1. art and entertainment
2. visual art and design
3. design

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A DIVISION OF DESIGN BASICS, LLC
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Your Home, Your Personality
Celebrating Claire
More Space in the Kitchen...
Damage Control
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Beyond 3 Bedrooms
Cutting Laundry Time in Half
Claire Home Plans!
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Her Home’s 2012 Home
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One magazine in four
personality-specific versions!
A DIVISION OF
DESIGN BASICS LLC
This issue celebrates “Claire”
CHIEF EDITOR
Janie Murnane
ART DIRECTOR
Annette Guy
R E N D E R I N G I L L U S T R AT O R S
Shawn Doherty
Cris Zandt
SENIOR DESIGNER
Carl Cuozzo
P L A N A LT E R AT I O N S D E S I G N E R
Tricia Baker
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Paul Foresman
Janie Murnane
e’ve never done this before.
Which makes it risky, but the reward is so
gratifying! At a home show, the personality
basis created so much buzz and interest that
women waited in lines that would rival a
blockbuster movie premier! Okay, maybe that’s
an exaggeration, but in three days more than
600 women lined up at that booth to discover
their “new home personality.” KA-BOOM!
For the past several years we have written
about the four primary personalities our
research identified are most common among
women home buyers. Those four named
personas live differently, and show different
preferences in home design, products for the
home and decorating style. We call it “Finally
About Me” and if you’re not yet familiar with
the concept, log on to HerHome.com, take
three minutes to take the quiz and discover
which persona you’re closest to!
Your home should be a reflection of who you
are and how you live in a home – a “cookiecutter” option rarely works.
It’s a big challenge to address all four
personalities in a single magazine. “Elises”
are readers; “Margos” prefer bulleted text;
“Claires” relate well to informational graphics
and “Maggies” like lots of pictures. Of course,
sometimes a picture is worth 1000 words…and
there’s times when pictures don’t do an idea
justice.
So what you have in front of you is one
of the four versions of this Her Home
Magazine. The topics and content are
similar among all four versions, but the
way the information is presented – text,
graphics and photos – differs with each of
the personalities!
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www.HerHome.com
We hope you enjoy this unique magazine,
with its discussions about tubless bathrooms,
must-have products and cutting laundry time
in half. Then there’s another first, Her Home’s
Home of the Year. As the home’s builder
Tyrone Leslie commented, “Part of what made
this home so successful is that it incorporates so
many ideas that are attainable for the average
buyer.” Finally, if you’ve been comparing
contractors on a cost-per-square foot basis,
you’ll want to check out “What’s Your Cost Per
Square Foot?” beginning on page 17.
I’m a “Claire” and that persona describes
me to a “T”. What about you? Have you
taken the quiz? Do you “see yourself”
in the results? I would love to hear back from
you and hear what you discovered when you
identified the persona you’re closest to!
DESIGN BASICS PUBLISHING
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Myles Sherman
C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R
Patrick Carmichael
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/PRESIDENT
Janie Murnane
A S S O C I AT E P U B L I S H E R
Paul Foresman
D I R E C T O R O F I N T E R N E T S T R AT E G I E S
Greg Dodge
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PUBLISHED BY:
Design Basics LLC
11112 John Galt Blvd., Omaha, NE 68137
www.DesignBasics.com | Info@DesignBasics.com
phone: (800) 947-7526
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Text and Design © 2012 by Design Basics LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form or by any means without prior
written permission of the publisher.
ISSN: 1553-6424 PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
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Which word would you most likely use to describe
your ideal home: “haven,” “showcase,” “unique,” or
“carefree”?
You see, the words we use reveal a lot about how we
see ourselves and are a reflection of our personalities. In
the same way, our personalities are reflected in our homes.
After all, there are few places on Earth where you have as
much freedom to be yourself than in your home!
The neighborhood you choose…the home design you
fall in love with…products and finishes you select for your
home…even personal items you love to display...all of
these reflect your personality. Many aspects of our lives are
“learned”, but personality is a gift we were born with. And
personality influences only grow stronger with age.
Even though Her Home Magazine is published from
“her” perspective, all women don’t want to be thought of
(or treated) the same. That truth inspired the womancentric team at Design Basics to go deeper with their
research into women’s preferences in the home, its design
and products used, to look for personality-based influences.
