Moody's chief economist, Mark Zandi, says "it's just arithmetic" that makes him an optimist.
At 1.1 million units, Mark Zandi's 2013 housingstarts forecast is more optimistic than most (the consensus forecast is about 950,000 units). But he says 5 sets of fairly simple numbers justify his bright outlook.
Set #1: At about 3.5%, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is at its lowest point in 2 generations.
Set #2: The dollar volume of mortgage lending, while still depressed compared to historical averages, is increasing steadily.
Set #3: Housing values, after spiking at unrealistic levels between 2004 and 2008, are back to normal. (See chart #1).
Set #4: Housing supply and housing demand, which were out of whack from 2007 to 2011, are back to the long-term trendline. (See chart #2)
Set #5: 2013 will be the fourth year in a row that the U.S. economy adds at least 2 million jobs, and job growth drives housing demand and housing starts.
You do the math. Seems to add up to a better housing market to me.
People select a Builder/Contractor for many different reasons. Most of them get recommendations from friends or professional relationships, others do the best they can to compare Builders against their competitors.
All of these are a very good means of finding a reputable builder, but there are things to look for when making that final selection. Not asking the right questions could mean the difference of getting a home you want and settling for something and making it work.
What do you get with other Builders?
Most of what you get is their designs, their plans and their suppliers and sub-contractors.
Many builders offer various plan options and designs, you simply pick the one you want and select the finishes and your done. Instant home, whether it fits your exact needs or not. There are many different needs a family could encounter that could simply be adjusted to make the home much more user friendly to the family.
Many customers make a mistake assuming that most Builders finishes are roughly the same. So much goes into the finished product of a home. From appliances and plumbing fixtures to hardwood and the many grades of paint. Two homes can be very similar, but with one finish you might have continuous repairs to plumbing faucets or marks that always need touch up on your walls. Simply demanding the use of a higher grade washable paint can save a growing family countless headaches of touching up their walls.
Here are the five reasons Dalton Built Homes should be your Builder!
- Custom Plan Designs - We do not offer standard plans. That sounds
strange, doesn't it? Answer: We want to give the customer what they want and what will serve their families needs best. We can generate a set of plans from your ideas on a paper napkin or find some examples online and specifically tailor that plan to fit their desires and needs.
- Personal Contact - There are many builders out there whom you will never meet on the Job Site and need to schedule a meeting just to speak with them about your home. We are always available and always ready to listen to your ideas and answer your questions. When you hire a Builder, you are not buying a product. You are buying a service! This service is best experienced through personal contact with the people who are most familiar with the construction of your home.
- Continuous Job Site Monitoring - When you are making quite possibly
the largest investment in your life, you want to make sure it is in good hands. We at Dalton Built Homes pride ourselves in keeping a strong presence on the job site! There are many benefits in having someone familiar with the project on-site regularly. Many mistakes the get made by the sub-contractor assuming certain things are no longer made, we can give the sub-contractors specific direction and answer needed questions that do not delay the finish of the home. Managing the construction of a custom home and keeping the delays at a minimum is huge.
- Intimate Attention to Detail - Our focus on quality is second to none.
From selection of materials to our sub-contractors, we expect the best. In addition, there are many areas where you can spend money in a home and not get the total benefit of the money spent. We work side-by-side with the customer to ensure that they get the most out of their budget and therefore, get the most home for their money.
- Versed in Current Design Trends and Interior Finishes - We closely follow all of the latest design trends to ensure that the plan you decide to build is as current as possible. Much of this process happens simultaneously, consultations with the customer yields their wants and needs. These desires from the customer are then put into the design while incorporating the latest trends. For the select homeowners who feel their tastes in color selection need assistance, we also have a decorator available for any other design concerns you may have.
All in all you can see our dedication to the customer and their specific needs. We have a personal connection with every customer and every home that we build, there is a great deal of pride that goes into every Dalton Built Home!
If you live in Kentucky chances are that your utility provider is Kentucky Utilities. However, I think you probably did not know that Kentucky Utilities (KU) offers a wide range of Home Energy Rebates that help your home become more energy efficient. There are rebates available to help you purchase a more efficient appliance and even to help your overall home more efficient!
