When designing a custom home, one of the biggest decisions to make is what kind of floor plan you want. There are open floor plans, split-level floor plans, single level, multi-level, and all sorts of layout options within the vast array of choices. It can seem overwhelming but R&K, one of the most experienced home builders in Greensboro, NC, can help make the decision easier. Consider these questions to help you choose the right floor plan for your new home.  

1. What Are My Family’s Needs? Think about your needs and those of the rest of the members of your family. Who will be living in the home? Will it need to be fully accessible for older family members? Are there young children who will need space to move about and play? Consider the needs of everyone before choosing a floor plan for common space and personal space.  
2. What Will My Family’s Needs Be in 10 Years? Think about the future. Will the family be growing? Will age be a concern for any members? What about mobility? Be sure to consider how your family will change in the years following the building of the home and how long you plan to live there.  
3. What is My Current Home Lacking? What are you looking for in your new home that your current home doesn’t have? Are you looking for more space? More natural light? More privacy? What can a new home offer that would influence the type of floor plan that would please you? 
4. Does the Lot Have Any Unusual Characteristics? Is the lot on a hill or sloping? Would it be easier to build the home to accommodate the lay of the land or would it be preferable to regrade the land? Are there natural elements to build around, such as trees or water? 
5. What Type of Floor Plan Will Best Fit Our Lifestyle? Is your family loud and boisterous, or quiet and relaxed? Does the floor plan need to compliment the family’s personality or attempt to counteract it?  
6. What Do I Want in a Kitchen? The heart of the home, the kitchen, is a large part of the floor plan for the shared living space in your home. Do you enjoy spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking? Do you prefer to cook alone or do you want to be able to socialize and prepare food simultaneously? Be sure to design your kitchen to suit your preferences.  
7. What Plan Best Fits My Personal Style? Do you prefer a cozy country farmhouse or a more modern architectural style of home? The floor plan can set the tone for the style of the home and make a big impact on the look and feel of it.  

Custom Design your Floor Plan with One of the Best Home Builders in Greensboro, NC  

When you want a home that is unique and reflects your own personal style, choose one of the elite custom home builders in Greensboro, NC to create it for you. R&K Custom Homes are all original designs; one home is never exactly like another. Each floor plan is unique with each homeowner’s personal preferences and choices put in place. Ready to build your dream home? Call R&K Custom Homes today and schedule a consultation: (336) 643-3505.  

The master bathroom. It’s your haven, your place of relaxation and peace. At least it can be if you take the time to design it well. Some of the top homebuilders in Greensboro, such as R&K Custom Homes, have designed many luxurious master bathrooms. Here are some things you may want to include to make your master bathroom look and function beautifully.  

1. Accessibility. One of the top ideas to consider is a fully accessible bathroom. Plan for the future or the unknown by designing your bathroom to be wheelchair accessible. Curb-less shower with bench, plenty of handrails, a spacious water closet with high toilet, a walk-in jetted soaking tub, and both low and high sink/vanity spaces are all features that may come in handy someday.  
2. Sunken tub. If your goal for your master bathroom is luxury, consider including a sunken tub with jets. Step right in and soak to your heart’s content. 
3. Sauna. Is this a bathroom or a spa? Can’t it be both? Include a sauna in your master bathroom and enjoy a steam to ease into the day or to relax you before bed. 
4. Steam shower. Speaking of steam, a steam shower is another luxury you need for your master bathroom. Shower in a cloud of warm steam and expel the winter chill or avoid the cool draft of the AC when it comes on during your shower. 
5. Heated towel rack. After a soak in your tub, a relaxing steamy shower, or a sweat session in your sauna, a warm towel feels amazing.  
6. Handheld shower head. Not just an item for an accessible shower, a handheld showerhead can be very convenient. It can be held or mounted and makes washing yourself and cleaning your shower easier.  
7. Smart toilet. Get a toilet with extra features like a heated seat, bidet, dual flush, soft close lid, and more.  
8. Storage. Be sure to include plenty of storage space from cabinets to a linen closet to medicine cabinets.  
9. Skylight. A bathroom should have plenty of natural light, and a skylight provides both light and privacy.  
10. TV. Ever wished you could watch TV while soaking in your tub? Want to catch the morning news while you get ready for the day? Include a TV in your bathroom and you’ll be glad you did.  