The research suggested four primary personas, and they
were given names: Margo, Elise, Claire and Maggie.
These four fireplaces
are representative of
the four Finally About
Me personalities.
Can you match the
fireplace style with
the corresponding
personna? (Answers
on page 21)
A fun, interactive quiz (“Finally About Me!”) was
developed to help women identify which of the four
personas were closest to her personality. While no one is
“purely” or “exclusively” one of the personas (to varying
degrees, everyone is a blend of the different personas), quiz
results identify the primary personality.
It’s simply uncanny how knowing your personality helps
you understand your preferences in home design and
product choices. The quiz, which takes about 3 minutes,
will likely save you hours by helping focus on your priorities
and avoid wasting your time on things you’re probably not
interested in.
For more regarding the quiz and all four personalities,
visit HerHome.com.
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• Formal
• Work/life balance
• Form and function
• Sophisticated
• Quality-driven
• Detail-oriented
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Claire tends towards formal and traditional styles in her home.
You’ll usually see lots of symmetry in the design, such as centering a fireplace precisely opposite the kitchen island. Claire tends
towards formal entertaining as well, so generous entertaining
spaces, inside and out, are especially important.
laire is a planner. When
looking to build new or remodel her home, she has
a look that she wants to achieve and researches her
options extensively. Claire stays on top of trends
and what’s new in architecture, products for the
home and interior design. Claire knows what she
wants, which makes it relatively easy for Claire to
make product selections.
When building a new home, Claire will show up at the jobsite
frequently, just to make sure everything’s moving along as per
her expectations. One of those expectations is that her builder is
an orchestrator—making sure every detail has been planned out
and communicated. From the materials used to the landscaping and how the home is situated on the homesite, everything
is superbly coordinated. She was born detail-oriented, but her
appreciation for quality is a learned trait. Quality, brand-name
products are found throughout Claire’s home to the extent the
budget allows.
Claire gives 100% to whatever she’s doing. At home, that
means she may be a master gardener or a gourmet chef. So while
she envisions her home being a showcase relative to her budget,
her practical side means it also has to function superbly. So, that
gourmet kitchen may need to accommodate two cooks at the
same time.
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uch was a response
from New York Sales Professional
Jim Cotungo in a recent Linked
in® discussion on whether or not to
build master bathrooms with a tub
plus separate shower or forgo the
tub in favor of oversized spa-type
showers. Please understand, we’re
discussing homes with two or more
bathrooms and there is always a tub
in another bathroom.
Throughout the home, today’s buyers are
showing more practical housing preferences,
such as the great room concept replacing
formal living rooms. Buyers don’t want to
pay for something they’re not going to use!
So many, many women we spoke with said
the master suite bathtub is something they
don’t need, use or even want. Of course, our
increasingly busy lives affect this, too. Kerri
Durkee, who specializes in home staging and
redesign, summed it up well, “Personally, as a
working mom, I don’t have the time to soak
in a tub--and I have a Jacuzzi tub in my master bath that I wish were not there.”
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The evolution of
master bathroom design
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ranch home examples]
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About 1/3 of women, but less
than 10% of men wanted
a tub in the master bathroom
IF the bathroom also had a
large shower.
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Gender differences showed up in a
big way. Builders and new home sales professionals we talked with concur: when buyers
have interest in master bath tubs, it’s mostly
women looking for a tub to relax in—and not
just the tub in the kids’ bath due to size and
privacy issues.
Size matters.
Tub size was frequently
brought up. Trish Holder, Publisher of Greenspiration Home (www.greenspirationhome.
com), said “I’m starting to enjoy small baths
in hotels a lot more. They fill up quicker
and stay warm longer! And I don’t feel so
guilty about all the water I am wasting at the
expense of my children and others’ children as
well. Shame on me for that big tub in my master bath. I really regret it.” While 40-50 gallons of water fills a standard 5-foot tub, larger
tubs take as much as 80 to over 100 gallons,
using all your hot water! Note: If you dream of
having a large tub, talk with your contractor
about larger capacity water lines (so the tub
fills faster) and a larger capacity water heater
(or separate water heater) for the tub.
