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What We’re Building: Jen’s Week in Review

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Happy Friday! I missed my week in review last week (SORRY!) because Paul was recovering from unexpected shoulder surgery. A week ago Sunday, Paul was racing Nate down the sidewalk, tripped and fractured his right (dominant of course!) shoulder. We spent 3 hours in the ER and came home with a sling, orders to see an orthopedic within a week and this pretty picture…

We called the next morning and scheduled an appointment immediately with an orthopedic. As soon as he looked at the x-ray above, he said Paul would need corrective surgery because it was unlikely to heal as well on its own. Ugh. Luckily, we were able to schedule surgery for the very next day which was a blessing.

The doctor said everything went well and that surgery was definitely the right call. Once I saw the “after” x-ray, I would agree.

That is some serious hardware! 10 screws and a plate to be exact. AND he had torn his rotator cuff – hey if you’re gonna go, go big! Today Paul is doing really well! He started PT this week and he still has very limited use of his right arm, but we’re in a good groove around here!

Enough about that, we’re BUSY at the office…

Adam Hits 10 Years With NDI!

This is so hard to believe but Adam just hit 10 years with the company on Monday, March 6. Thinking back 10 years ago – we look so young!

It has been such a joy working with my baby brother these past 10 years. Cheers to you Adam!

Pop-Up Open House 3/11 & 3/12

We will be showing our Langley Model in Falls Church this weekend for the very first time! We are a few weeks from completion but we want to give you a sneak peek. We’ve incorporated some new design elements in this house – can’t wait to show you the Owner’s Bath! I hope you will join us.

Click HERE for more information about this weekend’s event!

This Week’s PC Meetings

We’re getting ready to start three new homes this week. A Chesterbrook Craftsman and two Vienna Models (which was the most popular model in 2016!). And its easy to see why.

 

One of these clients is an investor and this is his 14th home with NDI! That makes my heart sing. It has been so fun building a relationship with this client and watching his success.

This Week’s Settlement

We just finished this gorgeous Clarendon Model in North Arlington. I LOVE the finishes in this home…

And I love these blue stone pavers on the front porch.

If you’re looking for a way to give your home major curb appeal, consider adding pavers to your concrete front porch or stoop. So so pretty…

On The Blog This Week

On Tuesday, I posted my 2016 Recap. A little late – sorry! I love doing this every year to recap trends we’re seeing in in our business. Check it out!

Sarah just redesigned her Home Office – check out this wonderful space (that’s all hers!) and the changes she made!

The Katie Kronicles

And we have a runner! Oh boy y’all – I love our sweet new pup Katie, but she is testing me! About three weeks ago, we rescued Katie through Lost Dog Rescue (great organization BTW!). We didn’t know much about her but we immediately fell in love with her. She is SO GOOD in the house – completely house trained, stays off the furniture, loves to snuggle, loves to sleep, doesn’t beg (most of the time). I mean, the sweetest…

The boys like to tuck her in at night…

We think we really lucked out. But there is this one little thing she does…she runs. And by run I mean bolt out the front door and doesn’t look back. On Wednesday morning, Andrew opened the front door (to check the weather – really, you’re 4!) and Katie took the opportunity to romp (run at full speed) throughout Falls Church City for the next 30 minutes. Did you see a crazy woman in heels running after her? That would be me.

All kidding aside, I was certain she was going to get hit by a car (SHE CROSSED BROAD ST DURING RUSH HOUR!) but by the grace of God and a sweet Samaritan, I was able to get her home. So now we’re looking into lots of options and we’ve narrowed them down to a few…

1. Not ever using the front door.

2. Not ever letting Andrew use the front door.

3. Hire a dog trainer.

I think we’ve realized that Katie doesn’t really care what we have to say when she’s outside of the house. That’s a problem. And given the fact that Paul is an engineer, and I’m a builder, we know we need professional help.

I’ll keep you posted. In the meanwhile, I will keep lovin’ on this sweet (and crazy, look at her eyes!) girl.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. Come out to see us this weekend at the Langley Model – I will be there on Saturday. Hope to see you then!

Dream Big. Build Smart.


Martha Got This One Wrong

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During the snow day (snow day in mid-March – really?) on Tuesday, I was perusing Facebook and came across an article posted on Martha Stewart about installing open shelving in the kitchen. It basically said you have to be a tidy, well-organized minimalist in order to make it work. Really?

I LOVE the look and before I weigh in on Martha’s opinion of this trend, let’s take a look at some open shelving ideas I found on Pinterest…

Open shelving works in both farmhouse-style kitchens and in modern kitchens…

So is this trend only for the well-kept minimalist? I say no way Martha! I am not well-kept and far from a minimalist but when Paul and I built our home, we installed glass doors in our kitchen to make it feel more open. While these shelves aren’t exactly exposed, they do provide a similar look.

Some tips for your “exposed” shelves…

Group things together. Keep bowls, plates, etc. grouped together. It’s pretty and will help you keep it tidy!

Keep it simple! Use the open shelves for displaying fun pieces like my little collection of ceramic pitchers. You can also use the counter space below to display your treasures.

Have plenty of “hidden” space – HA! Seriously people – who keeps every cabinet tidy and neat? Not me! This is the current state of the cabinets directly next to my “open” shelves.

This one isn’t so bad…

Regardless of what Martha says, I say go for some open shelving or glass cabinet doors. It’s pretty! Even after 9 years, I still LOVE my kitchen. And the glass shelving is just one of the reasons why…

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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Even the unexpected snow day can’t slow us down – we are incredibly busy around here!

Pop Up Open House This Weekend

We’re giving a sneak peek of our nearly finished Langley Model this weekend. We’re getting so close to completeion – I hope you will stop by to check on our progress!

Click HERE for more information about this weekend’s event!

Langley Model – Similar Being Built

Langley Model Update

After applying back in the fall, we FINALLY have gas service at the Langley Model. And now that we have gas, we are able mobilize the last stage of the house! This week, we got the heat on and put the hardwood down. We selected sand and finish oak floors. We will wait a bit before we stain the floors (we want it to be one of the last things we do) but I wanted to share the stain color I chose – Aged Oak. This is a great medium oak and I think it will be a warm complement to the gray cabinets in the kitchen.

