Home Building Process Archives

Is Building a Custom Home Worth It?

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Scott Merle Builders

Here’s a great question: Is building a custom home worth it? Well, it’s worth it to some people and not worth it to others. For those who have a dream home in their mind(s) and want to see it come to life, and they have plenty of money to make their dream possible, then a custom home is totally worth it! For those who have major financial “issues and challenges,” a custom home might not be the right choice, at least at this time…

Now, for those who want to build their dream home, a custom home makes sense. Why? Well, they can have all sorts of input on its design, from how it looks to what color(s) it is, and from how it’s laid out, to where it is located and what direction it faces.

Production Homes Vs Custom Homes

Sure, you could go with a “production home,” and that would look a lot like all the other homes in an area… or you could go with a custom home that makes you stand out from the rest. A custom home is distinct and unique. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to “look like everybody else,” and you don’t want to be “plain,” then a custom home is worth it.

With a custom home, you generally would find a builder, like Scott Merle Builders of suburban Syracuse, NY, and work with him to see your plans to fruition. You’ve got ideas in your head which can then be put on paper and dealt with, professionally. For instance, you want a fireplace in the living room and you want a hot tub in your bathroom– is that possible?

The builder will give you options and explain what makes sense and what doesn’t. With home construction there are certain norms and rules, of course, but every now and then a builder can break a norm/rule and go a little wild. Say, for instance, you want to have a spiral slide stairs between floors or a hidden room to keep your wine or valuables– a custom builder can probably make those out-of-the-box ideas a reality for you.

More Customization = Fewer Future Changes

If you get “more customization now,” then you’ll have “fewer expensive changes later.” After all, you’re starting from scratch rather than trying to remodel an older place and turn it into the look and feel of what you want. Sometimes it’s easier to just start new! Custom home builders offer you many options that a production builder wouldn’t, such as designing your unique floorplan or adding on amenities like a pool and deck in the backyard. Meanwhile, custom home builders are flexible when it comes to mixing styles. Even if it’s not “conventional” or “normal,” they’re pretty open-minded about your eclectic taste(s).

Are you worried that having a custom built home will be too expensive? Keep in mind that builders are flexible. While you may not be able to include absolutely everything you “want” in your home, you can probably afford most of the things you’d need and appreciate, and builders have a way of helping you sort out your wants and needs so you’re happy in the end.

If you’re looking for a “forever home” where you plan to live the rest of your life, then why not have a custom home built to your liking? If you’re going to be there for several decades, you might as well have a place designed exactly to your liking– corresponding well with your style as well as your functional needs.

When searching for a home, it can be hard to find one that “ticks all the boxes.” It can be difficult finding an existing home for sale that has everything you want and need for a reasonable price… in the area you want to be in. Therefore, it makes sense to have a custom home built on land you pick out, with a look and feel that’s best suited to your lifestyle.

If and when you decide to have Scott Merle Builders build you a custom home, keep in mind there’s no competition among other home buyers– it’s just you and what you want! Since everything will be new, you shouldn’t have to worry about repairs and replacements anytime soon. You’re the first owner of the house and you play a major role in its creation. Meanwhile, it can be built to meet current building codes, with updated features you wouldn’t find in other homes.

Why not call Scott Merle Builders to discuss a custom built home? You can discuss a site, the scope/size of the home, the structure’s complexity and specifications you’d like to share. Call 315-409-4124 or email Scott@MerleBuilders.com.

Is It Better to Remodel Your Home to Build a Brand New One?

Posted on January 7, 2021 by Scott Merle Builders

Is it better to remodel a home or buy a new one? This decision is a big one, for sure… and it can cause you a lot of headaches. You have to decide if where you currently live is a place where you want to stay, or if you’d prefer to be in a new location. You also have to take into account the size of your current home and figure out if you’d like something smaller or bigger. Then, of course, there’s the time element– do you have several weeks or months to put up with remodeling projects or do you just want a new place that’s “move-in ready?”

The Time to Remodel…

Remodeling a house is a good idea if you like where you live and just want to make some changes to improve the place you already have– freshening it up, and perhaps expanding a room or two. If you think about it, even if you were to buy a new house, you’d probably end up doing some remodeling there, since not everything is as you want it. So, remodeling an existing home is easier than buying new because then you don’t have to move all your stuff to the new place and you don’t have to literally adjust to a new location, which means different neighbors, restaurants, schools, etc. Meanwhile, “move-in ready” houses can be quite expensive. Are you ready to pay upwards of $300K for a new home?

