Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Is Building a Custom Home Worth It?

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Here’s a great question: Is building a custom home worth it? Well, it’s worth it to some people and not worth it to others. For those who have a dream home in their mind(s) and want to see it come to life, and they have plenty of money to make their dream possible, then a custom home is totally worth it! For those who have major financial “issues and challenges,” a custom home might not be the right choice, at least at this time…

Now, for those who want to build their dream home, a custom home makes sense. Why? Well, they can have all sorts of input on its design, from how it looks to what color(s) it is, and from how it’s laid out, to where it is located and what direction it faces.

Production Homes Vs Custom Homes

Custom Homes

Sure, you could go with a “production home,” and that would look a lot like all the other homes in an area… or you could go with a custom home that makes you stand out from the rest. A custom home is distinct and unique. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to “look like everybody else,” and you don’t want to be “plain,” then a custom home is worth it.

With a custom home, you generally would find a builder, like Scott Merle Builders of suburban Syracuse, NY, and work with him to see your plans to fruition. You’ve got ideas in your head which can then be put on paper and dealt with, professionally. For instance, you want a fireplace in the living room and you want a hot tub in your bathroom– is that possible?

The builder will give you options and explain what makes sense and what doesn’t. With home construction there are certain norms and rules, of course, but every now and then a builder can break a norm/rule and go a little wild. Say, for instance, you want to have a spiral slide stairs between floors or a hidden room to keep your wine or valuables– a custom builder can probably make those out-of-the-box ideas a reality for you. 

More Customization = Fewer Future Changes

If you get “more customization now,” then you’ll have “fewer expensive changes later.” After all, you’re starting from scratch rather than trying to remodel an older place and turn it into the look and feel of what you want. Sometimes it’s easier to just start new! Custom home builders offer you many options that a production builder wouldn’t, such as designing your unique floorplan or adding on amenities like a pool and deck in the backyard. Meanwhile, custom home builders are flexible when it comes to mixing styles. Even if it’s not “conventional” or “normal,” they’re pretty open-minded about your eclectic taste(s).

Roofer sheeting new home

Are you worried that having a custom built home will be too expensive? Keep in mind that builders are flexible. While you may not be able to include absolutely everything you “want” in your home, you can probably afford most of the things you’d need and appreciate, and builders have a way of helping you sort out your wants and needs so you’re happy in the end.

If you’re looking for a “forever home” where you plan to live the rest of your life, then why not have a custom home built to your liking? If you’re going to be there for several decades, you might as well have a place designed exactly to your liking– corresponding well with your style as well as your functional needs. 

When searching for a home, it can be hard to find one that “ticks all the boxes.” It can be difficult finding an existing home for sale that has everything you want and need for a reasonable price… in the area you want to be in. Therefore, it makes sense to have a custom home built on land you pick out, with a look and feel that’s best suited to your lifestyle. 

If and when you decide to have Scott Merle Builders build you a custom home, keep in mind there’s no competition among other home buyers– it’s just you and what you want! Since everything will be new, you shouldn’t have to worry about repairs and replacements anytime soon. You’re the first owner of the house and you play a major role in its creation. Meanwhile, it can be built to meet current building codes, with updated features you wouldn’t find in other homes. 

Why not call Scott Merle Builders to discuss a custom built home? You can discuss a site, the scope/size of the home, the structure’s complexity and specifications you’d like to share. Call 315-409-4124 or email Scott@MerleBuilders.com. 

Is It Better to Remodel Your Home to Build a Brand New One?

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Is it better to remodel a home or buy a new one? This decision is a big one, for sure… and it can cause you a lot of headaches. You have to decide if where you currently live is a place where you want to stay, or if you’d prefer to be in a new location. You also have to take into account the size of your current home and figure out if you’d like something smaller or bigger. Then, of course, there’s the time element– do you have several weeks or months to put up with remodeling projects or do you just want a new place that’s “move-in ready?” 