This Week’s Settlements

We settled two beautiful homes in Falls Church this week. The first was a Madison Model. This home is just 22′ wide which works well on those very narrow Arlington lots. 

The house isn’t crooked – I just can’t seem to hold my phone straight.

We’ve built several Madison Models in Arlington over the years. At nearly 2000 finished square feet (you can also add the optional loft for more space!), it maximizes its footprint with open spaces and all the features you expect.

I love this pebble listello this client chose for the Owner’s Shower.

Our client also added a 2-garage to the house. Perfect solution for a smaller lot.

Very happy for you “B” Family!

The other home we just finished was a customized Clarendon Model. Our client loves our Clarendon Model but the standard Clarendon wouldn’t fit on their lot. So we customized a Clarendon for them! We reduced the width of the house from 40′ to 32′ but we were able to retain the features they love (and we love!) about the Clarendon.

And look how pretty it turned out…

They lost one of the garage bays but they retained all the wonderful features of the Clarendon Model. Like the beautiful stairwell…

And mud room built ins…

Check out this gorgeous vent hood – it is the perfect focal point for this beautiful kitchen.

The story of this client is like so many we hear – they lived in the house for 10 years before deciding to tear it down. They are a family of four and the old house had one bathroom. Mr. said he needed a new house so he didn’t have to share a bath with the three other women in the house. HA! So happy for you “B/G” Family!

This Week’s PC Meeting

We are getting ready to start a second NDI home for a client we built for back in 1998 – almost 20 years ago! We are so excited to be working with this family again and feel VERY honored that they came back to build another NDI home. They are building a Savannah Model this time around. Here is a Savannah we just recently completed…

I can’t wait to show you this home when we’re done!

On The Blog This Week

Do you know how to look at a plat?

Read Tuesday’s post to learn about the things you should be looking for when you’re looking to purchase a lot!

On Thursday, I wrote about incorporating open shelves or glass cabinets in your kitchen.

Not a neat freak? No worries – this design trend can work for you too!

Snow Day

Did you get a snow day this week? I think most people decided to stay home on Tuesday instead of braving the slick road conditions. We actually started off on a delay but ended up closing down for the day. Conditions were not improving because the temps were so darn cold. We aren’t soft when it comes to closing down due to weather but we always err on the side of safety. So home we stayed.

Not sure why but I love to cook (preferably something low and slow) when I’m snowed in. On Tuesday, I made a big breakfast for Paul and me (eggs, bacon, and toast). We had some leftover bacon so for lunch, I made BLTAs…

Do you like avocado on your BLT? Try it next time – it is delish!

Mid-morning, I started a pork shoulder in the oven. This is a super easy recipe – rub the pork shoulder (also called shoulder butt) with your favorite rub. We love Penzey’s BBQ 3000 – 1/2 of this bottle will cover 1 shoulder.

Penzey’s is a great spice store here in Falls Church City. They have just about any type of spice you can think of. We usually let the rubbed pork get happy in the frig overnight before roasting at 275 degrees for about 6 hours. We pulled the pork and made sandwiches with cole slaw. YUM!

The boys had a ball playing outside. Play outside. Drink hot cocoa. Repeat.

All in all, the only snow day of the year was lots of fun! And now I’m ready for spring…

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I hope you have a wonderfully restful weekend (after you stop by our open house of course!).

Dream Big. Build Smart.

 

How Do I Prepare for Color Selections Meeting?

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As we complete the updates to our Design Center, we’re so excited to show you our new selections! We love talking with clients about selections! It’s so much fun! But, we also know that all those choices can feel overwhelming. They’re all beautiful! How can you choose?

Today we asked our expert Design Consultant, Shelly Cauthen, to come on the blog and write a post for us answering a common question: How can I prepare for my color selections meeting?

Take it away, Shelly!

As you know by now, the process of building a house happens in baby steps, and not all of them are as exciting as others. Getting to the color selections stage is not just another progression towards the finished product, it’s truly the most fun step! (Next to the finished product, that is!)

People ask me all the time: “What do I need to do for the meeting?”

The answer is both simple and profoundly difficult at the same time.

Here it is: “Think about yourself and your family.”

Are you scratching your head? No need. Assuming you are not an investor (in which case this rule is a little different), you will be moving into this house. Not your neighbor, your friend, your sister, the blogger you follow religiously or the owners of every Pin you have saved.

So many people think they need to get the opinion of everyone they ever met, when all that really does is complicate your actual likes/dislikes.

True story. I once had a client bring a friend to make selections, and things were not going well. The client liked white, the friend liked beige. The client liked classic, the friend liked contemporary. Every selection that was made that day was made for a person not living in the house.

A few days after the selection meeting, I called the client and we talked about what they thought about the meeting, and the satisfaction and excitement that typically happens at this point in the process wasn’t there! She ended up doing none of the things her friend suggested, and she was SO much happier. Her house turned out beautifully!

I’m not suggesting you ignore EVERY suggestion you get from the people in your life. But if all your furniture and belongings are grey and blue, and your _________ (insert friend, co-worker, cousin, etc) says you can’t live without a gold carpet…. Ask yourself if that’s really true!

I always tell my customers that they should look around them in the days and weeks leading up to the selections appointment. Driving down the streets near where your home will be is important! Do you love the orange door that someone has and hate the one that’s green? Do you like the look of two colors of siding, or do you feel more comfortable when it’s all the same? Neither one is wrong… but you want to make sure that the driveway you pull into at the end of the day is the one you WANT to be pulling into.

Customers often snap a picture of a house we’ve built before and will pull it up at the meeting, and say they want this siding and roof color. That is HARD to do. It’s hard to tell from a picture if the siding is beige, tan or champagne. Roofs that are rustic black look nearly identical to black walnut and VA slate. If you know before you come in that you want something that you’ve seen somewhere, send it ahead of time, and let us have a chance to look it up for you. That way, I can be on the same page as you before you get there.

Speaking of pages…..

