Budgeting

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.

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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.

October 18, 2013

Why Build a Custom Home

Custom Home, New Home Owners Budgeting, Buying, Mount Sterling Construction, northern Utah homebuilders, Patience, Planning

There are many reasons to build a custom home, and choosing to do so could be one of the best decisions of your financial life. First, no two families are the same. Each will have a different preference on how a certain function of the home should work, or where a certain thing should be. Cookie-cutter homes for the masses do not give each family that freedom. As top notch, Northern Utah homebuilders, we understand that fact and specialize in helping families create their own living space.

Second, production builders use products that minimize the cost of construction, but also maximize their own profits. What that means for you as a homeowner is that the products used during construction may not have the life expectancy you hope to get from a new home. When you have your home custom built, you have a say in the materials used, and this ensures you get the quality you want, as well. Additionally, you get to choose the style that suits you; from the floors to the built-ins, everything is catered to your personal tastes.

Buying a home is an investment in your future, and if it is going to be a place you spend the next 20-30 years of your life, it might as well be a place you love. Contact northern Utah homebuilders for more information about the process. They can walk you through the ins and outs, including what you can expect to pay. Following are a few tips to keep in mind if you are planning to custom build your home.

*Keep an eye on your budget – manage your expectations and desires realistically so you do not end up overextending yourself.

*Plan ahead – custom building can be a little more expensive than building from pre-existing blueprints, so it is important to know what you want and plan your finances accordingly, while also being as frugal as possible during the build.

*Be Patient – custom building a home will take longer than other options, but is well worth it. There are blueprints to draw up; building permits to obtain, and then the actual building time will vary based on your design. Stay in contact with your builders for updates.

With those tips in mind, anyone can successfully build a custom home. While not all of the decision-making may be desirable for some, those who enjoy deciding exactly what their home will look like will enjoy the process.

Iannucci, L. (n.d.) “Should You Custom Build Your Home?” Bob Vila (Website). Retrieved from http://www.bobvila.com/articles/423-should-you-custom-build-your-home/ . Accessed on October 1, 2013.