Jonathan Williams

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March 1, 2016

Top 4 Things to Consider When Designing Windows for Your Home

Architect, Custom Home, Decorations, New Home Owners, Purchasing Design, Mt. Sterling Homes, northern Utah homebuilders, Planning

Designing a custom home is a unique experience. You have the ability to design exactly what you want out of the building you’re going to call home for maybe the rest of your life. So, since you want your house to be everything you’ve ever dreamed of, we are here to help you with some simple tools that will guide you to choose the perfect windows for your lifestyle.

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1.From the Outside Looking in

Remember that windows allow people to see all that is going on within your new custom home. So, when you are deciding what you want for windows, try and match it to what you want others to be able to see. If you like your privacy, large windows might not be for you, but for someone else the nice natural light might take priority over privacy.

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Windows will Affect Utilities

Especially here in Utah, having large amount of windows may cause your heating bill in the winter and A/C bill in the summer to increase. There are ways to help reduce this, like getting double pained and insulated windows. If you like the really open look, then don’t be surprised the first time you open up your gas and electricity bill. We can help you to take steps to increase the insulations of the windows in your home, which will help your reduce that increased cost for those floor to ceiling windows in your front room.

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Widows can help design

Choosing the right windows can help your home have a memorable appeal. Be sure to take into account what the whole picture looks like. Remember the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

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More Windows, More Light

Now, we realize that this can go against what we said in number 2, but it is true. If you have more windows you will have more natural light streaming into your home. This can help you with using electricity on lighting during the day time. So it can really be a double edged sword. Make sure to just do some simple research and number crunching to see what the overall outcome will be on your wallet.

We at Mt Sterling Custom Homes hope that this helped you to think about some different things when designing your custom home. Windows are great and will be a huge part of your home, so take the time to make the right choice for you!

February 15, 2016

Planning for Future Savings

Custom Home, New Home Owners, Purchasing Budgeting, Building, Cache Valley, Homes Northern Utah, Housing industry, Mt. Sterling Custom Homes

The beautiful thing about building your own custom home is you’re able to make decisions that will help impact your future savings. Making a few smart choices when designing and building a home will lead to tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars saved in a lifetime. Here at Mt Sterling Custom Homes, we are dedicated to helping you make those decisions that will be in your best interest and help you save tons of money on your future utilities bills. By considering the following options, you will be able to save more money in your new Mt Sterling Home.

1. Use LED Lights

Using a LED light bulb instead of a normal incandescent light bulb, you will be amazed at how much money you can save. According to the Energystar.gov website, LED lightbulbs save up to 90% of the energy of old light bulbs. By using these lights in your home, you can expect to save a huge amount on your electricity bill. We can help you can make decisions while designing your home that will help you see these benefits. We suggest that people should do this not only to save money, but to also do a small part on helping create a greener society.

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2. Insulate Your Home

For those who live in the intermountain west, we know that heating in the winters and cooling in the summers can be a huge cost for homeowners. By insulating the openings of doors and windows, this can help keep the heat or cold air inside. If you couple this with managing your thermostat to make sure that when you aren’t home or during the nights you can save a bit on heating or air conditioning. While other builders will offer insulation upgrades at a premium, Mt Sterling Custom Homes goes above and beyond to ensure that your home is air tight from extreme temperatures. We have thermal tested our homes to ensure our practices keep your windows, doors, and walls as a barrier from the elements.

3. Save on Hot Water

We understand that very few people like jumping into a cold shower. Not every homeowner is willing to sacrifice their warm showers, but did you know that you can save on your water and gas bills by making smart shower head purchases? By installing shower heads that use less water, you will be able to save on both the cost of heating the water and the water itself.

shower-head

These are three easy ways to help you live comfortably in your new custom home, yet save money on your utilities. Be sure to ask us about other ways to save when designing your home! At Mt Sterling we have small tips that will help you save money in the long run.