Pinterest and Houzz are excellent at helping you see what you like and what you don’t like. It’s almost impossible to completely, 100% copy something, but we can almost always create a look that’s similar! So if you have a board that has all the kitchens you like, bring it with you, and I can look through your pins and have an instant feel for what you love! (This also works for Master baths, kids’ baths, etc) Sometimes, customers are more comfortable replicating an exact look seen at an open house. Other times, customers want something different, that no one has done before. Either way is okay, and either one can look fantastic!

The question is, what is going to make you happy in the long run?

So, how do you prepare for a color selection appointment? Look around, think about the things you like and don’t like. Browse Pinterest and Houzz. Don’t collect opinions from every stranger on the street, and be ready to have some fun!

Why Don’t We Build On Existing Foundations?

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We used to get asked this question a lot and for some reason, it has come again on a few occasions. I would never build on an existing foundation, and this is why…

Reason #1 Old Foundations Are Old

Why would you want to risk the integrity of your brand new home? Even if you could have the the existing foundation “certified” by a structural engineer, there is is still potential for issues. The existing foundation is built for the existing home not for a new (and likely bigger) structure on top. Do you have issues with your current basement? Most older homes weren’t built with modern technology like draintile systems (keeps ground water from getting inside) which means the basement isn’t protected from water infiltration (very bad). And it is unlikely that any part of the old home would be covered under warranty by the builder. Why would you want your beautiful new home sitting on an old foundation that isn’t covered for structural issues?

Reason #2 Time & Money Savings Are Minimal (If Any)

One of the biggest misconceptions of building on an existing foundation is that you will save time (in the permit process) and money (you won’t have to pour all new foundation). This couldn’t be further from the truth. Regarding the time you will save during the permit process…nothing, I mean nothing is easy to get permitted. And even if you are saving a portion of the existing foundation, you will still have to go through much of the same process as you would with a complete rebuild. Regarding the money you will save…when you alter the existing footprint of the old house, you will still have charges to expand and tie in the existing foundation. If you save any money here it will be minimal and ultimately those dollars will be lost in your overall investment (see Reason #3).

Reason #3 (For The Love), Protect Your Investment

If you build on an existing foundation, you cannot market your new home as new. It will always be a remodel. If you keep any part of the existing house, it is still a remodel. This will hurt the value of your home and a portion of the money you’ve sunk into the remodel will be lost because you never get a full return on those dollars. Remodels are worth less than new construction.

If you are considering a whole house remodel, you should really consider tearing down your existing home and rebuilding. You will likely spend less money, it will likely take less time and in the end you will have a beautiful new home (with a full warranty on the entire home) that is worth more than what it cost you (not the other way around).

 

Interested? Give us a call today!

Dream Big. Build Smart. 

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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I hope you’ve had a happy and productive week! Here’s what is happening around here…

Pop Up Open House This Weekend

We’re giving a sneak peek of our nearly finished Langley Model this weekend. We’re getting so close to completion – I hope you will stop by to check on our progress!

Click HERE for more information about this weekend’s event!

Happy 24th Anniversary Annette!

This week marked the 24th consecutive year of service at NDI for our Production Manager, Annette Shetley.

Annette has worked in just about every position in the company (except Project Manager), and she knows everything and her memory is LONG! Seriously, when I have a question on something that happened years ago, she answers it. Annette’s experience and tenure means the world to us and we are happy to celebrate her!

Langley Model Update

Big progress this week at our new Langley Model in Falls Church. The oak floors were sanded and stained.

We chose 3.25″ oak with a medium brown stain.

So pretty!

We also installed the master tub. We wanted the tile to highlight the free-standing tub so we used a marble hexagon tile in the corner of the bath where the tub sits.

The tub now becomes a focal point for the bath. I hope you will stop by to see it this weekend – the vanity tops were set too which pulls everything together so nicely.

Did you catch my post about the floating shelf trend? We installed some in the pocket office (I LOVE THIS SPACE!).

We also installed the fireplace surround – love the herringbone pattern!

New Products!

We’re in the process of updating some of our plumbing fixtures – both our standard fixtures and the upgrades we will offer. Look at this beauty…

This would look great in the Langley Model kitchen but we had already planned for another faucet that required two holes in the counter top so it was impossible to change. I will definitely consider this for our next project though! And this will be the new standard kitchen faucet…

Beautiful isn’t it?

This Week’s PC Meeting

We are getting ready to start a new project in Falls Church – we will be building our Fairlington Model for a lovely couple. The Fairlington Model is becoming one of our most popular. It’s a great use of space and can modified easily to fit specific needs. Remember that Fairlington Model we built in Vienna last year?  So pretty…

On The Blog This Week

Shelly wrote Tuesday’s post about how to prepare for your color selection meeting. She has some great tips and ideas.

We’ve recently received questions about building on an existing foundation.

In Thursday’s post, I talked about why we won’t.

Trip To NYC

Paul and I took the boys up to New York City for the weekend. Paul’s mom and two sisters were in town from Florida visiting their Aunt Val. We stayed in Times Square and had a ball. The boys were amazed by all the lights (and the lego store).

 

We also celebrated Paul’s mom’s birthday and Andrew’s too (their birthdays are a week apart)!

It was a super fun weekend but by the end, we were all zonked.

Thanks for stopping my blog today! Spring is coming tomorrow! I hope you are able to enjoy the outdoors. Stop by our Langley Model to see the progress we’ve made this week. I think you’re going to love it! I do.

Dream Big. Build Smart.

Build Smart: What If My Lot Is On A Busy Street?

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Northern Virginia is a busy place. There is a lot going on throughout the day and night which leads to lots of traffic. Lots and lots of traffic. And not just on the area highways – traffic is everywhere in between.

We’ve built a lot of our homes in some of the busiest areas in Northern Virginia. We’ve had sites that backup to Rt. 66 and I-495. We’ve built on Washington Boulevard in Arlington (twice!) and Westmoreland Street in Falls Church (four times!). You name it, we’ve probably built on it or near it. Some of the clients who have built on busier roads have opted to use sound reducing building materials. If you are considering a build on your perfect (but busy street), you might want to read on.

Here are measures you can take to minimize the outside noise you hear inside your brand new home.

Extra Insulation (Inside & Out)

There are a few options when considering extra insulation for noise reduction. Spray foam is one of the best insulation products on the market. It provides an air block and also helps with reducing noise.

We used spray foam insulation at this spec home we built on Sycamore Street in Arlington several years ago.

The house was close to 66 and a block away from East Falls Church Metro Station. Lots of traffic at all times of the day. The foam did wonders – most visitors couldn’t believe the difference. It’s not cheap but it works.

Spray fiberglass insulation is a close second in terms of reducing street noise. It is a bit more affordable than the foam and while not as effective as the foam, it does help.

Many clients who opt for sound insulation will only install it in the exterior walls adjacent to the street. For example, if their home faces a busy street, they will opt to install the extra insulation on the front of the house only.

You can also add extra insulation to the interior house walls and floors to reduce noise. I decided to insulate the walls of my laundry room, my master bathroom and all secondary bathrooms. While it doesn’t eliminate noise, it does help to reduce it. I would do all of this over again.

Sound Reducing Window Sashes

Most window manufacturers offer sound reducing window sashes. They cost more money but they can be effective in reducing street noise.

As with sound reducing insulation, clients will typically choose certain windows to have these special sashes instead of installing throughout the entire house.

Sound Dimming Drywall

Sound dimming drywall (like Soundboard) is a product that can be used on areas in the house adjacent to the street. It is more expensive than regular drywall but it is highly effective in reducing outside noise.

We’ve had some clients elect to incorporate all of these measures and some pick and choose based on their needs and their budget. I’ve yet to find a client who regretted their decision to use these materials. In fact, I heard from a client recently who commented about the sound reducing measure they did in their home built in McLean back in 2012. He said, he was very pleased with the things we did in his home to reduce the noise from Rt. 123 and he would recommend it to anyone concerned about it.

No lot is 100% perfect. But don’t be scared of a little less than ideal. It’s all about compromise! And often we have solutions for you to mitigate some of those less-than-ideal circumstances. Give us a call, tell us about your lot, and we will give you our best advice!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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Happy Friday! We have had a lot going on this week, and this post is a little long, but I’ve included a lot of product information. I hope you find it helpful as you are deciding how you will design your new home! So let’s jump right in…

Pop Up Open House This Weekend

We’re giving a sneak peek of our nearly finished Langley Model this weekend. There has been a lot of activity this week – new light fixtures & appliances installed, landscaping started, etc. We’re getting so close to completion – I hope you will stop by to check on our progress!

Click HERE for more information about this weekend’s event!

Similar Being Built

This Week’s Settlements

We settled a Nottingham Model in the City of Alexandria this week. This client put their own custom spin on this house…

They chose two-tone HardiePlank Siding. The top is Boothbay Blue and the bottom is Woodland Cream.

The front door is painted Richmond (Red!). Love how it looks against the siding.

This is an oak hardwood floor with Natural stain.

The maple kitchen cabinets (stain is Rye) are made by KraftMaid (an NDIncluded Signature Feature!). This cabinet is awesome – dovetail drawer construction, full extension drawers, thicker shelves, soft close doors/drawers – the list goes on! And all included in our base pricing.

The granite color is Giallo Ornamental. Such a pretty combination!

Look at the storage in the Mudroom!

I love the selections they made in the Owner’s Bath – the flooring is Upgrade 1 Treyburne in Cask Oak.

For this client, we installed it in a chevron pattern (which is a little extra $$) – isn’t it pretty? The “wood” tile is such a hot trend right now. We offer one that is included in the base price – check it out the next time you’re in the Design Center!

Now let’s talk about this gorgeous accent tile. It’s called Aella Porcelain Arabesque.

So pretty with the simple white subway tiles.

Thank you “V” Family. We wish you our very best as you settle into your beautiful new home! If you’d like to see more pictures of the Nottingham Model, click HERE.

We also settled a Sherwood Model is Falls Church yesterday. This project was a bit unusual in that the client lived in Georgia during the entire process. They bought the lot before they even saw it and aside from a few critical meetings with the team, did everything remotely. Their home turned out beautifully! Here are a few pictures I snapped while I was at the settlement…

I love the stairwell in the Sherwood Model – the 2×2 windows bring in so much light and are so pretty grouped together.

This client chose oak flooring with a cherry stain. And I love this tile combination…

It is Athens Perla with Glacier Gray Marble Blend listello.

In the Owner’s Bath, the client chose this for the shower floor. It is called Riviera Pebble 4 Color Blend. It’s paired with Venice Gold wall tile.

Now let’s talk about this kitchen – specifically the appliances.

The client chose KitchenAid. I love this professional cooktop with the low profile exhaust hood.

The hood slides out when in use.

And then it slides back for a low profile look. Brilliant!

The French Door refrigerator is nice too! We’ve done these in most of our spec homes, and I love it.

The double wall oven is slick!

I love the blue interior!

All of these appliances have the commercial grade look with the thick handles.

This dishwasher has hidden controls – looks so much nicer!

Wishing you so much luck “C” family. We loved working with you! You can check out more pictures of our Sherwood Model HERE.

This Week On The Blog

Does your lot sit on a busy a street? Concerned about street noise? Check out Tuesday’s post which outlines some things you can do to minimize noise pollution inside your new home!

We have a new NDI family member! Evelyn Endler just joined our Sales & Marketing team. In Thursday’s post, Evelyn answers questions about her role at NDI and the advice she gives her clients.

Over The River & Through The Woods

To Catoctin Creek Distilling Company we went! Have you visited a Virginia distillery yet? They are popping up everywhere you look (along with microbreweries and wineries – love VA)! There is even one opening up here in Falls Church City!

On Saturday evening, our neighborhood Cocktail Club took a field trip! What is Cocktail Club? The best club ever! In January of 2011, we gathered with some neighbors and started our neighborhood Cocktail Club. Since then, we “meet” every other month at one of our homes. The host picks the theme (we’ve had Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, Spanish theme, Italian, etc.) and provides a specialty cocktail. Everyone else brings a dish to share that supports the theme. It has been so fun and it has brought our neighborhood closer together. This month our club went on the road…

We arrived at 6 p.m. and took a tour of the distillery. I didn’t know you needed to brew beer in order to make spirits…learning something every day!

After the tour, we sat down for a tasting. Paul did the regular tasting…

And I did their seasonal cocktail tasting…

Yummo. It’s really a great little spot. The building is an old car dealer from the 50’s.

Paul and I had fun!

Andrew Turns 5!

Our little Drewdlebug turned 5 on Tuesday! We’re still celebrating, and he’s loving every minute of it. I was looking at some old pictures of him earlier this week.

He came out with a full head of hair.

His first mugshot passport photo.

He still loves sugar this much.

The time is going so fast.

And we’re loving every minute of it.

Thank you for reading this extremely long post! If you ever have any questions about one of my posts, please email me or call me at 800-406-8555. I’d love to hear from you!

And I hope you have a GREAT weekend.

Dream Big. Build Smart.


How Is Square Footage Calculated?

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Have you ever wondered what square foot numbers mean? What do they include? Or more importantly, what should it include? I thought it would be helpful to define how our square foot numbers are calculated, so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Back in the day, we would calculate square footage by hand. Dad taught me how to do it. In fact, one of my favorite “games” is sitting down with a set of house plans to compute a square foot take-off (nerd alert!). We used to do it all the time. Dad would sit down and compute based on his calcs, I would do mine, and then we’d compare. Seldom did our numbers match exactly, but we were always within 10-15 square feet of each other. I guess using a scale to calculate a set of plans is becoming a lost art since everything is computerized now.

But I still love my scale. It was handed down to me by Earl Heninger. Earl was a dear friend of our family and Dad’s first hire at NDI.

Earl with his wife Merle.

Earl helped Dad run the company until he retired in 1997 (although even in his retirement he was still helping us!). When I started with NDI in 2001, he gave me his scale and his staple remover.

Earl passed away in 2016 so these items are a treasure to me. He had written his name in Whiteout which has worn off over the years…

And while I don’t use the scale much anymore, I’ll pull it out to do a take-off now and again.

Just to see if I can get it close to the computer take-off.

I told you. Nerd.

So how should square footage be calculated? Here is how we calculate square footage, but first, a few things to remember…

  1. When you see a base square foot number on our marketing material, it is only for the finished areas on the first and second floors. Unfinished basements and garages (per plan) are not included in that number.
  2. We don’t count it as square footage unless you can step on it or sit on it (in the case of a window seat).
  3. We don’t count stairs in the second floor numbers, and we don’t count the upper area of a 2-story Family Room or Foyer (doing so is just down right deceptive).

The First Floor

When calculating finished square footage (also called taxable), measurements are pulled from the outside of the framed wall to outside of the framed wall and everything in between including the stairs. We do not count porches or garages. In the sketch below, you will see the shaded areas represent what can be counted as finished square footage.

 

The Second Floor

When calculating finished square footage (also called taxable) on the second floor, measurements are also pulled from the outside of the framed wall to outside of the framed wall and everything in between. The stairs and any 2-story ceilings are NOT counted in the second floor number (they are represented in the first floor number). In the sketch below, you will see the shaded areas represent what can be counted as finished square footage.

Finished Basements

When calculating finished square footage in the basement, measurements are pulled from the inside of the concrete wall to inside of the concrete wall and everything in between. We include the stairs in our finished basement price so that isn’t counted in our numbers. The finished basement bathroom is counted separately since it is priced separately. And we do not count unfinished areas. In the sketch below, you will see the shaded areas represent what can be counted as finished square footage.

I hope this helps you understand what we mean when we publish a square foot number. We want you to know what you’re getting – no more, no less.

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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Happy Friday! Happy in deed! We are SO CLOSE to finishing up the Langley Model in Falls Church. You might see me doing the happy dance here sometime soon (just kidding, I don’t dance).

Langley Model Update

Look how pretty this kitchen turned out – I love love love the dark gray cabinets, white top and white subway back-splash. I would change nothing!

I’ll do a more detailed post soon that talks about the selections we made at our new Langley Model. Can’t wait to show you the whole house!

Langley Model Open House This Weekend

We’re showing our nearly finished Langley Model this weekend. We’re pulling up the floor coverings and getting everything cleaned up for the Open House. I hope you will stop by to check on our progress!

Click HERE for more information about this weekend’s event!

This Week’s Settlement

We finished this pretty Langley Model this week in McLean. Seriously, this model is becoming one of our most popular!

Siding: Granite, Brick: VA Highlands

Cabinet Color: Pebble Gray

Granite Color: Caladonia

The client used the same back-splash/grout combination we used at our Langley Model (white subway tile with Timberwolf grout). I love the light gray grout with the white tile – so pretty!

Hardwood Color: Natural

Stone color: Crescent Peak Shadow Rock (installed with optional drystack)

I love this light fixture the client selected.

Light Fixture: Kichler Brinley 10.25-in Brushed Nickel Industrial Hardwired Multi-Light Clear Glass Jar Pendant Model #42890NI

Floor & Wall Tile: Sandalo Castillian Gray

Listello: Riverstone Earth

Wall Tile: 9×12 White, Listello: Glacier Gray Marble Blend

Floor Tile: Ridgeview Blue/Gray

Thank you “H” Family for choosing us to build your beautiful home!

On The Blog This Week

Ever wonder what the square footage numbers actually mean? What does it include? On Tuesday, I wrote about how we calculate square footage in our homes.

What should you look for in a builder? Quality? Yes. Price? Of course. But have you ever thought about how the personality (and VALUES!) of the builder can impact your building experience and even the final product (YOUR HOME!)? Check out the advice I recently gave a friend who is considering a new build down in FL.

The Katie Kronicles

Holy crap people. This dog is taking years off my life (and my goodness she’s expensive!). We’ve had a couple more (unplanned) romps around Falls Church City. It is a helpless feeling chasing after a dog who does not want to be caught. I will say this, Katie loves to run.

And we’re working on a solution that I hope will keep this sweet pup safe. We had Invisible Fence installed at the house last week. We’re still training Katie on the fence but we are making very good progress! She does not like the correction she gets if she walks too close to the fence line therefore she doesn’t like to get too close. We haven’t tried the training without a leash (oh my word I’m not sure I can watch that session – what if she bolts?) but the trainer says that’s the next step.