First, the home energy rebate program. KU now offers home energy rebates to help offset the
costs of making energy efficient upgrades around the home. Up to 70% of home energy usage may be attributed to heating, cooling and appliances. KU is targeting customers who plan to make specific appliance and product upgrades in an effort to make these energy efficient purchases more affordable.
Home energy rebates range from $50 to $500 for various ENERGY STAR certified appliances, as well as high-efficiency HVAC systems and window film.
| Home Energy Rebate Details by Category |
| Category |
Rebate amount |
Rebates per year per customer account |
Total rebates per customer account |
ENERGY STAR®Qualified Heat Pump Water Heater |
$300 |
2 per year |
4 total |
ENERGY STAR®Qualified Refrigerator |
$100 per qualified refrigerator at least 7.75 cu. ft. or larger |
1 per year |
2 total |
ENERGY STAR®Qualified Clothes Washer |
$75 |
1 per year |
2 total |
ENERGY STAR®Qualified Freezer |
$50 |
1 per year |
2 total |
ENERGY STAR®Qualified Dishwasher |
$50 |
1 per year |
2 total |
| Qualified Window Film |
Up to 50 percent of the material costs; A maximum of $200 per customer account (Labor is not included.) |
2 per year |
2 total |
| Central Air Conditioner |
$100, plus an additional $100 for every SEER unit greater than the federal minimum high-efficiency standard.
Split systems must have a SEER rating greater than 14.5. Single-package systems must have a SEER rating greater than 14. |
2 per year |
4 total |
Air-source Heat Pump |
$100, plus an additional $100 per SEER unit greater than the federal minimum high-efficiency standard
Split systems must have a SEER rating greater than 14.5. Single-package systems must have a SEER rating greater than 14. |
2 per year |
4 total
|
KU also offers a rebate program that is known as Home Energy Analysis. No matter the size or age of your home, you can find ways to reduce your energy use and costs. The first step is to discover which parts of your home use the most energy. They offer two types of home energy analysis - online and on-site.
Online Energy Analysis
Performing an Online Home Energy Analysis gives you insights into how energy is used in your
home and provides you with a customized report that includes recommendations on how to lower energy consumption.
The analysis can be done at any time, and it only takes about 10 minutes. Answer simple questions about your home and energy-use habits then download the customized report that is generated for you. Eligible customers can take advantage of this helpful online program as often as they want.
The Online Home Energy Analysis program is offered at no additional cost to KU electric and LG&E electric and/or natural gas customers who have at least 12 months of active service. Customers will will receive one pack of CFL bulbs by mail each year for completing an annual online analysis.
The online analysis is available to customers who register their account online atmy.lge-ku.com. Customers are encouraged to have their account information handy when they register. Once registered, you can also access account information, take advantage of our online tools, and make service requests and payments.
On-Site Energy Analysis
If you prefer the assistance of a professional, you can schedule an appointment to meet with a certified energy analyst who will assess your home's energy efficiency for a small fee of $25 that will be added to your KU bill after completing the analysis. Once the home analysis is completed the analyst will provide you with options to take that will aid in lowering your energy usage and therefore your energy bills.
Assuming you can lower your overall usage by a total of 20% after the home analysis you would be eligable for a $500 rebate! In addition to this rebate, you would also be eligible for the individual rebates listed above. So basically KU is paying to to make your home more efficient while you are lowering your energy bills by 20%!
If you are in the group that are able to lower your energy usage by more than 20% and cut your usage by 30% your rebate goes up to $1,000!
For more energy saving tips from KU click here.
Upon completion of your home analysis let Dalton Built Homes give you the best price for your energy saving repairs and upgrades! Click here to fill out a form requesting a meeting.
Every slab of this natural stone is one of a kind — but there are things to watch for while you're admiring its unique beauty
This article is written by Michelle Jeresek, I have simply posted it here on my blog for my readers. For more on Michelle click her name above. Happy reading!