February 1, 2016

Planning a Custom Kitchen

Custom Home, Decorations, New Home Owners Budgeting, Building, decisions, Design, Layouts, Lifestyle, Mt. Sterling Custom Homes

The beauty of building a custom home is you have the opportunity to plan every detail that is in the home. From bedrooms and bathrooms to entertainment centers and living rooms for the whole family, it’s great to have full control over how your home will look. One of the most important areas in a home is the kitchen. Having a great space to cook and eat can really bring the family together. So if you are designing a house and you want to get the most out of your kitchen, we’re giving you a list of things to consider as you start making plans. And because custom homes are just that, custom, we aren’t telling you what you’ll need to choose. But rather what you should consider before making final plans.

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1. Counter Space

This might seem counter intuitive, but just think about it. Even if you have the best appliances in the world, with out the space to bake or cook, you will still not want to spend time in your kitchen. By customizing your home, we will help you to open your kitchen space up and give you the breathing room you will need to get started baking those world class chocolate chip cookies you’re known for.

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2. Storage Space

Having a good amount of storage in your customized kitchen will keep the cook of the family happy. Make sure that the cabinets you choose to put in your exquisite new kitchen not only look amazing, but are functionally great. Having space for all of your kitchen appliances, utensils and food can be a true make or break for a good kitchen.

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3. Appliances

The real cherry on top in an nice customized kitchen is the cool appliances that you have. Whether its the double oven for more baking and meal cooking, or that full range stove top that you always wanted, the appliances really make the finishing touches. Design your kitchen however you want, but definitely put some time into deciding exactly what kind of things you’d like to have in your kitchen.

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If your looking to build a custom home in Northern Utah or Southern Idaho, be sure to take all of these things into consideration when you are determining what you want your kitchen to be like. If you’re not sure what you want, don’t be afraid to reach out and we will be more than happy to help you design your new dream kitchen. Call Today!

January 15, 2016

Why build a custom home?

Benefits, Custom Home, Decorations, New Home Owners, Purchasing Benefits, Budgeting, Building, Custom Homes, Design, experience, Homes Northern Utah, Planning

In today’s world, everything is made the same, from technology to cars to food. Everything is put on a conveyer belt, assembled the exact same way, and shipped off to the masses. It is rare to have something that is truly unique. That is why a custom home is so exciting. You have the opportunity to make something that is only yours. No one else will have the same home, it is genuinely exclusive to you!

Customization is key. The range of products that you can choose from is almost limitless. You get to choose the layout of the home, special features to set it apart, and even the specific material that is used. Everything is up to you. You can pick the most up-to-date technology that can make your home stand out in the modern era and make life much easier and more fun. Green building or sustainable building is also important to make sure that you can do your part in saving the world (as well as your wallet).

Found that amazing neighborhood close to a park or the school? Want to be close to your workplace or family? Great! You have the freedom make sure you are in the perfect location. Part of a custom home is placing it exactly where you want to be. Location is almost as important as the home itself. The location that you select will insure that your home really is ‘home sweet home’.

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Another important aspect is time. You have the chance to spend as much or as little time working on the home as you want. You can choose from featured homes or create a brand new home from scratch. This gives you the power to be as involved in the creation of your home as you want. You have the flexibility to customize every square inch of the home or work on the big picture aspects and leave the rest to our talented team of drafters and interior designers.

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Mt. Sterling is the premier custom home builder in Logan and northern Utah, so building with us carries many advantages. The most important is that you pay exactly what you expect to pay. Before we do anything extra, we make sure that it is what YOU want. We also customize a personalized home owner’s manual that is unique to your specific home. After the home is completed, we walk you through it to make sure you know exactly how to maintain it. We want to help you feel comfortable and confident in every aspect of the upkeep. And before you move in, we help celebrate your big day with a move in event. It is a special opportunity to build houses and we want to help you take the first steps towards making yours a home full of happy memories. Mt. Sterling goes above and beyond every step of the way.

Mt. Sterling makes sure to use the most current techniques and quality materials to insure that your house is truly a work of art. We have established craftsmanship and expertise as well as years of practice to make your home a reality. Your home is going to be exactly what you want, where you want it. It won’t be just another conveyor belt house, it will be your own customized home.