Hygiene. Scott Smith, General Manager at Rooftight Homes in Fall River, Nova
Scotia, pointed out “When women I talk with
realize jetted tubs are simply recirculating the
same water with their hair and dead skin cells,
they quickly lose interest in a whirlpool tub.”
In our interviews, some ladies thought soaking in a tub of dirty water and soap scum was
just offensive. One individual said she felt she
would need to shower off after taking a bath!
Her Home Publisher Janie Murnane added,
“Women can develop infections due to soaking in bubble bath or other products that can
cause irritation.”
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Age and accessibility. Many younger buyers were willing to explore tubless bathroom options, but others simply wouldn’t
consider purchasing such a home. And while
numerous builders, Realtors and older home
owners identified dangers associated with
getting in and out of a bathtub, many also said
seniors wouldn’t give up their long, hot soaks.
appointments of their own, from fanciful lighting to body sprays. Again, talk with
your builder and plumber to ensure you have
adequate water flow plus plenty of water heating capacity. And make sure you can run just
one showerhead when you prefer.
Ginny Knauff, Tile Design Consultant with
QDI Stone was emphatic, “I could not ever
imagine not having a tub! I look forward to my
bath every day! Yes every day! What can I say,
it’s part of my therapy. I am an active adult,
with terrible arthritis. I have four grown children and will soon be a grand mom. There’s
nothing better than soaking in a nice bubble
bath with candles and a glass of wine. What is
more comfortable to aching joints, lower back
pain, arthritis, chronic pain, etc. than a nice
warm bubble bath, taking all of the weight you
have carried around all day long, away?
we heard over having to clean a bathtub that
wasn’t being used. Larger/deeper tubs are even
more difficult to clean.
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Aesthetic appeals of a beautiful
bathtub are unmatched. Designers strive to
create a focal point – and the tub itself, the tub
surround, faucet and lighting can be the inspiration. The natural place for a nice window
is often above the tub. The bathtub is really
a multi-sensory experience. In your dream
bathroom, if there’s a tub, how does it make
you feel?
Of course, the trend towards oversized
showers ushered in a new level of luxury
“We’ve only used the tub 3
times in 5 years!” was typical of regrets
Less upkeep…a larger shower… a private
toilet area… added linen storage… separate vanities...tubless bathrooms have their
advantages. Then there’s the cost. Deleting a
fancy tub may save thousands of dollars –
including installation – money that could be
spent elsewhere.
What about resale? Some Realtors we
spoke to felt the lack of a tub in the master
bathroom would hurt resale, others said buyers
were shying away from homes that didn’t have
an oversize shower, regardless of the presence
of a tub. Builders confirmed Realtors’ influence, citing Realtors who convinced buyers
they needed a tub for resale, but the bathtub
desirability statistics clearly favor no tub.
Younger buyers planning on moving again
were more concerned about resale, viewing the master bathtub as an investment. In
effect, they were building for the next buyer,
not for themselves! Custom home buyers and
older individuals were less concerned about
resale. “If it’s popular in new homes, it will
be popular in resale homes, too,” represented
feedback we received. Custom home designers suggested future buyers would just remodel
the bathroom if it was really important.
Remodelers and home stagers agreed that if
the seller’s budget allowed, taking the tub out
of the master bath and installing a big shower
was a sure way to get a home sold.
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Ultimately, the best decision on including a
tub in your owner’s suite comes down to your
preferences and your beliefs. Do you dream
of a master bathtub? Why? Is it because you
enjoy soaking in it or because a beautiful bathroom should have a beautiful bathtub? What
size bathtub is ideal? Are age or accessibility
issues a factor? Can you have the bathtub and
the larger shower too? Are you making the
decision based on what you want, or for the
next owner of that home?
Thanks to everyone who joined our exploration into tubless owner’s bathrooms! Today’s
trend is towards large showers, but tub bathing has strong, passionate advocates. We offer
one last piece of advice—be true to yourself.
If you’ll regret not having a tub in the owner’s
bath, then insist upon a tub. And if you’ll
regret devoting that extra space and expense
to a tub, forgo the tub. After all, it’s your
money!
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{Gourmet kitchen amenities}
Armstrong Cabinets Design Specialist Julia Dowd recognized Claire’s
need for organization in the kitchen—specifically having things located exactly where they were needed.
