And the Spring Building Projects Begin!
Spring seems to make everything come to life. People are undoubtedly more enthused about starting home design and building projects when the weather warms up and the sun starts shining. We’re proof of that this year!
I wanted to share a couple of spring projects we have going on right now. As the weather continues to warm up, we hope more and more people start thinking about building, remodeling, and renovating the inside and outside of their homes.
- We have two contract houses in the beginning stages. One in near Shelbyville, and another in Spencer County. The footers have been poured on these houses and we’re grateful that the weather has allowed us to get this part of the process of construction underway.
- We’ll be starting another custom building project in Shepherdsville very soon and will bring you the details and progress of that home as it unfolds.
Although we advertise ourselves a lot as a Louisville builder, we actually cover all of the surrounding neighborhoods and counties outside of Metro Louisville like Shelby County, Oldham County, Bullitt County, Spencer County and more.
Contact me today if you’re thinking about building or remodeling, whether you live in Metro Louisville or in one of the communities surrounding it.
Five Ways to Save Money When Remodeling Your Home
When remodeling your home, one of the first things to think about is whether or not the renovations you have planned will boost your home’s overall value. Putting your renovations to work for you—ensuring that they help make you money in the long run—can be a daunting task, especially when you’re renovating on a budget. Use the five tips listed below as a guide for smart, economical, and budget-friendly ideas when renovating your home. If you need help from an experienced custom home builder and remodeler, contact me today and let’s start a conversation.
1. HAVE A PLAN Before you start on your project, set up a plan that carefully outlines what you hope to accomplish. One way to do this along with organizing your thoughts is to cut out pictures and magazine articles relating your projects. Do some research online not only for ideas and inspiration.
2. CONSIDER SECONDHAND STORES Many towns have discount stores – such as Habitat For Humanity stores – where donated and excess job site items such as lumber, appliances, hardware, and more are sold at a relatively low rate. Saving money on items like this can lower your bottom line while still yielding a beautiful finished project that increases the value of your home.
3. CURB APPEAL MATTERS Increased curb appeal adds lasting value to any home, and can be a project that has minimal costs involved. With a little elbow grease, fresh plants and shrubbery, and new house numbers or light fixtures, your homes exterior will be brightened up and its value increased.
4. SOCIAL MEDIA IS YOUR FRIEND Now more than ever, companies are making use of social media sites like Facebook to reach out to customers with deals and one-time offers. This can be a great way to get a discount on appliances, services such as carpet installation or roofing, and more. The more you save on the initial remodel, the more money will be in your pocket when it comes time to sell your home.
5. LOCATION IS KEY Be sure to take your location into consideration when planning renovations. If you live in a hot climate, green cooling systems are a great investment that will add huge value to your home. Likewise, if your home is in a large development, taking the time to add exterior features that will set your home apart is a great investment.
And remember, always be sure to use a licensed, insured general contractor.
So what’s your Louisville dream home look like?
We thought this would be a fun topic to put on the blog and share on social media. We’d love to have your input. Not because we’re trying to sell you a home (we don’t have much inventory right now) or because we’re hoping to build your next custom contract home (although we’d gladly take you up on that). We just wanted to see how things are changing in the Louisville real estate market.
So what’s your Louisville dream home look like?
It seems like out are the days of 4,000 or 5,000 sq foot and above homes. Sure they happen, but it seems the market has moved to a less is more focus. Simple homes with more amenities. People are downsizing their mortgages and their upkeep left and right—when they can sell, that is. People have even started buying tiny houses (http://tinyhouseblog.com/). You might not be there yet, but your dreams, goals, and desires for a dream home may have been altered in the last five years of this economic shift. If so, we’d love to know how so.
Do you prefer a community-type development like Norton Commons, or a traditional suburban neighborhood like Fox Run? Would you like an infill home built in an older, existing area like St Matthews, Middletown, Clifton, Lyndon or many others? By the way, these old lots are few and far between.
Would you prefer to be in a town home, patio home, or condo type development with some unique twists? Are you looking at having one to five acres on a tract outside the city in a neighboring county like Spencer, Shelby, Oldham, or Bullitt?
