Below is a video of some of the homes built by Schroetlin Custom Homes in 2011. The homes were built in various locations throughout Loveland, Fort Collins, Timnath and Berthoud. For more information on building your new home please visit our main website at www.schroetlin.com or call Mike at 970-566-7742.
This 1.16 acre lot is located in prestigious Coeur d’ Alene Estates subdivision between Loveland and Fort Collins. It’s a private Estate lot with great views yet it’s close to everything. The lot is priced at $183,900 or build your dream home for $650,000 and up. Andrea Dunlap with RE/MAX has this lot for sale. Click here to view this listing.
Contact Mike at 970-566-7742 or info@schroetlin.com for more information
Builder Magazine and Hanley Wood Market Intelligence released their mid-2011 report of the healthiest housing markets in the United States. The Fort Collins / Loveland area is ranked #2. The rankings are based off jobs, price appreciation, population growth and income growth. Here is what the article said about the area:
2010 Population Forecast: 299,630
2011 Total Building Permit Forecast: 1,004
2012 Total Building Permit Forecast: 1,650
The word is out about Fort Collins, which is regularly ranked among the best places to live in the country. Moody’s projects that the number of households in Colorado’s fourth most populous metro region will grow a hefty 2.7% next year, the highest on our Top 20 list. Many new residents will be drawn by the prospect of jobs. Employment is projected to grow 2.6% next year, lifting median incomes 3.3%. Colorado State University is the biggest employer here. Most of the new jobs in recent years have come from the education and health services sectors. But high-tech firms such as Hewlett Packard and Eastman Kodak also employ thousands of people. Housing production will receive a boost from these strong demographic forces. Moody’s projects that permit levels will rise 50%.
Other Colorado cities to make the list include Colorado Springs (#7), Denver (#10) and Greeley (#20).
Click here to view the article
Here is the result of my first attempt with a new time lapse camera. This custom home was built on Horseshoe Lake in Loveland. It is a ranch style with a finished walkout basement and has almost 6,000 finished square feet.
We have just posted sixteen house plans to our website. It’s difficult to find a plan that fits your needs exactly, but this can be a good starting point in your search for a new home. We can modify any of these plans or create a new plan based off your requirements and budget. Click here to view these great plans.
Are you thinking about a new home in the Fort Collins or Loveland area? Have you debated whether to buy an existing home or build a new home? From energy efficiency to modern conveniences, there are a number of benefits to building a new home:
“Homes today aren’t built like they used to be” – Have you ever heard that one? This is completely true. Homes are built FAR SUPERIOR today than they used to be. Not because home builders in the past did a poor job. They just didn’t have the same strict regulations and advancements in building science that we have now. Today’s building codes and energy codes require a very high standard of construction. From modern exterior weatherproofing systems to current electrical standards, new homes are built more durable, safer, and energy efficient. Each and every new home built in Northern Colorado today must have an approved structural plan designed by a licensed structural engineer. This includes specifications on concrete foundation walls, beams, posts, window headers, door headers, etc. This is all based off a geotechnical (soils) report that is completed by a separate geotechnical engineer. They recommend design guidelines based on soils characteristics. The structural engineer uses these guidelines to design a structural plan for your new home. There are more steel clips, connectors, and fasteners required today than you could imagine. We’ve recently built a home that had 18 “hurricane straps” throughout the home which were required by the structural engineer. Yes, “hurricane straps” in Colorado. They are approximately 40”x4” heavy duty steel connectors which tie the concrete foundation to the framed wood walls. Even five years ago this wouldn’t have been required. The amount of exterior weatherproofing has also been greatly increased. This prevents water intrusion into the home that could lead to expensive repairs. Plumbing and electrical systems in a new home follow up to date stringent codes. You also don’t need to worry about asbestos or lead paint. You can sleep well at night knowing your family is safe in your new home.
Energy efficiency – Even a home built to the minimum energy efficiency standards today will be more efficient than 80% of homes built 10 years ago, and it will be more energy efficient than 99% of homes built 20 or more years ago. Schroetlin Custom Homes builds most home with a MINIMUM of R22 wall insulation, R44 attic insulation, R11 basement wall insulation, insulated garages, and spray foam insulation surrounding all draft prone areas like windows, exterior penetrations, etc. Nearly all new furnaces are high efficient. Modern furnaces and air conditioners run less often and are much quieter than systems in older homes. Plumbing fixtures use less water and most appliances and light fixtures are energy star rated. Windows have made huge strides in recent years and are far superior to windows of the past. These features not only make your new home more comfortable, but they will also save you money each month on utilities.
We use Guardian UltraFit wall insulation in most of our homes. Watch this video to see the benefits of this excellent insulation:
Everything is New – Everything will be new for you and your family to enjoy: New carpet, new appliances, new plumbing fixtures, new windows, etc. An older home could have many years of wear and tear, both in areas you can see and some you may not be able to see. New homes also have modern conveniences lacking in older homes. Taller ceilings, wider hallways, doorways, and stairwells all make for a much more comfortable home.
Customization – Schroetlin Custom Homes allows you to customize nearly every aspect of your new home. In many cases this even means designing the entire house plan from the ground up. If you prefer to start with one of our existing plans and modify it to your needs we can do that as well. From a sketch on a napkin to pictures in a magazine, we will take your inspiration and turn it into your new home. When you build new you can customize every aspect of your new home, which is impossible when you buy an existing home. Every aspect of your new home will be available for you to customize: Room sizes, exterior styles and finishes, cabinetry, appliances, flooring, basement finish, energy efficient features, security, home automation, etc. Whether it’s building a recessed niche for grandma’s hutch or a theater room in the basement, if you can imagine it we can design and build it.
Price – Even in today’s housing market our prices are competitive with existing pre owned homes. Yes, there are some homes out there that have an outrageous amount of square feet for the money and are less expensive than the replacement cost would be. I am married to a Realtor and have been to many of these homes that appear to be incredible deals. Almost every time there is a very good reason the home is available at a great price (undesirable location, obvious design issues, structural problems, need of major updating, etc.) You usually walk in the front door and say, “Oh, I see why it’s priced the way it is.”
Low Maintenance – Newer homes are built using low maintenance and long lasting materials. This translates to less upkeep for the homeowner. In an older home, you may have to deal with older appliances, obsolete plumbing and electrical and outdated styles and colors. As a new home owner, you will run into fewer maintenance issues. We provide a homebuilders warranty and many manufacturers supply additional warranties on materials and products.
Hopefully this has given you an overview on the benefits of building a new home. Visit our main website at http://www.schroetlin.com/ for more information or contact us today to discuss building your new home.
2011 is a good time to be purchasing land in Fort Collins, Loveland and surrounding areas. There are many excellent lots available at good prices. Buying a lot and building a new home will cost you a little less than it did a few years ago. Most potential home building clients assume that construction costs are considerably less than they were a few years ago. That’s true to a small degree but not to the extent that people think. What is less expensive is the land. That is where you will save money compared to a few years ago.
Below are some of the key factors to consider when purchasing a lot:
As you can see there are many factors to consider when purchasing a building lot. Please contact us for more information on buying a lot in Northern Colorado. We have access to hundreds of available lots and can help guide you through the process.
What you will find in Northern Colorado is a lot of smaller in-town lots ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 square feet and then a jump to a large inventory of two to three acre lots outside of town. There is very little in between. It is difficult to find a nice ½ acre or ¾ acre estate lot. A small in-town lot in Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor or Berthoud will range from $30,000 to $80,000+. A larger estate type in-town lot will cost from $75,000 to $150,000+. The best value and the largest inventory of estate lots are currently in Windsor. Fort Collins and Loveland have very few to choose from. An acreage (two or more acres) will cost from $80,000 to $200,000+. There are exceptions to all of the above prices, but these are the general price ranges you will find.
Below are some of the subdivisions where we could build your new home in Northern Colorado:
Schroetlin Custom Homes can build your new home in these subdivisions and many others throughout Northern Colorado. Our in-house Realtor, Jessica Schroetlin, can represent you when purchasing your lot. Take advantage of our expertise. It costs you nothing! Call Jessica at 970-691-2013 or Contact Schroetlin Custom Homes.
Visit our Main Website at www.schroetlin.com
A “custom” home can mean many different things. Yes, it can signify a million dollar home with luxurious finishes, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that. Often times “custom” simply means that it’s a specific home plan designed for a specific lot. It’s usually either the first time a plan has been built or it is a previous plan that has been modified. That might mean a simple, practical plan with modest features for a young family on a limited budget. It could also be a luxurious lakefront estate for a retired couple.
One might assume because our name is Schroetlin Custom Homes and we feature nice homes on our website that we only build high end homes. This is not true. We pride ourselves on catering to different needs and budgets. What determines the price is the size, design complexity and features of your home. Our job is to help you work through those decisions in order to create your ideal home within your budget. Click here to read about the three key factors when planning a new home.
Schroetlin Custom Homes would like to be your new custom home builder. If you are considering building in the Fort Collins or Loveland area please Contact us today. We would be happy to discuss the type of “custom” home we can build for you.
Visit our Main Website at www.schroetlin.com
Most people are shocked at how much permit fees are for new construction. When building a new home the City or County that you are located in charges permit and impact fees. The City of Loveland, City of Fort Collins, City of Windsor, Larimer County, and Weld County all have different formulas and fees. It depends on which municipality your home is built in.
Here is an example of a home built by Schroetlin Custom Homes in 2010. The permit was issued by the City of Loveland. This was for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage, 1,600 sq ft ranch with no basement finish:
$31,162 Total permit and impact fees
Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Keep in mind that some of the sales tax fees can be recouped when buying building materials for your new home. These taxes are collected based off total construction costs. When buying materials locally, suppliers charge a lower tax rate because of the building permit. Depending on the location, the city tax and/or the county tax are eliminated. Instead of approximately 7% sales tax, you will only pay 2.9% – 5%. This is a common practice in all Cities and Counties. Its purpose is to encourage purchasing through local suppliers.
Most Cities have higher permit and impact fees than if you’re building outside of City limits. County permit fees are usually $8,000 – $12,000 but they do not include water or sewer. A county water tap or a drilled well will cost around $20,000 or more depending on your location. Sewer service is generally not available on County lots and you will need a septic system at the cost of $8,000 – $15,000. This puts the overall permit, water and sewer costs for County lots as high as or higher than City costs.
As you can see, permit fees will affect the total price of your home. If you are interested in building in a certain city or subdivision, we can give you more information about permit fees, water fees, sewer fees and any other factors to consider.
Visit our Main Website at www.schroetlin.com
This is usually one of the first questions a person asks. It is understandable as everybody is looking for a starting point to determine the feasibility of building a new home, but it should be used with caution.
A Lexus and a Kia are about the same size, right? Why does the Lexus cost four times as much as the Kia? People don’t ask this question. They understand the Lexus has forty two airbags and plush leather seats. It will last longer and hold its value better. A new home isn’t much different but people often get fixated on the cost per square foot number. Make sure when you talk to a builder that you are clear whether you are looking for a Kia, a Lexus or something in between. A one size fits all cost per square foot estimate is impossible to provide.
Builders are in a tough position, if they ballpark an estimate too high, then it scares the potential client away. If they estimate too low the potential client will hold them to that number. If you want to build the exact same home plan that the builder has built in the past, they should be able to get you a very close cost to build. If it is not a floor plan they have built before, the cost per square foot estimate they give you will be nothing more than an educated guess. It could easily vary by 10% or more.
Does the cost per square foot include the cost of permits, water fees and sewer fees or does it just include the structure itself? Does it include landscaping? What is included can greatly affect the answer. The pretty built-in cabinets, large covered deck and high end appliances that one builder assumed in his guesstimate might have added $30,000 to his figure. That $30,000 just added $15 per square foot to the price of the home. It doesn’t mean that builder charges more than another builder, it just means they assumed higher end finishes. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples when you get these ballpark estimates.
Be realistic with the numbers that home builders give you. Don’t use this common thought process, “I talked to three builders and their estimates ranged from $130-160 per square foot, but I’m convinced it will cost $110 per square foot.” If you keep hearing the same amount per square foot, don’t hold out hope that you’re going to find the builder that is somehow considerably less expensive than others. Keep in mind that most builders should be fairly close in price. Their contactor fees and profit numbers might vary, but their cost of materials and labor should be very similar. Some builders have better connections or more buying power, but not to the extent that people think. One builder might pay $8.00 for a sheet of plywood while another pays $8.30. You’re not going to find the builder with a secret supplier where he can buy for $3.00 each. If you do then there is a problem. Keep in mind the numbers I’m using are for illustration purposes only.
The above scenarios are all assuming you are looking for an up-front price per square foot based on vague parameters and without a complete set of plans. Once we have completed architectural and engineering plans, we can obtain accurate bids from our subcontractors and suppliers and provide you with a detailed proposal and an accurate cost to build. We will also provide you with a detailed specifications list with this proposal.
