So you’re ready to have your new home? Congratulations! This is an exciting time!

But before you’re able to think about wallpaper and lighting options, you’re probably first considering what kind of home you want.

Deciding between building a custom home and purchasing a spec home is a big decision for any homeowner. It can also be confusing to understand the differences between the two and the benefits for each one.

Keep reading for our full guide to learn everything you need to know about custom homes versus spec homes! To know more about construction loans, check out this guide from Space Coast Credit Union.

What is a Custom Home?

A custom home is pretty straightforward – it’s a home designed and built for you, the homeowner. This residence is built to suit the needs of one specific client and is based on the land that the client owns.

The plans for a custom home are usually created by some kind of professional home designer, like an architect. This person will work closely with the individual or family to meet the needs of this client. Often, custom home builders or architects will have theoretical floor plans that the client can choose from so that they don’t need to start from a blank sheet.

The home builder will also work with the client on the interior design. This might include colors, countertops, flooring, and more. Custom home builders also tend to have luxury features, like high ceilings, large rooms, and big doors.

There are many decisions involved in building a custom home, which can be exciting for the client. For example, you might be able to include high-tech additions, like moving walls or having smart features for lighting and appliances.

What are the Benefits of Building a Custom Home?

The personalization factor of a custom home is really the most obvious benefit. When building a custom home, you’re able to work with the contractor to control a lot of factors. You will get to decide things like the layout of the home and the overall design.

By building a custom home, the client also has control over the way it looks, including the colors and materials. This might be your chance to be creative and design a home that you’ve always been picturing while customizing it to your family’s needs. If you’re a couple looking to build a home, you can consider children or grandparents when thinking about bedrooms or home attachments.

In this way, you’re also able to control costs. When working with the construction crew, you can sign off on every line item. You’ll also be able to leave out any features you don’t really want or need that might cut costs.

Building a custom home will usually require a secure construction loan before you’ll be able to begin. The construction of the home may also take a good deal of time which will mean interest on the loan.

What are Spec Homes?

Spec houses are short for speculative houses for sale, meaning the home builder is creating the home without tailoring it to a specific buyer. It’s important to get more information about spec homes before purchasing so you understand all the factors involved.

The name “spec home” comes from the concept that the builders are speculating what a buyer would be interested in and creating the home to completion. These builders are skilled in anticipating what people want in a home in a generic sense. They also base the designs off of certain marketable neighborhoods.

Spec homes are typically not as large as a custom home, but will usually be small or medium-sized with custom styles. It’s possible a spec home could be a large, luxury home. The design and size of the spec home is also usually based on the neighborhood and area where the home is built.

What are the Benefits of Buying a Spec Home?

It’s as obvious as it seems – buying a spec home is more convenient for the client! Not every client or homeowner wants to be involved in the process of personalizing a home’s design.

This will also require less time because you can purchase a spec home when you’re ready to buy, rather than waiting for a custom home to be built. If you think you would be impatient with the process of a custom home, or overwhelmed by all the decisions that will need to be made, a spec home would remove those issues.

It’s also possible to find a spec home you want before the construction is complete, so you’re able to be involved in some final decisions, like the paint color. But in general, if you don’t have a specific design idea or preference for your home, you may not need customization.

Your family needs and goals might affect which home type is right for you. If the spec home has the right number of bedrooms, backyard size, etc. and you’re happy with the design, it could be the perfect home for you.

Deciding on a Custom Home vs. a Spec Home Depends on Your Needs

There are many factors to consider in the process of purchasing or building a home. It might also all come down to your personal and financial preferences.

If you would rather not be involved in making all the decisions for a custom home, and want the convenience of spec homes, the answer could be obvious. But if you’re intrigued by the idea of working closely with the home builder to get the house of your dreams, a custom home is a better choice for you.

Keep reading our blog for more information about all your real estate and home buying needs!

If you’re hoping to enter the housing market and buy your first home, you may be interested in learning about rent to own homes as an option. If you don’t have a large down payment saved or your credit isn’t the greatest, rent to own homes may be just the option for you.

As with anything, there are pros and cons of rent to own homes. When you rent to own, you’re able to lock in a purchase price, make rent payments, and start to build equity toward a down payment on the house you’re living in.

While this is a great opportunity, if you fail to make your payments or if an unforeseen event causes you to move, there are some risks you should consider.

Is rent to own a good idea for you?

This guide will go over the pros and cons of rent to own houses to help you decide if this is your best path to homeownership.

What Is Rent to Own?

In real estate, typically a buyer and a seller complete a home purchase after the closing on a home. The buyers purchase the home from the seller and the home changes ownership immediately.

Under a rent to own agreement, the buyer and seller actually only agree on the possibility of the renters purchasing the home in the future. You can learn more about companies who specialize in these homes by continuing to read on here.

The renter, who ideally will buy the home, ultimately decides if they are going to purchase the home or not.

In the meantime, the buyer will make payments to the seller in the form of rent. A portion of this money will typically go towards the purchase of the home in the future.

Let’s say your rent is $2,000. You might see an agreement where $1,000 will go to rent and $1,000 will go towards a down payment. That gives you $12,000 towards the purchase of the home at the end of a year.