What are some key questions you can ask yourself? How about, “Is staying where I’m at important to me?” You should also ask, “Do I have the budget to make renovations to my current place or buy a new place all together?” Some other things to consider would be can you renovate your existing home without changing the floor plan and will remodeling projects increase the home’s value? Finally, “What’s my long-term plan for what I want out of a home?” Sometimes people know they want to move and start over, brand new, while other times they’re perfectly happy staying put and just making some cosmetic/functional changes. Moving to a new place could affect your property taxes and your mortgage.

If you do consider moving to a new home, expect a long search to find/build a new home in a new location. This can be a stressful task. Yes, relocating means new beginnings, new surroundings, new people and new experiences. But it can also mean loneliness, buyer’s remorse, and increased costs, including higher taxes. Then there’s the issue of actually making the move to a new house– transporting all your stuff to the new place can be overwhelming. Are you ready to sort stuff? Will you throw away some things? Do you have the time and energy to do that sort of thing?

Even though the allure of a new house may seem magical to most people, there are also a lot of costs and headaches involved. That said, it’s oftentimes easier to just decide to remodel the house where you currently reside.

What are some of the main advantages of renovating a house? Well, it costs less because it’s on a room-by-room basis. You don’t generally remodel everything in a house. Instead, you pick and choose what rooms need updating, such as the bathrooms and kitchen. Also, when you choose to have some remodeling work done, you get to pick features and colors and things you want, such as the addition of a walk-in shower (to replace the bathtub you don’t use or like) or the addition of an island in the kitchen so you’ll have more counter and storage space to make the room more functional. Plus, there’s the issue of time. You don’t have to do everything all at once. You can choose to remodel one room this year, and another the next, etc. If you were to move to a new house, you’d be faced with the big task to fill all the rooms with your stuff in a very short time, and that can be exhausting.

The Time to Build a New Home…

When would it make sense to buy a new place instead of remodel? Well, if your current house is literally crumbling and in near-shambles, it might be time to move. If you look around and think, “Every single thing in this house needs updating,” then it’s probably better to just buy or build a new place. Also, if you’re the kind of person who absolutely hates a mess in your house and doesn’t want to be bothered with construction workers in your house for several days, weeks or even months at a time, then consider a new house rather than remodeling. One more thing: if you’ve recently come into money and cost isn’t an issue, then have your custom dream home built!

Typically, most people choose to buy a new house when they’ve totally outgrown their smaller, older one. Say, for instance, you and your spouse have lived in a nice little “house for two” for a couple years. But then your first baby arrives, followed by one or two more a few years later. Soon you’re noticing that your current home doesn’t have the amount of bedrooms or play areas your kids want and need… so you start thinking, “Maybe we could have an addition put on to this house.” For some people, with money, physical space (to build) and time on their side, this works well. For others, it’s “Nope, we need a new, bigger house and we need it now!”

As you’d imagine, deciding whether or not to remodel versus move to a new house involves a lot of thinking and planning– it’s not a simple decision to make.

Need some professional help weighing your options? Call Scott Merle Builders of Syracuse, NY. Scott Merle Builders does home renovations as well as new home constructions. The number to call is 315-409-4124.

Avoid These Errors When Hiring a Home Contractor

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Scott Merle Builders

Are you planning on remodeling or renovating your home sometime soon? Rather than do it yourself, you should hire a home contractor to take on the challenge. As long as you bring the right home contractor on board, they can bring all the ideas that you have for your home to life and make it look its best. To hire the right home contractor, you’ll want to avoid making a series of common mistakes. Here are some of the mistakes that homeowners often make.

Hiring the cheapest home contractor they can find

When you’re performing a home remodeling or renovation project, you want to try and keep the costs associated with it as low as you can. Unfortunately, this leads some homeowners to choose to hire the cheapest home contractor they can find, even if they’re not the best option. The home contractor you hire should provide great services at a competitive price. Even if they’re not the cheapest contractor, you’ll be better off working with them than someone who won’t do a great job.

Failing to check out the references for a home contractor

When you’re trying to decide which home contractor to use for your home remodeling or renovation project, you should always ask contractors to provide you with references. What’s more, you should also go the extra mile by calling on as many of those references as you can to find out everything you can about a home contractor. Don’t allow those references to go to waste like some homeowners do.

Working with a home contractor that doesn’t have a business license or insurance

“Do you have a business license and insurance?” is one of the first questions you should ask to a home contractor. If they aren’t able to respond with a resounding “yes!” right away and provide proof of a business license and insurance, you should run the other way. The last thing you want to do is make the mistake of working with an unlicensed and/or uninsured home contractor.

