tampa homebuilder: I Used To Think I Was Indecisive, But Now I’m Not Sure
- 05/04/11 10:20 PM
I recall the very first home that I built. It was for my family. The sheer number of decisions that needed to be made was pretty overwhelming. We had to pick the appliances. That was easy. Then came the flooring, which was fairly straightforward for carpet and wood, but then we hit the literal wall when it came to tile. There were a lot of colors, sizes, accent tiles, grout color and what the heck is a listello?!?!? Picking out our plumbing and lighting fixtures was a mind numbing experience. Lastly came the cabinets and counters, which after weeks of decisions … (2 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Top 5 Sensible Energy Saving Features for a Florida Custom Home
- 05/03/11 11:44 PM
There are simply too many energy saving items for homes these days. So what makes sense for a Florida custom home? In other words, which energy saving features are worth the upfront cost? As a homebuilder in the Tampa Bay area, I am constantly looking at new items that come on the market. I wouldn't claim that I'm an expert, but I could play one on TV. More importantly, I've had real life experience installing many of these items and seeing if they live up to their promises, so I think that gets me a bit of credibility.
Here's my … (0 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Treat Every Customer As If They Sign Your Paycheck…Because They Do
- 05/02/11 11:32 PM
Nothing irritates me more than poor customer service. As a homebuilder, I unfortunately get to see far too much of it. Sometimes it comes in the form of our friends at the local utility companies. Other times it's the permitting and building departments that we must work with. And as good as I think we are at selecting our partners, it even happens with our sub-contractors and suppliers.
Many people believe that custom homebuilding in Tampa and St. Petersburg is primarily a manufacturing business. After all, we do make a very tangible product. Yet in my mind it is first and … (0 comments)
tampa homebuilder: A Nickel Ain't Worth a Dime Anymore
- 04/28/11 11:49 PM
I'm going to take a break from my favorite Yogi Berra qutoes after this post, but a nickel is worth a lot more than a dime every month at Javic. On the last week of every month, we draw one name from our Facebook fans to receive a Free Painter for a Day. This month's winner is Matt Cardillo.
If you'd like to win a Free Painter for a Day, visit the Javic Homes Facebook page and click on "Like". We draw a new name every month, so at least our Facebook fans can say that a nickel really is worth … (0 comments)
tampa homebuilder: The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be
- 04/27/11 11:25 PM
So did I mention yesterday that I really enjoy Yogi-isms?! This gem always cracks me up. I honestly don't know what Yogi was trying to say, but it always reminds me of the comment - "they don't build them like they used to". I take it as a compliment, although I'm not sure that's the intent of the comment. Our company does a lot of older home renovations in Tampa. You know the kind - large dining and living rooms; "Barbie Doll" kitchens and closets; and no insulation in the walls.
Today's homes have more emphasis on energy conservation than we … (2 comments)
tampa homebuilder: I Never Said Most of the Things I Said
- 04/26/11 10:41 PM
I really enjoy baseball and love the history of the game. In my recollection, no player has been as entertaining as Yogi Berra. His quotes are just timeless. One of my favorites is "I never said most of the things I said." It's a classic Yogism that often makes me think of some of the miscommunication that happens between a builder and owner, but it's so easy fix.
Building a custom home is unlike many projects. It is complicated by the fact that it involves the installation of thousands of components and coordination of 40-50 subcontractors on a unique, one-and-only design. … (5 comments)
tampa homebuilder: It’s a Buyer’s Market – But Only if You Buy!
- 04/25/11 11:06 PM
When I get asked about the current cost of building materials and trends we are seeing at Javic Homes in the market, I always answer in terms of why it is important to you, the homebuyer, and the impact this will make on your decision to build a new home in Tampa or St. Petersburg.
First of all, I think we all know that it's a buyer's market, but what are the factors contributing to this? I believe it comes down to three points for people considering building a custom home in Tampa & St. Petersburg: Historically low interest rates … (1 comments)
tampa homebuilder: How Do You Like Those Apples?
- 04/24/11 11:12 PM
I love Good Will Hunting and Matt Damon's "How Do you Like Those Apples?" scene is just a classic. The apples that I talk about regularly are the "Apples to Apples comparison" that our customers have to often undertake when comparing our proposal to others. I realize that the decision to build a custom home in Tampa is one of the largest investments most people make in their life, so that's why I stress how important this comparison step is when selecting a builder.
As we've discussed in previous posts, getting comfortable and trusting your builder is a priority in … (3 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Get Smart about Financing Your Custom Home – Part 2
- 04/23/11 12:11 AM
So you've been approved - congratulations! So now what type of loan should you choose for your new Tampa home? There are a lot of choices that your loan officer can describe to you, but the vast majority of our homeowners select a Construction-Permanent loan, or C-P loan. Just like the name says, a C-P loan has two components: a construction loan and a permanent loan that are rolled into one product. The construction part finances the purchase of the property, as well as the construction of the custom home. The permanent part takes over once the home is completed. The … (0 comments)
tampa homebuilder: What Can I Expect After I Move In My Custom Home?
- 04/19/11 10:47 PM
Your dream home has been complete for a few months. You've moved the furniture in, decorated it, and hosted a housewarming party. Your home is the envy of the neighborhood and your friends rave about the attention to detail and craftsmanship from your Tampa homebuilder, but there are no perfect homes. The fact is that the construction of a new home is one of the few remaining things that aren't built in a factory under controlled conditions. The result in Tampa new homes is foundation settling and minor cracks appearing. Many of these appear because your home is adjusting to temperature and humidity changes. So … (2 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Five Common Disagreements Owners Have With Builders
- 04/18/11 10:48 PM
The relationship between a builder and owner often starts out like dating someone for the first time. There's the flirtatious little dance up front where everyone is star struck and no one can do any wrong. Yet as the dating continues and gets more serious, there are often disagreements. Here are some of the most common ones AND how I've learned to avoid them and you can, too.