December 15, 2015

How the Color in Your Home Affects Your Mood

Custom Home, Decorations, New Home Owners Decor, Design, experience, Mt. Sterling Custom Homes, new home, northern Utah homebuilders

Relating colors with certain emotions is familiar to most people. We say someone is “green with envy” or when we’re having a rough day we may say we’re “feeling blue.” Comparing feelings to colors is due to more than just a catchy saying however – it’s been proven than colors can have an impact on our mood. So if you’re working on building your dream home or simply updating your own, it can help to know what colors will work well in different rooms, beyond simply a design standpoint.

Red – Considered the color of passion and romance, red is a stimulating color. Depending on the shade, red can look contemporary, traditional, or rustic. It’s a warmer color, and really brighten up a room full of cooler colors such as white or blue. Red is often dramatic, and can add a feeling of intimacy. As an energizing color that has been shown to increase appetites, red is popular in areas such as kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms.

Red Room

Blue – Blue is a fresh and calming color, and also enhances the feeling of dependability and strength. Darker blues such as navy can add more drama and boldness, while lighter blues increase tranquility and make rooms feel larger. It’s a cooler color, and can help to brighten up darker rooms, and it works well with other colors such as green and yellow. It’s best use are in bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens – rooms where people typically go to relax.

Blue Room

Green – Green is also a very calming color, and is often associated with growth and renewal. Green is very versatile, as a blue-green color creates a cooler feel and a yellow-green adds warmth. Darker green shades tend to add drama while more extreme shades such as lime green can add energy. By using more earthy-greens it can help create a welcoming effect, as we’re used to the feeling of green in nature. Green can also help to brighten up darker rooms, and can help a room feel clean and fresh. Green can be used in almost any room, but is especially popular in bathrooms and foyers for it’s relaxing and brightening effect. It’s also believed to increase focus and decrease anxiety, so green can be a great choice for an office as well.

Green Room

Yellow – Sunshine and brightness are almost always associated with yellow, as well as optimism and happiness. Yellow is also believed to activate your memory, and inspire creativity as well. A more muted yellow works well as a neutral type color, while a deeper yellow can add sophistication. Yellow can help to brighten up a room, and when combined with natural wood colors it can make a room more warm and welcoming. It works well in areas without many windows such as hallways and basement rooms, and is also popular in living rooms and kitchens.

Yellow Room

Gray – A timeless and neutral color, grey invokes feelings of calmness and sophistication. By combining different shades of grey in the same room it can create a feeling of glamour and serenity. It works well as a background color, allowing brighter colors to pop without overwhelming a room. A lighter grey can brighten up a room without the sterile feeling that often accompanies white. Grey is commonly seen in living rooms, dens, and can provide a clean and crisp look in kitchens and bathrooms.

Gray Room

Brown – A warm and inviting color, brown is common in most homes. However, it can be used in more than just wood cabinets or accessories. It’s a relaxing color, and when used as a neutral it can help other colors stand out. Combined with darker colors such as a deep red or green it can bring in a feeling of sophistication, while accenting it with brighter colors such as a light blue or yellow can bring in a warm and airy feeling. By contrasting light and dark colors brown can bring in a sense of refinement, while still helping a room to feel welcoming. Brown can be used in almost any area of a home, usually as a complementary color rather than the focal point.

Brown Room

Are you looking for more change than a new paint color can bring? Whether you’re wanting to build a new home in Cache Valley, Weber County, or Davis County, our team at Mt Sterling Custom Homes would love to be a part of the process. Not sure where to start? As Cache Valley’s luxury builder of the year, we have our design center available to help you create your dream home. Click now to what innovative features we offered with your lifestyle in mind!

December 1, 2015

How to make moving an enjoyable experience

Benefits, Custom Home, New Home Owners Home Buyers, Housing industry, Mt. Sterling Custom Homes, new home, northern utah home builder

Are you looking to move? If you want to build a new home in Cache, Weber, or Davis county, Mt Sterling Custom Homes is here to help make the design and construction process a breeze. Once your custom home is complete however, the next step is up to you. While a new home is exciting, moving usually isn’t as much fun. With these simple tips, we’ll help making moving seem less daunting, and more like a new beginning.

Pack an overnight bag

While moving is the big project, unpacking takes some time as well. By keeping a change of clothes and other daily necessities in a separate suitcase you’ll feel less rushed about moving in and unpacking all in one day.