When you contact Scott Merle Builders to serve as your home contractor, we’re confident that we can deliver superior remodeling and renovation services to you at the right price. You won’t have to worry about making a mistake when you hire us to take on your project. Call us at 315-409-4124 to find out what makes us different from other home contractors.

Is It Better to Renovate Your Home Or Build a New One?

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Scott Merle Builders

Is it better to renovate or build a new home? That’s a good question.

If you’re looking at an older home to renovate, you have to consider expenses. Would it be cost effective to renovate the house or would it make more sense to just build a brand new one? What are some of the factors that would influence your decision?

Consider the Foundation

First, how’s the foundation? Older homes were built long ago when construction techniques were different than they are today. Therefore, your foundation might not meet the standards of today. If you have a basement, it might need all new wiring, heating and ventilation– and these are just the basics. Oftentimes, the really older homes– from the late 1800s or early 1900s for example– are just so old that it’s more cost effective to build a brand new home and start fresh. However, if it’s a home from, say, the 1950s onward, it might make sense to renovate. One thing to consider in particular is the land the house is built on– is it prone to flooding? Is your foundation cracked or sinking? Are your floors level or not? Sometimes the land a house is built on is just not a “good fit” for a home and it behooves you to move and start over in another location. But, for most people, the land below the house is stable and renovations, if not too expensive, make sense.

Flexibility

Next, if you were to build new, you could pick and choose what you want in your new house. There are cost advantages to this “flexibility.” For instance, if you don’t want or need a garage, then don’t get one. Or perhaps you don’t want a fireplace in the new house… or a pool out back… With constructing a new house you get to customize it with regards to your desires.

What’s the Budget

The budget is usually what ultimately guides the decision on whether to renovate or start new. You have to assess your financial situation and decide how much money you can afford for fixing up an older place versus starting fresh with a brand new one. Costs tend to need a little “wiggle room,” so if the estimate is, say, $10,000 to renovate a part of your home, keep in mind that unforeseen circumstances may require an extra $1,000 or two. This is true with new builds, too. And, of course, there are maintenance costs to be considered as well. If you can, come up with a spreadsheet that is detailed with cost estimates, including potential overruns. Look at the sheets, comparing renovation costs with new build costs to get a clearer picture to help influence your final decision. It’s a good idea to write down your end goal(s) and to get advice from experts about your project.

Duration

Here’s something to consider: time is an issue. Some people don’t want the hassle of living in a home that is being renovated. And sometimes renovations take a long time. Should they move into a hotel temporarily? Or live at home while workers are coming and going, daily? Then again, waiting for a new home to be constructed will probably take even longer!

Personal Preferences

Ask yourself this simple question: “What do I want most?” Can your existing home get up to par with renovations? Or is it impossible to please you, even with potential renovations? Here’s something to think about… some people live in developments where they’re not allowed to make big changes. The homeowners association has a set of rules and regulations. For example, a house in this kind of community might have been built with a one car garage. But the person living there marries, and his spouse wants a two car garage– but that’s not allowed. In this case, it would make sense for the couple to build a new home somewhere else, matching their wants and needs.

Financial Implications

Budget for Building or Renovating a Home

For those with a mortgage, did you know some mortgages include clauses that deal with whether or not you can tear down your home to make way for a rebuild? Stipulations might be in place about how soon the rebuilding process has to begin, and some lenders will want to be included in the planning process. In some cases, your mortgage could forbid you from demolishing your home!

Energy Efficiency

Finally, if you’re the type of person who wants a more “green” type of house– one that’s more environmentally-friendly, then you’ll be thinking about more energy efficient windows, siding and appliances. Building a new home basically gives you the opportunity to make the greenest of choices with things like high-efficiency insulation and water-saving fixtures. It can be harder to achieve green goals with remodels.

Are you thinking of renovating your house in the Syracuse area? Or do you want to build a brand new house? Either way, Central New York’s Scott Merle Builders can meet your needs. Please call 315-409-4124 today with your questions.

An Overview of Buying Land to Own a Home

Posted on July 9, 2019 by Scott Merle Builders

Do you have your sights set on buying land and building your dream home on it? Before you get too carried away with making plans for your new home build, you’ll have to go through the process of finding land and putting in a successful offer for it. There are some things you should keep in mind when you’re working your way through this. Learn more about them below.

Make sure you’re able to build on land before buying it.

You might be surprised by how many people buy land without checking to see if there are any zoning issues with it. They purchase the land only to later realize that they’re not allowed to build on it. This can force them to sell the land immediately and put their home-building plans on hold. Avoid this by making sure there aren’t any zoning issues with a piece of land before agreeing to buy it.

