As we have all seen, the lure of a “good deal” evokes emotions that often change the perception of our decision making process.    If you are considering buying a luxury home currently in foreclosure, short sale or other distressed situation – with aspirations to remodel or fix-it up to your liking – contemplate the following:

1. Hiring an Architect and/or Interior Designer while in the negotiation process to conceptualize the ideas you may have along with exploring the potential pros and cons of being able to get to where you want to go.
2. Consulting with a Builder, preferably a general contractor with experience in the luxury home market to take a look at the current condition, the quality of the workmanship, potential pros and cons along with getting some preliminary pricing on the changes you would like to make.
3. Hiring a Structural Engineering to look at the “bones” of the project.   Often, the Architect and/or Builder can recommend a Structural Engineer (SE) for you depending on complexity of design, etc.

Although, it may cost you a little up front – it is far better than running into costly surprises in the long-run.  By taking the steps to engage in quality design and building professionals prior to, and post negotiation/sales process – you can eliminate many of the unforseen circumstances that may lie ahead.

By Daniel Boylan, President DLB Custom Homes, Inc •  July 18th, 2011

Now more than ever – whether buying or selling real estate – LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION is top-priority with consumers. But one can make a case that lifestyle is often the tipping point in our decision-making process. In fact, these two variables – location and lifestyle – often go hand-in-hand when buying a home.

For many of us, our decision depends on a standard number of variables that include, but are not limited to, the following.

• Proximity to work, schools and amenities
• Cost of housing and property taxes
• Municipal services (i.e.: police and fire)
• Healthcare services (i.e.: hospitals and pharmacies)
• Neighborhood controls – CCRs and HOAs

 With that said, DLB Custom Homes, Inc. has seen a renewed emphasis on getting back to the basics.  Our clients are positioning themselves for the long-term, buying in locations like Talking Rock, Whisper Rock, DC Ranch, Paradise Valley and Arcadia that are on the fringe of greatness, or perhaps even tell a story or live out a buyer’s childhood memory.  

Priorities are changing and creating new variables for consideration that dig deeper into how homeowners want to live “moving forward.” These priorities are not necessarily dictated by the standards listed above.  Instead, they are lifestyle considerations that include:

• What does my community/neighborhood offer in terms of community involvement?
• Is this a place that my entire family can spend the holidays together?
• Are there trails for biking, hiking, walking? 
• Are there neighborhood stores (mom and pops) that my kids, grandkids can walk to get a snack?
• What architectural controls are in place – not only to allow creativity and individuality but also to protect my investment?
• What facilities are available to me (i.e.: fitness, golf, dining, recreation)?
• What is the strength of the development?  Is the developer going to stay true to the vision?
• What amenities are offered within walking distance of my community?
• Can my kids, grandkids play in the front yard, streets and parks?

Many of these questions can just as easily be used to analyze the appeal of a community’s location. “Are there trails for biking, hiking, walking?” – Well, are you buying in an urban environment or rural one?

“Is this a place that my entire family can spend the holidays together?” – That depends, is it centrally located between family members and does it offer the type of climate you wish for around the holidays?

When buying your next home, consider the point-of-view that the location of your community has a lot to do with the type of lifestyle you can expect. Take both into careful consideration before signing on the dotted line, as they are equally important when it comes to your long-term happiness as a homeowner.

By Daniel Boylan, President DLB Custom Homes, Inc   •  Nov 4th, 2011

As we have all seen, the lure of a “good deal” evokes emotions that often change the perception of our decision making process.    If you are considering buying a luxury home currently in foreclosure, short sale or other distressed situation – with aspirations to remodel or fix-it up to your liking – contemplate the following:

1. Hiring an Architect and/or Interior Designer while in the negotiation process to conceptualize the ideas you may have along with exploring the potential pros and cons of being able to get to where you want to go.
2. Consulting with a Builder, preferably a general contractor with experience in the luxury home market to take a look at the current condition, the quality of the workmanship, potential pros and cons along with getting some preliminary pricing on the changes you would like to make.
3. Hiring a Structural Engineering to look at the “bones” of the project.   Often, the Architect and/or Builder can recommend a Structural Engineer (SE) for you depending on complexity of design, etc.

Although, it may cost you a little up front – it is far better than running into costly surprises in the long-run.  By taking the steps to engage in quality design and building professionals prior to, and post negotiation/sales process – you can eliminate many of the unforseen circumstances that may lie ahead.

We are very excited about the redesign and launch of our new website, and hope you enjoy it as much as we do. A couple of years ago, as the market and economy experienced big changes, and there was a new approach to doing business, we decided it was time to make some changes to our business as well. One change was to redesign our website to become more interactive and a source of information for people who are in the process of building their dream home or remodeling their existing home. We wanted to provide our web visitors with information on trends in the market place, new building materials and ideas. Because of this our new site includes a blog where we will provide you with the latest information in design, remodeling. Everything from energy efficient plans and building material to trends in home size and amenities. We will also encourage feedback, and if there is a topic you would like to see covered, we would love to hear from you. It is all part of our focus at DLB Homes.