The Pros and Cons of Rent to Own Homes

When looking at the benefits and drawbacks of a rent to own home there are several factors to consider. In many cases, the benefits to a potential home buyer far out weight the bad.

You’ll want to consider your current financial situation, your earning potential, your long-term plans, and also the real estate market where you live before jumping into a rent to own contract.

The Benefits

Here’s a round-up of some of the main benefits of entering into a rent to own agreement.

Great for People Who Need Help Qualifying for a Mortgage

If you are having trouble saving enough money for a down payment, you’re not alone. It can be hard to save for a down payment when you are also paying for an expensive rental.

This is where rent to own options can really be beneficial. You’ll be renting the home you will potentially be living in while you’re also saving for your down payment.

If your credit is less than perfect, this can also buy you time to build up your credit. While you’re renting, you can pay down your credit card, cut some expenses, and reduce your debt.

Hopefully, by the time your lease term is up, your credit has improved enough to qualify for a mortgage.

You Can Lock in Your Purchase Price

If you live in a hot real estate market where the value of homes is constantly increasing, you might be able to lock in your purchase price while you rent your home for a couple of years.

As the price of the home increases, you’ll still only pay the price you agreed upon years before.

Allows You to Test Drive the House

Sometimes, you’re just hesitant to commit to buying a house. In this case, you’re actually renting the home you want to live in which allows you to test-drive it. Test driving a home means you can feel out the area, the neighbors, and the house itself.

By renting the house before you buy it, you can see if any issues come up with the home you didn’t know about.

The Drawbacks

With any real estate transaction, there are always some potential drawbacks to consider. Here are some of the cons of buying a rent to own home.

You Risk Forfeiting Money

In our $ 2,000-a-month rent example, $1,000 of that rent is going towards the purchase of the home you’re renting. If you decide you don’t want to rent the home, after all, you run the risk of losing that money.

Typically, with a rent to own home, the seller will put in the agreement that if the potential buyer backs out and decides they don’t want to buy the home, they will forfeit that money.

Keep in mind, however, that you likely would have paid that money in rent anyway so it isn’t necessarily money lost.

You Aren’t Fully in Control

With a rent to own agreement, there are sometimes forces that you can’t control. You may have intended to buy the home you’re renting but sometimes life happens. You may need to move for a job or you get married or divorced.

The same situation can apply to the seller, and they may end up needing to sell the home sooner or foreclose. While this is rare, there is always a possibility.

Late Payments Are Costly

If you’re unable to pay your rent on time, you may end up losing the house or losing some of the money you have built up towards a down payment.

Pay your rent on time, and this shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Is Renting to Own a Home a Good Idea

Deciding whether or not to rent, rent to own, or purchase a home traditionally is a tough choice. Consider your financial situation and weigh the pros and cons.

On one hand, you get the benefit of test-driving a home, saving money towards a down payment, and locking in a purchase price. On the other hand, life happens and sometimes you may end up leaving the home before you intended and unable to purchase it.

Whatever your situation, when it comes to the pros and cons of rent to own homes, the benefits tend to outweigh the bad.

For real estate news, tips, and ideas, visit the blog section for more great housing market resources.

Read more: How Does Rent-to-Own Work

Are you moving into a home that tends to be damp, humid, and dark? Do you want to make sure your family remains healthy in the home? Make sure that your house is free of black mold by checking for these top 10 warning signs.

Like bacteria, not all molds are harmful or bad for us. The antibiotic penicillin comes from the Penicillium mold. Yet, certain molds like black mold or Stachybotrys produce toxic chemicals called mycotoxins.

Long exposure to or high doses of mycotoxins can affect our bodies. Thus, you need to spot the signs of black mold in your home as soon as possible. Keep reading to find out how.

1. Your Nose Picks up a Musty Smell

One of the most common signs of the black mold is the musty, pungent, and/or moldy smell that it produces. It’s an earthy, rotting smell that’s especially strong. Once you get a whiff of this, try to follow the smell to find where it’s strongest.

Check bathrooms, since they’re often the dampest places in the home. You also want to take a look at the exhaust fan in the bathroom where the mold may be enjoying the darkness. If you want to avoid cultivating mold in your bathroom, make it a habit to clean the walls with a bleach solution.

2. You See Dark Rings and/or Spots From Water Damage

The second most obvious sign that you have black mold growing in your home is the dark spots. You’ll often see these dark spots or rings on your walls or ceilings. These visual signs are often early indications of black mold.

3. You Find That the Paint on the Walls Is Bubbling 

Moisture in the air is one of the very obvious warning signs of black mold. Anything from leaky plumbing or too much humidity can cause it. However, you won’t always know about it, especially if it’s trapped under the paint on the wall. It’s also impossible to detect with the naked eye but a thermal imager can be used for leak detection. When you see them, get some professional help.

Do you see the paint bubbling on your walls? If you do, it may be time to get a new paint job. Before that, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem first.

As we always say, where there’s moisture, mold isn’t too far behind.

4. Your Unventilated Attic Has Lumps in the Insulation

Head to your attic now and check the insulation. Do you see areas that look uneven? Get a feel of the air inside the attic. Is the air stagnant and humid?

If the answers to those questions are yes, you may be facing a mold problem. Check for unseen roof leaks and have them fixed. Only after you checked for leaks, replace the moldy insulation.