Mottled, monochromatic or veined; beige or bold blue; affordable or budget breaking —
granite defies nearly all typecasting, save for being the go-to kitchen surface for durability. It's a natural stone, so every individual slab of the hundreds of named colors is unique in its hue, patterning and shading, guaranteeing frustration to the uninitiated.
Because the myriad choices can be downright daunting, we — along with the experts at
Intrepid Marble and Granite — demystify granite and its cost variables, adding some tips for finding your perfect slab.
|
|
Cost Variables
Paying for more than you use. Many suppliers will charge you for the whole slab, regardless of how much you use. To reduce waste and save money, work with your designer and a supplier to select a slab early and work that slab into your design.
|
Differences in color.Mother Nature creates some common colors (think natural hues), whereas some colors — like this lovely blue — are rarer treats. Costs increase for slabs with a scarcer hue.
|
|
Availability. Not only the quantity of stone but also access — which can be restricted by seasonal quarries or political unrest — can affect the cost.
|
|
|
Semiprecious stones. Some granites contain semiprecious stone, like this granite with flecks of labradorite, which can increase the slab's cost.
|
|
|
Sources
While granite is found nearly worldwide, most granite is mined from Brazil or India. Indian granite, like this Madura Gold, is typically very dense, is available in larger slabs and has lots of movement but is affordable. Brazilian granite is plentiful and handsome.
|
|
|
CompositionNot all granite slabs are actually granite. For countertops, "granite" is an umbrella term that includes several dense stones that are not acid resistant, and rank 7 or 8 on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness. This Rainforest Brown is considered "serpentine," indicating a composition somewhere between granite and marble. Suppliers may categorize it as either of those two stones.
|
Ask your supplier and fabricator about challenges of different slabs. This Iron Red Granite is 80 to 90 percent iron ore, making it both strangely magnetic (literally!) and also a real chore to cut. Fabrication costs rise with challenging stones like this.
Granite Shopping Tips
Names of colors can vary. Adjacent quarries, or even different suppliers, might have different names for the same stone. For example, this slab goes by the names Luisa Blue and Van Gogh.
Learn the lingo."Japurana," a term that appears in many slab names, is Portugese for "movement" and signals a slab with a flowing pattern.
"Giallo," another term that appears in multiple slab names, is Portugese for "yellow" or "gold."
|
|
Avoid dyed slabs. Occasionally granite, most frequently Absolute Black, is dyed to enhance its hue. Seek out Absolute Black from India, rather than from China, where dyeing is more common.
|
|
|
Befriend your supplier and fabricator. This is the most important tip of all. Let their knowledge and experience guide you, and don't be afraid to ask questions about the stone, including its durability and anything that might impact your costs. A few more pointers about working with your supplier and fabricator:
- Shopping for stone counters early in your kitchen-remodel process can ensure optimization not only of your slab and money, but of the design potential of your slice of stone. A particularly lovely portion of your slab can be featured, or joints can be coordinated to reduce their appearance.
- Similarly, ask to view the template process, where the fabricator lays out the countertop sections. You can ensure that your favorite part isn't omitted in the sink cutout and is instead featured in the center of the island.
- When you find a slab you love, secure the purchase, because that slab is one of a kind.
|
The process of building a new home begins long before construction on a house begins. These days the search for financing and securing a lot can take much longer. However, there are steps to take to ensure that your building experience is a good one.

(Cabinets provided above by Burns Custom Cabinetry)
- Plan your budget. This can be the most challenging. You will most likely want to meet with your mortgage officer to discuss how much house you can afford and what loan size you can qualify for. This is the overall decision mechanism that controls the specific lots you begin looking at and the size and type of plan that fits your needs.
- Choosing your lot. In certain areas of the country this can be a challenge. Currently in Lexington, Kentucky there is a struggle for potential homeowners to find lots in areas of the city they want to be in and if they have kids having a school district that meets their needs. Finding a lot sometimes can be harding than just selecting an empty plot of land. Considering where you live versus where you work (commute times), city taxes, school districts and the overall desirability of the neighborhood are just some of the things to consider when purchasing a lot to build on.