Armstrong’s “chef center” includes a
cooktop base cabinet with deep drawers for pots and pans flanked by side
pull-outs, one having tiered shelves
and the other with a perforated organizer with hooks for utensils. Top it off
with additional vertical pull-outs for
spices and seasonings!
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{An attractive entry door}
{A remarkable fireplace}
{Natural light}
{Beautiful storage}
“Women, who more often initiate the entry door selection or
replacement project, initially
start with design, looking for
a door that matches her home
and interior style,” according to
Frank Lin, Therma-Tru Doors
Manager of Market Insights.
The company has also done research that shows that attractive entry doors significantly
increase a home’s perceived value.
Joe Benedetti, Manager of
Fireplace Engineering for Lennox Hearth Products knows that
when it comes to selecting a fireplace, “The majority of decisionmakers are women.” Because fireplaces are often the center point
of the room, Lennox focuses on a
wide range of designs and accessories for the ultimate in customization.” And for Claire’s practical
side, “easy-to-use, straight-forward controls and minimal maintenance.”
“Claire knows what she wants,
drama…the WOW factor. Skylights are a key design element
as well as a light source. Claire
will appreciate accessories such
as timed open/close operations
and rain sensors which will automatically close an open skylight.
In addition, the VELUX brand
name, no-leak guarantee and
quality reputation are important
to Claire.” – Tim Miller, President of VELUX America.
Heineken’s hilarious “Walk-in
Fridge” TV commercial spoofed
an excited homeowner showing
off her fabulous new closet. Her
joy and exuberance exemplified
the reality that a great closet
makes for a great day! Amanda
LaBlanc from TV’s The Amandas
on the Style Network says, “Touring Claire’s home? Expect to hear
‘Come look at my closet!’ Claire’s
closet is a showcase for innovation in function and aesthetics.”
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{Inspired outdoor living}
{Culinary art}
{A focal point...}
{Warm floors}
Memorable outdoor entertaining starts with imagining what
types of activities and how many
people? Then , the design can
begin to take shape. With composite TREX decking, contrasting
colors can be used to compliment
sophisticated shapes to create a
lasting, truly distinctive outdoor
living space!
More than a mere oven,
according to the manufacturer,
Wolf’s Convection Steam oven:
…not an eyesore! “As the single largest architectural element
on the front of her home, Claire
will likely start her search from
among carriage-style garage doors
with glass inserts and decorative
hardware for a truly distinctive
garage door.” – Vickie Lents, Marketing Director, Amarr Garage
Doors.
Women are up to nine times
more likely to suffer from cold
feet than men, attributed to several male/female physiological
differences. Is it any wonder why
in-floor heating is highly desired?
According to the manufacturer,
the STEP WarmfloorTM low-voltage radiant heating mats are 2 to
2.5 times more energy efficient
than underfloor hot water tubing
or electric cable systems and are
compatible with any floor covering. Whether it’s a single room or
your entire home, your feet will
thank you!
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• better preserves nutrients,
• keeps foods moist,
• browns meats,
• cook multiple dishes together
with no flavor transfer,
• eliminates fat without
compromising taste,
• saves steps by cooking
complex dishes in one pan,
• even rejuvenates leftovers!
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ccording to Leslie, “This ‘Georgetown’ was our most remarkable Parade Home in years,
and it received a tremendous amount of attention.”
Leslie continued, “Part of what made the home so successful is that it incorporates so many thoughtful ideas
that are attainable for the average buyer. We focused
on livability throughout the home, and opened people’s
eyes to truly affordable amenities they had never seen or
even imagined. I knew we had a winner when I started
hearing comments like ‘Oh, you guys have thought of
everything!’”
The Georgetown entertains beautifully! Uninterrupted long entry views gaze out the wall of windows at
the back of the Great room, adding to the home’s feeling of spaciousness. Parade home visitors praised the
free-flowing kitchen/dining/great room layout. Glass
backsplash tiles were a real “WOW” factor, and
harmonized with the staggered height cabinetry to
create a stunning visual backdrop.
It’s inevitable. When entertaining, guests just end up
around the kitchen island. As the heart of the socializing area, the angled island plays visually with the corner
fireplace in perfect symmetry. Situating the fireplace in
the corner allows for repeating tall windows, providing
abundant natural light. People are naturally drawn to
sunny spaces and the spacious eating area continues the
daylight theme.