Any dark place without proper insulation spells a big problem for you. Always check for places like this before you move in or buy a house. Buying a house with mold will require more money to clean up and repair.

5. Your Eyes Become Watery and Irritated

You might have an allergic reaction to molds. However, this won’t always be obvious, especially when you have allergies to other things. If you the source of your allergies are never present in the home, it may be the molds.

Some symptoms of allergic reactions include irritated and watery eyes. Other people can start coughing or have nasal congestion. If you suspect that you’re allergic to molds, visit an allergist and get tested.

6. Your Skin Itches and Burns 

Feeling your skin tingle, itch or burn is another effect of having an allergic reaction to black mold. In worst-case scenarios, you can get hives. This will most likely happen when you get too exposed to black mold at home.

See a doctor or allergist if you don’t know that you have an allergy to molds. It’s also possible that the home is harboring other sources of your allergies. Check the home for these sources as well as black molds.

7. You Experience Headaches or Mood Changes

Black mold can do more than let you know that you’re allergic to molds.

It can also cause issues like persistent headaches, diarrhea, and more. These are the effects of black mold on you when you’ve had a lot of exposure to it already. Some more health concerns of mold poisoning include memory loss and aches and pains.

8. Your Asthma Gets Triggered

Studies show there are millions of mold spores in the air all the time. It’s only invisible to our eyes. For anybody with preexisting lung problems or asthma, this is bad news.

Mold exposure can worsen these health issues. If you notice that your asthma is acting up, this may be a reason. Also, note that infants and children who grow up exposed to mold are more at risk of developing asthma.

9. There Are Soft Areas in Your Hardwood Floor

Black mold doesn’t grow in your walls and ceilings only. It can also row under your hardwood floors. This often happens when moisture gets trapped in the subfloor. If you have a crawlspace or basement, access it and check for moisture.

If you don’t have that kind of access to your subfloor, you’ll have to pull up a section of the flooring. It’s best to pick a soft spot on your wood flooring. Take a good look to see if the mold has already spread throughout the floor.

If the wood floor already rotted throughout, you’re at risk and have to change it all. However, if you see that the flooring is still in good condition, it’s safe to assume that the growth isn’t too widespread yet. Here, you can remove the mold with a remover.

10. Health Signs of Black Mold: Vomiting, Nausea, and Bleeding

The last of the signs of black mold are serious health symptoms. You may experience unexplainable bleeding in the lungs and nose, vomiting, or nausea. These are possible reactions of your body to the toxicity of black mold.

If you have a weak immune system, you’re at an even bigger risk of getting fungal infections. This includes people with uncontrolled HIV, those undergoing cancer treatment, and transplant patients.

Prevent Black Mold From Growing in Your Home

Is black mold dangerous? Yes, it is, as you can see from the warning signs mentioned above. You may not think it’s as serious as having rats or pests in the home. However, it’s a big risk to your health, anyway.

We hope you learned something valuable from this guide on the signs that you have black molds. Spot these warning signs of black mold early to avoid mold poisoning.

But don’t quit learning here. If you want to learn more about how to keep your home clean and mold-free, check out our other guides.

In today’s world, there are a great many materials that can be used to construct a building of any sort.

Modern technology has stretched capabilities, and you now have a vast array of options at your disposal. However, why stray away from aluminum? It’s a material that has proven the test of time.

Aluminum offers several different benefits and advantages over the others that you could choose from. That makes it the obvious choice because of the low cost and high production.

Here are several benefits of aluminum being used as your building material and why you should go with it over all others.

1. Helps Save Energy

Many people forget that, while the costs and production of constructing the building are important, the goal should be focusing on how the building will function after it’s built.

How are the tenants of the building going to feel if you use a building material that lets in the elements from the outside?

Aluminum is an incredible energy-saving ally for your buildings because of its ability to reflect sunlight off of itself. Many other materials absorb the sunlight and make the offices within it feel like a burning sauna.

This helps save on the energy bill since it will take less for the building to stay on the cooler side. Because of that, you’ll reap the benefit of lower monthly energy bills.

2. It Goes Beautifully with Glass

Who doesn’t enjoy a skyscraper downtown that’s made of features such as ACM panels and gorgeous glass windows?

They flaunt the innovation and technology of today’s culture and look just as pristine at night as they do during the day.

Having a perfect pairing between aluminum building material and glass windows can help you fill your workspace with natural light. That will lead to higher production and a happier workforce.

Not to mention, this will also help you save money on monthly lighting bills. The less light you need to use during the day, the more money that can be allocated to other areas of business.

3. It Has Stood the Test of Time

It’s understandable that you would want to ensure the material you’re using for your building(s) is trustworthy. It’s why you’re looking at this article in the first place!

Aluminum has proven itself to be trustworthy. After all, look at all of the historic buildings that used it as their primary!

Did you know that the Empire State Building was the first building to use aluminum materials for most of its major structures? That was all the way back in 1930… so you know it’s durable.

You can go anywhere in the world for iconic buildings that are made of aluminum such as the Wave in Almere, Holland or the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt, Germany.

4. It’s Entirely Sustainable

Gone are the days of negligent construction using materials and building practices that are harmful to the environment. You need to search for ways to make your building far more sustainable.