- Select a plan. This step might vary depending on the type of home
you are thinking of building. If you were only in the market for a home that only closely matches your needs you might simply select a builder who has a plan you prefer. However, if you want a custom home built you will need to select the plan first and then find custom builders who will bid the specific plan. Even then there might be changes you want to make or the builder could also have suggestions that would increase the livability of the home.
- Select your builder, decorator and others. Unless you are attempting to build the home on your own you will be selecting a builder. Your builder will have his team of subcontractors lined up and ready to start the construction of your new home when the contract is signed and plans are agreed upon. Under this idea you should not have to worry about lining up any contractors and simply let the builder do his job building your home. This would also be a good time to select and hire a decorator if you choose to, at this point you would be able to begin making selections of items you want installed in your home and colors your home is to be decorated.
- Negotiate a Contract. This can be the most important part of the
process, only because it determines where things proceed from this point forward on the construction of your home. Once the contract has been negotiated and signed most everything should move forward with ease. The important parts to negotiate in a contract to build a home are things like allowances and areas that are your responsibility. Which could have been something you and the builder predetermined as an item that you may supply during the construction. Whatever the case may be, you want to make sure that the allowance sizes are representative of the items you want to purchase for your home. Some people always seem to be somewhat confused by the term allowances. Allowances are an amount of money set aside or "allowed" for lighting, appliances, plumbing fixtures and other things in the home. These items can vary wildly. For instance, you could spend $3,000 on your lighting package for a home (low-end) or you could spend $15,000 on one chandelier for your dining room!! As a builder it can be difficult to estimate exactly how much money each customer wants to spend on these items. So it is up to you to do a little research once you have the figures to confirm the allowance amounts.
With a contract signed and construction starting on your custom home, the only thing you need to worry about now is making sure your selections are staying ahead of the progress of your home. The last thing you or your builder want to have happen is to have a selection that severely delays the
project!
No matter where you are in the building process we can help. If you are just now beginning to think about the possibility of building a custom home, we can help you become more educated about the selection process. If you are further along, you may have a plan in mind or a lot where you would like to build then you need to see the specials we have available right now! If you need any other information you can visit us at DaltonBuiltHomes.com or contact us at info@DaltonBuiltHomes.com!
This is a question that plagues our industry, I have had a few issues with potential customers and feel that there should be a discussion on the matter.
Are all contractor bids on a new home or remodel created equal?
The answer is in huge fashion: It depends! It depends on the massive amount of data that most customers are not considering when trying to figure out which contractor is going to give them the best product for the perceived best price.
Why do I say best perceived price? A price is only as good as the description behind it.
Depending on the detail of a plan there can be room for assumptions on the contractor's part. If a customer does not have certain areas of the project specified, we must decide how we (contractor) would finish it. Either finishing it the way that particular contractor normally finishes that element or making the decision to finish it according to the quality of the home the customer is requesting. Many people who are not familiar with the construction industry would think that this would be an easy question. However, most contractors like most people are creatures of habit and they like to do things they have always done. There have been times when we are bidding projects where we must ask ourselves if what we normally provide is good enough or in some cases too good for this bid. That is not the norm in my opinion.
Let me give you an example, a potential customer is looking to build a house. They have a certain plan in mind; however, they are not familiar with all the options available on the market. This is a very common problem. This customer has three builders provide bids on plans that are not completely the same. Builder one provides a bid that includes no allowances and makes no assumption for his (the customers) tastes. He is going to build the home the same way he builds all his homes. The same finishes, similar fixtures and specifically a insert fireplace with cultured stone. Builder two provides a bid that understands that the customer will want to make some selections to make it "their" home. However, the builder did not completely listen to the customer during their meetings and underestimated the level of quality the customer conveyed. Therefore, this bid is artificially low because the allowances given are not sufficient enough to outfit the home with what the customer wants. Not to mention, the other areas where the customer does not usually get to select are now a lower quality than they might have wanted. Builder three provides a bid that has sufficient allowances and a quality they decided was up to the standards of this particular customer. Because of this that insert fireplace from Builder one is not an insert in Builder three's bid. Builder three chose to give the customer a higher quality, full masonry fireplace. More money but a choice had to be made by all the builders.
