Mistakes to Avoid When Building a New Home

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Preparing to build your new dream home, can be an exciting time, no doubt. However, a process that is by no means cheap. In this time of excitement, there is no need to rush into any situation that can make this more costly. Therefore, we will steer you clear of the more common oversights made when people choose build a new house. Consequently, what follows is part one of our two-part series listing Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Home.

Hiring a general contractor is essential in your build process, do not go at this alone!

1) Hire a General Contractor…You Are NOT Qualified for This!

We can chalk this one up to the excitement factor that was spoken of above, I suppose. Regardless, this is one of the most common Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Home. It’s plain and simple, it’s cut and dry, and there is no in-between! The general contractor that is hired to supervise and oversee the construction of your home is qualified for this. Just to be clear, in most cases, you are not.

The importance of the previous statement calls for it to be spoken clearly. A general contractor’s duties include (but are not necessarily limited to) identifying and sourcing out sub-contractors. They are also responsible for gathering bids for the various parts of the job. Thus, hiring a reputable contractor will be more likely to deliver the quality results that you want when building a new home. To explain, when a sub-contractor is hired out by a known, respected general contractor for your job, they can create an opportunity to get more work in the future by delivering quality work in a timely fashion. On the contrary, if you are personally “the contractor,” they can be almost sure they will never work with you again. Thus, they are much more likely to not pay attention to detail and quality or stick to budgets and scheduled completion times.

To summarize, you may look at hiring a general contractor as an unnecessary expense. However, not hiring one, we feel is the first of our Mistakes to Avoid When Building a New Home.

2) There is a Difference Between Spending Wisely and Being Cheap…Now is NOT the Time to Be Cheap!!!

There are many areas and aspects of life where saving a few bucks is a commendable move. When making the major life decisions involving the building of your new home, is not one of these aspects or areas. Thus, looking to be frugal when sourcing out bids for your home build for sure falls among our Mistakes to Avoid When Building a New Home.

This mistake is one that is understandably made. Due to the process being expensive, looking to save in certain spots may seem a wise idea. Rest assured that builders bidding to build your home are familiar with this method of thinking from customers, too. This can lead to them offering a lower price and a faster schedule for completion in their bidding. However, there is a fair chance that they used the lower price and time table to secure the work. 

What will follow from there, is anyone’s guess…and again, “guessing,” will not guarantee you anything. It will, however, place you securely among our list of Mistakes to Avoid When Building a New Home.

Becoming very familiar with all legal documents involved in the home building process will make so you have no unwanted surprises.

3) Be Sure to Have Your Own Back Covered…Because No One Else Will!

Building a new home is unquestionably one of the biggest investments you will make in this lifetime. In this process, there are many opportunities for a savvier and more experienced party involved to take advantage of your inexperience. Therefore, our third entry among our Mistakes to Avoid When Building a New Home is to be actively aware of all steps in the building process and oversee every single detail. In other words, COVER YOUR OWN BACK, every step of the way!

Our first suggestion here is to become familiar with any and all legal documents in the building process. Likewise, it is advisable to read and go over any documents with a lawyer. This includes a copy of the contractor or subcontractor’s insurance policies. (To make sure you are not liable for an on-site injury!) While you are with the attorney, it also is wise to go over the agreed upon floorplan and home features you have agreed upon. Once the construction process begins, changes to the plans can prove very costly.

Read up on the documentation, discuss and share this and all paperwork with a lawyer to be sure you understand exactly what they read and what is expected in the building process.

The incentives offered in your building process can wind you up with nice appliance or in some cases, thousands of dollars off the closing cost.

4) Get What You’ve Got Coming to You! Always Ask About any Incentives Being Offered!

We mentioned above that in the case of an experienced contractor, they may take advantage of your inexperience or lack of knowledge in some areas of this process. These same contractors and builders are many times offering incentives and deals if they are selected for the job of building your home. The next of our Mistakes to Avoid when Building a New Home is to make sure you ask and are aware of these incentives. If they are giving you something (or in the case of price taking something off!) you want to be aware of it and “get what is yours!”