Check to see if you’ll be able to hook up utilities to a home built on land.

In addition to making sure you’re able to build a home on a particular piece of property, you should also check to see if you’ll be able to hook up utilities to a home once it’s built on land. If you’re planning on building on a remote parcel of land, you might not have easy access to electrical, gas, or plumbing. This is another thing you should inquire about prior to purchasing land.

Consider the cost associated with buying land and building on it.

You don’t want to blow your entire budget on land and leave yourself with next to nothing to spend on your new home. Be patient when shopping around for land and look for land that won’t cost much to acquire. It’ll give you more freedom when you’re designing your new home.

Scott Merle Builders specializes in helping people put together custom home plans and designs. We can build a home for you on any land you want and make the entire process of building a home less stressful on you. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to find out more about how we can assist you.

Should I build a One-Story or a Two-Story Home?

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Scott Merle Builders

Building a home from the ground up is an exciting experience for most people. But before they can break ground, they need to decide whether they want to build a house that’s one story or two stories tall. This is a pretty difficult decision to make since it’ll affect the entire design of their home. Here are some of the pros and cons associated with one-story and two-story homes.

One-story homes

There are lots of benefits that you’ll get to enjoy when you build a one-story home. For starters, one-story homes are usually simpler to design. They’re also easier to maintain once they’re built. And if you’re going to have people living in the home who are either on the younger or older side, they’ll even be safer in most cases. But one of the big downsides of building a one-story home is that you’ll need to invest in more property to give you the same square footage as a two-story home would. You’ll also have less privacy in a one-story home since every room in the home will be on the ground level.

Two-story homes

Just like with one-story houses, there are many benefits that come with building a two-story home. You’ll have more design options when putting the home together. You’ll also be able to give yourself better views in a two-story home and provide your family with more privacy. Additionally, most two-story homes are more secure than one-story homes with a decreased risk of burglary. But you should keep in mind that it can cost more to heat and cool two-story homes. There is also going to be an increased risk of accidents taking place due to the presence of stairs.

Only you can decide whether you want to build a home that’s one story or two stories. Whichever one you pick, Scott Merle Builders will be by your side to bring your dream home to life. We have experience building both one and two-story homes and can talk to you more about the pros and cons associated with each setup. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to get the home-building process underway.

A Look at the Process of Building a Home

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Scott Merle Builders

From the outside looking in, building a home might seem like a relatively simple and straightforward process. People pick a piece of property, design a home to put on it, and then build it. However, there’s much more to it than that, which is why people really need to hire an experienced builder to get the job done. Here are the steps that must be taken to successfully build a new home from scratch.

A piece of property is purchased and prepared.

Before a home builder can start to put a home into place, a piece of property for it needs to be purchased. Additionally, that property needs to be prepared so that a builder can put a home down on it. The land will often need to be graded before a foundation can be put down for the home. This is arguably the most important part of the process since a strong foundation is a critical aspect of any home.

Plans for a home are fully developed and approved.

While a piece of property is being prepared for a new home, a builder will work with either a developer or the owner of the home that’s being built to map out what it’ll look like. An architect is usually brought in to take the ideas that a developer or homeowner has and bring them to life. Once plans are in place, a home builder will then need to get those plans approved by the city or town in which the home will be located.

The home is framed and then filled with everything it needs.

After the plans for a new home have been approved, a home builder can start framing the home. The frame of a home will give it its structure and allow everything else associated with it to fall into place. Following framing, a home builder will add other essentials like windows and doors, roofing, siding, electrical and plumbing systems, insulation, drywall, flooring, and trim.

The finishing touches are put on the home.

The new home that’s being built will almost be finished at this point. But before a home builder turns over the keys for a home to a developer or homeowner, they’ll have to add the finishing touches. This includes things like countertops, cabinets, lighting fixtures, and even paint on the walls. It’ll make the home livable.

It’s important to work with the right home builder when you’re building a home. They’ll make sure everything goes according to plan from start to finish. Scott Merle Builders is a company you can trust

for your home-building needs. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to see how we can assist you with custom home plans and designs.

How to Find the Right Builder For Your New Home

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Scott Merle Builders

The best way to get the home of your dreams is by building it yourself. You can customize each and every aspect of a home when you build it from scratch. But before you start mapping out a custom home, you need to hire the right builder to help bring your ideas to life. Take a look at some tips for choosing the right builder for your new home below.

Research the options in your area.

