Custom Homes Archives ⋆ Page 2 of 2

May 1, 2022January 1, 2023

Upgrades That Increase Value Pt. 2

Upgrades that increase value make up most of the choices faced by homeowners who are building their homes from scratch. In our last blog post, we covered some of the most common simple upgrades that increase both the value of a home, as well as its eco-friendliness (which also translates to wallet-friendliness)! In this post, we’ll be taking a look at some of the surprising pros and cons of such upgrades, and asking questions to see how well they work for us. For instance:

Is it Really an Upgrade?

There are some “upgrades” that, depending on your circumstances, may not be upgrades at all! Let’s see about a classic choice for home sustainability: Solar Panels. These are often the default when thinking about how to make your home more cost-effective and eco-friendly.

To ensure your home is ready for solar, you have much to consider. If a roof is too small, the panels won’t be able to absorb enough light. If your neighbors have tall trees or houses that shade your roof, they won’t get enough light. Perhaps your roof isn’t on an optimal angle (based on your location), they won’t get enough light. If your roof is angled the wrong direction relative to the sun, you guessed it! They won’t get enough light!

There is a structural aspect that is often overlooked, as well. It is important to determine if your roof is structurally engineered to handle the weight of the solar panels. If not, you may create a major problem without realizing it.

Provided you have the ability to accommodate all these needs, there’s one more important question: how long do you plan to stay in this house? Solar can be expensive, especially if you don’t qualify for the associated incentives and rebates. It can take years to achieve a return on the significant investment of solar panels the old-fashioned way!

However, let’s assume that money is no object. Your roof is ready for solar, and you have a great team standing by to install. According to a study by Zillow, solar panels increase home value by an average of 4.1 percent! Based on this information, you may well get your ROI (and then some) on closing day!

In Closing

As you can see, there are so many benefits to adding upgrades that increase value. From cutting down on costs for yourself, to making some extra money when selling, and even to providing future owners of your home the benefits of eco-friendly living as well! Make sure to assess your budget and the abilities of your builder when beginning a project. You might find that there’s even more in it for you that you think!

April 1, 2022January 12, 2023

Upgrades That Increase Home Value

Upgrades that increase home value are a necessary consideration in any home building project. When starting from scratch, you come face-to-face with MANY choices. Handled effectively, these choices can ensure that your home not only saves you money while you inhabit it, but that it also makes you money upon its sale! Let’s take a look at some of the most common eco-friendly and value-adding options for building a home.

Easy Answers

There are some upgrades that, especially when added to new construction, are too good to pass up! For example:

Energy Efficient Windows– to make the most of the benefits of home orientation, choose windows that are designed to regulate temperature. They’ll reduce heat transfer to/from the outdoors, be more resistant to condensation, and prevent air leakage.

Tankless Water Heater- also known as an “on-demand” water heater, it operates by warming water as it travels through the pipe, rather than holding a tank of water warm for hours on end. It uses FAR less energy, and reduces the experience of running out of hot water to an inconvenient thing of the past!

Attic/Garage Insulation- no matter what materials you use, insulating these often-ignored places can save you big! That said, many natural materials insulate FAR better than fiberglass, and are more sustainable. Simply ask your builder about eco-friendly options for your new construction.

Interior Wall Insulation- speaking of common places to miss an easy (and green!) upgrade, did you know insulating your interior walls could pile onto those savings for you? Rather than just space dividers, these walls make fantastic energy dividers too! Same as above, work with your builder to find the right materials for your project.

The benefits of each of these are so clear, you almost can’t help but include them in your build! In addition to quickly decreasing your energy bills, these are upgrades that increase home value in some very evident ways. However, not all of these choices are so easy.

Check back soon to read our next blog post, where we’ll go over the surprising pros and cons of one of the most recognizable options for an eco-friendly home: Solar panels!

March 1, 2022January 1, 2023

Home Orientation Pt. 2

Home Orientation Tips (Pt. 2)

Home orientation can have such an astounding effect on your heating and cooling bills, especially here in Central Texas where the summers get so blisteringly hot! Some natural assistance in cutting those costs is always helpful, and leaves more room in the budget for the fun stuff. Let’s jump back into some of the ways nature can help you out!

Take Cover!

Tree cover, that is! There are a number of ways that strategically placed trees can benefit your bottom line. Last month we talked about the sun’s differing summer and winter paths. To recap:

Summer Sun: rises north of true east, travels high in the sky, sets north of true west
Winter Sun: rises south of true east, travels nearer to the horizon, sets south of true west

So, where do the trees factor in?

