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.

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)

The fundamental purpose of a foyer or entryway is to transition from outside in. However, this space also gives your guests a glimpse of your personal style and welcomes them into your home. Creating a welcoming and beautiful entryway is one of the exciting tasks you will have when building your custom home in Summerfield. There are many options to create this space to be not only functional but also provide a stunning first impression for the rest of your home. When working with a new home builder in Summerfield, be sure to discuss the design features and foyer styles available so you can achieve the distinctive entryway you want to create a positive first impression. Do you prefer wide foyers with wainscoting? How about two-story ceilings with large windows? Whatever your style preference is, Don Mills Builders understands the importance that every detail makes when designing a custom home that is a personal and welcoming place for you and your family.

Decorate with a Focal Point for Entryways

A welcoming entryway is a great way to really feel “at home” in your new custom home. Here are few design ideas for decorating your new entryway after you move in, as mentioned in www.homesandland.com:

“Use a handsome mirror to create the illusion of more space in a foyer. Not only does a mirror make the foyer look more spacious, but it is functional, leaving the option for a final check of your appearance before leaving the house. Just remember, the more ornate the mirror, the more it serves as a piece of art, reducing the need for other decorative accessories.”

The use of a mirror near the entryway not only invites friends and family members to catch a glimpse of other parts of your home but also creates a focal point as well. Putting an attractive mirror at the entryway is a gracious way to welcome friends and family into your home. If the foyer is small, it can add a cozy feeling to your area.

Use Furniture that is Stylish and Functional for the Foyer

The foyer is a popular area of transition for family members coming and going. It is the first “stopping” place when coming in or leaving the house. The average household might want to drop coats, hats, shoes, sports equipment, umbrellas, backpacks and totes in the foyer, so keeping it organized can be a challenge. The entryway to a home can be a very active place even if you don’t have many family members, so a functional piece of furniture that can double as storage is a great option. When deciding on the items for your foyer that adhere to your family’s needs and personality, be sure that the furniture also coincides with your overall decor. How do you decide which type of furniture to add to your foyer? At www.homesandland.com, a piece of art or a side table may be the answer:

“Start with one primary piece of furniture carefully chosen to work with the theme and traffic patterns of your house. For instance, a more upscale, less-trafficked home would do well with a foyer that incorporates a beautiful coffee table or side table with a vase of fresh flowers. A large piece of art on a wall completes this classic and stylish approach. In this scenario, the foyer is not used often and is not meant for storage. It is a display area that ushers in guests, rather than a catch-all spot for a busy family.”

Whatever your family’s lifestyle, Don Mills Builders can integrate your preferences and needs to create a stunning and functional entryway that will welcome your family and friends into your new custom home. As you plan your new home with the home builder in Summerfield, every detail will be taken into account so you will get the home and style you have always wanted. Don Mills Builders builds distinguished and personalized homes that will give you and your family many years of comfortable living and wonderful memories. Contact us today to learn more about our custom home design and discover why we are one of the top building contractors in Summerfield: 336-362-1777.

(Source: Foyer Decorating Ideas to Bring an Entryway to Life, www.homesandland.com, 2015)