Whether you are acting as your own general contractor to save money, or you're using the services of a professional custom home builder, including a buffer in your budget for unforeseen expenses is an absolute must. Allowing for miscellaneous expenses is so crucial that I would go so far as to say that if you've received an estimate from a custom home builder that does NOT include an allowance for a buffer or contingency, I would seriously question the validity of the numbers

I am fairly certain that I am not the only person who has binge watched fix and flip shows on tv with the urge afterwards to jump into real estate renovations for a quick buck. I mean, seriously, if those people can make $50,000 in 5 weeks...I am pretty sure that we can...right?? For the average viewer on a Sunday morning, it looks relatively simple. Purchase a decrepit, post-hoarder home for pennies on the dollar, rip down some drywall, put in some new cabinets and floorin

Clients are often surprised when we tell them that we actually like to build homes over the winter. We've started new projects in every month of the year, and every season comes with its own challenges. Starting in the Fall or Winter is definitely possible and it doesn't have to add a whole lot of extra costs, but there are a few things you should watch for when the weather gets a bit colder. 1. If there is already frost in the ground, be sure you are excavating deep enoug

We get the question all the time. What is the cost per square foot to build a new home? The truth is that this is a potentially dangerous question to ask and an even more risky question to rely on when you are determining a budget to build your dream home. Why? 1. Because there are endless factors that play into the cost of a home that cannot be summed up in one general number. 2. Contractors may not use the same math to calculate the cost per square foot breakdown. So yo

2019 will be a year of dramatic change for our team at Cedar Creek Custom Homes as new technology advances have now made it possible for us to manage an entire project from estimation all the way to completion and warranty follow up in a single software program. The benefits of implementing this technology are astounding, and we are excited to add massive value for our subcontractors and our clients at the same time. First, let's examine the benefits of this new software for

As a woman in investment banking, it never even crossed my mind that I would own and operate a thriving, custom home building business. I had spent the first decade of my professional life earning multiple banking and investment related designations, certificates, and licenses. (continued below) Shortly after Richard and I had gotten married, we purchased a raw 6 acre parcel to build our first home together. While Richard had been building homes since he was practically a t