Geothermal to the Rescue. Simply put Geothermal means Earth Heat.  In today’s uncertain world,  how important is it to install a heating system for your home that will use an unlimited resource, the earth’s temperature,  to heat and cool your home. 

The Cost to operate a Geothermal system is but a fraction of other systems and you will never be at the mercy of oil prices,  embargos or other world event again.

When it comes to an expensive sophisticated product like geothermal you want a true professional designing and installing your system and there isn’t anyone in Central Ohio with more experience than our instructor Steve Mullins of Complete Comfort,  Steve is not  only an expert in the Heating, Cooling and ventilation field, but Geothermal as well.

Steve will explain the features and benefits of a geothermal system and discuss several other aspects of heating and cooling.   The current tax benefit of a geothermal system help make it a viable choice for anyone considering building.  The details of the tax credit will also be discussed.

The class on will be offered March 9, 2010, 7-9 p.m. at the Décor Blvd showroom, 3436 Millennium Ct., in Columbus. For reservations or to view other upcoming classes and events, visit http://customhomebuildingcamp.com. Classes are free,  Classroom space is limited, but this class is available online as well.  Reservations are required

The Best Part

Custom Building is not limited to million dollar homes. Balancing the features of your home with a price tag that still fits your budget is what custom building is truly about. As you look through all the floor plans available you’ll discover exciting options you never thought of before, and alternatives to features you thought you might not have been able to afford.

What To Look For in a Contractor

There is a long list of options in the phone book, but places like that are advertisements and sources of information THEY WANT you to know about. It isn’t very likely they will have a list of any unsatisfied customers as option 3 on the telephone prompts. The Building Industry Association of Central Ohio, also known as the B.I.A., has a list of Registered Builders that have met all the criteria you will be looking for in a quality professional. Live somewhere else in the U.S.? No problem. Go to www.nahb.org to find a reputable builder in your neck of the woods. These associations and organizations are dedicated to keeping a list of quality contractors, ensuring you find a professional who has credit worthiness, a continuing education and a history of customer satisfaction.

Once you have found a contractor you’re interested in using, look for these key points:

• Are they familiar and well versed in any potential zoning issues or specialized construction techniques that may be necessary to finish the project properly? Every location has its own codes and zoning laws. Maybe you can’t add the Florida room because there is a grandfathering law against changing the property’s original dimensions. Make sure you and your contractor know these types of details before the extra 50k is spent.
• Do they have an alternative if something in the original plan proves impossible? This is the “there is more than one way to skin a cat” aspect of the job. There are all kinds of snags that come up when building a house, and it’s the contractors job to assess them. It’s your job to make sure that you hired the right contractor, someone who is capable of creating a Plan B if something big comes up.
• Do they brush up on the latest advancements and techniques in the building field? You want someone who is dedicated to continuing education.
• Are they connected to other professionals in the industry? Is that network reputable on local, state, and national levels? What if your contractor’s back hoe is in for a replacement part, and the next three steps in the building process depend on the that backhoe finishing the task at hand? It is important to know that there are reliable sources for quick repair and replacements.
• Talk to former clients. Were they satisfied? Prepare for the future by learning about the past. If the prospective builder has nothing to hide, they should be happy to share with you a history of past references. When you contact these individuals, ask them how their building project went.

The Difference Between A Contractor and a Site Manager

Now that we have established that a good contractor will be crucial to your process of making your dream home a reality, there is one more aspect that you should be aware of when assessing who you choose for the job. Depending on the size of your project and how many other homes your contractor will work on during the life of your project, there may or may not be a site manager.

If the contractor were the godfather, then the site manager would be the gunman. It’s the contractor’s job to take your dream, figure out the to-do list, and distribute those tasks to the correct people. The site manager will be there in person making sure things are executed in a timely fashion, so their credentials are just as important as the contractor’s. In some cases the contractor covers these on-site responsibilities in person, but if a site manager is needed, make sure they are also someone you can work with. Chances are you’ll spend more time with them during the construction of your home.

How to Develop the Plans For a Custom Build

Unless your doodling in elementary school led you to become an architect, you’ll want some outside help on drawing up your floor plans. There are several ways to develop plans for your new build. Hiring a Design Professional is a good idea because you can prepare plans in advance, and then conduct a bid process between several builders, ensuring the lowest cost. There are many great sources for Pre-Designed Homes including www.eplan.com, or www.theplandrawer.com, where you can choose from a huge source of styles and prices. You could also work directly with the builder; this usually eliminates the cost to develop the plans. No matter which option you go with, it’s a good idea to pick a few ideas that resemble the style you want to achieve, and then find your outside help. Your hired professional will help you make sure the plans will adhere to the codes and zoning issues in your desired location, saving you from time and money problems before they even start.

Great, When Do We Move In?

The length of the building process depends mostly on the complexity of the building, and Mother Nature. Ideally the foundation, walls, and roof would be constructed during spring and summer, leaving the winter months to finish interior aspects. That is not always the case though, and depending on what step might be next things can be delayed by the weather. Another thing to consider is finalizing the building plans in the first place. Tinkering with details and customizations is always worth the time it takes in the beginning, so that your contractor can get it right the first time. If all goes well and a minimal number of roadblocks come up, it will take from 30 to 60 days to finalize building plans and secure the building permits. Allow another 6 to 8 months for the actual building of the home.

Touring the countryside for the home that is right for you can be difficult, and that house is not always in your price range once you find it. Custom building is the answer for someone looking for the perfect home, even if they don’t know exactly what they want yet.