Serving North and South Carolina

By John Marks -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

An elected representative and a custom home builder took top honors Thursday as the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce awarded its annual Business Person of the Year and Citizen of the Year.

Builder Doug McSpadden won on the business side, while state Rep. Ralph Norman received the citizen honor.

McSpadden, a Gastonia native, was an honor graduate from the University of Tennessee School of Architecture who learned the custom homebuilding business with Simonini Builders during the early days of RiverPointe. Now he’s a custom builder on his own with McSpadden Custom Homes, which has its office in Lake Wylie. Earlier this year, he graduated from the first Advanced Green Building Professional class at the International Builder Show.

Doug McSpadden, with wife Laurie, won the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce's Business of the Year award during Thursday's holiday gala at River Hills Country Club.

“He stays current with building trends and networks with other builders who are industry leaders,” said Joan Brom, chair of the award nominating committee.

And when McSpadden moved his own office to Lake Wylie Professional Center at Channel Road and Nautical Drive, he opened the door for other area businesses to follow. Now the center also is home to Glaza Chiropractic Center, Lake Wylie Eye, Miller Orthodontics, Focus Physical Therapy and Fitness and Bordeaux and Bordeaux.

Is he experienced?

"Going green" is not just a trend; it's a movement. Today's construction professionals know their green contracting expertise can make a difference when they're considered for jobs. Being a green contractor can contribute directly to their bottom lines. As a result, more and more contractors are advertising green construction and design capabilities.

Any contractor, however, can hang a shingle or tag a Web site with the word "green" without having actual experience in designing and building eco-friendly, sustainable homes.

The right questions can help homeowners cut past the hype and learn about a company's actual experience. The following are a few questions you should ask:

• How many years has the contractor been offering green construction?
• How many green projects can they show you in their portfolio?
• How many green projects have they done that are similar to the job for which they're being considered?
• How many references can they provide who are still pleased with green construction completed a year or two ago?

McSpadden Custom Homes is one of Charlotte Premier Green Builders

In Charlotte, like many other cities in North and South Carolina, and across America.

We have all know that buying or building a new home is one of the most important investments you will make, and choosing the right builder is as important as the new home you select.

The primary goal should be to find a reputable builder that will deliver a high quality home that meets your own personal interests and needs. The following criteria can help you through the process of selecting the right custom homebuilder.

Reputation

The best way to learn about a builder is to visit homes they have built and talk with the owners. Questions you should ask include:

• Are you happy with your home?
  
• Did the builder do what was promised in a timely manner?
  
• Did the builder listen to your requests?
  
• Was the builder responsive to your needs?
  
• Would you buy another home from this builder?

Cost, Budget, and Value!

Understanding the Differences and Importance of Each!

Eight of Ten

8. Realistic Expectations and Goals

How to determine what your New Home will cost? How much it should cost? What is an appropriate budget? What is the added Value for resale? What is the added Value to my Quality of Life? How can you maximize your return on investment? Why am I Building?

Consider the following primary factors that will influence the outcome of your project.

New Home Building Cost

Cost is a function of materials, time and labor, and local market conditions. This can be the simplest and most challenging of the factors, a thorough set of Home Plans and Specification is key to the accuracy of determining the cost.

For Custom Home Building Projects the actual final cost is not determined until the project is complete and you have settled in to enjoy your new home. Until that day, you are working with a Budget.

It's In The Details!

Home Planning and Custom Home Building Cost are in part Driven By the Details!

Seven of Ten

7. Quality Creates Value

Today in Charlotte, North Carolina and across the country you can find a wide variety of products for your new home including Cabinetry, Moldings, Kitchen and Bath Hardware, Plumbing Fixtures, Lighting Fixtures and more . . .

Working within a Budget can be challenging when selecting and specifying the details of your new home.

Planning and Designing for Custom Moldings and Fixtures usually require more time and more plan details, this will likely increase the cost of developing your Home Plans. The actual cost of your home depends more on your details and specification than which Custom Home Builder you select.

Choose Quality over Quantity, pass on specifying an abundance of Detailed Moldings, Ornate hardware and fixtures. Focus instead on creating a palette of quality, well built, well designed details that will compliment and enhance your lifestyle.

Selecting the "Right" Custom Home Builder for your project will help insure that the Quality and Craftsmanship of the construction are efficient and accurate to your plans. Budgeting a little more to Carefully Plan the Details your new home can help insure that you spend your dollars wisely.