You might be surprised by how many different home builders operate in your city or town. You likely have dozens and dozens of options to choose from. Start your search by putting together a list of home builders in your area and learning more about each of them. Read online reviews for the builders and try to speak with those who have worked with them in the past if you can.

Take a look at some of the work builders have done over the years.

Most good home builders have websites set up. They show off the work they’ve done over the years on these sites so that you can get a better idea of what they’re capable of doing. Check out as many examples of past work as you can find for each builder you’re considering. You can also reach out to the builders to speak more with them about specific projects they’ve done.

Make sure you don’t have any issues communicating with a builder.

Once you’ve done your homework and found a builder with a style you like, get in touch with them and talk to them more about the home you want to build. While speaking with them, make sure you feel comfortable with how they communicate. If you hire them, you’re going to spend a lot of time communicating back and forth with them. You want them to be someone that speaks clearly and puts your mind at ease when you express any concerns.

Scott Merle Builders would love to help you build your dream home. We would be more than happy to tell you all about the custom home plans and designs we can put together for you. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to find out more about our home building services.

Don’t Forget These Things When You’re Building a Home

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Scott Merle Builders

Building a custom home from scratch can be an amazing experience. You can create your dream house and customize it to suit your needs and preferences. Nonetheless, it can be a little bit overwhelming trying to remember all the little details that will make your new house a home that you’ll love for years to come. Here are some things you should try not to forget when building a new home.

More than enough electrical outlets

From smartphones and tablet computers to TVs and gaming consoles, the average American family owns dozens and dozens of gadgets. You’re going to need somewhere to plug all of them in, and there’s nothing worse than realizing you only have one or two outlets in a room full of electronics. Make sure your electrician installs lots of outlets, so you don’t have to go back and add more later.

A drain in your garage floor

Do you want to make sure it’s simple to keep the floor in your garage clean? Install a drain in it that’ll allow you to clean it whenever you want. The drain will also come in handy when you pull your car into the garage in the middle of a thunderstorm or when you experience unexpected flooding in your area.

Heated flooring

There’s nothing worse than stepping out of bed on a freezing-cold winter morning and putting your feet down on a floor that feels like ice. Heated flooring can heat your floors up and make your entire home more comfortable. It can also heat your home more efficiently, which can reduce your energy bills. You won’t mind getting out of bed in the morning anymore when you have heated floors to greet you.

A large embedded safe

Studies conducted over the last few years have revealed that more and more Americans are stashing cash and other valuables in safes in their homes. And while most people can get away with a freestanding safe, you might want to consider embedding a safe in a concrete wall if you plan on putting very valuable items into it. This is something that’ll be pretty easy to do when a home is first being built.

These are just a few of the things that you should remember to install in a custom home. Scott Merle Builders can talk to you about some of the other great features you can add to your dream house. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to hear about how we can help you bring your dreams to life.

Should You Remodel Your Home or Build a New One?

Posted on December 11, 2018 by Scott Merle Builders

Do you want to improve the look of your current home or wish that it functioned better? If so, you might want to think about remodeling it. During a remodel, you can give your home a much-needed makeover and fall in love with it again. Or, if you don’t want to go that route, you can also consider building a brand new home from scratch. It’ll give you everything on your wish list and deliver the perfect home. So, which is the better option for you? Here are some things that’ll help you decide.

Which is more affordable?

There are some people who would automatically assume that a home remodeling project would be way cheaper than a new build. However, that isn’t always the case! If you think you’ll need to do a major remodel to turn your home into what you want, it could end up costing you as much as it would to build a new home. It all depends on the current condition of your home, the ideas you have, and more. A contractor can talk to you about how much each of your two options could cost.

Which is more convenient?

A new home build will usually take longer to do than a remodel. Therefore, if you’re looking for the quicker fix to your current problem, you might want to go with remodeling. However, you should remember that you’re going to need to live in the middle of a construction zone while your remodel is going on. It could limit your lifestyle for a little bit, which is something you won’t have to worry about when you’re having a new home built elsewhere.

Which will give you what you want?

A home remodel and a new home build can both give you what you want. It really all comes down to how much you like the current location of your home. If you love the area and don’t want to move somewhere else, a remodeling project might work best for you. But if you wouldn’t mind moving or want to get out of the neighborhood you’re in now, a new build might be your best bet. Either way, you can get the home you’ve always dreamed about.

Undoubtedly, there are pros and cons that come along with both home remodels and new home builds. Scott Merle Builders can help you with either option and make sure you love the end result. Call us at 315-409-4124 to set up a consultation.