We have also enrolled Katie into doggy daycare. Seriously. I never thought. But alas, this sweet girl needs more exercise than we can give her so to daycare she goes! Not every day but enough that she is pooped when she comes home.

We love her so much and we’re so glad she’s home with us. We just want to keep her there.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend – join us at the Open House if you can!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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Happy Friday! Happy in deed! We are SO CLOSE to finishing up the Langley Model in Falls Church. You might see me doing the happy dance here sometime soon (just kidding, I don’t dance).

Langley Model Update

Look how pretty this kitchen turned out – I love love love the dark gray cabinets, white top and white subway back-splash. I would change nothing!

I’ll do a more detailed post soon that talks about the selections we made at our new Langley Model. Can’t wait to show you the whole house!

Langley Model Open House This Weekend

We’re showing our nearly finished Langley Model this weekend. We’re pulling up the floor coverings and getting everything cleaned up for the Open House. I hope you will stop by to check on our progress!

Click HERE for more information about this weekend’s event!

This Week’s Settlement

We finished this pretty Langley Model this week in McLean. Seriously, this model is becoming one of our most popular!

Siding: Granite, Brick: VA Highlands

Cabinet Color: Pebble Gray

Granite Color: Caladonia

The client used the same back-splash/grout combination we used at our Langley Model (white subway tile with Timberwolf grout). I love the light gray grout with the white tile – so pretty!

Hardwood Color: Natural

Stone color: Crescent Peak Shadow Rock (installed with optional drystack)

I love this light fixture the client selected.

Light Fixture: Kichler Brinley 10.25-in Brushed Nickel Industrial Hardwired Multi-Light Clear Glass Jar Pendant Model #42890NI

Floor & Wall Tile: Sandalo Castillian Gray

Listello: Riverstone Earth

Wall Tile: 9×12 White, Listello: Glacier Gray Marble Blend

Floor Tile: Ridgeview Blue/Gray

Thank you “H” Family for choosing us to build your beautiful home!

On The Blog This Week

Ever wonder what the square footage numbers actually mean? What does it include? On Tuesday, I wrote about how we calculate square footage in our homes.

What should you look for in a builder? Quality? Yes. Price? Of course. But have you ever thought about how the personality (and VALUES!) of the builder can impact your building experience and even the final product (YOUR HOME!)? Check out the advice I recently gave a friend who is considering a new build down in FL.

The Katie Kronicles

Holy crap people. This dog is taking years off my life (and my goodness she’s expensive!). We’ve had a couple more (unplanned) romps around Falls Church City. It is a helpless feeling chasing after a dog who does not want to be caught. I will say this, Katie loves to run.

And we’re working on a solution that I hope will keep this sweet pup safe. We had Invisible Fence installed at the house last week. We’re still training Katie on the fence but we are making very good progress! She does not like the correction she gets if she walks too close to the fence line therefore she doesn’t like to get too close. We haven’t tried the training without a leash (oh my word I’m not sure I can watch that session – what if she bolts?) but the trainer says that’s the next step.

We have also enrolled Katie into doggy daycare. Seriously. I never thought. But alas, this sweet girl needs more exercise than we can give her so to daycare she goes! Not every day but enough that she is pooped when she comes home.

We love her so much and we’re so glad she’s home with us. We just want to keep her there.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend – join us at the Open House if you can!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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Welcome to my week in review! It was busy!

New Design Coming Soon!

We are developing a new design to add to our Estate Series. It is a one-story plan (with optional bonus room over the garage) and I love it! We’re in the very early stages of design but this is the look we’re going for on the exterior…

Have I said I LOVE it?

We’ve received a lot of interest recently in one-level living plans. As people begin to “age-in-place,” they are thinking about building something that will work for them now and when they are in their retirement years. I can’t wait to show you the finished product on this new design. Now we need to decide on a name!

Langley Model

We will be open on Saturday from 12 – 4 PM (we will be closed on Easter Sunday). Come see the (nearly) finished product – landscaping is complete and the final touches are almost done. It is gorgeous!

New Blog Series

We get questions all the time about home building and I’ve answered a lot of them on this blog. While you can go digging around my posts for answers to your questions, I thought it would be good to create a new category for FAQs. So now you can click on the category and scroll to the questions you may have (or may not have thought of).

I will do my best to make these short and sweet – 300 words or less! Check out my first post in this series – what is a lot stakeout & cut sheet?

I Rearranged My Desk This Week

And it feels like a new office! I can remember as a girl, taking it upon myself to rearrange my bedroom. Did you ever do that? For the first few days, it felt like a new room! I felt the same way when I swapped the locations of my laptop and my desk phone.

As usual I didn’t take a before and after picture (I’m always doing things like this on a whim!) but I like how I don’t have to peer over my screen to greet someone coming to see me. It is a small change I know, but I have an open door policy and I want everyone to feel welcome.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I’d like to take this time to wish you and your family a blessed Easter. Easter is my favorite Sunday of the year! The boys actually get a little dressed up for church (we all do actually), and we love getting together with friends and family throughout the day. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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Welcome to my week in review!

Langley Model

We’re done! We’re done! Well mostly. Please please come see this gorgeous home – we’re so proud of it and can’t wait to show you! We will be open on Saturday & Sunday from 12 – 4 PM.

Recent Settlements

We have completed two beautiful homes over the last week. The first is a modified Fairlington Model in North Arlington. I know why this design is so popular – it’s a great open concept and its FLEXIBLE!

Congratulations “R/P” Family!

The next settlement was a Chesterbrook Craftsman Model in Clifton. This home is so pretty sitting on this amazing lot. It’s tucked nicely down away from the street.

And look at this view off the rear screened porch…

Congratulations “A” Family!

New Smart Home Technology Is Coming!

We will soon be offering a new Smart Home package that is SO COOL! It’s called Integrity by Legrand. You can control your thermostat, door locks, lighting and even bring distributed sound into your home.

We hope to roll out this product over the next month or so. Stay tuned!

Our Easter Weekend!