Choose one of the Elite Homebuilders in Greensboro to give you the Master Bathroom of your Dreams 

If these luxuries sound like items you want to include, your custom builder can do it for you. Working with one of the best homebuilders in Greensboro allows you to pick and choose the features you want for your home. Incorporate all the luxuries available or choose which ones you have to have or can do without to create a bathroom that is both functional and relaxing. R&K Custom Homes can help you design the master bathroom of your dreams complete with all the latest features and styles. Not all homebuilders in Greensboro offer the same customer care and quality craftsmanship as R&K Custom Homes. Call today to discuss not just your master bathroom, but also the rest of your ideas for your dream home: (336) 362-5225.  

Investing in a custom home is something that you don’t take lightly, and your builder shouldn’t take it lightly either. The best home builders Greensboro residents recommend most often are the ones who understand that you’ve been waiting and planning and saving for your ideal custom home and want to work with you to create that home. However, not all builders are as trustworthy as they should be. If you start to see any of these warning signs, consider finding another builder so that your custom home dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare: 

The Builder Pushes You to Make Decisions Fast 

Planning your custom home involves making a lot of decisions that can seem overwhelming. A trustworthy builder knows that you need time to consider each decision because those decisions will have a long-lasting impact on the finished home. That’s why a good builder will start the planning process with you early on and help you make the right decisions as building progresses. If a builder is pushing you for fast decisions and trying to get you to choose more expensive options without considering your needs, that is a big warning sign that the builder shouldn’t be trusted.  

The Builder Asks for a Lot of Money Up Front 

A reputable builder shouldn’t need you to come up with a lot of cash upfront for materials or other costs. If the builder tells you that work can’t begin without a huge influx of cash or that they need a lot of money upfront to pay a crew or get materials, you should be very wary of that builder. At times you may need to pay more upfront for higher-end materials if you want those in your home but in that case, the builder will show you exactly where the money is going and explain why they need that extra money.  

The Builder Doesn’t Want to Sign a Contract 

When you are working with a builder to design and build a custom home, every part of the process should be detailed in a legally binding contract. Spelling out each expectation in detail in a contract is the only way to be sure that you and the builder are on the same page and that you will be getting exactly what you want. A reputable builder should want to have a contract because it streamlines the process and protects the builder as much as it protects you. If the builder you are considering working with says that they don’t do contracts or balks at the idea of signing a contract that is a huge red flag that you shouldn’t ignore.  

The Builder Hides Their Prices 

Homebuyers have a lot of options when it comes to upgrading their custom–built homes. High-end materials, upgraded finishes, extra space, finished basements and other spaces all come with a cost and the builder should be transparent about what those costs are. When you look at a model home or go through the design showroom and see all of the various ways that you can customize your home the cost to get those upgrades should be listed and easy to find. If the builder tries to hide or minimize the cost of finishes and upgrades, all while trying to get you to commit to upgrades you’re not even sure that you want, that is another glaring sign that you’re working with a bad builder. A builder you can trust will always be transparent about their pricing.  

The Builder Has Bad Reviews 

Check out the online reviews of any builder you’re considering, even if you’re choosing between the best home builders Greensboro has. Those reviews from other home buyers will tell you if that builder is trustworthy or not. Good builders who have lots of happy homebuyers will encourage you to check out their reviews because they are confident that their satisfied customers will recommend them. If the builder tries to hide their online reviews or encourages you not to read the reviews that’s a good sign that the builder is not a builder you should trust. 

R&K Custom Homes is a builder you can trust. Call (336) 362-5225 today to start planning your dream custom home.  

Building a custom home is an amazing experience. Your choices are virtually limitless, so you can create a home that includes all of your wants and needs. At the same time, so many choices can be overwhelming when you’re working with a custom home builder in Greensboro, NC. Here are some tips for managing the many detail selections when building a custom home.  

There’s No Hurry: You Can Take your Time Making your Selections 

One of the myths about building a custom home is that you have to hurry up and make all the decisions at the beginning. In actuality, the decisions will come along gradually throughout the process. During the initial consultation with your custom home builder in Greensboro, NC you’ll discuss the basic ideas that you have so that your builder can start to develop a rough plan to tweak later. You won’t need to choose your paint colors on day one. There will be plenty of time for interior décor and other decisions on down the road. 