Fortunately, aluminum can be the answer to your problem. What’s important is that it’s recyclable, so no matter what future your building holds, it will have a life afterward.

As previously mentioned, aluminum buildings can also help with lowering the amount of energy that’s used throughout the world on a daily basis.

Remember, while you’re interested in creating a building for today, the decisions you make on materials will either help or harm the future.

5. It’s Weatherproof

One of the biggest bragging rights that aluminum has is its strength compared to the lightweight frame that it holds. That’s one of the biggest reasons it’s used so predominantly in today’s most innovative skyscrapers.

The amount of wind and pressure that a building sustains on a daily basis would surprise you. Few materials are as equal to that task as aluminum, which offers flexibility to absorb the pressure without succumbing to it.

Because of that, your building will thrive through all the different elements that your climate throws at it for decades to come.

6. Quicker Construction

Other materials that you use to build, such as concrete, require a ton of extra work to make sure they’re in prime condition. You have to provide extra framework to it to make sure it’s structurally sound.

Meanwhile, by implementing things such as aluminum that is impervious to corrosion, the construction crew won’t have to waste valuable time painting the material.

Using it as your building material requires less maintenance and allows you to get in, build the entire building, then get out. The completion time will be much faster and will offer fewer setbacks than other materials would.

7. Conforms with Different Shapes

Aluminum is used on a vast array of products such as cars, wheels, trash cans, fences, pots, furniture, and doors to name several. Why? because of its ability to conform to different shapes.

Some materials that you might be considering for your building will require far more work to achieve a certain shape. Even then, you might be limited to the few shapes they can be built into.

Aluminum can help you built an amazing piece of architecture that your community will marvel at. It will be a jewel among a city of uniform shapes and sizes.

Gain Access to All the Benefits of Aluminum

Now that you’ve seen the several different benefits of aluminum for your building, it’s time to get to work.

There are plenty of things to research such as aluminum composite material and how that can play a huge part in your construction.

Be sure to read our other articles that pertain to both this topic and other topics just like it.

Homeownership has long been a goal of US citizens. That truth has manifested itself into a roughly 65% rate of ownership throughout the country.

While owning a home is a symbol of economic security and freedom, it also comes with drawbacks. Namely, homeowners have to contend with insurance providers that don’t always operate above board.

If you’ve ever had damage done to your house and have had trouble getting your insurance company to pay, you know what we’re talking about. In some cases, an insurance company’s actions are so egregious that you have to call in a homeowners insurance attorney to resolve the dispute.

There are several reasons why it’s prudent to find an attorney when dealing with insurance. Here are a few common ones:

1. Understanding Your Insurance Policy Prior to Purchase

When people think about hiring a home insurance attorney, it’s usually in the context of resolving problems. What many people don’t think of is calling an attorney before problems arise.

By having an attorney review an insurance policy prior to you purchasing it, you can avoid costly lawsuits down the line. Believe us when we say that the costs associated with a lawyer performing document review pale in comparison to what it might cost to have an attorney represent you in court after getting burned.

2. Filing a Big Claim

If you’re making a big claim against your insurance policy, you must fill out your claim correctly. Not doing so could severely inhibit your ability to receive a favorable outcome.

A homeowners insurance attorney can be invaluable to that end. Finding a new jersey real estate lawyer could definitely help with the process.

Attorneys can help you review claim guidelines. They can then make sure that all of your filing obligations are met so you can boost your chances of getting a payout before needing to be sent to an appeals hearing.

3. Dealing With Appeals Hearings

When an insurance claim is denied by your company, you have the right to demand an appeal. This appeal is usually conducted internally by a party that was not involved with your original claim audit.

It’s very important that you mind your attention to detail when filling out an appeals claim. If your claim is denied during this stage, your only recourse will be to sue.

Homeowners’ insurance attorneys should be brought on during appeals if they haven’t been already. As we’ve mentioned, they can ensure that what you submit supports requirements set forth by your insurance company.

4. Assessing a Settlement

It may be that your homeowner’s insurance isn’t willing to pay for your whole claim. In these cases, they might offer you a settlement that makes up a portion of what you’re asking for.

Before accepting or declining that settlement, get the perspective of an attorney. They can let you know whether or not pushing back on the offer is likely to net you a better deal or if you’d be smart to take what’s being extended.

5. Delayed Payments

Fly-by-night insurance companies have been known to delay or neglect to pay approved claims. Payment delays could be due to reasonable issues like clerical errors or more insidious ones like insurers trying to hide their impending insolvency.

In either case, you’re entitled to your money and should immediately have a legal professional contact your insurer to let them know they’re being watched.

A simple letter from an attorney may get the wheels turning at your insurance company.

6. Unexplained Policy Termination

Insurers that unexpectedly cancel your policy after you file a claim are violating their obligations. All policy terminations need to take place after you’ve been notified in writing of impending termination.

If you were not notified and your policy was canceled, an attorney can help get your policy restored and push your insurer to pay pending claims.

7. Opposing Legal Intervention

Insurance companies may try to intimidate you to drop your claim by saying that they’re getting legal counsel involved. In these cases, that threat of bringing in attorneys probably isn’t a bluff since most insurers have lawyers on retainer.