So do you prefer a two story traditional, a one and a half story, or a ranch?
When it comes to the basement, is it a walkout or a traditional basement? Finished or unfinished? Believe it or not, some like an unfinished basement as a romp room, storage space, or more importantly, as one less place to clean and dust.
What are the must-have amenities?
Are you a cottage home, craftsman, traditional, modern, or cape cod fan?
Brick, brick and brick, or hardiplank/ siding?
Leave your thoughts in the comments, on the Facebook thread, or @reply us on Twitter.
International Builders Show in Orlando is Coming Up
We’re heading back to the annual International Builders Show in Orlando Florida. Yes, somebody has to go to Florida in February, so we drew the short straw. We’re one of the Louisville Builders taking one for the team.
This show has been an almost annual event the last few years. We attend this show in part because I serve on the local HBAL Board of Directors, the HBAK Executive Board, and in part because even us older builders like to keep up with our industry. As we’re using Twitter, Facebook, and blogging, we have to keep up with all the latest products and trends in our industry.
Every year, we come back with new ideas and updates on the pros and cons of green building and developing, new regulations making home building more difficult, the state of the housing market, and the latest product enhancements that affect our customers. Those are all very good reasons to make the annual trip.
This year’s NAHB International Builders Show is February 8-11. Normally, this would be a perfect time for builders to take in a conference, although this year we actually have two, possibly three custom homes we’re starting in January and early February. We’re also finishing up a dental office addition for our friends over at A Winning Smile Dental Center in Okolona. If you’re looking for a Louisville Dentist, they are expanding and accepting new patients. We won’t complain about the activity, or the break to sharpen our saw.
P.S. If I can get my new iPhone 4 working before the trip, I will be live tweeting, shooting videos, and blogging about the show like in years past. Stay tuned for more.
Merry Christmas from PL Lyons
Christmastime is here! Can you believe this year is almost over? Every December we pause to reflect on the passing year—areas where we succeeded and areas where we can improve.
We also like to take this opportunity to let our employees and our clients know how much we appreciate them. The people we work with really are the life of the business, and we have the best. We are grateful for the loyalty of both our employees and our clients, and we look forward to continuing to build those relationships as we enter the New Year.
Hopefully the excitement of the holiday season will linger awhile as we enjoy time with family and friends over the next couple of weeks. 2012 holds the promise of a happy and successful business year ahead.
From everyone at PL Lyons, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Basement remodels, they’re a great winter project
So you’re getting ready to anchor down for winter. NFL football is in midstream, college bowl season is coming up, and basketball—well it’s just starting. You have old man winter moving in for the next 3-4 months and you’re thinking, “Man I’d like to have a cozy basement to take it all in.” If you’re the lady of the house, you might be thinking craft room, homeschool room, or kids play area. If you’re the man of the house, you’re thinking man cave. Did we mention that we provide marriage counseling along with custom building and remodeling 
Either way, finishing a basement is a great and affordable way to add space and functionality to your existing home.
It’s not too late to get the jump-start on a basement remodel. Can you have it done by Christmas? Well, no, but you might be able to have it done for that Super Bowl party you’ve always wanted to have. Or how about March Madness?
We just finished up several basement finishes this fall. We have some testimonials, some videos, and some after pictures to share in the coming weeks.
We completed one basement remodel in Jtown, a basement finish in Oldham County, and a basement remodel in Eastwood. Although building custom homes has always been our strong suit, we often go back and finish basements for our custom building clients. Oddly enough, none of these recent projects were from custom home clients.
Whether we’ve built for you in the past and it’s time to finish that basement, or you’re just looking for a Louisville basement remodeler, we can help.
We price a basement finish just like we price a new custom home—with precision. This way you know what you’re getting and know your budget from day one.
Call us to get the conversation started today at 244-0114. Or, as always, use our online form to schedule an initial conversation.
Happy Thanksgiving from our family at P.L. Lyons Custom Building and Remodeling
Our team here at P.L. Lyons Inc, which includes myself, (Perry Lyons) my wife Linda, and our right hand man and superintendent Buck Steinbach, want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Take some time this week to count your blessings.