Make essentials easy to access

Pack items such as towels, a box cutter, a few basic utensils, phone chargers, etc. in a clear plastic bin. This will help set this tub apart from the rest of your boxes and will help you easily find the items you’ll first need as you begin to unpack and spend your first night in your new home.

Mark boxes by rooms; use a color coding system

Rather than simply labeling each box with it’s contents, write the room it will be going to in your new home. For an even easier system, mark different rooms (bedrooms, living room, kitchen, etc.) with different colored tape on each box. Make sure to label boxes both on the top and on the sides, so you can know what’s inside while they’re stacked.

Number your boxes

Number your boxes and keep a list of what box is inside each one. This way, instead of looking through each ‘kitchen’ box for a cup, you’ll simply have to find box number 24. This is also a good way to make sure no boxes go missing during the move.

Take time for yourself

While moving can be hectic, don’t forget to take care of yourself throughout the process. It can feel easy to feel overwhelmed and forget to eat or get enough sleep. Make sure to get enough rest each night, and treat yourself to a celebratory meal. After all, you’ve finally moved into your amazing new home!

November 15, 2015

5 Bathroom Ideas You’ll Love

Architect, Custom Home, Decorations, New Home Owners Building, custom home, Custom Homes, Homes Northern Utah, Lifestyle, Mt. Sterling Custom Homes, northern Utah homebuilders

Whether we like to admit it or not, bathrooms are one of the most important rooms in our homes – and often of the most neglected when it comes to style and design. If you’re creating your ideal bathroom or simply revamping your current one, here are some ideas that can help make your bathroom the best room in your home.

Feature Floor Tiles

Tile

Gone are the days of linoleum or basic brown tiles. Bring in variety with multi-colored or patterned floor tiles. If you aren’t sure your style is that vibrant, try going with stone tiles – many have several colors naturally that are still different, yet more subtle.

Under-counter Lights

Looking for a high end look for a great price? Not only do under-counter lights mean you’ll no longer have to turn on the light while on your midnight visits, but by placing lights under your counters you help brighten up your bathroom and draw attention to your vanity as well. This feature can look especially stunning when used with a floating vanity.

Free Standing Bathtub

Pulling your bathtub out of the wall can make it the focus point of your bathroom. Find a style that will fit your bathroom decor already – a more curved tub brings softness, while angular tubs can make bold statement. Claw-foot tubs are a well known and loved classic, and can bring a rustic or vintage feel into the room.

Large, Walk-in Showers

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The majority of people start their day in the shower. It’s where we relax, come up with our best ideas, and sing our hearts out. By making it larger, more welcoming, you’re sure to make your daily shower one of the best parts of your day. Try using oversized glass panes surrounding it, or floor to ceiling tile or stone.

Double Your Shower Heads

While you’re envisioning your shower, the most important part is your water flow. Double shower heads are becoming more and more popular, and waterfall style shower heads have been a luxurious choice for the past few years By adding one (or both) of these options, you’re sure to create a shower you’ll never want to leave.

If you’re building your own home it can be a little overwhelming to figure out what you want. Our staff at Mt Sterling Custom Homes would love to help you with the process of designing your custom bathroom – as well as the rest of your home.

October 22, 2015

4 basic tips on fall decorating

Custom Home, Decorations, Neighborhood, New Home Owners, News Custom Homes, Mt. Sterling Custom Homes, new home, northern utah home builder, Quality Home Builder

As the world changes color, so do our homes. Fall decorating is perhaps the most homely of all decorating throughout the year. But if you’re one that struggles with home decorating or would just like a few more ideas to build on what you have, here is a list of tips to help you out.

1. Use proper tones

There’s a reason fall decorating uses a barrage of earth tones, and that’s because it helps match what the Earth is doing as the leaves and landscape turn into their yellow, brown, orange and reddish hues. Your home must reflect that same change or else it’s simply not fall decor.

Autumn Colors

2. Take advantage of scent

Cinnamon Candle Potpouri Corn Candle

The first thing guests will notice, even before what they see it, is what your home smells like. Fill your house the aroma of the season with the use of either potpourri or scented candles. Potpourri works as both a fall fragrance and decoration while scented candles emit both fragrance and light. Different fall scents such as pumpkin spice, cedar wood, cinnamon bark, incense-cedar and mint leaves.