In the end, Builder one is least expensive, Builder two in the middle and Builder three
is the highest. Now from the customers perspective Builder three looks as though he is just making more money than Builder one! The difference here could be as much as $75,000 or more depending on the home. Most people are usually leery enough not to select the lowest bid and most don't usually select the highest bid either. However, it is not the number but the "meat" behind the number that tells the story. By comparing bids the customer begins to see that allowances on Builder two's bid are lower than Builder three and then things like a full masonry fireplace begin to stand out. It's possible that Builder two didn't even acknowledge the fireplace, so as a customer looking at the bid, you have no idea what kind of assumptions he made when bidding the finish of this fireplace.
So after the dust settles all of these bids came on the same plan, but with drastic differences. There are many other factors to consider and I only chose to discuss the fireplace, but there are many more. For instance, the quality of the flooring, quality of the cabinets (are they modular or custom?), are the people working on your future home craftsmen or just laborers. There is much more to consider than just the final price. I also realize that customers are able to only evaluate the bids with the information they are given as well and in some cases that can be a very difficult task to compare two bids from separate builders. However, remember you are making a decision to make one of the largest purchases in your life. So even if you are not finding the information you want, you need to ask for it. The more deliberate you are trying to compare bids the better decision you can make and less headaches as you proceed with the construction of your home. That being a whole other discussion, what happens when you have made the wrong selection in a contractor?
Many people sometimes do not give any thought to the potential of building a new home thinking that it might be too expensive. However, with the recent economy the cost to build new has come down. There are many advantages to building new versus buying an existing home and we will cover several of them here in this blog.
New homes mean more options, fresh designs, more efficient energy usage. The biggest benefit is that you get to make the home yours from the very beginning! No working on one room for a month of weekends and then moving on to the next just to get the old home you purchased something you can tolerate. In a new home you can select colors to match your current taste, select appliances that are more energy efficient and in a new more current finish.
Here are Five reasons that say NEW is the way to go!
- Everything you want. Building a new home over buying an existing one means selecting everything you want in the home. Everything from paint colors, appliances, trim molding selections, hardwood, and much more. The point is it is all brand new and put together in a way that suits your taste, furniture and design. You do not have to do any modifying to the home because you designed it!
- Modern conveniences. Obviously, building a new home gives you the opportunity to select new more modern and energy efficient appliances
like a higher grade heating and air system or higher grade windows that will lower your energy usage dramatically versus an older home. Modern conveniences also give you the opportunity to select positions of cable jacks and specific electrical outlets throughout the home. Also selections for phone jacks (though they are becoming less and less popular with most people dumping their home phone for their cell phones.)
- New more flexible and open floor plan designs. Building a new home gives you the great benefit to build a plan that will suit your needs for many years to come. Plans from just 10 to 15 years ago were more segregated into specific rooms. Plans in the industry today are meant to blend spaces into each other. For example, that the kitchen and the great room be almost one room. Entertaining becomes much easier with this version of a plan and is the new method of design. Also, having a flexible plan means having a home that will age with you. These homes have rooms that can be used as an office early in life and then converted into a parents quarters if you need it. Studies show that Americans are not moving with as much frequency since the Great Recession. They are more content to remodel their home to their needs as they change. So rather than continuously remodel the home to your needs, build a plan that will adapt to your needs as you and your children grow up in the home.
- Energy efficient designs. These designs are meant to take advantage
of sun positions in the winter to add heat to the home when it needs it most. You can gain additional insulation values and energy savings by increasing the thickness of your exterior walls to a minimum of 2x6 and rather than blow standard insulation in the attic, foam insulation can be sprayed into the rafter cavities that provides a maximum insulation value because all possible voids and leaks are sealed to outside sources. Therefore, by building a new home and demanding for energy efficiency you will likely lower your yearly maintenance costs quite substantially enough to justify the move.