We had an awesome Easter – I hope you did too! I think this is the only time of year we actually get pictures together as a family…

On Sunday, we invited some friends to join our Easter Sunday Family Dinner. It was the perfect end to a wonderful weekend!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have a joyful (and restful) weekend!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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Hello! Thank you for stopping by my week in review!

Langley Model Open House

We will be open this Saturday & Sunday from 12 – 4 PM. Please come see this gorgeous home! I’ve been spending a lot of time in this home recently for various meetings and I must say, I feel at home. I love the way it feels when I’m there and sometimes, I don’t want to leave! Is that creepy?

Come see us!

Newly Completed Chesterbrook Craftsman

We just handed over the keys to this beautiful Chesterbrook Craftsman. Our client did such a wonderful job choosing their finishes – I wouldn’t change a thing!

This screened in porch was so lovely! So was the view!

This Week’s Settlement

We closed a beautiful Langley Model this week. Seriously, I love this house.

Congratulations “V” Family – it’s been so fun working with you!

On The Blog This Week

We don’t build homes like we used to…GOOD! On Tuesday I shared how building materials have improved over the last 20 years making our homes better!

Have you checked out my new blog series called Home Building FAQs? In this series I answer questions (in 300 words or less) about home building. This week I answered the question, who applies for the building permit?

Thank you for stopping by my blog today! Wishing you a WARM and delightful weekend!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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Lots going on this week…

Langley Model Open This Weekend!

Our brand new Langley Model will be open this Saturday & Sunday from 12 – 4 PM. Please come see this gorgeous home. We are super proud of how it turned out. We did a few new things like this solid wood front door. It is stained inside and out and it looks so good.

I hope you will stop by and take a look!

New Savannah Model Starting Soon!

We are getting ready to build a Savannah Model for a client in Fairfax County. This client is the daughter of a client we built for almost 20 years ago! Dad built for the parents, and I’m helping build the daughter’s home – how cool is that! A lot of things have changed over the last 20 years – I can’t wait to wow them!

Have you checked out our Savannah Model? It is actually part of our Archive Series of homes. These are homes that we don’t actively market (it’s expensive to market and maintain so many designs!) but we can still build them! Here are some pictures from a Savannah Model we finished last year…

Recently Completed

We just finished this Waverly Model. This is one of our 1st Floor Owner’s Suite designs. It is also completely ADORABLE!

Check out more photos and a virtual tour of the Waverly Model!

Easy Entertaining Idea

Looking for a fun and easy entertaining meal? Set up a salad bar! My girlfriends and I get together for dinner often. Sometimes we go out but more often than not, we’re gathering at one of our homes and doing dinner “potluck” style. One our favorite themes is a salad bar! The host typically provides the “greens” and a protein and everyone else brings their favorite topping and dressing. It’s super fun and so easy for all.

Paul and I recently hosted some friends over for dinner and decided to set up a salad and soup bar. We had fresh greens and lots of fun toppings.

The soup I made was this delicious Tortilla Soup (one of my favorites!). It was a perfect meal for the cool, rainy day. We even had leftovers for lunches that week. So good!

Thank you for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have an awesome weekend!

Dream Big. Build Smart.


NEW Design! The Greenhill Model

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The team and I have been talking a lot about developing new one level living plans, and I’m proud to show you the first of these designs. We started working with a client a few months ago who owns a lot in Loudoun County and was interested in a one level plan. Over the last 10 years, residential building activity in Loudoun has slowed but over the last couple of years, we’ve been getting a few projects per year “out there.” In fact, a lot of the outlying areas have picked up recently. Is it a trend?

Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is clear, there is a growing demand for one level living (and homes that are more spread out in general) and we are responding to that need. Here is the Greenhill Model…

This home has just about everything you could want in a new home. The Greenhill is an open-concept floor plan with a large Master Bedroom Suite and three additional bedrooms. I love how the Kitchen opens up to the Family Room and the Master Bedroom is tucked (far) away from the main living areas – PRIVACY!

Need more space? The Greenhill Model has an optional Loft/5th Bedroom over the garage!

 

I’m looking forward to releasing the Greenhill Model later this month but here are the deets as we know them today!

The Greenhill Model

2742 Square Feet (additional 350 Square Feet with Optional Bonus Room)

4 Bedrooms/3.5 Bathrooms

Stay tuned for pricing and updates on the first Greenhill Model coming later this year!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

How Do We Name Our Designs?

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We are in the process of rolling out a new home design, and we love it! If you missed the post on our newest design, be sure to check it out. I think you are going to love the Greenhill Model.

I get asked all the time how we come up with the names for our models. And the quick answer is, it depends. For this home (and probably for the other 1-story living plans we hope to add!), we chose to name it after a favorite Virginia winery, Greenhill Winery & Vineyards located near Middleburg, VA. Paul and I visited for the first time in April, and we loved everything about it. They recently opened their new facilities and it is impressive.

Best of all – their wine is GOOD! They even have a bubbly and a rose!  Paul and I were out at Greenhill this past weekend for a friend’s birthday party – we were trying to get a picture together (we’re trying to take more pictures!), and it was a bit of a challenge with the wind. I think our friend took 10 or 12 pictures before we got a “good” one…

So how did we go from wine tasting to a new home design? Well I don’t know if it’s the white siding or red door but as soon as I saw the Greenhill Model renderings, I immediately thought of Greenhill the winery. And that is when we knew we had a name!

Now I’m wondering if I can say wine tasting is actually work related?

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What We’re Building: Jen’s Week In Review

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Hello friends! I hope this finds you well and enjoying your summer! HA! Just kidding – looks like typical VA spring is back tomorrow. Nice while it lasted eh? So what’s happening around here?

Meet The Builder

Join us for our next Meet The Builder on Saturday, May 20 from 10 AM – 12 PM at our new Langley Model. We only do these special events a few times a year and they are always fun and well-attended! I’ll be there along with Site Engineer, Raj Yubaraj Budhathoki of Mt. Everest Engineering, Site Developer, Brendan Demarr of Demarr Construction, and Mortgage Lender, Mike Zell of Citzens One. You can also count on our team being there – Adam, Renee, Evelyn, Kathi & Sarah B.!

I even hear there will be snacks! We are all eager to meet you and answer any questions you may have.

Langley Open This Weekend Too!

