19 Questions to Ask NC home builders – before you buy

Posted by Travars Built Homes on September 7, 2020

What questions should I ask builders about building a new home in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill region of North Carolina?

“Price per square foot” is NOT the most important thing to know.

Use this checklist of new home construction cost questions – and learn why to avoid asking “what’s your cost per square foot”? Contact Travars Built Homes for answers to these questions.

Questions to ask NC home builders: (Not) cost per square foot

Why does price per square foot come out much higher for some homes than others, even though the size and layout look very similar?
What comes included in this home, as a starting, “basic” build?
Can you give me a detailed package that has everything in writing, so I can see just what’s already in there and what I need to add?
How long will it take to build my new home?

Questions to ask NC home builders: Location and site work

Where can you build my new home in NC?
Is site work included in your price? Do you give that to me prior to contract?
What does it cost to build this home on my lot, as opposed to on a lot in your community?

Questions to ask NC home builders: Floor plan layout and style

How do I find a cost-effective floor plan?
Why does a home with a large kitchen cost more to build than a home with a large great room?
Why does an owners suite on the main floor cost more than an owners suite upstairs?
Why does it cost more to have a sprawling footprint than one that has more square feet upstairs?
Why does a home shaped like a “box” cost less to build than a home with “cutouts?”
How much less does it cost to build a bonus room over a great room than to add a keeping room on the main floor?
Why do contemporary home architectural styles cost more to build than traditional architectural styles?

Questions to ask NC home builders: Selections and features

How much does a typical homebuyer pay in addition to the “base” price for your homes once they start including things like microwaves and other features that are in typical custom homes?
How many choices do I have for selections in your “base” pricing?
What kind of energy efficiency (features and processes) does this home have?
How much do windows and doors matter when adding up costs?
Does it cost more to have a carriage than a third bay in the garage?
Is a sealed crawl space included?
Are there built-ins? Trey ceilings? Trim around windows and doors? Crown moulding?

Learn more about building a new home in North Carolina in our FAQs. Contact Travars Built Homes to start asking questions!

What kind of loan do I need to build my new home?

Posted by Travars Built Homes on September 5, 2020

How is a custom home financed in North Carolina?

When you build a new custom home in North Carolina, it’s typical to need a construction to perm loan, as opposed to a mortgage loan, which is more common when purchasing an existing home.

Construction loans are short term loans, most often with interest-only payments that are intended to last the length of your new home construction – up to one year.

Your lot purchase and the construction of your home are typically bundled into one transaction with a construction loan, so you do not need to buy the lot before you build. Travars Built Homes can be built on your lot, in custom home neighborhoods or countryside locations within about an hour of Chapel Hill.

Contact us to learn more about how to build a new custom home on your land.

Interest payments in a construction loan are only due in segments, with the construction loan accessed gradually by the builder through draws as specific portions of your home are completed.

The North Carolina county or city inspector will approve each portion of the home as it is completed, and your construction lender will review the progress before dispersing the draw to the builder.

What About when the Home is Complete?

What happens with your construction loan upon completion of your home depends on the program you have entered with your lender. It’s most common to subsequently take on a mortgage for permanent financing, with terms up to thirty years. However, some construction loans have a one time close, which has different terms than a two time close. Your lender will advise you of the differences.

Where can I learn more about North Carolina Construction Financing?

Daniel McCoy of the McCoy Team at MVB Mortgage #485895 offers a variety of programs to choose from for your new home construction loan.

336 255-0445

Daniel.mccoy@mvbmortgage.com

This Portfolio Lender has programs with:

As low as 95% LTV, conventional up to $453,000 on primary residence
As low as 90% LTV, conventional up to $453,100 on second home
100% financing for eligible VA borrowers
Jumbo financing to $2mil
Cross-collateralization and Bridge options
Interest only payments during the construction period
660 Minimum Credit Score
All loans subject to credit approval

North Carolina new home loan products and interest rates are subject to change at any time due to changing market conditions. Actual rates available may be based on a number of factors including your credit rating, size of down payment and amount of documentation provided. This information is provided as an overview of the loan process and not a guarantee of lending. Contact your tax advisor about the deductibility of interest. Contact MVB Mortgage for more information about mortgage products and eligibility.

MVB Mortgage NMLS#181319

Contact Travars Built Homes to learn how to build a new home in North Carolina. Get started with your floor plan search.

Universal design. Aging in place. Accessible: Laundry room checklist for your new construction home

Posted by Travars Built Homes on August 29, 2020

Looking for a universal design / aging in place laundry room checklist for your Chatham County new construction home? Find everything you’ll need in a new, aging in place home, from doorway widths to accessible features and layout recommendations.

Experts at Travars Built Homes are certified to build aging in place style new homes. Contact us to get started on next steps for your universal design new home.