3. Be natural and rustic

Wheat Decor Coffee Table Decor Front Porch Decor

The whole point of the falls season is enjoying the what the outdoors show. You can exemplify this in your home with the use of more wooden/rustic furniture with a vintage flair. This will create a scene of the outdoors and nature and is only enhanced if combined with the above tips.. Your house will feel more homely and natural than ever before.

4. A pumpkin lined trail leading to a wreath decorated door

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People say presentation is everything. If that’s true then the path from your yard to your door will have a lot to say. Lining the path with a row of pumpkins leading to a door adorned with a fall wreath will give the immediate impact that this is one cozy home.

With these basic tips you now will be able to create a fall featured home that you and your guests will enjoy for the entire season.

How can Mt Sterling help?

As you build your custom home in Northern Utah, we can help you plan for great areas of your home to decorate. Come meet with our consultants who will help you plan for indoor shelving, welcoming porches, and storage for all of your fun decorations. Mt Sterling is the most trusted home builder in Northern Utah, serving areas throughout Cache, Weber, and Davis counties.

October 15, 2015

Protecting your property from rain damage

Custom Home, New Home Owners, News, Uncategorized Custom Homes Northern Utah, Custom homes Southern Idaho, DIY Tips for Utah Home Owners, Home Maintenance

The seasons are changing here in Cache Valley, Utah. Gone are the sunny days of summer. Now we enjoy the crisp fall air that Northern Utah feels so fully.

This can new season brings more rain and eventually snow. The beautiful seasons we have come to love in Northern Utah and Southern Idaho can take a toll on our homes, whether they are older or brand new. Oftentimes, we as homeowners forget what damage the heavy rain and snow can do to some of our homes if we don’t maintain them and prepare for seasons carefully.

Here are a few tips and reminders to prepare your homes for our upcoming season changes.

1. Remove summertime furniture and toys.

During the summer, we love our bench swings, hammocks, and patio furniture. These are expensive pieces of furniture and can get heavily damaged if left out during the wet and cold days ahead. Be sure to remove and store such property in a safe, dry place so that you may continue to enjoy them for years to come. Remove cushions and store out of the weather also. Cover grills, fireplaces and all Air Conditioning units.

Be sure to turn off gas connections. Clean and store your children’s toys out of the weather for a longer life of fun and entertainment.

2. Seal and proof your home

Remember, prevention is better than the cure. During our extreme temperature changes, the caulking in your home really gets put to the test with expansion and contraction of the materials it has been adhered to. Take a few minutes and check all the caulkings around windows, doors, gutters and all exterior electrical boxes to make sure that the caulks are in good shape. Clean and reapply in any weak spots. Some caulks will not adhere to old caulks or itself and may require a little extra work. A little super glue can help solve that problem. Apply some super clue to the areas of caulk that need repaired, let dry and then apply additional caulk to seal the holes.

We would advise walking your roof and checking all flashings and nailings. Also check your shingles for wood pecker damage. The hot summer months can really damage roofs leaving them susceptible to fall and winter leaking. As our homes age, annual checkups are critical to make sure that our homes can provide a long life time of enjoyable living. It is much easier to repair any small issues during these fall months than during a rain storm or after snowfall.

Cleaning out and re-caulking all joints in your gutters will direct rainwater to its proper place. Make sure all downspout ends are delivering the water away from the home and not into window wells. We recommend installing downspout extensions.

Install any heat tape where you may have potential for ice buildup. We advise not using Christmas light outlets that operate on timers for providing your heat tape power. The on and off sequence will only cause additional ice buildup with heat tape.

3. Tidy up your yard

Drain and blow out all sprinkler systems to prevent freezing and cracking. In older homes that do not have anti-freeze water spigots, turn off and drain all exterior water spigots. Remove all hoses from water spigots. If you need and use water throughout the cold months, detach your hoses from the spigot after each use. We have seen too many basements flood due to not removing hoses and allowing the water to freeze up the hose and back into the house causing split and broken pipes.

