[social_warfare buttons=”Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter”]Building Better Homes: 4 Tips and Best Practices

Tips and Best Practices for Residential Construction Businesses

From the foundation to the very last finishing touch, how can home builders like you build better houses for your customers? If you’ve been feeling stuck in your business, consider trying one of these 4 tips — they might just inspire you to try something new.

1. Smart home technology

Smart home technology is increasing in popularity, and you might find that your own customer base appreciates a new home equipped with the latest tech. The amount of available options can be overwhelming, but doing some background research before you start installing will make things easier:

Home Automation Relieves Stress for Homeowners

Home Automation: What Builders Need to Know

Is Smart Home Technology Right for New Home Builds?

Newest Smart Home Technology for the Home

2. Optimum-value engineering

Optimum-value engineering (OVE) is also called advanced framing, and the goal is to use the minimum amount of lumber necessary when framing a structure.

There are a number of measures you can take when framing a house in this manner, including:

• Switch from three-stud corners to two-stud corners with drywall clips
• Get rid of jack studs (use support headers with steel clips instead).
• Use ladder blocking at partition intersections

Some builders implement every piece of the plan and others piecemeal a solution that works best for them. Read more about the pros and cons of OVE here.

 3. Green building practices

Many homeowners also value an eco-friendly and energy efficient home. OVE is one green building practice you can implement, though there are many, many more:

Go Green with Sustainable Building Materials
How to Save Buyers Money with Energy-Saving Design Tips

Net Zero Homes – What Builders Should Know

 Before you dive headfirst into the world of green building be sure to evaluate your local market. For example, solar panels aren’t universally well loved everywhere in the U.S.

4. Extra TLC for foundations, including foundation warranties

Builders should always spend the time, effort, and money needed to ensure their foundations are stable and protected. Structural defects are bound to occur if you build enough homes throughout your career. Warranty coverage, like the kind you can get with a foundation warranty (aka Structural Warranty), can help mitigate those risks.

ProBuilder also published an excellent list with 40 ways to build better houses, including a tip from Denver-based builder Larry Larsen that fits in well with the theme of building the best home foundations:

Larsen over-excavates every home site to five feet beyond the edge of the foundation, and up to seven to ten feet below. He reconditions the soil with a water truck to achieve a uniform moisture content and then he puts the soil back. The process can cost several thousand dollars. However, if you build custom homes at a high price point, your buyers are more likely to value extra measures like this.

From eco-friendly materials to solid foundations, your buyers deserve the best. Still, despite your honest efforts, structural problems are always a possibility. Learn more about Structural Warranties and how they can save you time, money, and stress.