Appliance configuration

When you choose your appliances, it’s important that they be front load, for easier loading. We strongly suggest getting a matching pedestal from the appliance manufacturer. Or ask your custom home builder to create a 12-15” platform for the equipment to sit on. Stackable appliances are not universal, as neither appliance will be at the ultimate height to avoid bending and stretching.

Size

Your builder will look for a way to have a 36” wide doorways and 5 foot diameter of open space in front of the washer and dryer. If the laundry is located along the hallway, it will need to be at least 4′ wide.

Wendell North Carolina New Homes | Dog House Under the Stairs

Location

Keep your laundry room on the main floor for accessibility, unless your home will have an elevator.

Storage

Cabinetry over the top of the washer and dryer may not be as useful to you as cubbies or shelves at an accessible height. Check with your builder about reconfiguring the laundry room if necessary, to allow for the kind of storage you need.

Convenience

Some plans allow for a washer and dryer in the owner’s suite closet. Others can be built with a door from the owner’s suite or closet directly into the laundry room, which also has another entrance. Tell your builder what your needs are – some plans can be modified to relocate the laundry room or add extra doors.

Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | Black and White Laundry Room

Task Management

Consider where you will be doing the laundry, as well as where it will be folded and put away. Do you need a table in the laundry room? Countertops can be built at varying heights. Hanging rod? Pull down ironing board? Sitting area? Your builder will take a look at the plans, to make sure there’s knee room and a 36” wide circumference, for full accessibility.

All of these features can be designed and built in for accessibility by a custom home builder.

Lighting

A universal, aging in place feature that’s important in your laundry room and throughout your home is appropriate lighting. In addition to LED lighting, ask your builder for extra lights if there are areas where you need additional illumination. Consider motion detector lighting for convenience when your arms are full so lights can operate automatically when you come and go. If there are work stations, think about under cabinet lighting, flexible track lighting, or even natural light from windows or doors.

Flooring

One way to help eyesight in an aging in place design is to change flooring color in the laundry room to differentiate from surrounding areas. There are a lot of great tile choices in a huge variety of styles and colors when you work with a premium custom home builder. Consider cork, too.

Talk with an experienced NC builder

Make sure to talk with a custom home builder experienced with universal design who is flexible enough to meet your goals in design/building your home with the features and convenience you need. Contact Travars Built Homes to get started.

Where can you find an EV charging station in Pittsboro, North Carolina?

Posted by Travars Built Homes on August 29, 2020 with 0 Comment

You can plug your electric car into an EV Charging Station at dozens of locations in the Pittsboro and Chapel Hill area – including your new home.

This active map from PlugShare shows where you can find public stations, designated as high power or ‘ in use’ and where they are located. ChargeHub is another great resource for EV Charge Station information, where users can also edit, add comments, and post pictures.

You can find a place to plug in while you sit outside welcoming places like this: Penguin Place – One of the Top Places to Eat in Pittsboro NC.

Nearly all of the dozens of EV Car Charging stations in the Chapel Hill/Pittsboro area are free. A typical electric car can be fully energized in about 3-6 hours, depending on the vehicle.

Talk to your builder about adding a charging station to your new home. It’s a great way to make reducing greenhouse gas emissions simple and easy, with your home as the center for your ability to have a clean alternative to conventional fossil-fuel powered vehicles.

It’s one more way that high quality custom home builders like Travars Built Homes customize your home to fit your lifestyle – along with the ability for your home to perform efficiently with lower utility bills, with your Eco-Select certificate from Southern Energy Management.

Car charging stations can be added to your new custom home during the design phase – one of the most interesting and fun parts of your home build.

Travars Built Homes can build just about anything into your new home. Just let us know what you’d like built in – and where you want your Charging Station! We also help you find a lot in Chatham County or anywhere else within about an hour of RTP.

5 Home offices that work for you

Posted by Travars Built Homes on May 1, 2020

What you build into your home office can be a game changer. Here are 5 home office designs from North Carolina custom homes built by Travars Built Homes.

#1 Home Office Design: Professional Office with everything built in

Take care of business with a home office designed for everything that needs to get done: Built ins. Interactive spaces. Windows and lighting. Oak hardwood flooring.

Built In Bookcase Walls | Mebane NC New Homes

#2 Home Office Design: Sunny side out

Don’t want to feel locked down while you work? Add walls of windows to your home office, to let the sunshine in and allow you to see everything happening outside! Building a custom home means you can add as many windows as you want, depending on the plan and the builder.

North Carolina New Homes | Custom Home Builder

#3 Home Office Design: Private bathroom

Build an en-suite home office with your own private bathroom attached, for the ultimate personal space as you work. This office also has a massive walk in closet for storing business supplies and files.