I do think that cost per square foot is a necessary evil in the early stages of planning a new home. Just keep in mind the above points and I recommend you don’t get too consumed with the cost per square foot.
We are here to help you plan and design your new home within your budget. Click here to read about the three key factors when planning a new home. If you have questions about the costs for a project you are considering, we would be more than happy to discuss it with you. Please contact us anytime.
Visit our Main Website at www.schroetlin.com
Many of our clients are very involved in the entire planning and construction process. Some choose not to be involved except for major decisions. Here is a description of the two extremes of homeowner participation:
Many clients fit somewhere between these two descriptions. Whatever involvement level you prefer we will do everything possible to accommodate you and make the home building process as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Another determining factor is your location. If you live in Northern Colorado it isn’t difficult to visit the jobsite. We build many homes for out of state homeowners too. They have decided to move to Colorado but will remain out of state until their new home is complete. Obviously they can’t visit the jobsite very often. We still do everything we can to keep this homeowner updated and informed during the construction process. This is done through online job access, weekly email updates with pictures, and phone calls.
Schroetlin Custom Homes utilizes an online service that allows you to make selection decisions, approve changes, ask and answer questions, check progress information, review project files and more. Wherever you have internet access you can stay informed about your new home. Click here to view our flyer about this service.
Visit our Main Website at www.schroetlin.com
Most of our clients are surprised to find out that a central vacuum system is a relatively affordable option to install in a new home. A central vacuum system can be installed for around $2,500 (based on a home with approximately 3,500 finished sq ft). This will include four to five outlets throughout the home and a high powered vacuum and accessory kit. The main power unit is usually installed in an unfinished area of the basement or in the garage. A central vacuum is very powerful, easy to use and very quiet. One popular option among homeowners is to install a vacuum outlet in the garage with a dedicated hose and car care kit. This is a great way to keep the inside of a vehicle clean. Below is a video from Beam Central Vacuum systems:
We recommend and install Beam and VacuMaid systems. Please contact us for more information on installing a central vacuum system in your new home.
Visit our Main Website at www.schroetlin.com
Several years ago you needed little or no money down in order to finance the construction of a new home. Today’s lending requirements have drastically changed. Lenders now require a substantial amount down in order to buy a lot and build a new home. A 20-30% down payment is a pretty typical requirement these days. For example, $80,000 or more would be required as a down payment on a $400,000 home.
We strongly recommend talking to a lender as one of your first steps. They can prequalify you and help you determine a budget amount for your new home. Contact us and we can explain financing options in further detail. We can also give you recommendations of preferred lenders in Northern Colorado to get your process started.
Visit our Main Website at www.schroetlin.com
There is a simple formula that holds true in all new construction projects. It is the theory that there are three main factors when building or remodeling your home. The three factors are PRICE, SIZE, and FINISHES. When planning a new home or remodel only two of these items can be fixed. The third condition must remain a variable and is determined by the other two.
You can choose two of these factors and the third will be determined by the other two. For example, if you want to spend $400,000 (price) and you want 2,600 finished square feet (size) then you will have to be flexible on the finishes in order to meet the other two fixed numbers. Another example is if you need a certain level of high end finishes throughout the home and you need 3,600 finished square feet (size), then the price will be the third element which will be determined by your other two requirements. Of course you have to realistic. You can’t ask for a 10,000 square foot home for $200,000. There is no level of finishes that will make this formula work.
As a homeowner you will choose the two variables that are most important to you. As your homebuilder we will use these priorities to design and build your dream home within your budget. Planning and building a new home is a constant effort to get the home you want while keeping your budget in check. Are the $5,000 built in cabinets in the living room worth it, or would you rather spend that money on more energy efficient windows? There are a lot of decisions to make and many compromises that go into planning and building your new home. Keep this simple principle in mind when planning your new home.
Visit our Main Website at www.schroetlin.com
Welcome to the first Schroetlin Custom Homes blog post! Hiring a home builder and building your new home is a very big decision. There is a lot of information available on the internet about home building. Some of it is right, some of it is wrong, and much of it is region specific. It might be smart to use a certain product in Massachusetts but it doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do in Loveland or Fort Collins, Colorado. We receive a lot of questions about the home building process, buying a lot, costs to build, choosing a builder, floor plans, etc. This blog will provide answers to many of these common questions and keep you apprised of current conditions in the Northern Colorado real estate market. Our goal is to provide valuable information to people considering building a new home in Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, and surrounding areas. Click here to visit our main website. Stay tuned!
