby and the people working in the kitchen have easy access to it.

By following these basic tips, you can have the beautiful, functional kitchen that complements your custom home. Don Mills Builders, Inc., serving Greensboro and surrounding areas will listen carefully to your preferences. Their team of home builders in greensboro nc will guide you throughout the planning process of your new custom home to ensure your kitchen is all you envision and will indeed be the “heart” of your new home.

Sources: Top 10 Kitchen Design Tips, Reader’s Digest

20 Tips for a Better Kitchen, Better Homes and Gardens