#4 Home Office Design: Library

Wall to wall built in bookcases with furniture cabinetry like this can enable your home office to organize books, manuals, and other necessities so you can find everything at a glance. A ceiling fan enables you to further control your environment.

#5 Home Office Design: Window Treatments

There are a huge variety of window treatments that can be applied to your home office, like what you see here. This can provide an open feeling that makes your office space feel more spacious and inviting.

Dog Friendly Places to Eat

Posted by Travars Built Homes on December 26, 2019

Out with your four-legged Bestie, looking for places to eat that are dog friendly? Here are more than 10 options in Pittsboro where you can both drop in for a casual meal.

Here is where you can find some of those top places. All of these eateries will greet you and your dog with a smile. Some even provide water bowls and doggie treats, including, among others, Carolina Brewery, Pittsboro Roadhouse, Root Cellar, House of Hops, and Modern Life Deli & and Drinks.

The Root Cellar, 35 Suttles Rd, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

Outdoor tables at The Root Cellar. Dog friendly patio in Pittsboro at Penguin Place.

Carolina Brewery and Grill, 120 Lowes Dr, Pittsboro, NC 27312

The Pittsboro Roadhouse, 39 West st, Pittsboro, NC 27312

These are great places to socialize for you and your dog.

Keeping your dog close by and always on a leash at all of these establishments is the best practice. Use good Dog Etiquette and make sure Sam/ Fido/ Miley are being polite.

Want to build a dog friendly home in Pittsboro, Chatham County or the Raleigh region? There are hundreds of floor plans we can build for you – with whatever you’d like us to create for your entire family – including your pets.

Contact Travars Built Homes with your building questions. And learn more about what Pittsboro has to offer.

Top Things to Do in Pittsboro – Visit Rock Ridge Park

Posted by Travars Built Homes on December 7, 2019

Wondering where to go to play frisbee golf in Pittsboro, NC? Getting outside and going to the park has a whole new meaning at Rock Ridge Park, just a few miles from the center of Pittsboro.

Things to Do in Pittsboro - Visit Rock Ridge Park

Things to do in Pittsboro at Rock Ridge Park include an 18 hole disc golf course, paved jogging trail, picnic area and play ground. Rock Ridge Park is a fifty two acre neighborhood park set in rolling hills of mature hardwoods.

Things to do in Pittsboro - Disc Golf at Rock Ridge Park

This is a terrific frisbee golf course that winds through scenic rolling terrain, designed by John Houck. He’s the Head of Course Design for the International Disc Golf Center, and has designed more championship disc golf courses than anyone else living today, so you know this is going to be good!

Bring something to write with if you want to keep score – cards are provided. If you’ve never played before, it’s a great time to start! Keep it simple at first, borrow a couple discs from a friend or pick up a “starter” disc, even Walmart carries them in the sports section. You’ll enjoy following the trails and seeing how close to the goal you can send your disc.

Rock Ridge Park picnic area - things to do in Pittsboro

Top things to do in Pittsboro include some great ways to stay in shape, for adults and for kids. Check out the teeter totter, trolley, slides, and benches, which can augment your CrossFit routine. Not pictured is a wonderful playground for the kids, with a very creative “natural theme” play structure, a trolley to ride, and much more.

Exercise and play area at Rock Ridge Park

Living in Chatham County can offer a relaxed environment. You can enjoy the peaceful setting of the countryside, much closer to the amenities of the Raleigh metro area than you might think. Check out some other top things to do in Pittsboro, here:

Considering building a new home in the Pittsboro area? Travars Built Homes can help you find a lot and work with you to create your custom home in Chatham County or anywhere within about an hour of RTP.

Top Things to Do in Pittsboro NC – Haw River

Posted by Travars Built Homes on December 6, 2019

Haw River offers a great opportunity for outdoor fun that makes you feel like you’re in the mountains – right in the heart of Pittsboro, NC – with more than 1,000 acres to explore by foot, bike, canoe, or kayak.

North Carolina State Parks offers some of the top things to do in Pittsboro and Chatham County. The park areas extend along both sides of the Haw River, with its Lower Haw River State Natural Area – with access points where you can park in designated places along Hwy 15-501 and Hwy 64 and put in your kayak, walk a trail or snap some photos.

Hiking

Lower Haw River State Natural Area Trail follows the Haw River. It’s 7 mile stretch and is rated as a “moderate” hike, along a path that is not always clearly defined.

The trail includes 3 creek crossings (with water that could be waist deep, depending on time of year) as well as a mix of dirt and rocky terrain that is popular as a training run.

Lower Haw River Southern Trailhead: Look for a gravel parking lot just east of the bridge on eastbound Hwy 64. The trail is under the bridge.
Lower Haw River Northern Trailhead: Look for parking just below the trailhead on Bynum Church Road. The trail starts at the gate.