Another entertaining amenity is the secluded location of the powder bath—in that it does not share a
wall with entertaining areas providing desirable privacy.
Similarly, the staircase was located to the back of the
home so that it does not interrupt entertaining.
Stress is one of the most pervasive issues we face.
Therefore, Heritage Homes focused on de-stressing aspects in their Idea Home. Like entering into a rear foyer
when coming in from the garage—not a laundry room
with piles of ‘aromatic’ laundry to be washed! Then just
a few short steps and you’re in the kitchen, minimizing
carrying heavy grocery sacks.
Heritage Homes moved the laundry room to the second floor, meaning no more lugging laundry baskets up
and down stairs! For peace and quiet, those laundry
room walls were insulated—which is also why a quiet,
belt-drive garage door opener was chosen.
Wake up and smell the coffee—straight from your
master suite coffee bar, situated just outside the owner’s
bathroom! In that bathroom, there’s a large shower and
a private water closet complete with Heritage Homes’
“toilet buddy”—in-wall storage for extra toilet paper,
hygiene products and magazines. Even the shared hall
bathroom is a stress-reducing design, with two sinks separated from the toilet and tub area, decreasing scheduling conflicts.
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Storing and organization was prioritized in Heritage Homes’ Georgetown. In addition to the front entry closet, a generous walk-in closet
in the rear foyer is ideal for bulk item storage (i.e., paper goods) the
vacuum cleaner, and coats. That rear foyer also presents a drop zone
just inside the door from the garage. Designed to liberate the kitchen
from clutter, the drop zone provided mail slots and the corresponding necessity—a pull-out wastebasket and paper shredder in the base
cabinet!
Abundant cabinetry graced the Idea Homes’ kitchen, with everyone
applauding the soft touch drawers in the toe-kick area under the base
cabinets. Designed for pie plates, cookie sheets and similar shallow
items, these innovative drawers pop out with a gentle nudge from your
toe—a testimony to eliminating “wasted space.”
Then there’s the upstairs storage—oh my! In addition to two big
linen closets, all secondary bedrooms offer walk-in closets big enough
to swallow the clothes, games and other assorted little treasures. And
in the owner’s suite… two walk-ins! According to Leslie, “The closets
were a big deal with visitors to our Parade home. We’ve never designed
a home with too much closet space, but this one might come close!”
Flexible areas in the home received rave reviews from Parade-goers,
too. One of the most popular was the optional pet center in the rear
foyer, complete with its convenient raised-height doggie shower! Adjacent cabinetry included a roll-out pet food storage bin and even a toekick drawer which makes the food and water dish disappear! Gardeners
and other hobbyists talked about additional uses for the pet shower.
How would you use that flex room to the front of the Georgetown—
as a den, music room or even a quaint parlor? Walls as well as twin
doors leading into the space can be added or deleted to suit the homeowner’s desire for openness or privacy. And in the kitchen, in lieu of a
planning center, a baking center at one end for memorable afternoons
with the kids or grandkids.
Another flex favorite was the travel center in the home’s larger mas-
ter suite closet, providing a convenient place to store the suitcase and
then pack it without having to load it on the bed! Leslie commented,
“The travel center really hit home with Parade visitors! It eliminates
the annoyance of constantly running into the luggage when getting
ready for your trip, which is also a great stress reliever.”
Technology was also on display in the Idea Home. Right now, do you
have an AC adaptor for recharging your cell phone or tablet plugged
in, but it’s not in use? At the drop zone, Heritage Homes provided a recharging center with combination AC and USB wall outlets, eliminating the need for bulky AC adaptors and reducing energy consumption.
Then there’s Heritage’s “home automation package,” controlled from
a smart phone or tablet. Cameras in a nursery and at the front door
provide peace of mind. Remote monitoring of heating and cooling,
lighting and security systems can help take the worry out of traveling.
Over and over, visitors touring the Idea Home proclaimed “What
a great idea!” At $349,000 with an added third car garage stall, the
2,612 square foot Georgetown was not the biggest home in the Parade,
nor was it anywhere near the most expensive. Yet this was the home
everyone was talking about, including comments such as “Why don’t
all builders build homes like this?” According to Leslie, the answer’s
rather simple. “We embraced a woman-centric approach in our home
building company and teamed up with Design Basics. For the last several years we’ve been keenly involved in listening to what our buyers
want. The feedback we’ve received, mostly from women, inspired us
to design our homes differently and gave us a new appreciation for
products included in our homes as well as options we suggest. We’ve
also revamped how we work with our clients to take the entire process
from stressful to delightful. Our customer satisfaction survey scores
have soared!”