Never deal with an opposing attorney directly. They are never there to help you achieve your interests and have the sole obligation of getting their company the best outcome.

The moment an attorney is mentioned by an opposing party, be sure that you have one representing you as well. You can let your insurer know at that point that all further communications should be directed to your legal counsel.

8. Going to Court

Nobody wants to go to court. That’s true of you, your insurer and the lawyers representing the conflict. Given that court aversion, most insurance companies will want to settle a dispute before getting a judge involved.

In cases where that doesn’t happen, you’ll want a good trial lawyer by your side that’s willing to work hard to earn you a favorable judgment.

Hiring a Homeowners Insurance Attorney Can Have Big Impact on Your Claim

If you’re among those that shudder when you think about hiring a homeowners insurance attorney and the fees associated with doing so, think again. Not only do most insurance attorneys work on commission but they can earn you more money than you could have gotten on your own which may far outweigh their fees.

Bottom line, consult with an attorney and see what they have to offer. We have a feeling you’ll be glad you did.

Curious to know more about properties, insurance and related topics? If you are, browse more of the real estate insight we have on our blog.

If you’re looking for home siding that can stand up to the elements, doesn’t require much maintenance, and is still affordable, then vinyl siding is likely a good fit for you.

Even better?

Understanding how to install vinyl siding on your own isn’t overly complicated. Plus, you can save even more money by taking a DIY approach.

Check out this list of the top tips and tricks for vinyl siding installation.

1. Nail the Right Way

When you’re ready to install vinyl siding, be on the lookout for one of the most common mistakes: improper nailing techniques.

If panels aren’t properly nailed in, they can become loose. Not only does this look unsightly, but it can also pose a big safety risk on a windy, stormy day.

When you’re nailing the siding down, push slightly upwards on the panel. This ensures that the pieces lock perfectly together. Just don’t push too hard, or you’ll break/bend the nail.

2. Invest in This Tool

Learning how to install vinyl siding is much easier once you have the right tools.

Protect your investment by purchasing a vinyl-siding blade, designed to perfectly cut your siding down to size. Don’t worry — they’re cheap!

If you try to use a wood saw blade, you’ll end up cracking the siding.

Use this handy guide to perfect your cutting technique.

3. Understand Overlap

One of the biggest benefits of vinyl siding is its ability to keep your home’s temperature consistent.

However, on especially hot days, the vinyl siding will stretch, and then contract once the temperature cools again.

To avoid major problems, we suggest that you install siding pieces so that they overlap one another by one inch.

Since you don’t want the seams to be visible, always begin each vinyl siding row at the back of your home, far from the line of sight.

4. Guard Against Water Damage

Water damage can completely destroy not just your siding, but also the entire foundation of your home.

During the siding installation process, you need to make sure that water won’t get trapped behind your corner posts (those directly above your roofline.)

Instead of placing the corner post directly against the shingles, raise up the corner post and put your J-channel underneath it.

This will stop water from pooling and seeping into your home, allowing it to freely flow through gutters and off of your home.

Follow These Tips for How to Install Vinyl Siding

Installing vinyl siding is much easier than you might think, and you can invest in high-quality materials thanks to saving on the cost of labor.

Now that you know how to install vinyl siding, what other kinds of improvements would you like to make to your home?

Whether you’re curious about how to increase your curb appeal with a garden or want to learn more about upcoming interior decor trends, our blog has got you covered.

Interested in moving into a home that already has vinyl siding installed?

Browse through our incredible property listings to find your dream home.

Construction spending seems to be breaking new records year after year, which has caused the need for renderings to climb. An architectural rendering helps all stakeholders understand how projects are built and designed before a shovel hits the ground. This is vital to working on any sized project.

Here’s what you need to know about rendering and what you should expect to get from the best renderings.

It Should Aim to Win a New Project

When looking at an architectural rendering, you’re not looking to learn all kinds of new concepts in architecture. You want to see a rendering that’s going to try to meet the needs that you’ve laid out in your RFP.

Grand concepts can help to convey an idea and having lots of different perspectives is important but you need a rendering that takes into account the basics. Just look at the example of a more than $40 million library built in Queens in 2019. It opened to lawsuits rather than excitement because the designers forgot some basic accessibility requirements.

The renderings you see need to incorporate the use of your project and what its goals are. The poetics and beauty are great but forgetting about functionality can land you into a whole lot of trouble.

The best way to ensure you end up with a quality rendering is to be in constant communication with the designer. This way when you see a rendering, it’ll cover all of the main issues you’re concerned about.

On top of that, there should be multiple concepts and multiple possibilities presented. You need to see more than just one way of reaching your goals.

You Should Feel Decisionmaking is Mutual

When the decisionmaking process is one-sided, it’s hard to end up with a satisfying result. A control freak of a client is going to leave out some key ideas when it comes to designing a rendering. A designer who doesn’t consult their client is going to have a hard time making that client happy while ignoring their needs.

As they present a rendering to you, they should be asking questions about decisions that impact the integrity of a project. They may even present you with multiple options. While you should expect the hard decisions to come to this, you should also expect that big creative decisions also take you into account.

Renderings should be playing off of one another. One rendering might show exactly what you were looking for and what you expected from them. The next should show a more efficient or cost-effective solution.

