As a custom home builder, we have worked with countless customers on new home construction projects. There is always an excitement in the air as the customer finally gets a home that is customized and made to suit the individual or family. Yet there are two decisions that these folks are frequently not prepared to make. Do you know what they are?

Do You Want this Lot or the One Down the Street?

Selecting the right location for your new home is more important than you think. There is more to this choice than selecting the right ZIP code, neighborhood and closeness to amenities. For example, one lot will cause your home’s bedrooms to face the rising sun. If you are early risers, this is not a problem. Another lot’s setup on the same street causes the sunrise to send the first rays of light through your kitchen window. If you are a breakfast aficionado but like to sleep in occasionally, this is a great idea. In another scenario, your bedroom windows may face the street or the neighbor’s deck. Which would you prefer?

Custom Millwork, Paint Colors and Closets – oh My!

New home construction makes it possible to build a home that fulfills all of your needs and plenty of your wants. Sometimes, customers are astonished at the sheer volume of choices they get to make. This is a far cry from selecting one of three model home floor plans. Spend some time discussing such things as closet space – sizes and layouts – and millwork as well as paint schemes with your family. These are the types of decisions that you do not want to have to make by yourself and on the spot.

Working with the Right Professionals Matters

The professionals at J. Schmidt Homes understand that building your dream home calls for decisions that you may not be prepared to make right then and there. For this reason, our custom home builder walks you through the project at your pace. Enjoy the confidence of seeing your dream home take shape, one decision at a time. With an in-house realtor service, lot selection becomes a snap. We show you how your dream home will fit on the lots that you have your eye on. Once you have all the facts, making decisions is actually fun! Contact us today to start on your journey to a customized home.

Are you in the process of working with a designer on your new home construction? If so, then certainly this can be an exciting process, but what you’ve also probably noticed by this point is that there are so many decisions to be made. When it comes to your main living spaces, your designer probably wants to know whether you’d like an open or closed floor plan. While open floor plans are extremely popular in new builds today, it’s a good idea to weigh the potential pros and cons before you decide what’s best for your needs.

Pro: More Conducive to Entertaining

Perhaps the biggest advantage of an open floor plan is that it’s more conducive to entertaining; when you have people over, people in the kitchen can easily communicate with people in the living room and vice versa. Furthermore, with an open floor plan, the space doesn’t feel disjointed like a closed floor plan often does.

Con: Less Privacy and More Noise

Of course, fewer walls in an open space also means less privacy and more noise, especially when you’re not entertaining guests. Because there are fewer walls in an open space, sounds will have a greater capacity to travel and echo. If you’re the type of person who values your privacy/peace and quiet, then you may want to think twice before opting for an open floor plan home.

Pro: Better Sight Lines Throughout Home

Many parents of small children enjoy open floor plans because they give moms and dads the ability to keep an eye on their children more easily. For example, mom or dad may be in the kitchen preparing dinner, but can still have sight lines to the children playing in the living room or dining area. The same simply cannot be said of a closed floor plan.

Con: More Challenging to Decorate

Finally, open floor plans can be slightly more challenging to decorate. Because an open floor plan consists of separate living spaces that blend together, finding a way to incorporate a seamless design from one space to the next proves difficult for some homeowners. It may be necessary to bring in an interior design specialist to help make the right decisions in this regard.

Still not sure if an open floor plan is right for you? Have further questions about your new home design? We invite you to contact us today for the professional assistance you’re looking for.

When you buy a new construction home, your first considerations involve the architectural style, layout and size of the home. For many people buying new construction in Greater Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky, the new home building process culminates with the interior finishes selection. The finishing touches are often a powerful design statement that either overpowers the architectural style or enhances your vision for the home. According to an article by chicagotrib.com, design details let you express your personality. One of the special bonuses of buying a new construction home is the fact that you can control everything from the flooring in the guest bathroom to the size of the kitchen cabinet pulls. Orchestrating the details is less daunting with the help of an experienced home builder such as J. Schmidt Homes. By following a few tips, you will select the best finishing touches for your custom home.

Collecting ideas

After choosing a particular architectural style, begin collecting ideas, color samples and photographs of your favorite design features. Some of the choices you can make when building a custom home include the doors, appliances, trim, flooring, molding, countertops, cabinets, lighting and plumbing figures. Some homebuyers pull out fabric swatches for drapes to make sure the style doesn’t clash with other interior finishes. Although you don’t have to select furniture until after closing, some people like to buy the furniture for their new home to use as staging props for their current home that’s listed for sale.

Setting a budget

Talk to your homebuilder about the budget for interior design finishes. Your builder is able to get you a better deal on cabinetry, floors and other interior selections because of buying power and contacts. A new construction builder provides you with the help you need so you aren’t spending thousands of dollars on a private designer.

Staying on trend

It is important to buy kitchen backsplash materials and choose colors that are on-trend but not trendy. Trendy design features go out of style in one to two years, while someone on trend typically lasts at least a decade. For example, the modern look of stainless steel continues to shine as a home selling point even after decades of popularity.

The best advice for new homebuyers is to keep it fun when planning for a new construction home. By sticking to classic details, you preserve your home’s value. At J. Schmidt Homes, we take pride being a custom home builder who helps clients in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. For more information on design detail ideas for your custom home, please contact us.