- Warranty and fewer unexpected maintenance costs. As is the case with owning a new car, should anything go wrong during the warranty

period the materials and usually labor are covered through a certain time. With a newly built home the warranty period through the builder is generally a year from closing that includes everything. After the year warranty offered by most builders manufacturers warranties will take into effect and cover major appliances like HVAC systems for roughly 3 to 5 years. If you really want to make sure you are covered you can purchase a 2-10 warranty at closing that covers your home completely for a second year and major repairs for up to 10 years.
To provide some feedback please leave comments in the box below. I am interested to know if people out there would be more at ease about building a new home if it came with a better warranty process? I still remember when the auto companies used to provide it's customers with a 30,000 mile warranty. Now you cannot find a car that does not have a 100,000 mile warranty. So would you agree to build a new home with a builder who was offering you a longer warranty process from the normal one year? Please let me know.
Most homeowners would have more respect for their general contractor if from time to time they would step out and try this business on their own. Though it would be easier if homeowners didn't take matters into their own hands. It can yield a very definitive perspective of what general contractors are faced with everyday on every job. There are several points that you can be aware of to make sure that your remodel project is or will progress as efficiently as possible.
- Don't work without a design. There is no greater mistake than to
start a remodel without a floor plan. Having a floor plan not only details your intentions of the areas that need to be remodeled, it also could spot potential problems with the design before you even start. Not only could it stop potential problems, it also is a plan that you and your contractor can agree on and what you both expect to be completed.
- Don't put lipstick on a pig. This requires you to be open to the professionals that come to your home to look at your desired project. There may be things that you are unaware of that might essentially be throwing money out the window. For example, adding a geothermal heating system in a home that does not have sufficient insulation. These are reasons why you want a qualified contractor/remodeler to bid your projects. A great place to start when in need of a qualified remodeler is through the local office of your Home Builder's Association.
- Don't buy your own materials. This tip is often over-looked and thought of as something that is better in the end. However, it could be further from the truth. By purchasing your own materials in an attempt to save money can be a huge mistake. Many builders, if they accommodate your wishes, will not cover the material under their warranty. Unless you have a personal relationship with someone at a local store, you will have a difficult time if anything were to go wrong with the materials you purchased. Then if you succeeded there, the builder will likely charge for any repairs that have to be made again. Rather than it simply being a cost of honoring the warranty.
- Don't force a design into your home. One principle we at Dalton Built
Homes try to stick with is, when we are done with the remodel will it look as though there has been nothing added to the home. You want an addition to look as though it has always been part of your home. Same with a kitchen, it should look as though it was part of the design of the original construction of the home. Sometimes this means sacrificing some of your taste to make the remodel "fit" your home. Obviously, the materials and designs will be more current. For example, you don't stuff a modern kitchen into a more traditional home. Ultimately, it won't work and when you do sell it will be a tough sell.
- Don't delay decisions. When remodeling your home, every decision made after a deadline is more time everyone is working in your home around your family disrupting your day-to-day life. Ideally, you want to have all selections made and have delivery dates for faucets, granite and cabinets well before they are needed to install. Sometimes a simple delay on a kitchen faucet can stop the whole job, as it could hold up the fabrication of the granite thus inhibiting the progress and eventual completion of the project.
- Don't change your mind. This is very similar to #5 in that changing your mind can sometimes result in reordering materials and thus
delaying the completion of the project.
- Don't be a distraction. Remember, when you are remodeling your home time is everything. If you are talking to the subcontractors every morning for 30 minutes it adds up. We don't want to be rude, but there will come a time when we are behind schedule and are no longer wanted in your home. So if you find yourself wanting to ask a question or just wanting to talk, ask yourself if it is relevant enough to stop someone from working on your home.
- Don't expect it to be too clean. Even with all the efforts to seal off the areas we are going to destroy, it is impossible to control all the dust. Though it may be a costly inconvenience it might be worth considering to not live in the home while it is being remodeled. However, if you choose to stay come into it expecting that your home is not going to be spic and span until we are completed.
Remodeling your home can be one of the most stressful events in your life, but if you are prepared, have a set of plans, made your decisions, and ordered necessary materials it can be very rewarding to watch everything come together. Let Dalton Built Homes bring your dreams to a reality, give us your project ideas and watch it happen.