Have you seen this beautiful home? I find myself stopping by and not wanting to leave (a little creepy I know).

The Owner’s Bathroom is one of my favorite baths we’ve done!

You have to see it for yourself!

The Langley Model is open for showings this Saturday & Sunday from 12 – 4 PM!

Chesterbrook Craftsman Again & Again!

We settled one of these beautiful homes for a sweet family in Fairfax and we’re getting ready to start another Chesterbrook Craftsman Model for a family in Vienna. And what’s not to love? Here are some pictures from the one we just finished…

So much to love about this home. I love the kitchen – look at those stacked cabinet doors!

This client chose to make the 1st floor walls 10′ instead of 9,’ and they did it the right way! By increasing the height of windows and doors! Don’t worry  – you don’t need to remember this detail if you are interested in this feature for your new NDI home. We will be sure to remind you!

I so enjoyed being present at this settlement. This client has been dreaming of building their very own home for a long time. It was a very emotional day for everyone! This settlement was also special because we built a house for this client’s parents back in 1999. How cool is that?

Thank you “S” Family for giving us the opportunity to be part of this dream come true!

Why I Love My Job 

Because I get to do fun stuff like this…

I’m working on planning our next spec project. First up? House plans! We will be building our Clarendon Model (with a few FUN custom changes) on a new lot in Falls Church (Fairfax County, McLean school district). I LOVE these projects! It is our opportunity to show you our homes with new trends and features. I can’t wait to show you more!

On The Blog This Week

We have a NEW home design! Check out my latest post about the Greenhill Model and how it got its name!

Thank you for stopping by my blog today! I hope you will come see us on Saturday for the Meet The Builder event – I would love to say hello and tell you a little about why we love building custom homes!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

Choosing The Right Trim Package For Your New Home

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When building a custom home, what you put in your home is almost as important as the layout of your home. I say almost because you can always change finishes in your home like interior trim (moldings, railings, etc.), but it isn’t always easy changing the layout.

But around here, we like doing things right the first time, so why not choose the right trim package for your style home right from the get go? It just makes sense!

What does it mean to choose the “right” trim for your new home?

The interior and exterior trim package should complement the overall design and style of your home. For example, a traditional style home will have features like full brick facades, shutters, and hip roofs.

Craftsman style homes often have a mix of stone and siding with gable roof designs. 

We’ve designed all of our homes to incorporate a coordinating trim package. Traditional style homes are designed with a Traditional trim package while our Craftsman style homes come with a Craftsman trim package. It takes the guesswork out of the equation and ensures both the inside and outside styles are consistent and complement each other.

Traditional vs. Craftsman Trim Packages

The following features are included with all Traditional Style homes.

Traditional Style Stair Rails with Iron Pickets and Turned Newel Posts

Shadow Box Trim in the Foyer and the Dining Room 

Every NDI home has Crown Molding in the Foyer, Dining Room, Living Room (per plan), and Upper Hallway.

Traditional Interior Window and Door Trim

The interior and exterior doors on our Traditional Style homes are 2-Panel (painted your choice of color!).

Traditional Style Garage Door

From the front door to the interior moldings and railings, traditional style trim is timeless and holds true to the style of the rest of the home.

The following features are included with all Craftsman Style homes.

Craftsman Stair Rails with Square Newel Posts and Pickets

Tall Wainscoting in the Dining Room (shorter, similar wainscoting in the foyer)

Every NDI home has Crown Molding in the Foyer, Dining Room, Living Room (per plan), and Upper Hallway. 

Craftsman Interior Window and Door Trim

Craftsman Front Door (painted your choice of color!)

2-Panel Interior Doors

Craftsman Style Garage Door

 

Craftsman Style homes are all about clean, smooth lines and simple elegance!

What style is my NDI home?

We have over 20 current models and each of them has their own character and unique qualities. If you are uncertain if your NDI home is Traditional Style or Craftsman Style, you can always check our website on the product page. Under the features tab, you find the designation.

Installing the right trim package in your new home is just thoughtful design. When different styles are mixed it gets confusing and many times it just doesn’t look or feel right. Let us help you choose the right style home for you!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

What’s The Price Per Square Foot?

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I get this question all the time. It’s a good question because everyone seems to speak in square foot numbers. Unfortunately, custom home building can’t be defined by a single square foot number. Every home should be priced based on the design and specifications of the home. And even though all of our homes are sold with the same specifications, the price per square foot will vary from home to home.

Why? Because homes are not created equally.

Here are the top three things that drive the price of a new home.

#1 – Building out is more expensive than building up.

Building a 2800 square foot 1-story home is more expensive than building a 2800 square foot 2-story home. Case in point – we recently released a new 1-story design called the Greenhill Model – have you seen it?

It is a beautiful plan I think you’re going to love! Now, because it is a 1-story home, the price per square foot is significantly higher than the per square foot price for our 2-story homes of similar size. Why? Because the overall footprint of the home is larger which means a bigger foundation (more concrete) and a bigger roof (more trusses, roofing material, etc.).

#2 – The bigger the home, the lower the cost per square foot.

As a home increases in size, the cost per square foot goes down. Why? Because there are certain costs for a home that are the same no matter how many square feet are finished. It costs the same to install three full bathrooms in a 5000 square foot house as it costs in a 2000 square foot house. That is one of the reasons our largest home (@4952 square feet), the Old Dominion Model is our lowest price per square foot (@$91 to be exact!).

The smaller the home, the higher the price per square foot. That is why our smallest home (@1967 square feet), the Madison Model, is our highest price per square foot (@$150).

#3 – Design does matter.

Design features such as roof pitch and layout, dormers, number of bathrooms, finishes like interior trim and Butler’s Pantries, front porches and exterior facades all drive the price of the home.  The more of these that are incorporated in the design, the greater the impact on price.

For example, on our McLean Hamlet, there are four full bathrooms, dormers, hip roof, front porch, and stone accents. All of these features make this home BEAUTIFUL but they also drive the price.

Our homes vary in size, design features and price. I know it can all be a bit overwhelming so I hope this makes cents (see how I did that?) and helps you navigate the world of pricing a custom home!

Dream Big. Build Smart.

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