Expectations Problem: The homeowner thinks that this is a shoddy builder. I never would've hired him if I had known this. The builder thinks that these homeowners have completely unrealistic expectations. I can never … (4 comments)
tampa homebuilder: What Kind of Warranty Can I Expect on a Custom Home?
- 04/17/11 11:51 PM
I was at Best Buy this weekend, buying another electronic gadget that I know my wife will say I don't need (which is often true). As I checked out, the cashier asked me if I'd like to purchase the extended warranty. For the most part, I've learned that these never make sense and passed on it. Unlike extended warranties for electronics, a new home's warranty is one of the most important aspect of your new home, so ask your builder about it.
All Tampa homebuilders have a minimum warranty required by law, but a reputable builder will put their warranty in writing to exceed these minimum … (0 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Top 5 Mistakes Made by Homeowners Building a Custom Home
- 04/14/11 11:50 PM
I talk with a lot of people who are looking to build a custom home. I do my best to steer them away from my past mistakes as a home builder in Tampa and the ones others have made. Here's my latest attempt. Purchasing a lot that is "affordable". Remember - location, location, location. Purchase the most expensive, valuable lot you can manage, even if it means waiting on some finishes or amenities in your home. Trying to build a custom home without a professional builder. Building a custom home is more complex than most people realize. It takes skilled professionals … (6 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Surprises That Could Inflate Your Custom Home Cost
- 04/13/11 11:49 PM
I don't remember getting much, if any, allowance as a kid. I can hear your pity already. I do remember with all too much clarity the yard work, pool cleaning and other household chores, but not the allowance. Now as an adult and a custom home builder in Tampa and St. Petersburg, I spend a lot of time giving allowances. It's not that I have a lot of kids, but I do have custom home projects that have allowances (or budgets).
Allowances are established by builders because selections are not always made prior to signing an agreement to build a … (2 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Why You Shouldn’t Use Friends as Subcontractors
- 04/12/11 11:09 PM
"I have a friend (or brother-in-law, or Uncle Louie, or insert friend here) who is willing to do the tile work in my new home for a discounted rate. I'd like to use him and save some money." I can't tell you how often I have heard this from people. My response is always that I'm happy to have him bid on the work and if he can provide us with insurance, licensing, acceptable references and sign our subcontractor agreement, we'll consider using him.
In reality, I've learned the hard way that it's not a great idea to allow a … (4 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
- 04/11/11 11:51 PM
A few years ago, my mom gave me Richard Carlson's book, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff - and It's All Small Stuff. It's a famous book, which you've likely heard and read yourself. In it he said, "Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things that, upon closer examination, aren't really that big a deal..."
Great advice for life and although I'm still trying to make it work in my daily personal routine, it's especially important during the homebuilding process. From my experience, the vast majority of people who choose to build a custom home have come … (0 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Choices, Choices, Choices
- 04/10/11 11:20 PM
If you've ever built a custom home or done a major home renovation in Tampa or St. Petersburg, you know that there are a lot of choices to be made. I can't stress then how strongly I recommend that you make your selections before construction begins. And I mean ALL selections - paint colors, cabinets, plumbing / lighting fixtures, flooring, appliances and the list goes on.
Many people will say that this seems bizarre. We can all agree that we won't be installing appliances or painting until months into the home construction. It all comes down to making sure that … (0 comments)
tampa homebuilder: What You Can’t See Behind The Walls Of A New Home REALLY Matters
- 04/06/11 10:50 PM
I love the smell of a new home. For some people it's the smell of a new car or the freshly mowed yard, but for me, it's the smell of the new home. When I walk through a recently completed home, I enjoy the smell of fresh paint and seeing the beautiful floors, fixtures, cabinets, counters and appliances. I know the smell part is strange, but it is hard to look past all that great stuff and care about what's behind the walls. Yet that's the heart of the structure which impacts a lot of a home's energy efficiency, health and … (2 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Top 5 Reasons Your Home Should Have Gas
- 04/05/11 11:20 PM
As a former naysayer of the benefits of gas in new and renovated homes, I've come full circle and am now a big fan. Here are my top 5 reasons why I wouldn't live in a home again without it:
Lower Costs: Not only have both our customers and myself seen significantly lower monthly utility bills, especially with the use of gas water heaters and dryers, but the ongoing maintenance and cost of ownership of many gas appliances is lower due to longer life and fewer parts to break, like heating elements. Endless Hot Water: I'm not a long shower … (3 comments)
tampa homebuilder: Build New or Renovate – Part 3: The Insurance & Tax Men Cometh
- 04/04/11 11:47 PM
So how much fun can we have talking about insurance and taxes? I know...stop your yawning. This is worth staying awake for a short read. Lets cut to the chase on this exciting topic. When it comes to similar sized new homes and renovated existing homes, premiums for property insurance are higher on the renovated home and property taxes are higher on the new home. This doesn't mean it's a complete wash, so if you are still awake - read on.
Most people assume that the property taxes on a custom home in Tampa and St. Petersburg are higher than … (0 comments)
I recall the very first home that I built. It was for my family. The sheer number of decisions that needed to be made was pretty overwhelming. We had to pick the appliances. That was easy. Then came the flooring, which was fairly straightforward for carpet and wood, but then we hit the literal wall when it came to tile. There were a lot of colors, sizes, accent tiles, grout color and what the heck is a listello?!?!? Picking out our plumbing and lighting fixtures was a mind numbing experience. Lastly came the cabinets and counters, which after weeks of decisions … (2 comments)
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