Quick Tip on Interior Rock

For the Parade of Homes this year, we have an extraordinary amount of rock inside our home. Rock is so powerful when placed inside of a home because it brings in natural elements and connects with people like few other materials. Anyway, when rock is brought in from the quarry, it has quite a bit of dust on it. For outdoor rock, the rain will eventually wash off the dust. For the inside however, you should hose down the rock before bringing it inside. If you do this, not only will your rock look better but you won't have to worry about chalky residue on your clothes when you bump into it.

Timeline to Build a Custom Home

One question we get asked early on is how long does it normally take to build a custom home. I like to break that up into four components usually.

1. Planning Stage: This is the moment you finally sit down with an architect and begin to draw up plans. This process can take anywhere from 30-90 days based upon revisions. I'd say the average time though is probably about 60 days.

2. Site Prep and Clearing: This is a stage where we prepare the lot for the home. This generally takes about 1-3 weeks.

3. Construction: This is the part where we actually build the home, plan for landscaping if any and prepare for final inspections. This can take anywhere from 6-8 months usually depending upon complexity and weather.

4. Final Inspections and Closing: This is the part where we invite third party inspectors and do what we call "punching out" the house. We like to get ultra critical at the end and make sure the house is tight and free of final concerns. Of course, there is usually post move in follow-up at certain points within the first year to make sure the homeowner is satisfied.

The Importance of Home Inspections

One thing you may want to consider before moving into a new home is to hire the services of a third-party inspector.  The purpose of an inspector is to come into the home for a few hours and stress it out.  What I mean by that is make sure to the best of their ability the home is safe, to code and livable.  The reports can get fairly detailed and the best ones that I have seen actually have pictures of the items that require correction and have inserted arrows pointing to the alleged defect.  They should normally cover things like framing, electrical, plumbing, insulation, appliances, HVAC and some cosmetic features.  When you get your report, it should be clear and legible, and refer to the specific code defection by chapter and verse.  Most builders will use this as a guide to "punch out" the house, or correct the items once agreed upon by the home owner and inspector.  It is an excellent resource for homeowners who may not know the latest codes and gives peace of mind before moving in.  As a builder, we are not at liberty to suggest an inspector because it could be construed as collusion.  So the best way is to ask around, consult the phone book or ask for a referral from a trusted real estate agent, title company or friend.  There is also a list of qualified inspectors at the Texas Residential Construction Commission website.