What to Look for in a Home Warranty

July 25th, 2014

The warranty is an important part of buying a new home. A good warranty will protect your home from defects in worksmanship and give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing that if a problem does arise in your new home, your home builder will be there to fix it. Generally there are four main categories of warranty protection:

Built-In Appliances

This includes items such as the refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave, which were installed during the construction of the house.

Roof Leaks

Roof leaks will necessitate not only a new roof but also repairing any water damage that occurred as a result of the leak. A good warranty will cover roof leaks.

HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing

This essential home systems should all be covered under the warranty.

The Structure

The warranty should cover defects in worksmanship that could compromise the structural integrity of your home.

What to Look for in the Warranty

Term

This is the length of the warranty. Some components may be covered for a longer period of time than others.

Names

The names of the people who are protected under the warranty.

Filing a Claim

The warranty should clearly explain how to file a claim and what the process following this would be.

Description of Coverage

The warranty should clearly define and describe everything that is covered as well as what is not covered. It should also define limitations of personal property coverage, and if there are any deductibles or other fees.

Explanation of Repairs

The warranty should define who will make repairs and a time frame for doing so.

home warranty

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

Source

http://www.zillow.com/home-buying-guide/home-warranty/

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How to Assess a Home Builder’s Qualifications

July 18th, 2014

Finding a home builder in Maryland is no easy task. The number of options available can seem overwhelming. Any good builder will present you with a list of their credentials and qualifications, but how can you know for sure the value of these qualifications? A great builder will walk you through each one and what it means as far as the home building process is concerned. Still, it’s good to know what you’re looking for beforehand so you can form your own opinions as well. This guide to assessing the qualifications of a home builder will help you get a clearer idea and understanding of these factors in your decision making process.

Assessing a Home Builder’s Qualifications

Length of Time in Business

A home builder in Maryland that has been in business for many years says several things. First, it says that it provides a quality service with which customers have been and continue to be satisfied. Second, the fact that the builder has been able to weather economic downturns and slow times speaks to its stability as a company. Finally, it means you can expect your builder to be around even after your house is built to back your warranty.

Warranty

Speaking of warranties, these are another good home builder qualification to take into consideration. Builders that offer comprehensive long-term warranties are confident in their craftsmanship that they will continue to support it for many years.

Flexibility

The ability of a builder to work with you is another important qualification. As a homeowner, you want everything to be just right. A builder that is willing to be flexible to meet your needs will leave you more satisfied with your home.

Communication

Communication is incredibly important, and is a skill that you can observe from the very beginning of your interactions with the builder. A builder that is an effective and consistent communicator will be there before, during, and after the construction of your home to address all of your questions and concerns.

home builder qualifications

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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What are the Benefits of a First Floor Master Home?

July 11th, 2014

Homes with a first floor master are becoming more and more popular these days. First floor masters are ideal for those who desire a more accessible home, and have a number of other benefits. Learn more about why you might want to consider a first floor master in our blog. Plus, learn about the first floor master plans we offer for new homes in Maryland!

What are the Benefits of a First Floor Master Home?

Accessibility

Many buyers who want to build their own homes are designing with accessibility in mind. If you plan to build your home and stay in it for the rest of your life, it makes sense to design it so that you can take full advantage of the layout of your home at every age. Plus, designing with accessibility in mind now means you won’t have to spend money on remodeling your home for accessibility later.

Privacy

Any advantage of the first floor master plan is privacy. Locating the master on the first floor gives you a space of your own, separate from the children’s bedrooms upstairs.

Zoned Heating and Cooling

New heating and cooling systems offer zoned operations, which essentially means if you’re not using one area in the home, you don’t have to heat or cool it. This is both energy efficient and will save you money by not conditioning spaces that aren’t being used. With a first floor master, you can used zoned heating and cooling by only heating and cooling the first floor if you’re not using the second floor.

allegheny

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with a new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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Home Sites in Central Maryland

July 3rd, 2014

If you’re looking for a home site in central Maryland, Lifetime Series Homes has several featured lots available right now in Carroll and Harford Counties. There are many advantages of living in central Maryland, including easy access to Baltimore and Washington D.C., and access to central Maryland’s school districts, many of which are highly rated. The location of our home sites is ideally situation both for easy access to metropolitan areas, as well as the space, comfort, and ease of country living. You can find full descriptions of some of beautiful home sites here.

In addition, if you’re searching for a home site in central Maryland on which to build your new home, we can help in that regard. Our exclusive lot search assistance tool is customized to allow you to adjust the parameters of the search to fit your exact lot requirements. It also allows you to take advantage of our large database of home sites, many of which are not listed publicly. Using our network, we bring your access to more than 2,000 home sites in the area so that you may find the absolute best choice for your new home and your family. Please find our lot search assistance tool here.

