Multi-Generational Design / Redesign

Builders across the nation are revamping home designs to meet the requirements of an increasing number of Americans who're now living with relatives. The amount of so-called multi-generational households - where adults are living with their elderly mother and father or grown children - has leaped since the Great Recession forced Americans to reconsider living by themselves. Demographic professionals say it's set to go up further as baby boomers grow older, so-called "boomerang kids" walloped by the poor job market stay at home for a longer time and ethnic groups like Asians and Hispanics, who are very likely to live with relatives, carry on growing.

The housing sector is attempting to keep up with the changes with the addition of self-contained suites to single-family homes from North Carolina to California to allow families to stay close while keeping a greater degree of independence. After World War II, Americans were motivated to move out of their parents' house when they hit their adult years and achieve independence at an earlier age. Within the following few decades, young families went out to survive on their own, separately from their mothers and fathers, in standard single-family homes. Since 1980, however, the amount of families residing in multi-generational households has gradually risen, buoyed by a wave of immigration and late marriages. Following the start of the Great Recession, the amount leaped even higher - rising 10.5 percent inside a two-year period so that nearly 17 % of Americans lived in multi-generational homes by 2009, based on a report by the Pew Research Center. Over the last year, builders and home designers began to react to the trend by rolling out floor plans for single-family houses which include a semi-independent suite having a separate entry, bathroom and kitchenette. Some suites also include their own laundry washing areas and outdoor decks for further privacy, though they maintain a link with the main home through an interior door.

Schultz Custom Homes and Remodeling offers affordable multi-generational housing design and building services for individuals living in the greater Charlotte, NC area. Please contact us today by calling 704-281-8496 or by visiting www.NC-Bldr.com for additional information.

Don't take our word for it....

Don't take our word for it... hear what our clients are saying about us: "We are LOVING our new kitchen. We could not be more pleased! As we get compliments, we are highly recommending you." --Christie Faircloth "Janet and Tom, Thank you SO much for the gift card to our favorite market! We love the outdoor kitchen you all created for us and cannot wait to begin using it! We will highly recommend you to all of our friends!" --The Yarbrough's "Tom and Janet are ...awesome to work with on a renovation/room addition. From the first consultation, we knew that we were in good hands. Every step of the way, they provide thorough follow-up and prompt responses to any questions and concerns. The quality craftsmanship that is evident in our new den/music room is impressive. It is now the favorite spot for the whole family to relax, watch movies, play games, make music. Finding a contractor with this level of experience, expertise and integrity has certainly been a blessing for our family." --David and Patti McGuirt "Paul and I would like to thank Schultz Custom Homes and Remodeling for their professionalism and hard work in making our sunroom a dream come true. All the gentlemen who worked on our room were diligent and hardworking, they are to be commended for their efforts. We have enjoyed working with Schultz's entire company of professionals. Some members of the family and a few friends joined us for a very small celebration of completion – Again thank you for making our sunroom just the way we wanted it!" --Janet and Paul Brinker "Tom and Janet are awesome to work with on a renovation/room addition. From the first consultation, we knew that we were in good hands. Every step of the way, they provide thorough follow-up and prompt responses to any questions and concerns. The quality craftsmanship that is evident in our new den/music room is impressive. It is now the favorite spot for the whole family to relax, watch movies, play games, make music. Finding a contractor with this level of experience, expertise and integrity has certainly been a blessing for our family." --David and Patti McGuirt www.NC-Bldr.com

Join us as we... EXPOSE THE UNKNOWNS OF HOMEBUILDING

Spring is in the Air!!!

Visit our website! www.NC-Bldr.com

Tom's Seminar Presentation: The Greater Charlotte Home and Landscape Show

Homeshow seminar ppt

View more presentations from Janet Schultz

How to Avoid a Remodeling Nightmare: Choosing the Right General Contrator

HILARIOUS video! Tom will be speaking this weekend at one of the Greater Charlotte Home and Landscape Show's seminars (1/27-29). He will be opening up the seminar with this great clip that shows just how frustrating home remodeling can be. His seminar is entitled "Remodeling: What You Don't Know that Can Cost You" with a Q & A to follow.

Come see us at booth 438 and 440 at the Cabarrus Arena. 

How to Negotiate with Your Builder

By: Mike LaRuffa

Today, buyers have the luxury of being able to negotiate prices on homes. However, that strategy for negotiating changes when it comes to buying new from a builder rather than purchasing a re-sale. What is the biggest difference?  A re-sale seller is dealing with equity, the difference between what they paid for the home and what they can sell it for. A builder is dealing with materials, land, overhead, plus profit, for a builder, equals sales price.

The typical builder has the following expenses that all add up to 100%… land 18%, materials 50%, overhead expenses 15%, marketing 6%, permits, fees, warranty 3% and profit 8%. So, for a $200,000 house, the profit is only $16,000, not the mega bucks that most buyers think a builder makes. All the other costs are essentially fixed, meaning that the only place to negotiate for the builder is their profit line.

If you are looking at a home that has to be built, be mindful that the builder is less likely to discount the base price of the home since they are building it to current values. Instead of jumping the negotiating gun, ask about the incentives being offered that have been factored into the pricing. This is a good place to get the biggest bang for your buck.  Builders have a markup on options so giving them away has less impact to their bottom line than reducing the overall base price. Furthermore it helps preserve appraised values that reflect general value in the neighborhood and are important to you when you are getting your loan.

If you are looking at an existing inventory home, your negotiating strategy may be a bit different. First, determine when the house was completed. This is importance because builders factor in some interest (overhead expenses) to carry the house until sold. When that runs out, builders start to eat into their profit, so they may be more willing to negotiate. Dropping the bottom out of the price even on aged inventory is still not a preferred strategy due to degrading appraised values. You may want to suggest items that can be added to the home that you would purchase anyway after you move in…additional landscaping, appliances such as refrigerators or washer/dryer, decorator items such as shutters, blinds or special paint colors.

In closing, keep in mind that even though builders are eager to sell their homes; they also need to turn a profit. In your house hunting travels you may find that the builders that are still in business today have survived because they offer a good value at a fair price and they stand behind their product when you need them!