While there might be a clear leaning one way or the other from the designer, putting the decision in your hands is vital. It’s also important to avoid talking abstractly, which is what multiple renderings can do. It allows you to clear up what might not be clear if people were just sitting in a room describing things verbally.

Get a story behind each scheme or, better yet, expect the renderings to tell that story. If you’re feeling like testing out an agency after reading this, you can go after notrianglestudio.com.

It Should Explain Concepts to Everyone

The aim of these renderings is to win over review boards. Outside of your own office, there are going to be people worried about environmental or local issues. An illustration needs to not just show the benefits of the architectural project for you but for the world around you.

Strong architectural renderings take into consideration nearby buildings, the impact of their shadows, and how things look from different angles. There should be material and seasonal concerns addressed as well. It should list how materials will be sourced and how the building will be impacted by winter, spring run-off, and summer heat.

When you take on multiple vantage points with a rendering, it’s possible to win support more easily. Rather than leaving you high and dry to have to argue for the project to a skeptical community, it should ease their concerns. Being strategic about those concerns in advance will streamline the entire process of approval.

Does it Make Sense to the Architectural Team?

While there are so many stakeholders to get on board with for a project, your rendering needs to make the most sense to your architectural team. Without their buy-in, a good design is just a nice drawing.

The point of the rendering is to communicate, evolve, and construct the team’s creative vision. It’s a springboard for ideas as much as it is a practical way to show what you’re aiming to build.

No one should expect a rendering to be a completely finished product, but it’s a tool for developing a project. Things need to be flexible while developing a project.

These architectural rendering companies provide a good example of what to look for.

Is The Designer Clear on What’s Going On?

One great way to know the quality of a rendering is to ask its creator. While they might think they’ve completed the task and implemented your concepts, they might have missed the mark.

Only when they talk about it out loud will they realize what they’ve done and why. Sometimes, designing can be a solitary process and even with a feedback cycle, it’s easy to miss the mark

As a design takes shape, having this cycle of communication will help the designer better understand what you’re looking for. Over time, it’ll lead to a faster decisionmaking process.

An Architectural Rendering is a Guide to Success

Having a strong architectural rendering is the best way to ensure that everyone is happy with a finished product. Knowing what to look for and what makes for a good rendering is the key.

Make sure you bookmark our page when working on any new project so that we can offer guidance to you through the entire process.

Are you a homeowner? If so, then you understand the importance of proper upkeep and maintenance. 

After all, sometimes taking care of your home can feel like a full-time job, right? There’s always something that needs to be repaired or replaced. That includes your roof. Especially if you live in an area that experiences high winds and other forms of severe weather conditions. 

This article takes a look at when to know it’s time for roof repair in order to keep your family warm and dry. Keep reading to discover important tips on roof replacement every homeowner needs to know.

1. Interior Water Leaks

When your roof is damaged, one of the first signs you might notice is water leaks inside your home. This could appear in the form of water puddles on the floor or dripping from the ceiling. 

These water leaks occur when shingles or roof flashing is damaged due to strong winds and other extreme weather. The roof materials are torn or blown off, exposing your home to moisture and extreme changes in temperature. 

When left unrepaired over a period of time, the resulting damage can be significant, which often leads to expensive repairs. 

It’s also important to note that not all interior water leaks are the result of roof damage. This can also be the result of problems with your HVAC system. Thus you should schedule an appointment for a heating/cooling professional to service your unit.

2. Water Stain On the Ceiling

Have you noticed dark stains forming on your ceiling? If so, this is another sure sign that you have roof damage. 

Water stains on the ceiling can occur slowly over a period of time or overnight. The speed and severity of the water stains are the results of damage to your roof caused by high winds and moisture. 

The key is to locate the water damage as quickly and to not ignore it. The sooner you address the issue, the more likely you are to reduce the damage to your ceiling. Otherwise, you’ll likely be faced with the expense of replacing some or all of your ceiling and walls.

Hire a roofing company to make the necessary repairs or invest in roof replacement as soon as possible so that you can rest easy.

3. Wind Damage

Wind damage is perhaps the leading cause of torn shingles and damaged flashing. When high winds pound a roof over a period of months or years, the results can be devastating. And yet many people largely ignore the condition of their roof most of the time.

After all, the roof of your home is something you probably take for granted until there’s a noticeable problem. This is unfortunate because much of the time small problems can easily be dealt with at minimum expense before they grow into far costlier problems.

It’s truly amazing how powerful the wind actually is. In fact, it’s powerful enough to inflict major damage in only a matter of minutes. When this happens, the rest of your home immediately becomes exposed to other weather conditions.

4. Tree Damage

Another common source of damage to homes is tree branches. After all, it’s extremely common for homeowners to have trees on or near their property. Thus when high winds cause trees to sway or break off branches, the branches often bang against the side of the house or the roof. This can lead to the need for costly roof replacement.

One of the key ways to determine whether your roof has sustained possible damage from contact with tree branches is when you notice noises coming from the outside of your home. Perhaps you’ve noticed fallen branches on your lawn or hanging from your gutter along the edges of your roof.

Once you’ve noticed branches on the ground or on the roof, that’s the perfect time to inspect your roof for possible damage that needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that falling tree branches can damage shingles, flashing, plywood decking, guttering, break windows, and use injury if someone gets hit as a branch falls to the ground.