Usually, the home builder’s incentives for you selecting them to build your house are pretty valuable. Some examples of the incentives that may be offered include money off of the closing costs or overall home prices. Likewise, they sometimes will give upgraded features, appliances or amenities.  

Regardless, when incentives are offered they likely something that you will want. After all, how often are you offered something of significant value for free?

Location, Builders, Budgets and More to Come in Part Two

In our next post we will look at our final four Mistakes to Avoid When Building a New Home. There we will discuss the importance of taking your location into consideration. Likewise, look at the budget you have for building and selling your previous home. In addition we will touch on what is the “right” or “wrong” builder.

In conclusion, the process of building a home is a costly one. You don’t need to make it become even costlier. However, if you keep in mind these Mistakes You Want to Avoid When Building a New Home you can save yourself a headache. To see the floor plans currently available here at the Belmont Lake Preserve golf community, visit the “New Homes” section at belmontlakepreserve.com.

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Transforming Space In Your Place: Bonus Room Trends

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In the first article of this series, we looked at a few Bonus Room Trends that are popular heading into 2020. We will continue along in this, our second of a three posts on popular Bonus Room Trends for this year. These trends which were brought about by the experts at nader.com will include 4 new ideas. Our remaining suggestions set to be included in our third and final post of the series in the near future.

To read the first article from this series that was posted last month, follow this link below to the Belmont Lake Preserve blog.

Belmont Lake Preserve Blog- Bonus Room Ideas for 2020- February 13, 2020

Using your bonus space for a personal gym is a popular idea.

No Excuses: Bonus Room Trends to Increase Strength and Stamina Right at Home

How many of us are always thinking, “I’ve got to get myself in shape?” It sure is easy to find an excuse, however, to not go to the local gym. Am I right? Well, with the next of our Bonus Room Options, there are no more excuses about commuting or not liking to work out at the gym. This is because next on our Bonus Room Options is a home gym.

Now, no one expects a “state-of-the-art” professional athletics team workout facility in your spare room. By a home gym, this idea from our Bonus RoomOptions can be catered to your needs. Whether a treadmill or some type of cardio machine, weights, mats for yoga, or whatever ou choose, your home gym can be as much or little as you choose. The addition of a mirror on the wall, a teevision, and a fan or two to keep it cool in your “home gym,” is all you need to get that exercise and put your bonus space to great use, too.

From a “Work” Out to “Play” Time: A Space Just for the Kids!

Ok, so the next of our Bonus Room Options is one that could solve a problem that any young family can relate to. That problem would be clutter…and not just any clutter. Toys, stuffed animals, games, books, and so on…are you following me yet? That’s right, this option is for the little ones, and with a little creativity, your bonus room can be their fun, new playroom.

It is certainly not strange for families with young children to have a designated room for toys and such. As a matter of fact, just ask anyone who has repeatedly stepped on a LEGO their thoughts on this! In addition to keeping down the clutter to just one room, you can also make them a fun room all their own. Also Bonus Room Options is in the case of having company over, you can simply keep the playroom door shut and that mess of toys and the like that you dread picking up again is out of sight.

Transforming your extra room into an art studio can be done in a variety of ways while encouraging you and your family’s creative side.

Color and Creativity Await with the Next Option

Time to let those “creative juices” flow with our next entry from the Bonus Room Options. An art studio is a room that can be enjoyed by all ages of members of your household. Again, like the “home gym” you can as far or as simple as you’d like on this one. It is after all, your own personal art space.

That being said, you could go as simple as adding a few easels with art supplies and storage. Remember, an art studio is going to have its messy moments. Thus, an option is to think of replacing the floor with lineoleum or vinyl that looks cleans easy. Once again, the possibilities are endless with this project for our Bonus Room Options. This room could be used for leisurely painting or art you work on. It also could be used for the kids school projects and the like.

A “Twist” on the Trends Takes a “Dirty” Turn

This next of our Bonus Room Options is one for the resident green thumb. I’d reccomend that with in this space there is a sink, as it could be helpful in a few ways. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, this room would be for plants and gardening.