Many of your Selections can be Changed Later 

Some people have a fear of making a choice and then regretting it later. The good news is that most of the decisions you make can be changed prior to implementation. Your builder will guide you through the timeline of building in such a way that you will always have at least a few days, if not weeks, to think about any decision you make and change your mind if you choose. That should take a load off your mind when it comes to custom home building.  

Your Builder can Offer you a Smaller Set of Selections  

Do you tend to get overwhelmed when you have too many choices? If so, let your builder, the one with all the experience, narrow down your choices for you to a smaller selection of recommendations. Builders and interior designers have an eye for what works in a home based on the many previous homes they have built. And after working with you and getting to know you, a builder will have a general idea of your style and tastes.  

Communication is the Key to a Healthy Relationship, Even the One Between you and your Builder 

One of the first things to establish with your builder is everyone’s preferred method of communication. Do you prefer to receive an email with possible selections? Or would you prefer a text? Maybe you’d rather meet in person, speak on the phone, or do a video call any time you have a choice to make. You’ll need to establish the best line of communication between you and your builder. That alone will eliminate the potential stress that can come from miscommunication.  

R&K Custom Homes Takes the Stress out of Home Building 

If you want a stress-free home building process, work with R&K Custom Homes, a leading custom home builder in Greensboro, NC. R&K will guide you through the process so that the many decisions you need to make will be easily manageable. Call (336) 362-5225.  

Once you have decided to choose one of the fine custom homebuilders Greensboro has to offer, there are some things that you should know about how the custom home building process works. The more you understand about the process of buying and building a custom home, the better prepared you will be. Here are six of the primary things that you should know about the process before you get started on the design of your custom home: 

Pre-Planning Your Home Must-Haves And Wish List Is Very Important  

When you start designing a custom home with a custom home builder you should already have a list of the features that you must have in your new home as well as a wish list of features that you’d like to have if they can be worked into the design. Because the home building process does take some time, the sooner you have those lists completed the sooner the process can get started and the faster your home will be done. Spend some time thinking about the features and elements that you want in your custom home so you will be ready to start the design process.  

There May Be A Loan For Each Part Of The Process 

Unlike buying an existing home there could be several loans involved in the purchase of a custom home. You could possibly have a mortgage for the finished home, a loan to buy the land that the home will sit on, and a construction loan to pay for the building of the home. Some builders will finance the construction of the home themselves. Be sure that you understand the unique financing of a custom built home before you sign a contract. 

The Reputation Of The Builder Can Impact Your Financing 

Choosing the right homebuilder is important to make sure that you get the quality home that you want. It’s also important because when you apply for financing, the finance company or bank will consider the reputation of the homebuilder as well as your financial information when they are making the decision on whether or not to approve you. Make sure that you thoroughly check out any custom home builders that you are thinking of working with and double check that they have a good reputation in the industry.  

The Home Size You Choose Should Be In Scale With The Land 

A common mistake that people make when planning a custom home is planning a home that is out of scale with the piece of land that it sits on. The size of your home should be balanced with the size of the plot of land that it will be built on so that you don’t end up with a very large house on a very small piece of land or vice versa. Talk to your builder and get expert recommendations when it comes to deciding on the size of the house.  

Plan On It Taking About A Year To Build A Custom Home 

As a general rule of thumb, you should plan on a custom built home taking about a year to complete from start to finish. It may be done in as little as six months but it’s best to plan on it taking at least a year so that you don’t end up having to crash on a relative’s couch because you sold your previous home and your new home isn’t ready yet.  

A Real Estate Agent Can Be A Big Help Navigating The Process 

The process of buying a custom built home is radically different than the process of buying an existing home but a real estate agent that specializes in custom-built homes can be a big help to guide you through the process. Consider hiring an agent that has experience in custom built homes to help you navigate the process.  

The best thing you can do is communicate your must-haves and wishes to your homebuilder and let them design the home accordingly. If you’d like to see some of the amazing designs an experienced custom homebuilder in Greensboro can create for your next home, call R&K Custom Homes today.