Building a property VS Buying a property

When you are looking to move into a new house, you have got two options to choose from. You can either buy an already completed house or opt to build one. Though, most experts' opinion is inclined towards buying a home when compared to building a new one. Still, going through the demanding chores of construction have its advantages too. Purchasing or building a home is often once in a lifetime decision (unless you are into buying and selling homes as a business). So, you should make a decision in accordance to your requirements and resources after reading the advantages and disadvantages for both of these options.

Buying

Buying an existing home is comparatively less expensive and far more convenient. The biggest advantage of buying when compared to building is the convenience factor, you just need to get in touch with your real estate agent and find the right home at the right location. Finding the right property at the right place is not that difficult as it used to be, after the evolution of the internet. Many property portals now offer comprehensive databases and powerful search features to search properties for sale or rent. Even if you can’t find a property portal that focuses on your desired location, buying a home through other means is still less nuisance than building your home.

Looking at the negative side, when you purchase a newly built house, you may have to deal with low quality material, which the developer has used to keep the cost to bare minimum. If the house is built some years ago, then you may need some maintenance work before you shift. Another minus is the fact that in most cases, you have to make some compromises on features like floor plans or number of bedrooms etc.

Building

It may be a little taxing, it is going to cost more for sure, and it is going to take plenty of time, but once you get over with the construction, the end result (i.e. the completed home) is going to be much more satisfactory and valuable. When going through the construction, you can use the material of your liking; you can plan your house exactly according to your requirements and go for latest home technologies. Apart from the materialistic worth, this home will also provide an emotional value.

Biggest hindrance in building your home is the time factor. Arranging for the material and supervising the contractor is almost a full time job, hence not feasible for majority. Plus, you need to be very good at bargaining or negotiating with the labors, as you will be doing a lot of that. Building a home also needs getting various certificates and license from the regulatory bodies.

Energy Perks for Home Buyers

When purchasing a new house you want to ensure everything is in good working order and the structure is sound. With the rising cost of energy prices there are certain perks to watch for that may minimize those monthly utility bills. If you're selling a house that has any of these features, make sure to mention it to your agent when marketing your home.

Energy Star Rating: This is an energy rating introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 to identify energy-efficient products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If any appliances or lighting are included with your home purchase, look for this rating. These products are designed to save money while consuming less energy. An entire house can also have this rating if the homeowner participated in an Energy Star program, and the rating would appear on the inside of the circuit breaker. A home with this designation performs at least 30 percent more efficiently, a definite plus for any home buyer.

Insulation: A poorly insulated house can waste your valuable heating energy by 25 to 40 percent. If your home has, an R-value is higher than locally required, extra insulation in attics, crawlspaces, or any other wraps or sealant applied to reduce air escaping from gaps in the construction, it's worth pointing out.

Windows: 25 to 50 percent of your heating and cooling comes from your windows, and new technology has led to even more effective ways of managing this. If you have newer windows with insulated frames and a low U-factor rating, this is a feature to make prospective buyers aware of.

Heating and Cooling Systems: A furnace is measured by the annual fuel utilization efficiency rating, or AFUE. A minimum fuel to heat conversion rating is 78 percent. If you have a furnace with an Energy Star label, your rating is higher than 90 percent, much more desirable when paying high fuel prices. For warmer months, an air conditioner should have at least a 10 seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER. That rating would be 12 or higher for an Energy Star label.

Other system perks include the type of unit you have such as a heat pump. Depending on the temperature zone, these can provide economical year round heating and air conditioning. A tankless hot water heater provides an endless supply of hot water and can save 20 to 30 percent of your energy bill. These systems are more expensive than some of the conventional methods of heating and provide a definite selling asset for any homeowner. In addition to actual heating and cooling devices, point out other energy savers such as programmable thermostats with timers, ceiling fans or radiant flooring.

By :  Tina Fountain

Eco-Tourism in Mexico, Not Easy

Everything in life seems to be a trade-off. When trying to design a little ecologically smart beach hotel in Tulum, it gets challenging fast. Firstly there is no electricity provided along the Tulum beach. So we needed to generate and store enough power to supply our cabanas and guests, as well as the restaurant and bar.