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Helping buyers make wise,
informed decisions regarding their
homes and the products that go
into those homes.
I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT...
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When we moved into our new home, we thought we knew we had “made it”
because we now had a dishwasher! Our previous home, smaller and older, had
a very modest kitchen and no room for such a luxury.
If space in your kitchen is at a premium, consider one of the “under sink”
dishwashers. GE offers dishwashers designed to be installed under the sink,
with a special tub to allow for sink plumbing. Some models can also be installed
beneath a cooktop!
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Whether you are tired of damage to doors, trim, or walls, you can do better than
traditional door stops. Perfect Products’ DoorSaver II replaces one of your door’s hinge
pins and controls how far the door swings open. An added benefit—you’ll never again
run the vacuum cleaner (or your toe!) into those low, wall-mounted door stops!
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Sign up at www.HerHome.com to receive
Her Home Thought of the Day
via e-mail . It’s FREE!
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or most home builders, asking them, “What’s your cost per square foot?” is a little like asking a
mechanic what it’s going to cost to fix the engine in your car before he’s had a chance to look it over.
Without knowing more, a price is just a shot in the dark. Do you have a bad spark plug wire or does the
entire motor need to be rebuilt?
WHY DO BUYERS ASK BUILDERS ABOUT THE COST PER SQUARE FOOT?
Everybody uses it. Real estate agents…mortgage loan officers…appraisers…the entire existing home market uses this square footage price as a barometer for establishing home values and
listing prices. But is a used BMW 5-series worth as much as a brand new one? Used homes don’t
come with warranties and they were not built to today’s construction or energy codes…
It’s easy.
• Easy to calculate ~ price ÷ square footage = cost/sq. ft.
• Easy to understand
• Easy to use
• Easily accessible ~ major real estate websites publish this information.
Can you afford what you want? You want a feel for whether what you want is within
your budget.
You want to get a fair deal. There are so many variables! Cost per square foot seems like a fair
way to ensure you’re not getting ripped off, but can be a rip-off tool itself.
You’re a bargain shopper. Lowest price can make sense for standardized, mass-produced products, like big-screen TV or even a new convertible. Still, you’re not buying that car on the basis
of its “cost per pound,” which is akin to purchasing a new home on its cost per square foot.
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{Cost is driven
by design.}
Sophisticated rooflines and grand entryways add cost but not
square footage. Simple
rectangular foundations
reduce a home’s square
foot cost compared to
homes with numerous
foundation jogs.
Carpet
typically
comes in 12’-wide rolls,
so designing a bedroom
12’-8” wide is expensive
due to the added labor
(cutting and seaming
the carpet) and increased material waste.
Tall, tiered or vaulted
ceilings and artful ceiling details increase the
cost per square foot
compared to homes
with 8-foot high flat
ceilings.
Then there’s the cost
of the home plans. Predrawn plans might cost
$1,000, about $.50 per
square foot for a 2,000
square foot home. Custom-drawn plans typically range from $2-$10
or more per square foot.
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{The included
materials /products
used differs
by builder.}
Your price includes
granite countertops, but
granite runs about $40
to over $100 per square
foot based on color and
thickness. Are the included hardwood floors
3/4” or the cheaper 3/8”
thickness?
Five-inch
wide wood flooring is
considerably more expensive than the same
three-inch wide flooring. Even within name
brands, product prices
vary widely. For example, quiet dishwashers—something you’ll
truly appreciate—cost
more than their entrylevel counterparts by
the same manufacturer.
Obviously, even with
builder’s spec sheets you
can’t get a true comparison of cost per square
foot.
{Land costs.}
Did the cost per
square foot quoted include the home site? A
$25,000 lot represents
$12.50 per square foot
for a 2,000 square foot
home. But if building
that same home on a
$60,000 lot, the home
site equates to $30 per
square foot, $17.50 per
square foot higher!