The Time to Remodel…

Home Renovations Vs. Complete Rebuilds

Remodeling a house is a good idea if you like where you live and just want to make some changes to improve the place you already have– freshening it up, and perhaps expanding a room or two. If you think about it, even if you were to buy a new house, you’d probably end up doing some remodeling there, since not everything is as you want it. So, remodeling an existing home is easier than buying new because then you don’t have to move all your stuff to the new place and you don’t have to literally adjust to a new location, which means different neighbors, restaurants, schools, etc. Meanwhile, “move-in ready” houses can be quite expensive. Are you ready to pay upwards of $300K for a new home? 

What are some key questions you can ask yourself? How about, “Is staying where I’m at important to me?” You should also ask, “Do I have the budget to make renovations to my current place or buy a new place all together?” Some other things to consider would be can you renovate your existing home without changing the floor plan and will remodeling projects increase the home’s value? Finally, “What’s my long-term plan for what I want out of a home?” Sometimes people know they want to move and start over, brand new, while other times they’re perfectly happy staying put and just making some cosmetic/functional changes. Moving to a new place could affect your property taxes and your mortgage. 

If you do consider moving to a new home, expect a long search to find/build a new home in a new location. This can be a stressful task. Yes, relocating means new beginnings, new surroundings, new people and new experiences. But it can also mean loneliness, buyer’s remorse, and increased costs, including higher taxes. Then there’s the issue of actually making the move to a new house– transporting all your stuff to the new place can be overwhelming. Are you ready to sort stuff? Will you throw away some things? Do you have the time and energy to do that sort of thing? 

Even though the allure of a new house may seem magical to most people, there are also a lot of costs and headaches involved. That said, it’s oftentimes easier to just decide to remodel the house where you currently reside. 

What are some of the main advantages of renovating a house? Well, it costs less because it’s on a room-by-room basis. You don’t generally remodel everything in a house. Instead, you pick and choose what rooms need updating, such as the bathrooms and kitchen. Also, when you choose to have some remodeling work done, you get to pick features and colors and things you want, such as the addition of a walk-in shower (to replace the bathtub you don’t use or like) or the addition of an island in the kitchen so you’ll have more counter and storage space to make the room more functional. Plus, there’s the issue of time. You don’t have to do everything all at once. You can choose to remodel one room this year, and another the next, etc. If you were to move to a new house, you’d be faced with the big task to fill all the rooms with your stuff in a very short time, and that can be exhausting. 

The Time to Build a New Home…

Building Custom Homes

When would it make sense to buy a new place instead of remodel? Well, if your current house is literally crumbling and in near-shambles, it might be time to move. If you look around and think, “Every single thing in this house needs updating,” then it’s probably better to just buy or build a new place. Also, if you’re the kind of person who absolutely hates a mess in your house and doesn’t want to be bothered with construction workers in your house for several days, weeks or even months at a time, then consider a new house rather than remodeling. One more thing: if you’ve recently come into money and cost isn’t an issue, then have your custom dream home built! 

Typically, most people choose to buy a new house when they’ve totally outgrown their smaller, older one. Say, for instance, you and your spouse have lived in a nice little “house for two” for a couple years. But then your first baby arrives, followed by one or two more a few years later. Soon you’re noticing that your current home doesn’t have the amount of bedrooms or play areas your kids want and need… so you start thinking, “Maybe we could have an addition put on to this house.” For some people, with money, physical space (to build) and time on their side, this works well. For others, it’s “Nope, we need a new, bigger house and we need it now!” 

As you’d imagine, deciding whether or not to remodel versus move to a new house involves a lot of thinking and planning– it’s not a simple decision to make. 

Need some professional help weighing your options? Call Scott Merle Builders of Syracuse, NY. Scott Merle Builders does home renovations as well as new home constructions. The number to call is 315-409-4124. 

Here’s What You Should Know About Home Renovation Loans

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Home Renovation Loan

Have you always dreamed about buying a so-called “fixer upper” and turning it into your dream home? If so, you might be able to do it by applying for a home renovation loan. These types of loans can provide qualified home buyers with the money they need to fix up a property when they first move into it. Learn more about home renovation loans and see if one might be right for you below.

What is a home renovation loan?

First things first: Let’s discuss what a home renovation loan actually is. It’s a loan that you can take out when you’re buying a home that gets wrapped up into the mortgage loan that you’re getting to purchase the home. This type of loan will give you an opportunity to buy a home for a low price point and fix it up to make it more valuable in the end. There are some people who utilize these loans to turn fixer uppers into their dream homes.

What can a home renovation loan be used for?

If you’re able to secure a home renovation loan from a lender, it can be used for almost anything that you want. You can use this type of loan to remodel a kitchen or bathroom. You can also use it to replace an HVAC system. You can even use it for things like mold remediation if you would like. However, more often than not, people use these loans to make a beat-up house look dramatically better once it’s done being renovated.

How can you obtain a home renovation loan?

To obtain access to a home renovation loan, you’ll need to find a lender that specializes in offering them. Many mortgage companies have started to offer these types of loans, but not all of them do. Once you’ve found a lender willing to extend a home renovation loan to you, you’ll also need to figure out how much extra money you want to borrow for your home. This will require you to come up with a home renovation plan so you can decide how much it will cost you to pull off.

Considering taking out a home renovation loan to fix up a house you’re going to be buying? Scott Merle Builders has experience helping homeowners carry out the renovations they want to perform. Call us at 315-409-4124 to learn more about how you can use a home renovation loan to your benefit.

Avoid These Errors When Hiring a Home Contractor

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Are you planning on remodeling or renovating your home sometime soon? Rather than do it yourself, you should hire a home contractor to take on the challenge. As long as you bring the right home contractor on board, they can bring all the ideas that you have for your home to life and make it look its best. To hire the right home contractor, you’ll want to avoid making a series of common mistakes. Here are some of the mistakes that homeowners often make.

Hiring the cheapest home contractor they can find

Hiring a Home Contractor

When you’re performing a home remodeling or renovation project, you want to try and keep the costs associated with it as low as you can. Unfortunately, this leads some homeowners to choose to hire the cheapest home contractor they can find, even if they’re not the best option. The home contractor you hire should provide great services at a competitive price. Even if they’re not the cheapest contractor, you’ll be better off working with them than someone who won’t do a great job.

Failing to check out the references for a home contractor

When you’re trying to decide which home contractor to use for your home remodeling or renovation project, you should always ask contractors to provide you with references. What’s more, you should also go the extra mile by calling on as many of those references as you can to find out everything you can about a home contractor. Don’t allow those references to go to waste like some homeowners do.

Working with a home contractor that doesn’t have a business license or insurance

“Do you have a business license and insurance?” is one of the first questions you should ask to a home contractor. If they aren’t able to respond with a resounding “yes!” right away and provide proof of a business license and insurance, you should run the other way. The last thing you want to do is make the mistake of working with an unlicensed and/or uninsured home contractor.

When you contact Scott Merle Builders to serve as your home contractor, we’re confident that we can deliver superior remodeling and renovation services to you at the right price. You won’t have to worry about making a mistake when you hire us to take on your project. Call us at 315-409-4124 to find out what makes us different from other home contractors.

Is It Better to Renovate Your Home Or Build a New One?

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Is it better to renovate or build a new home? That’s a good question.

If you’re looking at an older home to renovate, you have to consider expenses. Would it be cost effective to renovate the house or would it make more sense to just build a brand new one? What are some of the factors that would influence your decision?

Consider the Foundation

Home's Foundation

First, how’s the foundation? Older homes were built long ago when construction techniques were different than they are today. Therefore, your foundation might not meet the standards of today. If you have a basement, it might need all new wiring, heating and ventilation– and these are just the basics. Oftentimes, the really older homes– from the late 1800s or early 1900s for example– are just so old that it’s more cost effective to build a brand new home and start fresh. However, if it’s a home from, say, the 1950s onward, it might make sense to renovate. One thing to consider in particular is the land the house is built on– is it prone to flooding? Is your foundation cracked or sinking? Are your floors level or not? Sometimes the land a house is built on is just not a “good fit” for a home and it behooves you to move and start over in another location. But, for most people, the land below the house is stable and renovations, if not too expensive, make sense.

Flexibility

Next, if you were to build new, you could pick and choose what you want in your new house. There are cost advantages to this “flexibility.” For instance, if you don’t want or need a garage, then don’t get one. Or perhaps you don’t want a fireplace in the new house… or a pool out back… With constructing a new house you get to customize it with regards to your desires.

What’s the Budget

The budget is usually what ultimately guides the decision on whether to renovate or start new. You have to assess your financial situation and decide how much money you can afford for fixing up an older place versus starting fresh with a brand new one. Costs tend to need a little “wiggle room,” so if the estimate is, say, $10,000 to renovate a part of your home, keep in mind that unforeseen circumstances may require an extra $1,000 or two. This is true with new builds, too. And, of course, there are maintenance costs to be considered as well. If you can, come up with a spreadsheet that is detailed with cost estimates, including potential overruns. Look at the sheets, comparing renovation costs with new build costs to get a clearer picture to help influence your final decision. It’s a good idea to write down your end goal(s) and to get advice from experts about your project. 

Home Renovations Vs. Complete Rebuilds

Duration

Here’s something to consider: time is an issue. Some people don’t want the hassle of living in a home that is being renovated. And sometimes renovations take a long time. Should they move into a hotel temporarily? Or live at home while workers are coming and going, daily? Then again, waiting for a new home to be constructed will probably take even longer!

Personal Preferences

Ask yourself this simple question: “What do I want most?” Can your existing home get up to par with renovations? Or is it impossible to please you, even with potential renovations? Here’s something to think about… some people live in developments where they’re not allowed to make big changes. The homeowners association has a set of rules and regulations. For example, a house in this kind of community might have been built with a one car garage. But the person living there marries, and his spouse wants a two car garage– but that’s not allowed. In this case, it would make sense for the couple to build a new home somewhere else, matching their wants and needs. 

Financial Implications

Budget for Building or Renovating a Home

For those with a mortgage, did you know some mortgages include clauses that deal with whether or not you can tear down your home to make way for a rebuild? Stipulations might be in place about how soon the rebuilding process has to begin, and some lenders will want to be included in the planning process. In some cases, your mortgage could forbid you from demolishing your home!

Energy Efficiency

Finally, if you’re the type of person who wants a more “green” type of house– one that’s more environmentally-friendly, then you’ll be thinking about more energy efficient windows, siding and appliances. Building a new home basically gives you the opportunity to make the greenest of choices with things like high-efficiency insulation and water-saving fixtures. It can be harder to achieve green goals with remodels.

Are you thinking of renovating your house in the Syracuse area? Or do you want to build a brand new house? Either way, Central New York’s Scott Merle Builders can meet your needs. Please call 315-409-4124 today with your questions. 

Don’t Forget These Things When You’re Building a Home

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Building a New HomeBuilding a custom home from scratch can be an amazing experience. You can create your dream house and customize it to suit your needs and preferences. Nonetheless, it can be a little bit overwhelming trying to remember all the little details that will make your new house a home that you’ll love for years to come. Here are some things you should try not to forget when building a new home.

More than enough electrical outlets

From smartphones and tablet computers to TVs and gaming consoles, the average American family owns dozens and dozens of gadgets. You’re going to need somewhere to plug all of them in, and there’s nothing worse than realizing you only have one or two outlets in a room full of electronics. Make sure your electrician installs lots of outlets, so you don’t have to go back and add more later.

A drain in your garage floor

Do you want to make sure it’s simple to keep the floor in your garage clean? Install a drain in it that’ll allow you to clean it whenever you want. The drain will also come in handy when you pull your car into the garage in the middle of a thunderstorm or when you experience unexpected flooding in your area.

Heated flooring

There’s nothing worse than stepping out of bed on a freezing-cold winter morning and putting your feet down on a floor that feels like ice. Heated flooring can heat your floors up and make your entire home more comfortable. It can also heat your home more efficiently, which can reduce your energy bills. You won’t mind getting out of bed in the morning anymore when you have heated floors to greet you.