5. Hail Damage

Hail damage is another common reason for your roof to need to be repaired or replaced. The big problem with trying to identify hair damage is the fact that it’s nearly impossible to see from the ground.

When hail falls on your home, it will create small dimples on your shingles or flashing that are difficult to notice for a distance, thus you’ll need to climb onto your roof to assess the damage. 

For example, a metal roof will have small dents in the metal. A cedar shake roof will often have splinters or chips in the guttering and downspouts. And hail damage to asphalt shingles will typically show up as dark spots where the granules on the asphalt surface have been brushed away by the force of the hail. 

6. Ice Damage

Do you live in an area that experiences a significant amount of snow and ice during the winter? If so, this can result in damage to your roof. This typically happens when snow melts and melts and the runoff refreezes as ice. Then as the weather begins to warm up, causing the ice to melt, the water can get under your shingles, creating leaks in your attic.

Keep in mind that this type of damage might not become visible for several months.

7. Wallpaper Peeling Or Bubbling

Another sign of roof damage is when your wallpaper begins to peel or bubble. This is caused when moisture from outside is able to slowly leak into your home. 

Be sure to check out https://saltlakeroofing.com/.

8. Damage From Rodents 

Rodents can make a mess of your roof pretty quickly. While this might not be as common as other causes of roof damage, rodents such as squirrels and raccoons love to chew asphalt and cedar shake shingles as they make their way into your attic. This is another reason to keep an eye on the condition of your roof.

A Homeowner’s Guide to Roof Damage Repair

Taking care of your home can be challenging. Fortunately, these signs that you need roof damage repair will help you stay warm and dry no matter what Mother Nature throws at you.

Keep scrolling to discover more great home improvement and real estate advice on this blog.

When your garage door is not opening the way it should, would you immediately start searching online for ‘garage door repair near me’, or would you try to do it yourself first? 

This guide will let you know whether you can DIY a garage door repair problem, or if you need to find a repair professional to do the work for you.

Garage Door Repair That You Can DIY

The difference between having a repairman or doing your own repairs is quite sizable when it comes to maintenance costs. These are a few scenarios where you can do your own repairs.

Tightening Your Garage Door

When temperatures change, whether inside or outside your garage door, it may cause your garage door’s hinges, nuts, and bolts to expand or contract. This means you will have to readjust them so that the garage door opens well.

This is something you can do yourself because all that’s needed is for you to tighten things up with your toolkit.

Lubricating Your Garage Door

Lubricating your garage door is a necessary routine because your garage door needs to move up and down and constantly rubs against other moving parts. If you don’t lubricate every now and then, the opening and closing of your garage door will be less smooth, and you will hear a lot of noise as a result of the metal parts scrubbing against one another.

To prevent your door from being damaged beyond your ability to repair, make sure you properly lubricate with a garage door lubricant. 

Maintaining Your Garage Door Remote and Sensors

What happens if your garage door is not responding to you? The simplest way to fix this is to replace your remote batteries and to check the sensors under your door. These sensors will be responsible for making sure the door opens and closes according to command.

If you see that the sensors are dirty or are not aligned, make sure you clean them and straighten them in place. 

Replacing Your Weather Seal

Your garage door’s weather seal stops rain, debris, and more from entering your garage, especially during extreme weather. If you can see that water is coming into your garage when it rains, or that leaves and more are coming in, it may mean that your weather seal needs replacement.

It’s also easy to tell by seeing if you can see light coming into the garage from under the door. 

Repairing a weather seal is simple and quite cheap to replace. All you have to do is make sure you buy the right size from the hardware store. 

Garage Door Repair That You Should Not Do Yourself

While it may seem simple and cost-effective to repair your garage door all alone, sometimes it can be risky to do so and you can end up damaging the door or injuring yourself.

In reality, most of the maintenance issues with your garage door should be done by a handyman who knows what they’re doing. This prevents the possibility of accidents, which would simply cost you more. Sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry!

These are the scenarios when you should find a garage door repair near me instead of doing it yourself. 

When Your Garage Door Spring Breaks

Your garage door springs are instrumental in the ability of the doors to open and close properly. There are multiple reasons why your garage door spring may have broken.

Sometimes you’ve just had them for too long and they begin to wear and tear and grow rusty; other times, it’s because of improper maintenance, especially when you try to fix it without truly knowing how to do so.

Repairing your springs yourself involves the risks of harming yourself or breaking the entire door, which means you’ll have to pay even more for better maintenance. 

Repairing Your Garage Door Tracks

Maybe you’ve noticed that your garage door is not aligned with its tracks, or that the tracks are bent or filled with debris. It may be tempting for you to try to clean or fix it on your own, but if your door is malfunctioning because of the tracks, it’s actually very dangerous to do your own maintenance.

This is because the tracks are the ones holding the garage door in place, and if something happens and they no longer do this, the garage door can collapse. 

Installing Garage Door Cables

What is a garage door cable? These cables reduce tension on your garage door springs, allowing the door to move more smoothly. It also protects your garage door and from the possibility of accidents when a spring breaks. 

Replacing your garage door cable is something that you can do yourself, although you should make sure you properly understand the procedures before attempting it. Otherwise, you should go with the safer option and have someone else repair it for you. 