Neighborhood covenants such as requiring
a full masonry front elevation, and community
amenities like walking
trails, pocket parks,
clubhouses and pools
all have a cost which
is passed along to each
homebuyer
through
higher prices for the
building lot.
{What’s included
in the price?}
{The total size
of the home.}
Builder A includes
hardwood
flooring,
Builder B figures carpet. Builder C includes
full sod and a generous landscaping allowance, Builder D’s price
only includes grass
seed in the front and
side yards. Such factors don’t affect the size
of your home but can
raise or lower the cost
per square foot.
Costs for permits,
fees, inspections and
utility hook-ups are
unaffected by a home’s
size. A smaller home
will still have a kitchen
sink, dishwasher, range,
refrigerator, and microwave—just like a larger
house. Generally, smaller homes have higher
costs per square foot
(assuming comparable
finishes.)
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{Your choices have
a huge impact on
your cost per square
foot.}
{Quality workmanship isn’t cheap.}
{Methods used to
calculate square
footage differ.}
{The type of home
you build
impacts cost.}
One story homes are
wider/ deeper than twostory homes of the same
square footage. With
bigger roof systems
and bigger foundations
(and bigger building
lots!) one-story homes
are more expensive on
a cost per square foot
basis.
Was the second-story
area of a 2-story high
entry foyer included?
How about the staircase and its openings—
was it counted once or
twice? Were measurements to the outside
of exterior framing or
to the outside of brick?
Such differences can
have a dramatic impact
on the home’s reported
square footage and thus
its cost per square foot!
Different
framers,
electricians,
plumbers and painters’ prices
vary, too. The value
of caring craftsmen
shows up when you
have annoying air leaks
around your new windows, doors that close
by themselves or poor
water pressure in your
master bathroom. Or,
will you benefit from
your builder’s longstanding relationships
with quality sub-contractors, though it may
cost more? Also, labor
rates vary significantly
by region. Your brother
may have gotten a new
home built in Texas for
$90 a square foot, but
in the northeast, the
identical home will cost
more.
Would you believe
just
your
kitchen
selections alone could
increase your home’s
overall cost by $1020 per square foot or
more? It’s true! Because
of expensive cabinetry,
countertops,
faucets,
flooring and appliances,
kitchens might be well
over $500 per square
foot! Most builders’
pricing includes “allowances” for common
selections such as lighting fixtures—but allowances vary by builder.
Other amenities that
increase cost without
increasing square footage include: fireplaces;
lighting; crown molding; window treatments
and even paint; along
with “hidden” products such as high performance insulation or
soundproofing drywall.
{What square footage was included?}
The basement? Attic spaces? The foundation, walls and roof are
already there so finishing space in a basement
or attic costs less. If the
price per square foot of
the home was calculated based on “finished”
square footage, finished
basements and attics
lower the home’s overall cost per square foot.
Do you include a
porch, deck or patio?
If the garage is not included in the home’s
reported square footage,
then a bigger garage
won’t affect the price
per square foot because
those square feet don’t
count, right? So, why
not build a 4-car garage? Obviously garages
and decks aren’t free.
Cost per square foot
comparison is meaningless if the square footage
of these areas is counted
differently by various
builders.
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Check out your builder. We hear horror stories of builders who will quote a price based purely on square feet and then pound
the buyer with extras after the job is started. Reputable builders will have a long list of references from happy homeowners.
Contact those references! Similarly, there is great value in a builder’s longevity. You don’t last in homebuilding without treating customers right. What’s the cost per square foot of your new home warranty?
Every home builder can give you a detailed and accurate cost per square foot. A “production” builder who builds the same
portfolio of plans over and over again, develops entire neighborhoods and offers limited personalization can most quickly
quote you a price per square foot. Their fixed standards, limited variables and economies of scale typically enable them to offer
the lowest cost per square foot.
Semi-custom builders offer a wider variety of home designs, building sites and finishes for your home. Such builders will
typically modify their home plans to suit your needs, too. They may initially provide a price range, such as “$100 to $200 per
square foot depending on what you want” – not very satisfying, but know as you make decisions, the ultimate price per square
foot comes clearer into focus.
A custom home builder may never build the same home twice. She doesn’t have historical data for that specific home to
look back on as a starting point. Knowing that custom home buyers often have specific products and amenities in mind, providing a cost per square foot before the plans and details are firmed up can lead to disastrous results.