We wanted our guests to have 24 hr electricity so they could have fans and lights and their laptops whenever they wanted. And of course we wanted refrigeration in the restaurant and bar to keep everything fresh and healthy. So we invested heaps of money in a 6kw wind turbine, with back up generator and a huge bank of batteries to store all the power we make.

Secondly we have no sewerage services along the beach. We were not prepared to just drill holes into the ground and dispose of our waste in the way that the big all-inclusive hotels do (gross!). So we invested in 2 US made bio-treatment systems that produce 99% clean water that can be used on the gardens (and yes, we tested the water to see if the claims of 99% were true...yes!). But we didn't count on the systems needing 8 amps of power...so back to the electrical system which now needed an upgrade.

Thirdly, there is no water supply along the beach. We had to find low salt content water from a well, and then build a cistern to hold it and mix with fresh water that gets trucked in every day...what a pain.

Then we invested in putting in solar hot water heating on the roof of each cabana, but found that the water corroded all the tubing really fast. And of course the installation wasn't done properly...so back to the drawing board on cabana solar hot water. Attempt 2 is scheduled for the fall this year. We will keep you posted.

We have just built some new gardens over in the jungle and will be growing our own organic vegetables, herbs and fruits, which is leading us into composting all the kitchen waste. And they say that recycling is just around the corner...so with a little luck we will just get more and more eco-real as time goes by. So in a nutshell it is really difficult to design a little ecologically smart beach Tulum Hotel.

By :  Sam Little

Building Trends to Watch For

2009 has brought many changes in the home building industry, here are some of the trends you can expect to see.

The concept of "green" building has taken the construction industry by storm and those who don't follow suit will be left behind. Green building techniques begin with the selection of materials, the use of natural light and space, proper insulation, flooring, and even responsible techniques for disposing of waste. It's estimated that this industry will grow by 60 percent in 2009 and will influence everything from residential to commercial developments.

Home design with energy saving solutions will become standard. This includes everything from energy star rated appliances to heat pumps and even solar power systems.

Water conservation technology that ranges from water-saver fixtures to rain recovery systems and tankless water heaters.

You'll be seeing fewer of the sprawling McMansion designs as buyers opt for smaller homes with efficient designs. Only about 14 percent of the homes built in the U.S. have ceilings higher than 9 feet. The upscale features such as granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and spa bathrooms will still be present.

About one third of buyers don't mind purchasing a home without a living room. Many of these rooms are being turned into a study or extra space.

The demand for more storage space is becoming a common trend. You'll see larger walk-in closets, extra storage under stairs and in the attic. The size of the homes aren't getting larger, but the use of existing space is becoming more efficient.

As the space inside decreases, the outdoor living space will expand. Screened-in porches and elaborate outdoor kitchens with fireplaces and sitting areas replace simple decks.

Versatile designs that are easily adaptable to people of all ages replace impractical sunken living rooms and spiral staircases. More and more homeowners are choosing to stay in their homes as they age and accommodate them according to their physical limitations. If you already have the nice wide hallways, level floors and fewer stairs, it makes these types of changes easier.

Many of the new design features have women in mind and consider features important to them. Things such as roomier laundry rooms, mud rooms with drop zones to reduce clutter, well organized kitchens, and spa baths with glass showers.

Home wiring has gone up a notch and often includes wiring for in-wall speakers, intercom systems wireless networks, lighting and temperature control, security cameras and home theatre systems.

Designed as gathering places, kitchens have become more luxurious, more open with increased storage, recycling organizers, heavy-duty, energy saving appliances, and walk-in pantries. The custom cabinetry looks more like furniture and makes the kitchen an eye-catching focal point of the home. Also becoming more popular is the mix and match cabinetry that may combine dark and light finishes to make the area appear larger.

The wide open plans are also decreasing, often replaced with a half-wall or large breakfast counter with pendant lighting. Additional work spaces are often added to accommodate multiple helpers in the kitchen.

With an increased number of people working from home, designated office space is also a common requirement.

Large windows are commonplace with low-E glass, inert gas between the panes, UV-ray protection and energy star rating.

By : Melanie Speed