Kayaking/canoeing

Top things to do in Pittsboro include kayaking and canoeing. The 3 and a half mile stretch of the Haw River starting at Bynum Beach consists of Class I and II rapids.

Heavy rains can greatly impact this stretch, so whitewater paddlers need to be cautious and aware of conditions.

Hwy 15-501 Bynum Dam parking lot allows access for canoes and kayaks above the dam, where the water is typically flat for about a mile.
Robeson Creek has a full boat launch. The Haw River can be reached in about a mile, via Robeson Creek.
Hwy 64 Haw River Canoe Access has a parking lot, but is recommended for experts due to the more challenging navigation at that point.

Photography

Bring your camera, you might capture some of the wildlife, flowers or changing of seasons. Things to do in Chatham County include some great opportunities for photos.

Living in the Pittsboro area of Chatham County can offer a relaxed environment. You can enjoy the peaceful setting of the countryside, much closer to the frenzy of the city than you might think.

Considering building a new home in Pittsboro or Chatham County? Travars Built Homes can help you find a lot and work with you to create your custom home in Chatham County or anywhere within about an hour of RTP.

What are the benefits of a side load garage?

Posted by Travars Built Homes on October 4, 2019

Side Load Garage Benefit #1

A side load garage can give your home a lot of benefits, including great curbside appeal. Placing the garage on the side will make way for windows on the front face of your home. A side load garage can also increase the perceived size of the home (instead of a big garage door that emphasizes vehicles).

White and Black Modern Farmhouse Exterior | Mebane NC New Homes

Side Load Garage Benefit #2

A side load garage can have a sweeping driveway into the side of the home instead of going straight in, which can give it a look of grandeur.

Benefit #3

A side load garage can be used in conjunction with a front facing carriage garage. A dual garage layout will separate vehicles from storage or shop space, and keep the rest of your home looking proportional.

Travars Built Homes can also add a third garage bay to nearly any floor plan, including carriage garages.

Benefit #4

A side load garage can be positioned so that there is a courtyard in front of the home, providing more space for play or parking.

Hands-on process to building a custom home

When you work with TBH, we create your home together – the way you want it:

Modifying your floor plan to expand, turn, tweak, or change things you’d like to do differently
Creating secret passageways, secret pantries or other hideaways
Including aging in place, accessible, or special needs features
Creating special spaces – bigger pantries, more storage, more outdoor living areas… let’s talk about how to create the elements that matter most

Contact TBH to learn more:

Chatham County NC Custom Homes | Two Story Kitchen

Chatham County NC Custom Homes | Second Story Overlook Railing

Can a custom builder make my floor plan bigger? 5 Ways to add square footage.

Posted by Travars Built Homes on April 12, 2019

Yes, a design build custom home builder can add square footage to your floor plan. Below are 5 of the most cost effective ways that Travars Built Homes can add space to your floor plan.

How to make a floor plan bigger: Guest living and multi-gen suites

Adding a small apartment such as a multigenerational, mother-in-law or other extended guest living arrangement to your home usually means adding semi-separated living space. Special adaptations such as adding a private entrance to the exterior are also common. Additional square footage is often necessary to be able to fit in all of the extra requirements.

This kind of modification to a floor plan typically involves rearranging the existing layout, such as changing two bedrooms and a bath on the main floor into one bedroom, bath, and living room – possibly with a kitchenette.

How to make a floor plan bigger: Expanding the kitchen or master bath

This is one of the areas where it’s important to work with the custom builder to create the space you need, as you will be looking at pushing out specific walls to increase a small portion of the home. Sometimes the result you’re looking for can be accomplished within existing square footage. We will show you some options as we talk through your needs.

How to make a floor plan bigger: Basements and bonus rooms

Basements and bonus rooms are common areas to start with when factoring in the need for additional living space. Most one story floor plans – and plans with a two story great room – are good candidates for adding square footage to the second floor.

How to make a floor plan bigger: Adding a sun room, screen porch or covered porches

Indoor/outdoor space is often expanded to increase the ability to utilize more of the property as living area, both in heated square footage as well as exposed areas.

How to make a floor plan bigger: Expanding the garage

Adding a third car garage, carriage garage, or turning a front facing garage to a side load are popular requests for custom homes. Aside from the ability to park more vehicles inside, this is also a great way to have space for hobbies or storage.

As with all modifications to custom floor plans, it’s important to know what can be changed, and how it can impact your curb appeal, roof line, and the build of your new home. When recommending changes to your floor plan, Travars Built Homes will take into consideration the details of your floor plan, homesite, and potential restrictions such as local regulations and community covenants.