Cleaning and sealing your exterior concrete should be done annually throughout Davis, Weber, Rich and Cache counties. Do to the thawing and freezing each day throughout the fall and winter months, water can take a toll on our concrete. By sealing each year, you can keep destructive actions of water out of our concrete, while also sealing it from the damaging effects of fertilizers and salts.

Not many people think about sizing down a large tree in their yard when it comes to preventing rain damage, but with rain also comes wind. Wind and rain have the potential to take advantage of a wayward branch and force it down upon your house doing damage that regular rainfall could only dream of. Even though this scenario is less likely than the others, it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry here.

4. Be weary of surface flooding

One of the most important things to check throughout the year is the grading of the soil around your home. Check the slope and grading, making sure that your grading around the home pushes all water away from the home. Settling around your home is expected. Make sure that additional soil is added where needed, just adding additional bark is not enough. Move the decorative barks and add soil below and then reapply the barks. Most barks drain water as easy as gravel which just allows the water to drain quickly to the soil below which may be sloped toward the basement or home and will most likely overtime leak into the home.

Check all window wells and ensure that they drain way from the home. If you live in a Mt Sterling Custom Home, ensure that your window well drains and gravels are clean. Over the summer months, landscape barks and soil can be blown into the wells, clogging the gravel and drains which may leave your home susceptible for potential water buildup in the well.

This is a pivotal time during the year for all of us to check and prepare our homes for the fall and winter seasons. Here at Mt. Sterling Custom Homes we take pride in not only building the best quality homes but also maintaining them to allow for years of enjoyment. For more information or questions about protecting or maintaining your home in Cache, Weber, or Rich County this season, be sure to contact us.

August 28, 2014

What to Look for in a Home Builder

Custom Home, New Home Owners Homes Northern Utah, Mt. Sterling Custom Homes

northern Utah custom homes

Building a custom home isn’t like paying for a carpet cleaner or hiring a babysitter.

Building a custom home is a tremendous long-term commitment for all parties involved. The reality is you’re spending hundreds of thousands of your hard-earned dollars to build a house that you and your family will live in for decades. Because of this, it is essential to select the right home builder for your project and your goals. Unfortunately there is a lot of dishonesty in the home building industry. With dozens of available home builders in Cache Valley, Utah, how can you decide who is the best for you? Today we will discuss five criteria for you to pick your personal builder of northern Utah custom homes.

1) Does the Builder Put Your Interests First?

This can be difficult to gauge, but have several meetings with your prospective builder. Ask for referrals of past clients and follow up with those individuals. What are your builders’ intentions on the project? Is the builder accommodating your needs, or are they pushing an agenda? You want to find a builder that is anxious to meet your expectations and consult with you at every stage in the project.

2) Is the Builder Honest?

Honest goes beyond saying the right things. Honesty is transparency in construction. Honesty is including you on all decisions and giving you frank updates constantly. If something goes wrong, the builder shares that update with you and describes exactly what will happen to correct the situation. This can again be gauged by contacting past customers or consulting consumer reviews online. Be sure to consult credible review sites and keep an open mind to potential bias.

3) Is the Builder Realistic?

You want a builder that under promises and over delivers. Collect proposals and decide if what is promised sounds realistic. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Realistic home builders tend to be more experienced and more professional. Less experienced entities will low ball their estimates and overpromise on delivery.

4) Is the Builder Timely?

This is particularly important for you and your family: does the builder meet deadlines? In construction there are always delays, but in general will the builder work hard to complete your project to the highest quality within the time frame given? This includes project milestones throughout the entire building process. A builder that uses subpar subcontractors will likely deliver a subpar job to you. Being deadline-driven is another mark of quality and professionalism that you want building your home.

5) Does the Builder go Above and Beyond?

Needless to say, it isn’t enough to ‘just’ meet expectations. The builder should go outside of the norm to deliver a quality project that is a relatively easy and enjoyable experience for you, the homeowner. Look for evidence of superior service when you are weighing out your options.

This list is just the beginning. Put lots of thought and consideration into selecting a home builder. At Mt. Sterling Custom Homes we invite you to put us to the test and discover how we meet and surpass all five of these criteria. We value our customers and love helping them secure the home of their dreams. Learn more about our Cache Valley custom homes at our website here.

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