Take some time and relate with your family and friends.
Take some time and be thankful for your freedoms.
Guys get your share of football.
Ladies get your share of shopping.
Everyone get your share of good eats.
Enjoy the change in seasons. Some people never get to see a leaf fall, a snow flake, a bloom in spring, or a sunny July day.
If you spend any of your time off working on that honey-do list, you might find last week’s post helpful about winterizing your house.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Share on FacebookNew pictures of some of our custom homes in the Louisville area
Since we primarily build new custom homes in Louisville and the surrounding areas, we wanted to take a minute to share a few pictures of some homes we’ve recently completed.
These three homes were all built in the Fox Run subdivision in Eastern Jefferson County. We build to suit your needs and have built custom homes and completed custom remodels and additions in a number of prestigious areas and neighborhoods in Louisville including:
- Anchorage
- Lake Forest
- Douglas Hills
- Plainview
- in Briar Hill Estates
- Beckly Woods
- Hunters Point
- Winchester Acres
- Fairway Crossing
- Fox Run
- Glen Lakes
If you’d like to learn more, please contact me today.
Share on FacebookShould you refinance to a 15-year mortgage?
It sounds great, doesn’t it? Being able to pay off your mortgage in a fraction of the time by refinancing to a shorter-term loan. In just 15 years, you could own your home outright, build equity faster, and free up thousands of dollars you would otherwise be paying in interest over the course of a 30-year mortgage. The money you save on interest could go toward money for retirement, college, or even a wedding.
But can you afford it? Even though you might be able to afford the higher monthly payment, there are some other things to consider:
- Would you still have enough money left over to save each month? It’s recommended to keep at least six months’ worth of reserved funds in savings at all times. Would you be able to achieve this with a higher monthly mortgage payment?
- Will you go house poor? Think summer vacations, weekend getaways, dining out, shopping, improvements to your home, etc. All of these things you freely enjoy now might not come so easy if your mortgage payment is that much higher.
- Do you have enough job security and feel stable where you are for the next 15 years?
- In the event of an emergency, will you have funds in reserve to pay for unexpected expenses? Aside from the six-month reserve, will you have the extra money to cover unforeseen medical bills and car and house repairs?
The New York Times wrote an article on the topic with even more things to consider along with a link to a mortgage calculator. Even though rates for 15-year mortgages are great now, don’t rush into a decision until you weighed all your options.
Q&A with Perry: I am looking at buying a developer-owned lot, should I get a soil impaction test?
Here’s a question that was recently submitted through our website, along with my personal response. We appreciate your questions, comments, and interactions on our site. If there’s a question you have, I encourage you to ask me.
Question:
I am looking at buying a developer-owned lot to build a new home on. The lot is sloped and I will plan on building a half basement. I was talking to a builder three lots from mine and he said that he had to remove excess fill dirt to get to the sub grade to pour foundation. This was an extra cost to the homeowner. Does the developer have to disclose if a lot has been filled in with fill? If not, should I get a soil impaction test prior to buying the lot?
Answer:
Most developers will disclose any information they have concerning lots. However, the detailed construction drawings will show lots that are filled with soil and or debris. The construction drawings may not show rock formations and or subterranean soil problems that may require additional monies for building.
As an individual buying a lot, it is ALWAYS best to have a builder or his engineer inspect a lot before purchasing. They usually can inform you if the lot requires additional costs to build.
It is customary to do the additional requirements ie: rock removal, additional fill for poor soil conditions, hillside construction, etc. on a cost-plus basis, as it is usually more cost effective to the customer to do it that way verses having an engineer test, estimate rock removal and or fill, and then do the required work after he has included his fees. In some cases, an engineer’s report is required.
As a builder, we have purchased lots knowing there was fill on that lot and it would have to be removed for the building process, and we include an allowance or a fixed cost for that work, adding it to the cost of the structure. The same has been done with rock removal. However, we have built on a lot that had sub soil conditions that were not known by the developer or his sales team, and it was deemed the responsibility of the purchaser to either move on with the project or abandon plans. Because of already incurred costs, they moved on with the project.
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