Whether you’re ready to build on one of our featured home sites, or if you want assistance conducting a home site search, Lifetime Series Homes can help you with all of your lot search and home building needs in central Maryland. Contact us today for more information.

home site central Maryland

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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Questions to Ask a Potential Home Builder

June 27th, 2014

If you’re wondering how to go about the search for a home builder, don’t worry. Many others are wondering the same thing. By asking the right questions of potential home builders, you can narrow your search and find the home builder in Maryland who understands what you want out of your new home and will work with you to achieve those goals. Following is a list of questions to keep in mind.

Questions to Ask a Potential Home Builder

Background Information

Background informational questions are the first place to start. How many years has the builder been in business? How many homes have they built? And most importantly, are they licensed and insured?

Builder Philosophy

A builder with a philosophy is a builder that goes into construction with high standards and goals for all of their projects. A builder that can talk at length about their philosophy is a builder with whom you’ll be able to easily communicate your wishes for your home and its construction and design. Ask what separates them from other builders.

Specifics

There are many questions with regard to the specifics of home building that you can ask, but there are a few you should definitely cover. Ask about their design and construction process proceeds, and who you’ll be coordinating with on the project. Ask about how pricing and financing will be determined. Warranty information is another essential base to cover. Ask about standard features and energy efficiency features that they incorporate into their homes, and if they provide lot search assistance.

References

References are an essential for any builder. Ask if they can provide you with references from previous buyers and see if you can make an appointment to tour one of the homes they’ve built.

home builder questions

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

 

Source

http://www.newhomesource.com/resourcecenter/articles/questions-to-ask-your-builder

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The Advantages of a Semi-Custom Home

June 20th, 2014

Looking to build your own home? A semi-custom home offers several advantages that you may not have considered. In addition to a wide selection of templates with unique designs and features, semi-custom homes save you time and money in the construction process, so you can move in sooner than you might have thought possible. Let’s talk about some the advantages of a semi-custom home.

The Advantages of a Semi-Custom Home

Design Templates

Semi-custom homes are constructed based on pre-designed templates. Lifetime Series Homes has 14 templates to choose from, each with its own unique style and design elements. All are customizable in and of themselves, so if you have a certain feature you want in your new home, we can tweak the design to accommodate it. From simple ranchers to 3,000 sq ft. 2 story homes, we offer designs to suit any taste.

Construction Time

In the case of most custom homes, construction can’t begin until the design of the home is complete, which can take some time. With a semi-custom home, we can begin on construction much sooner, as the blueprints are already drawn up and ready to go. This means you get to enjoy your new home faster.

Financing

When building your own home, you enjoy several financing options that buyers of pre-owned homes do not. One of these is construction permanent financing, which offers several benefits that are worth considering. In addition, we have preferred lenders that offer excellent customer service and financing options.

semi custom home advantages

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

 

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New Homes and Pre-Owned Homes: A Price Comparison

June 13th, 2014

One common misconception about pre-owned homes and new homes is that the latter are generally more expensive. In fact, there are several costs associated with pre-owned homes that, when factored into the overall cost, make them comparable to or even more expensive than new homes. When comparing the prices of new homes and pre-owned homes, here are a few things to keep in mind.

New Homes and Pre-Owned Homes: A Price Comparison

Market Value

When it comes to the actual market value of the home, new homes and pre-owned homes are influenced by different factors. New homes are influenced only by the costs of construction, labor, land, and profit. In order for new homes to sell, the builder has to price them according to their real market value, because this can easily be determined by adding up the aforementioned costs.

The price of pre-owned homes, on the other hand, is influenced by many intangible factors that may sway them from their real market value. This includes things such as how much the homeowner still owes on the home, what they are looking to get so they can buy another home, and the fact that they may have overpayed for the home to begin with. This means that many of these costs get passed on to the buyer, thus inflating the price of the home above its real market value.

Taxes

Another cost that is more expensive with a pre-owned home than a new home is the cost of property taxes. Taxes are assessed on the value of a property from January of the year before. For example, property taxes paid in 2014 are actually based on the assessed value of the property in 2013.

This means that for a pre-owned home, you would be paying taxes on the full value of the property (land and house) as soon as you owned it. With a new home on the other hand, you would pay taxes, for a time, on the value of the land only, because the house had not yet been built on it. This is advantageous to you and will save you money during the early phase of your homeownership.

