Blog by Evergreen Homes

Buying a new construction home is very different from buying an existing home. When buying a new construction home, it is not always “what you see is what you get.” It is important to clarify what’s included in the price of the home and what’s not. Often times features and materials used in model homes are upgrades or options not included in the base price of the home.

The purchase agreement will contain answers to many of your questions, but you’ll want to know certain essential things before you ever get to the contract stage. Your initial meetings with the builder are the perfect chance to get these answers. Write your questions down so you don’t forget what to ask, and don’t be shy about getting the answers you need. This is a major purchase, and you don’t want any surprises later.

Construction delays are one of the biggest fears prospective homebuyers have as they embark on their custom homebuilding journey. And for good reason. Significant delays are costly, inconvenient, aggravating and too common in this industry. Some of the most common drivers of construction delays include: weather, permit/inspection delays, material lead time/unavailability, the builder’s lack of organization, homeowner selection delays, and scope changes.

Families have been spending a lot of time together at home lately. With the school year over and many summer camps and activities postponed or cancelled, parents are faced with an ever-increasing challenge to keep their kids entertained, stimulated, and educated. Staying creative and having fun while at home is important to maintaining happiness, energy and inspiration for both adults and children. In our latest blog from Evergreen Homes, we share ways of staying creative and having fun this summer for the entire family!

First and foremost, we would like to say that we hope you and your loved ones are all safe and well. These certainly are unprecedented times we are experiencing. With most of the country ordered to “stay home” in order to stay safe, we are all spending more time than ever inside our homes. We don’t know about you, but we sure are learning a lot about what works, and what doesn’t work, for our family about our home!

What is a Quick Move-In Home?

“Quick move-in homes”, also referred to as “move-in ready homes”, are spec or inventory homes that are either fully or partially complete. These homes are built without a specific buyer for them. The builder holds them in its existing inventory for immediate sale and occupancy.

We won . . . Again! We are thrilled to have received the prestigious “Best of Houzz 2019” award for customer service! 

With rising healthcare costs, longer lifespans, and more multi-generational households, it’s no wonder the number of people choosing to remain in their home longer is increasing. Fortunately, new technology and greater services for aging citizens make it much easier and more comfortable to maintain independence at home.

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions and most expensive investments most people will ever make. To finance a home, lenders such as banks offer mortgage loans that allow home buyers to spread out the cost of the home over many years while making agreed upon monthly payments of principal and interest. The interest rates charged on mortgages can vary widely over time, affecting the overall cost of those monthly payments. What causes mortgage interest rates to go up and down? 

Ever bought something only to realize later that you didn’t need it or like it after all? Usually, returning it is as simple as finding the receipt, boxing it up, and taking it back to the store (or returning it to Amazon) for a refund. Unlike most purchases, however, buying a home is “final sale”. You don’t get to take it home and try it on, or change your mind after 30 days, which makes the decision to buy even more stressful.

While technically it’s still fall, lately it has felt as if winter has descended upon southeastern Michigan early this year! The early snowfalls and freezing temperatures mean it’s time to start getting your home ready for the winter weather. While many of us would like to simply turn the thermostat up until we’re comfortable, that’s generally not the most efficient (environmentally or economically) solution. Here are a few easy ways to save on energy (and electric bills), while still keeping your home nice and warm: