The Liz Moore Market Watch Blog

The idea of building a new home from the ground up is exciting to many families. Being in control of features, colors, and layout is immensely satisfying as you can create a home for your specific needs and to your exact specifications. However, the costs of building a house can quickly add up and new-builds often end up massively over budget.

Here are Five Ways to Save Money When Building a New Home:

Shop Around the Market
The contracting industry is large and diverse, and there are plenty of companies available, so you never have to go with the first contractor you see or obtain a quote from them even if you build a rapport with one particular builder. Instead, make sure to get a variety of quotes from multiple companies so that you can compare and contrast their offerings. If you are strategic about it, you can even use competing quotes as leverage to encourage the contractors to reduce their pricing. 

A Smaller Footprint
The equation is simple: the bigger the home, the more money it will cost to build. Opting for a slightly smaller house can be a great way to save a lot of money. If you arrange it carefully, your small home can usually offer the same functionality as a larger one. For example, you can maximize the efficiency of space in your home by opting for an open-floor design. Having more open spaces in your home gives the feel of ample space without requiring the square footage (or a large invoice). 

Simple Aesthetic is Useful 
It can be tempting to opt for a stylish or complex look for your home. While this may end up looking nicer than an average home, the costs will also increase accordingly. Experienced home builders have found that adopting a simple and straightforward design is both easier to manage and cheaper to install. These simple finishes can also be helpful when it eventually comes time to sell. Potential buyers might not like your unique design choices if they do not share your tastes, but just about everyone is okay with simple design options. 

DIY is an Option
Although certain parts of a home should be built or installed by a qualified professional (such as plumbing, foundation, and electrical), there are plenty of opportunities for do it yourself work. Opting to carry out these projects yourself can save you quite a bit of money. Fixtures and fittings are a great place to start. If you are confident in your work, you can then move on to more complex projects.  

Don't Skimp on the Essentials
Cost-cutting is an integral part of the process of building your own home. After all, you are trying to stick to a budget. However, there are some aspects of a home where you should not go for the cheapest option. These include the roof (which protects the house against water damage), insulation (vital if you live in a seasonally cold area), and structural elements. Opting for cheap from the start can often cost you more in the long run as things begin to break. 

Building your own home can be a roller coaster ride from start to finish, but with these tips you can make the trip more comfortable and more affordable. 

Are you thinking about building a new home in the Richmond area?  Email us at rva@lizmoore.com and we can help you get started!

Richmond Custom Home Builder, Perkinson Homes, is building a new model home in the sought after neighborhood of Hallsley. 

Hallsley, located in Chesterfield County, offers luxury amenities that are unparalleled by any other community. The Residents Club offers amenities for the whole family to enjoy, as well as a year-round calendar of events.

This brand-new home, The Laurel, is where old world charm meets contemporary chic! The five bedroom, four and a half bath floorplan is designed to cater to the busy modern family who desires to maximize the use of all 4853 square feet of this home.  The grand foyer boats a large gray clad feature window where the sun shines through on to the main hardwood staircase.

The home’s library includes custom built-ins and exterior doors to the front terrace perfect for Southern porch sitting.

The design of the open concept great room and kitchen exemplifies livable luxury. The custom kitchen includes a multi-purpose prep pantry and a breakfast nook area that is ideal for either large holiday dinners or provides plenty of room for smaller intimate daily meals. 

A cozy painted brick fireplace can be spotted on the long stamped concrete porch where room allows for plenty of seating for dining and lounging.  Ornate wood stained columns and a tongue and groove stained ceiling further decorate this outdoor space.

A large guest suite with full bath and walk in closet can also be found on the first floor. This suite has the potential to be the main master bedroom or serve as a second master. 

On the second floor you’d find three bedrooms and the master bedroom. The main master sleeping quarters leads into a morning station room which connects to both the master closet and stunning master bathroom. The custom master closet conveniently leads you to the laundry with built in cabinetry, folding station and sink.

A 684 square foot third floor can be used as a game room, exercise room, playroom, home office, theater room, to name a few.

With so many stunning features, this merging of traditional with modern is what makes the Laurel unique!

Perkinson Homes and The Laurel are marketed by The Southern Select Team at Liz Moore & Associates.  For more information, call Julie Crabtree at (804) 898-2086.

Join us for our 2nd Annual Revolutionary Run 5K on Saturday, June 22nd from 8-11am! Enjoy a jog through Rochambeau Estates and experience the beautiful work of NK Homes. All proceeds go to New Kent Fire-Rescue!

Click here to register!

The newly-established Rochambeau Estates highlights the beauty of New Kent County with spacious and quiet lots. This lends itself towards private living while still delighting in the charming community. NK Homes is developing Rochambeau Estates and specializes in the finest quality craftsman and traditional elevation style homes. To learn more about NK Homes and their dedication to excellence or to inquire about living in Rochambeau Estates, visit them online at NKHomesofVA.com.

Revolutionary Run 5K...just another reason why we love where we live!

We are delighted to have been selected by NK Homes  as the exclusive marketing agency for Timberlake Commons in Hanover. Team Hensley, led by Annemarie Hensley, has been chosen as the exclusive sales team representing the community.

Timberlake Commons is NK Homes’ newest development and one that allows one to easily balance life and homeownership.  The quaint lot sizes allow for maximum living without the hours of upkeep. Need just a little more yard space? Large common areas line the back of the community.      

Timberlake Commons is in its beginning phase and has 40 lots available! 3 signature floor plans will be featured including the Arlington, the Rappahannock and the Winchester. The plans vary in size from 2300 square feet to 2800 square feet and start at $328,000. And did we mention location? Directly off 301 and just minutes from 295, the community is centrally located near food, shopping, entertainment and a part of the Atlee High School family.

Click here to learn more about this special new community. For more information about Timberlake Commons or to arrange a visit, contact Leah DiPofi at 804-787-3373 or email leahdipofi@lizmoore.com  for a brochure.

Liz Moore & Associates is delighted to announce that it has been selected by NK Homes  as the exclusive marketing agency for Madison Estates in Hanover. Team Hensley will be the exclusive sales team representing the community.

Madison Estates is a luxury development consisting of 1-2 acre, open lots. An equestrian lover’s delight, a custom stable is situated in the center of the development. Located nearby are horseback riding and walking trails and large community spaces. Neighbors enjoy seclusion, yet they are only minutes from Richmond.         

Madison Estates is in its final phase with only 10 homesites remaining. “When you buy in Madison Estates, you’re not only buying a great piece of land, you’re buying great peace of mind and serenity. You can’t put a price tag on that,” says Catie Burnett, New Homes Coordinator for Liz Moore and Associates. “With their upscale style and elegant craftsmanship, NK Homes has really captured the heart of Hanover in this community. It’s truly a rare opportunity.”

Learn more about this special new community at www.lizmoore.com/madisonestates.  For more information about Madison Estates or to arrange a visit, contact Jana Mills at 804-909-9570 or email janamills@lizmoore.com  for a brochure.

Grilling is great but preparing and cooking your entire meal outdoors is even better! Outdoor kitchens are trending, here's what you need to know to create an outdoor kitchen of your own.

Outdoor kitchens are growing in popularity as homeowners seek to add value to their homes by creating more functional space, like an outdoor kitchen. Kitchens have become the hub of the home and outdoor kitchens are an extension of that trend where the family can gather outdoors.

Outdoor kitchens allow for prepping, cooking, enjoying, and cleaning up to happen in one place outdoors, no more trips back and forth from the kitchen to the patio. With outdoor kitchens, everything you need is outside, so you can enjoy your gathering as much as everyone else is.

Cooking outdoors also reduces the heat indoors. Stovetops and ovens can make your home uncomfortably warm and make your air conditioning system work even harder. Shifting some meals to outdoor kitchens allows for lower cooling costs and increased comfort in your home.

Some kitchen features are easier to add to outdoor kitchens than they would be to an interior kitchen. If water features, fire pits, or even a pizza/baking oven are things you'd like to enjoy, your best bet is putting them outdoors.

Outdoor kitchens can include elements like grills, side burners, sinks, refrigerators, food prep stations and counters, drawers and storage spaces, griddles, bar and beverage centers, trash and towel drawers, vent hoods, stone ovens, and more.

Traditional outdoor kitchens are comprised of a masonry base tied in to the style and exterior of your home with either brick or stone.

Contemporary outdoor kitchens are characterized by sleek lines and polished finishes like granite and stainless steel.

Whatever your style and preference, there are endless options to customize your outdoor kitchen and make this extension of your home your new favorite spot.

Hard flooring has been gaining in popularity for years, especially in the main living areas of homes. Hard floors are easy to clean, hypoallergenic, and lend a sleek beauty to your home. Changing your floor covering is
an update that will instantly modernize your home’s appearance while adding value and appeal.

There are many options when it comes to hard flooring: wood, laminate, vinyl, or tile. Thanks to technological improvements, faux finishes are more convincing than ever, and wood-look products are gaining in popularity. With so many choices, where do you start?

New flooring is a big purchase, so budget is clearly a factor. But you should also consider how much traffic
and what kind of traffic your floors will endure- do you have animals with sharp or thick nails, do you have children that ride vehicles or roll trucks across your floors? You should also consider how much sunlight
and moisture your floors will weather.

There are six main types of hard flooring options: solid wood, engineered wood, laminate, vinyl, linoleum, and ceramic tile.

Solid wood – This timeless, classic material has a natural warmth and impressive wear resistance that can be sanded and refinished several times. Solid wood may expand and contract with varying humidity levels and can dent and show wear easily, and fade from sunlight.
Installed cost: $5-$10 per square foot.

Engineered wood – This flooring uses a thin veneer of real wood or bamboo over structural plywood, giving
 he appearance of solid wood at a more affordable price. It doesn't wear as well as solid wood and some
may be too thin to even refinish once.
Installed cost: $4-$9 per square foot.

Laminate – Constructed of dense fiberboard with a photo beneath a clear-plastic protective layer, laminate can mimic nearly any flooring. The best laminates resist scratching and discoloration from sunlight better than most wood. The perfection and repetition of pattern can compromise the realistic appearance of what you’re trying to mimic. Floors can’t really be repaired and must be replaced once the outer layer has worn through. Installed cost: $3 to $7 per square foot.

Vinyl – Easy installation and a vast selection of colors and designs make this a popular choice. Vinyl is also good at fending off dents scratches, discoloration, and stains. However, even the best products still look like vinyl close up, and the top-of-line product can cost as much or more than solid-wood and laminate.
Installed cost: $2 to $6 per square foot.

Linoleum – Made of linseed oil and wood products, linoleum is a natural, resilient material offered in lots of styles and colors. However, resistance to wear, scratches, and dents varies widely and it can also be relatively expensive.
Installed cost: $4 to $8 per square foot.

Ceramic Tile – This classic material resists moisture, wear, scratches, dents, and stains. Tiles can crack and grout can stain, and the hard surface often causes dropped cups and dishes to break more easily. Tile can be floated without the use of cement and grout, but that makes replacing cracked tiles even more difficult. Installed cost: $8 to $15 per square foot.

With so many types of hard flooring to choose from, you’re sure to find a material to fit your lifestyle and your budget. Once you’ve selected your material, it’s important to choose a style that’s fashionable yet has
classic staying power.

Wood-look flooring – Wood-look tile, vinyl and laminate will continue to trend as products improve in performance and appearance while offering more durability and a more affordable price tag than hardwood.

Wide plank flooring – Floor boards five inches or more in width are considered “wide plank.” These wide planks are a throwback to rustic cottages and colonial-era farmhouses, the wide planks also make rooms
look bigger. Longer and wider planks are rising in popularity as modern technology, and a variety of material choices, makes them more readily available and affordable.

Blonde flooring – Bright blonde wood and wood-looks are a new trend that is making spaces seem larger and lighter. Much like wall color, floor color can alter the perceived size of a space.

Gray flooring – Gray is a neutral staple in realty, on both walls and floors. Gray floorcoverings are still new enough to be trendy but will soon become a classic.

There are plenty of different, unique options trending that will likely stick around for years to come, which means your possibilities are endless. If you want something trendy that will last for the long haul, try going for large plank, blonde or gray wood/wood-look flooring.

Are you thinking about selling and you're wondering if new floors are a must before your home goes on the market?  Email us at info@lizmoore.com and we can help!