Repairs and Upgrades

The costs of repairs and upgrades often come into play after the purchase of a pre-owned home. Repairs and upgrades for old appliances, HVAC systems, energy efficiency upgrades, and more can easily run up the cost of a pre-owned home. New homes, on the other hand, are built with the latest features and technology, making them more efficient, more durable, and less expensive.

house market value

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

 

Source

http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Why-Buy-New—Benefits-of-New-Construction/

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Finding a Home Lot in Maryland

June 6th, 2014

If you’re looking to build your own new home in Maryland is a lot. Finding a home site is necessary but time consuming task. The ideal site, with proximity to work, play, and other family, may be out there, but it’s not likely to reveal itself right away. Furthermore, there are many lots and home sites that exist, but might not be publicly advertised or so easily found. To help you in your Maryland home search, you need a home builder with access to these home sites, and the network to find the site that fits your requirements.

Lifetime Series lot search assistance in Maryland can help you find the perfect home site for you. Using our network of industry contacts throughout the state and access to home site databases, and our own home sites, we can bring you more than 2000 home sites in central Maryland to choose from. You can use our easy lot search assistance form to get started, after which you’ll be contacted by one of our team members within 24 hours.

We’ll start by discussing your budget and examining your criteria for your ideal home lot. We then cross-reference your criteria against our databases, and update the search with new inventory as the process continues. Once we’ve found a site that you’re interested in, we’ll perform a lot evaluation and give you an estimate as to a construction cost. If you’re satisfied, we’ll negotiate the contract and start construction!

If you have your own home site already, Lifetime Series homes can also perform a lot evaluation without cost or obligation to you. For help with your current lot, or for help finding a home lot in Maryland, Lifetime Series Homes is ready to work with you!

home site search Maryland

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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Get Building Faster with a Semi-Custom Home in Maryland

May 29th, 2014

So you’ve decided you want to build your own new home in Maryland. Congratulations! You’ve made the first step in the rewarding process that leads to homeownership.

However, if the process of building your own home is one thing, it’s time-consuming. Designing, constructing, and finalizing the purchase of your new home takes a lot of time, and plenty of patience. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a way to speed things up? With a semi-custom home, you can do just that.

Semi-custom homes are homes that are designed from a template made by a professional home builder. The builder draws up numerous home templates so that when you’re shopping around for a new home builder in Maryland, you can find designs that are already completed and ready to build. This saves you a substantial amount of time in the process. Instead of spending time drafting and designing, we can get to building much faster, and that means you’ll be in your new home sooner. If you’re concerned that pre-designed templates limit your ability to add your own ideas, know that we can work together to adjust the templates to suit your wants and needs. With Lifetime Series Homes, you get the quality, efficiency, customer service that you want from a new home builder. Talk to us today about how we can save you time in your new home building process.

 

new home builder Maryland

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

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Five Reasons to Build Your Own Home

May 23rd, 2014

If you’re in the market for a new home and are considering building your own home, you should know that there are plenty of great reasons to do so. Building a new home has several distinct advantages over buying a resale, and many of these advantages will last for the duration of the time you own your home.

Five Reasons to Build Your Own Home

  1. Ability to Customize – Building your own home means you’ll get to see the home you really want to live in realized. One of the reasons house-hunting is so difficult is because it’s hard to find the house that has everything you want. When you build your own home, you don’t have to worry about this, because you can build it exactly the way you want.

 

  1. Energy Efficiency – Building codes are constantly being updated and putting more and more emphasis on energy efficiency. A new house will be significantly more energy efficient even than one built in the early 2000’s. New homes have tighter building envelopes that are better at regulating indoor temperatures, and include features such as energy efficient windows that also help maintain temperatures at a comfortable level indoors. It’s also easier to install the latest energy efficient appliances in a new home than it is to retrofit them in an older home.

 

  1. Fewer Repairs and Maintenance – Because a new home hasn’t been subjected to years of weather on the outside and normal use on the inside, it will require fewer repairs and maintenance. New building materials are also longer lasting than those used in older homes, which means less maintenance down the road as well. If you do need maintenance in the first year, it’s most likely covered in the builder’s warranty.

 

  1. Fire Safety – New homes use more fire retardant materials in their construction, giving them more protection against fire. New homes also have hard-wired smoke detectors that run on the house’s electricity as opposed to a battery, making them more reliable.

 

  1. Financing – Your builder may offer their own financing options such as construction permanent financing, which offer some advantages to the buyer.

     

build new home

 

About the Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes

The Lifetime Series Homes by Mueller Homes are a series of semi-custom house designs that were created with the intention of providing home buyers with new option when it comes to shopping for a home. The Lifetimes series includes 14 home templates including, 2 story, first floor master, and ranchers that are pre-designed and ready to build. Because they are ready to build, clients save significant time and money that would have gone into designing a custom home, yet with the Lifetime Series by Muller Homes, clients still get the build quality, attention to detail, and communication that comes with working with a custom home builder. We serve the central Maryland area, and also provide assistance with lot acquisition, evaluation, and home buying finance. Keep up with us on our blog as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and YouTube.

Source

http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=25600868

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