Do I Need to Find a Garage Door Repair Near Me?

Overall, you may need to find a garage door repair near me to solve most of your garage door repair issues. In some cases, however, you can choose to do it yourself. This involves tightening your nuts and bolts, lubricating your door, maintaining your remote and sensors, and replacing your weather seal.

If you don’t really know how to fix something, or if you’re slightly worried that it may be dangerous, listen to your gut feeling and call a professional! 

Did you find this article helpful? Check out the rest of our Homes section. 

If you’re building your dream home, you have a unique opportunity to do right by the environment. A custom home is exciting for any homeowner because it allows you to add all the features you want to make your home your oasis.

But along with the new features, you can choose to make your custom home more environmentally friendly. Choosing a green home construction process is not just a cool feature but also better for the overall environmental good.

Here are the nine things you should consider when you choose to build your home.

1. A Smart Roof

Heating and cooling a home is both expensive and detrimental to the environment. Cracking the thermostat up in any direction doesn’t do much to converse energy.

But what are you supposed to do if your home is too hot or too cold? You might not know that the reason your home has uncomfortable temperatures is that you’re losing all your cool and hot air through the roof.

If you’re building your own home, consider adding a cool roof. In the spring and summer, the roof reflects sunlight, keeping your home cool. In fall and winter, the thermal materials create insulation to keep warm air inside.

2. The Classic Three R’s

You’ve heard reduce, reuse, and recycle more than a dozen times by now. These are important steps to take to be more environmentally conscious. But if you’re planning to build a green home, these are three things to take seriously.

The occupants of a green home should minimize how much waste they create. Take steps to make all three of the classic environmental R’s possible.

Have places to collect recyclable trash and add a compost bin for food scraps. Reduce the number of resources you use, whether that’s plastic, water, or electricity. And reuse items as often and as many times as you can.

3. Harness the Sun

If you live in an often sunny place, then you have access to one of the best energy resources, and you may not be doing anything about it. Of course, we’re talking about the sun.

Installing solar panels in your home can help make your home much more green. You won’t have to rely on traditional energy like gas, which can save you money in the long term.

You don’t have to live in sunny states like California to Florida to harness the power of the sun. You can still harness the power of the sun on cloudy days.

4. Use Sustainable Materials

Building your home offers the unique opportunity to make a lot of the decisions on which materials you use. So if you’re planning on building an eco-friendly home, then choose environmentally friendly products and waps.

These simple swaps can reduce the impact that construction has on the environment. Choose roofing and building materials that don’t leave a huge environmental impact.

Recycled glass and plastic, bamboo, and cork are all great options to use instead of harmful alternatives.

5. Attract Pollinators

Pollinators are so important to keep the eco-systems running smoothly. Pollinators are incests like bees and butterflies. But they can also be animals, especially birds.

Attracting pollinators is one of the easiest ways to make your home more environmentally conscious.

So when building your home, create a space you can use to attract pollinators with a few different flower species. You can also use birdhouses from https://nature-niche.com/ to attract birds to your home.

6. Replace Your Windows

Similar to how your roof lets out a lot of energy, heating, and cooling, your windows can do the same. Air can escape through tiny cracks and seals, creating a much bigger impact than many think

Choose windows that are labeled with windows that come with an Energy Star able. You’ll want windows that are rated low by the Energy Star company. This means the windows are more energy-efficient.

There are so many styles of energy-efficient windows, so no matter what style you’re building your home in, you’ll be able to find windows that best work for your home.

7. Save and Conserve Water

In many places, water is a commodity. It’s the one common resource that’s finite. Meaning needlessly wasting water does much more harm than it could ever do blue.

Save water by setting up a water harvesting system. Harvest rainwater from outside your home by collecting it from the roof and storing it in a tank. You can use these for the toilet or in your landscaping.

You could also add a tankless water heater to your bathrooms to conserve water. Tankless water heaters heat up what’s needed rather than a full tank that might not get used.

8. More Efficient Landscaping

Trying to keep your lawn lush and green might be one of the reasons your home isn’t very eco-friendly. The amount of water needed to compete with direct sunlight is not eco-conscious.

But you can get creative and more efficient with your landscape design to create an outdoor space that doesn’t harm the environment.

Try adding trees to block your lawn from direct sunlight. The best place to plant them is on the Southern and Western sides of your law. This blocks the sun rays from doing too much damage to the grass and other plants.

9. Check for Electricity Efficiency

Energy is one way that homes aren’t doing right by the environment. The modern home uses so much electricity, and almost none of that energy is renewable.

If you’re building a custom home, you should ensure that your home uses electricity wisely. This can be through energy-efficient light bulbs or lights that are on a timer.

You should also check out how much energy your appliance. Replace old appliances with energy-efficient versions.

Choose Green Home Construction

Our homes can be one of the biggest producers of waste and pollution. This is especially true during the building process. But if you choose to build a custom home, you can make that process more eco-friendly.

Create a cleaner home from the start by adding a few of these nine ideas during the green home construction process. You may see a benefit in your future bottom line. But, above all, you’ll be helping the environment.

Feeling inspired to go green? Share this article with a friend and check out more home and lifestyle articles!