When planning a remodeling project whether you think about it or not, it is a good idea to consider the season before you begin. As I said, you may not think about it because it is second nature to build a new deck in the spring and not in the middle of winter when that new deck cannot be used. Most projects become readily apparent with the season and others can be done year-round.
However, there are several projects that could be done this time of year that will make
use of the cooler fall evenings or prepare your home for a more efficient winter season. These projects vary from simple and inexpensive to large and costly, but all are good to consider this time of year. Always when considering a remodeling project you want to consider how it is going to affect and improve your homes efficiency. Many utility companies now provide quarterly energy assessments that show how your home is preforming year over year. Check with your local utility company for more information.
Our Top Five Fall Remodeling Projects in order of cost...
- Update your kitchen. This project can be done any season, but is considered more in the fall because people want a new kitchen to host for the Holidays. Most of our remodeling projects indoors this time of year revolve around getting their home ready for the holidays. With kitchen remodels, they can be as complex or as simple as replacing the cabinet doors and drawers. This depends on your layout efficiency, budget and time. Kitchen remodels average as low as $4,000 to $5,000 for a refacing and $25,000 to $45,000 for a complete removal.
- Replace old drafty windows. This project is more "Fall" specific,
windows are a huge source of heat loss during the winter and replacing old windows with more energy efficient windows can seriously reduce your energy costs over the years. However, you must be diligent when selecting your new windows. Running out and picking a window company that is cheap and fast will likely be better than what you have, but may not benefit your home over the long term. A key phrase from Gucci says it all, "Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten." Once the windows are replaced you should be able to track the improvement with your efficiency statements from your local utility company.
- Improve spaces you use most. Completing a project during the fall in a room that you use frequently will help get through the long winter. Since most of us spend larger amounts of time in our homes through the winter it makes sense to focus that energy on something we will be using for the next three to four months. This could be as simple as repainting the kitchen and family room a brighter more energetic color for those affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder. It could also be changing or adding tile in bathrooms and kitchen adding heating elements underneath the tile. There is nothing better than a warm floor in the winter!
- Extend your patio season with an outdoor fireplace. An outdoor
fireplace in the fall will get used many evenings with friends and family gathering around an outdoor fire in a crisp October evening. I recommend the help of a professional contractor to filter through the many possibilities to consider when adding an outdoor fireplace.
- The most efficient and inexpensive project, add insulation to your attic. Most homes do not have adequate insulation in the attic leading to massive amounts of heat loss through the winter. Looking over monthly utility bills will easily show that the bulk of money spent is during the peak winter months. Therefore, adding more insulation to you attic will help keep more of that heat in your home. Spending just $300 on additional insulation can nearly save that much in the first winter's utility bills alone! Other efforts can be taken to improve your homes efficiency, like caulking all penetrations to the attic, sealing all penetrations in exterior walls and several others. For more information on how to make you home more efficient contact us at info@daltonbuilthomes.com.
Remember being smart about the additions and changes you make to your home will not only look great, but you also want to increase your home's efficiency and that same project will pay you back over the years to come. This is best achieved with the help of a skilled contractor to make sure that all the work is done properly to insure that the efficiency is as high as possible.
Dalton Built Homes has made the decision to begin accepting payments through Square.
Technology advances have made mobile payments much more safer and they are now becoming the way of doing business as is evidence from the Starbucks and Square deal that was just realeased August of 2012.


Not that Square is a big partnership with Dalton Built Homes because how many people have bought a home with their credit card. However, what it does enable us to do is serve our service needs better.
As we have announced in the past that we are performing service for Central Kentuckly Homeowners. This service was previously only availble to be paid through a check. Now we have the ability to accept credit cards, debit cards and customers can even pay directly from their smart phones now.
This is just another move Dalton Built Homes is trying to do to help customers get repairs they need completed in a professional manner and paid for the very same way!
For any service needs you may contact us at info@daltonbuilthomes.com or click on the arrow to go to our Service page to view service pricing and schedule a meeting.