Welcome To Our Blog

We are moving!!

Yes, we have sold our model home in Cathedral Pines, and the buyers want to move in!  Who can blame them?  So, this weekend will be our two final days here on Saxton Hollow Rd.  Don't worry; we will still be in the neighborhood! Jean will be located in the Cathedral Pines Community Center, at 13977 Milam Rd.
(10-5 Mon-Sat: 12-5 Sunday)
Our phone number will be the same.

 (719) 495-4408 
Steve will be working on our next model home at 13620 Lauriston Pl., also here in Cathedral Pines and Brad will be busy designing homes.  

We will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday, but please stop by on Saturday (10-5) or Sunday (12-5) for a final look!

We hope you all have a wonderful
Happy Thanksgiving!

Smaller, Smarter, Lower Cost Floor plan designs.

Recently, we have had requests for designs that are smaller and less expensive to build.  It’s a challenge, sometimes, to squeeze space out of a plan, while preserving the integrity of the usability of each room.  There are several ways to create a more efficient plan:

• Eliminate the breakfast nook and formal dining room to create one eating area that functions for casual dining or entertaining.  The kitchen can also be designed to allow for casual meals around an island.
• Design plans with fewer rooms that can serve multiple functions as your needs change.  For example create a dining room that can also function as a study, or create a bedroom that can function as an exercise room.
• Design more efficient decks and patios with spaces for outdoor cooking, seating and hot tubs while eliminating wasted space. 
• Create rooms around furniture placement so that the furniture fits the room, using the space wisely. 
• Simplify the foundation and roof structure to reduce material cost.

At Alliance Builders Inc., we are very good at designing to a budget.  We have created an extensive questionnaire to help our clients determine what things are important, as well as what items they can compromise on.  We use our extensive experience with “value engineering” to meet our client’s needs. 

Designing a custom home is a process.  We start with the budget, help select a location, and then create a custom design to fit your individual needs. 

Alliance Builders would like to be your new Custom Home builder and designer!  Please give us a call!

    Choosing a Custom Homebuilder
    Things To Consider

Does the builder have references – Talk to past customers and/or Realtors about their experience in working with the builder through the construction and warranty service.

Does the builder provide detailed specifications – Make sure the builder will give you detailed written specifications to avoid surprises during construction.

Does the builder include the cost of drawing plans in the price of the home – Plan drawing and engineering can add thousands of dollars to the cost of the project.

Can the builder give you an estimated price before you spend money on plans – A builder should be able to give you guidance on a floor plan, size and style of the home before you invest in the expense of drawing plans.

Does the builder work on a fixed price or cost plus basis – Constructing a home on a cost plus basis means the customer will pay for the builder’s errors in bidding, mismanagement or cost over runs.

Is the cost of construction financing included in the price – If you are obtaining a loan for the construction you need to budget for the cost of financing because this can add thousands of dollars to the cost of the home.

Are the dollar allowances sufficient – Talk with the material suppliers before you commit to the building contract to make sure the allowances provide the finishes you are expecting.

How does the builder handle the cost of unforeseen things like bad soils or underground water encountered in the construction – If you are taking the risk for the additional unforeseen expenses you need to know the maximum cost.

How much does the builder charge for upgrades or changes – Upgrades and changes happen in every home, therefore you need to negotiate how much profit the builder charges on changes before committing to a building contract.

Do you like the builder’s craftsmen and suppliers – Ask to meet some of the craftsmen and suppliers.  These are the people that will be doing the actual building of your new home so you need to know if you feel comfortable with them.

What landscaping or retaining walls are included in the price – Retaining walls may be required to manage the drainage properly and they can add thousands of dollars to the cost of a home. 

What is the builder’s warranty – Warranties should cover cosmetic items like paint, tile and carpet; mechanical systems like heating, plumbing and electric; and structural components of the home.  Some items have the warranty provided by the manufacturer like windows, roofing and appliances, therefore those items may not be covered by the builder.

How comfortable do you feel with the builder – Keep in mind you are going to have about a 2 year relationship through construction and the initial warranty period, therefore you should also consider your basic feelings about how well you can communicate and work with the builder.

Posted by Brad Ausmus
      © 2010 Bradley Ausmus.  All rights reserved.

In our Alliance Builders model home we often have prospective custom home buyers ask: What is your construction cost per square foot? I struggle to give a fair answer because there are so many variables involved.

The first problem is defining square footage, because there are several different methods of measuring.

• Is it measured to the inside or outside of the exterior walls?
• Is it just the total of the room sizes?
• Does it include porches, unfinished areas, mechanical rooms or unheated areas?
• Are stairs counted on all of the levels?
• Is the garage included?

The second problem is defining what is included in the cost, because the cost per sq. ft. could or could not include:

• The lot or land
• Actual building labor and material costs
• Plan drawing and engineering
• Building permits and fees
• Getting water, sewer, gas and electric to the home
• Construction loan financing
• Builder’s liability and hazard insurance
• Garage
• Landscaping and site preparation
• Driveway
• Real estate commissions and marketing expenses

The third problem is comparing the differences in the quality of the materials included in the home because there is a big difference in the cost of things like:

• Tile roof compared to composite roofing
• Commercial style appliances compared to standard builder grade appliances
• Custom cabinets and compared to production cabinets
• Solid surface counters compared to laminate counters
• Insulation and energy saving construction

If home buyers are going to use cost per sq. ft. to compare value they need to make sure that the method of measurement, construction costs, materials and finishes are clearly defined. Cost per sq. ft. is not really a reliable method of comparing value. Things like location, livability of the floor plan, curb appeal, low maintenance and utilities costs are better methods of determining value.

Don’t be deterred by a smaller home that appears to have a higher cost per sq. ft. Smaller homes generally will have a higher cost per sq. ft. because the costs for things like utility connections, heating and cooling systems, driveway, landscaping, appliances and plumbing fixtures are about the same for a small home as they are for a large home. Some smaller floor plans can be much more livable and offer better overall value than other larger homes.

Comparing new home cost per sq. ft. is like asking how much a car costs per pound? Does a Bentley cost more per pound than a Subaru?

Posted By Brad Ausmus