DO YOU REALLY WANT THE CHEAPEST?
Even if you can get fairly comparable cost per square foot info from multiple builders—meaning they’re all bidding using
the same set of plans, specifications, home site cost factors, product amenities, finishes, etc.—are you going to automatically
take the lowest price per square foot? How do you suppose the builder with the lowest price per square foot was able to do it?
Plus, you want your builder to make a profit on building your home. If she doesn’t, she won’t be in business to take care of any
warranty issues with your home.
So...if you choose to, use preliminary cost per square foot numbers to determine if you’re “in the ballpark” budget-wise.
Don’t assume they’ll be the basis of your purchase agreement. Exercise great caution when using cost per square foot in comparing builders and their homes. Even if you believe you’ve got an “apples for apples” comparison, the low cost per square foot
builder might just be one of those bad apples!
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hether new construction or remodeling, dual owner’s suites
and independent in-law suites are increasingly in demand. It might
amaze you to find out just how many committed, happy couples choose
not to share the same bedroom. It could be conflicting schedules,
medical conditions or simply snoring, but the need for getting a good
night’s sleep is paramount to a good life.
Design Basics’ “Hester” is a popular 3-bedroom family plan. It’s also
possible to build this home with a second master suite, shown as the
“Sadie” plan. (Yes, the dual owner’s-suite version does utilize storage
space from the original design’s garage, but if doing this conversion as a
remodel, the contractor will build that closet floor accordingly.)
39
the Hester | plan 29344-54Y
1720 total sq. ft.
41
the Sadie | plan 29353-54Y
1774 total sq. ft.
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ired of waiting around for the dryer to get finished so you can get the next load
in? Want to get more of the laundry done after your guests have departed? Occasionally run into a laundry “emergency” wherein the washer’s in use, your daughter
needs her work clothes clean, and she has to be at work in just two hours?
How about two laundry pairs in one laundry room! Many dryer cycles take a
lot longer than wash cycles. Trish, a single Mom, told us, “Even though there are
just three people in our household, I never seem to have time to keep up on the
laundry.” Trish’s solution? A laundry room with two dryers.
You may have seen homes with a small washer and dryer in the owner’s suite
plus a separate laundry room. That works for some, but we’re suggesting a second
laundry pair in one laundry room (works best in more spacious laundry rooms).
the Silver Creek | plan 42028-54Y
1863 main level sq. ft. | 613 upper level sq. ft.
2476 total sq. ft.
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Researching this amenity, we heard comments like “It’s the only way to keep
up!” One gentleman said, “Brilliant! My wife wants to know when she will get
her second pair!” Janie Murnane, publisher of Her Home added, “The more the
laundry has to be separated, the more this idea makes sense to me.”
Advantages of dual laundry pairs:
• cuts laundry time in half;
• uses no more water, gas or electricity;
• get laundry done during off-peak times!
the Baxter | plan 50030-54Y
the Blanchett | plan 42078-54Y
1590 total sq. ft.
1513 main level sq. ft. | 822 upper level sq. ft.
2335 total sq. ft.
40
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1. 50028-54Y Elise Version
1552 total sq. ft.
1.
1.
1. 42077-54Y Elise Version
2043 total sq. ft.
2. 50027-54Y Margo Version
1512 total sq. ft.
2. 42075-54Y Margo Version
2215 total sq. ft.
3. 50029-54Y Maggie Version
1502 total sq. ft.
3. 42076-54Y Maggie Version
2012 total sq. ft.
2.
3.
2.
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the Presley | plan 50034-54Y
the Hewitt | plan 42069-54Y
1436 main level sq. ft. | 329 upper level sq. ft.
1765 total sq. ft.
1120 main level sq. ft. | 1209 upper level sq. ft.
2329 total sq. ft.
44
49
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1. 50033-54Y Elise Version
1462 total sq. ft.
1.
1.
1. 42071-54Y Elise Version
2294 total sq. ft.
2. 50031-54Y Margo Version
1733 total sq. ft.
2. 42070-54Y Margo Version
2119 total sq. ft.
3. 50032-54Y Maggie Version
1470 total sq. ft.
3. 42068-54Y Maggie Version
2377 total sq. ft.
2.
3.
2.
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