A large embedded safe

Studies conducted over the last few years have revealed that more and more Americans are stashing cash and other valuables in safes in their homes. And while most people can get away with a freestanding safe, you might want to consider embedding a safe in a concrete wall if you plan on putting very valuable items into it. This is something that’ll be pretty easy to do when a home is first being built.

These are just a few of the things that you should remember to install in a custom home. Scott Merle Builders can talk to you about some of the other great features you can add to your dream house. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to hear about how we can help you bring your dreams to life.

What Permits Do You Need for a Kitchen Remodel?

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Kitchen Remodel Permits If you’re planning on painting your kitchen, installing new flooring in it, or replacing a faucet, you probably won’t have to worry too much about obtaining permits to do it. However, if you’re going to be taking on a more extensive kitchen remodeling project, you will need to get your hands on the proper permits to avoid facing fines and other penalties in the future. There are some instances in which you could even need to redo work done to your kitchen if you don’t get the right permits before remodeling it.

Permits You’ll Need for a Full Kitchen Remodel

There are a couple of permits you might have to get during a kitchen remodeling job. The first kind of permit is called a trade-specific permit. It’s the type of permit you’ll need if you’re going to be doing any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work in your kitchen. If you’re adding new electrical components to the space or moving your plumbing around, you’ll need to apply for a trade-specific permit to do it. You can usually get this permit within a matter of just a few days without much of a fuss.

The other kind of permit is called a building permit, and it’ll cover you in the event that you’re going to be taking out or adding walls to your new kitchen. You’ll typically need to provide your city or town with your kitchen remodeling plans before you’re able to get this type of permit. You may also need to obtain both a trade-specific permit and a building permit if you’re going to need to do electrical or plumbing work while putting up or tearing down walls.

As you might imagine, it can be a huge hassle to get permits prior to starting a kitchen remodel. Scott Merle Builders will make things easier on you by getting the right permits for any project you ask us to do. Whether you want us to remodel your kitchen or renovate another part of your home, we’ll make sure we get the proper permits before we begin. Call us at 315-409-4124 today to find out more about our home remodeling and renovating services.

An Overview of Home Insulation

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Home InsulationHave the energy bills for your home gone up dramatically over the last year? It could indicate a problem with your HVAC system. It could also be a sign that it’s time to consider replacing your windows and doors. However, more often than not, rising utility costs are closely tied to an issue with a home’s insulation. The insulation in your home might not be doing a good enough job, which is forcing your HVAC system to run all the time to heat or cool your property. Here is a quick overview of home insulation.

What is home insulation?

Insulation is a barrier that’s placed in the walls, ceilings, and floors of homes to prevent both heat loss and heat gain. Insulation can be made using a bunch of different materials, including fiberglass, mineral wool, polystyrene, cellulose, natural fibers, urea-formaldehyde foam, and more.

Why is it important?

Home insulation is important because, without it, air from inside your home will work its way through your walls, ceilings, and floors and end up outside. This will prevent your home from ever getting as hot or cold as it could be when you’re running your HVAC system. You could potentially cut your energy bills by more than 30 percent with the right insulation.

How often does it need to be replaced?

Because home insulation can be made from several materials, there is a chance that your insulation could last anywhere from just a couple years to more than a decade. But it’s important for you to remember that insulation doesn’t last forever. It may wear out over time and stop doing its job. It may also get damaged if it’s ever exposed to moisture and need to be replaced right away.

How can you check your home’s insulation levels?

It’s usually not possible to check the insulation levels in your home’s walls and floors. Nevertheless, you can climb up into your attic to see what kind of condition your insulation is in. Generally speaking, home insulation should be approximately 10 to 16 inches deep for it to function properly. You can also call on a contractor to come out and look at your insulation if you’re unable to do it yourself.

At Scott Merle Builders, we understand the importance of home insulation and strive to provide our clients with the best insulation in the business. Call us at 315-409-4124 today with any questions you might have about insulation or home renovations as a whole.