What is a “green” or “gardening” room you ask? Well, it is what it sounds like. Its a place to complete gardening tasks such as repotting your plants. What is the convenience of having an indoor space for this, you ask? Well, first and foremost, you eliminate a need for transporting them. Keep all your gardening tools on hand and utilize the sink to rinse fresh fruits and veggies you pick. Even make a centerpiece with your fresh-grown flowers.

Do You Prefer to Work? Play? Rest?…We got the Bonus Room Idea to fit Your Needs Coming Up Soon!

Our next blog post will be the final one in this series on Bonus Room Trends. In that piece, we will discuss and detail our final four Bonus Room options. Much like those in this article, there are an array of different choices depending on personal tastes. In our third and final piece, we will look at ideas for a musician, a “book worm, “ or a visitor!

To see more of our Bonus Room Options, you can visit the previous article from our blog at belmontlakepreserve.com. Likewise take a detailed look at these bonus room suggestions and more, visit naders.com.

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Rocky Mount Children’s Museum: Seven Decades of Fun for Our Children

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For nearly 70 years kids growing up in this area have delighted in the activities and exhibits at the Rocky Mount Childrens Museum and Science Center.

Founded in 1952, even almost seven decades later, the variety of fun and educational experiences to be had are too plentiful to list. In this, our next series of articles on entertainment in the city of Rocky Mount, we will touch on fun places and activities for the whole family.

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This is a photo of the building that is now home to the Rocky Mount Childrens Center taken in the 1960’s

One of the Originals: Humble Beginnings of the Rocky Mount Childrens Museum

Rocky Mount hosts one of the first museum’s in the entire United States aimed solely at children. Rocky Mount Childrens Museum opened its doors 67 years ago. The original concept of the museum for kids is credited to the Rocky Mount Jaycees and Junior Guild.

These two entities were able to raise the funds needed to open the museum. The Rocky Mount Childrens Museum secured space in the basement of the old Braswell Library and in 1952 was open to the public.

A Permanent Home for Growth and Development

Under two years after initially opening the doors, on Easter Sunday of 1954, Rocky Mount Childrens Museum reopened. Its doors were now at its new permanent home in beautiful Sunset Park. The facility continued to grow and develop at this point with the addition of the “Science Center.” Consequently, it was at this point that the city of Rocky Mount became involved with the museum.

Not only is the Rocky Mount Childrens Museum fun, but they have many educational displays as well.

Due to the fact that it was now a division of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum saw continued growth and development in the coming years. In 1967 another 3,000 square feet of new exhibit space becomes part of the museum..

A Flood, A Move and Adding Some Science

After 30 years in the same location, in the Fall of 1999, the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum falls victim to mother nature. This was due to a flood and the after-effects of Hurricane Floyd. The Museum, much like a good part of the city felt the effects of the flood. It was at this point the Museum, is relocated to a temporary site the down town area.

Consequently, this would lead to the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum again seeing an expansion. It moved in with the Arts Center, and a Science Center became part of the Museum also. This is now the extremely popular Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, which likewise hosts the Children’s Museum and Science Center.

Visit the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center Today: It’s “Out of this World”

The Children’s Museum features several “themed” areas, where the kids can use their imagination and “make believe.”

Today, the Imperial Centre is located at 270 Gay Street in Rocky Mount. It is the home of the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center. In addition to the exhibits, there is also regular programs and classes offered at both the museum and Science Center.

There is also a Theatre section that likewise offers classes and live performances. Artist opportunities are also available in several genres. One of the newer main attractions is also Cummins Planetarium, located in teh Science Center.

Just a Short Drive from Belmont Lake Preserve, Enjoy “A Rocky Mount Original” with the Whole Family

The Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center is just minutes from your new home at the Belmont Lake Preserve community. To see all the great upcoming events there, visit imperialcentre.org. For more information on the great new homes in Rocky Mount NC at Belmont Lake Preserve visit belmontlakepreserve.com.

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