Imagine planting a row of deciduous trees (birch, crape myrtle, mesquite, oak, etc.) in your south-facing yard. In the summer, the canopy is full, and you have plenty of shade for playtime and yard work. In winter, the leaves have fallen, and that low-lying southerly sun can shine right through your windows!

This helps provide some extra warmth to your living areas (see previous blog post for floor plan tips), and takes some strain off of your heating system.

More Home Orientation Tips

That’s not all though!

Concrete, asphalt, and gravel driveways hold an immense amount of heat in the summers, and can easily overheat a house in these Central Texas summers. While this outdoor radiator effect can be reduced by laying the driveway east of your house where it will only be exposed to the gentler morning sun. Before cooling in the afternoon shade, you can once again employ some native foliage to mitigate your climate system use. A nicely shaded, east-laying driveway will save you some summer money, andkeeps a comfortable space for vehicles and chalk art!

There is a never-ending list of benefits to considering the orientation of your home! These principles make a great start, and hopefully serve as inspiration for how to get the most out of YOUR home.

Contact the Anderson Construction Group, Inc. today to get started building your very own Custom Luxury Home with efficiency in mind!

We have more tips to share so check back next month!

February 1, 2022January 1, 2023

Home Orientation

Home Orientation (Pt. 1)

Home orientation is one of the most important aspects to consider when looking at a home’s efficiency and comfort! By simply taking a few cues from your climate and surroundings, they’ll do much of the heating and cooling work for you, whether you’re building a new home, remodeling the one you have, or deciding which one is right to buy.

Sunny Side Out

First, let’s look at the sun: we all know it rises in the east and sets in the west. It also swings low through the sky in the winter, and shines down from a sharp angle in the summer.

Therefore, large south-facing windows will gather plenty of warming sunlight in the winter, and the high summer sun will be at too sharp an angle to overheat your home. To increase this effect, consider a roof with significant overhang, and orient your longest walls to the north and south. Just like that, you’re passively saving money year-round!

Thanks to that low sun path, the north sides of hills can find themselves shaded all winter long. If you get to choose, try setting up on the south side instead.

Floor Planning

The arrangement of rooms within your home can also have a dramatic impact on your energy use. Don’t waste the heat collected from those south-facing windows on a laundry room or staircase. Put those to the north, and they’ll act as a buffer from the northerly winter winds. You can take advantage of that southerly light and heat for your living room or kitchen instead.

Make sure the western end of your house is prepared for bright afternoon light. That could be a study that warms and brightens as the day goes on, or a dining room where the whole family can watch the sun set together!

The east, of course, gets sunrise. This is a great spot for bedrooms with large windows, so you can wake with the sun and take advantage of that early warmth. It will also cool quickly, ensuring you aren’t overheating as you head to bed in the evening.

In some places, it’s nearly impossible to orient your home to exact compass points. Luckily, all of these benefits can still be obtained with up to a 15-20 degree shift from true north!

This all makes a great start to the principles of home orientation. We still have more to share though, so check back next month for Part 2!

December 1, 2021January 1, 2023

Building a Home 101

Building a Home with Anderson Construction Group Inc

Building a home can be an intimidating task. Typically, this is the biggest investment a homeowner will make in their lifetime.

How do you make sure you do it right?

After all, the quality of work on your home, will affect you and your family for many years to come.

Determine Your Budget
- Of course, the first thing to consider when building a new home is your financial situation. There’s no reason for you to go broke trying to make a new place to live for your family. Don’t overextend yourself. Start by taking a look, at your available budget. Determine your budget and stick to it.
Have a Floor Plan in Mind that Best Suits Your Family
- When building your own home, the floor plan design is a crucial factor to consider. Take the time to talk with your family about what you all expect out of your new home.
Work with Professionals
- Research potential home builders. Select the best one for you. Look at reviews, and photographs of their builds. Is what you see in-line with your vision?
Be Clear About the Fine Print Before Signing Anything
- There are going to be a lot of details to make decisions about during the process of building your home. It’s important that you and your family are in the loop every step of the way. It’s your responsibility, though, to read the fine print and know what you’re signing up for.
Keep Calm and Collected When Communicating with Your Home Builder
- Remaining calm and collected with always net better results. Most concerns can be changed or corrected. Calmly discuss any concerns or issues with your builder while working to the solution.
Visit the Job Site During Construction
- The last thing to think about when building your own home is the fact that you can visit the construction site. In fact, this is a great opportunity to check on things and make sure everything is going according to plan.

To learn more about Anderson Construction Group, Inc., click here.