The Goal Is Value When designing and building a home - as in so many things in life - the goal is value. It's all too easy to define value strictly as cost. If this were the case, the least expensive bicycle would be a better value than the finest Mercedes. Our 27 years in the custom home design and build business has taught us what an oversimplification and mistake this is! Cost is only one element of value. In custom home building, value includes these key components: quality (not just the excellence of the construction, but also the imagination and ingenuity of the architectural design), timeliness, service, and cost. Achieving maximum value in a custom home is easy to say, but extremely difficult to accomplish. Although each of the four elements contributes to value, they are very much inter-related. For example, if lower quality materials are used in order to lower cost, the home could require drastic maintenance in just a few years. Or, if a low priced builder takes an additional six months to build the home, the additional interest on the land could exceed the cost savings in construction. Or, if you choose a tiny builder or architect and no one is ever available to return your calls or answer your questions, your frustration would impact the value of the project. Intangibles like design excellence, creativity, imagination, and the ability to resolve any issues that may arise directly relate to value, not to mention your enjoyment as you design, build, and live in the home.   The Value Line Formula The formula for what we call The Value Line Approach is simply: Quality + Service + Timeliness + Cost = Value There are two kinds of quality that affect value - inner quality and outer quality. Inner quality is vital to a home's durability and overall integrity. It is the heart of the home. It involves such elements as the types of lumber used and the quality of the plumbing, wiring, insulation, etc. A high level if inner quality means less maintenance and fewer repairs in the future (you save headaches and money). It is what allows a home to maintain its beauty and serviceability one hundred years from now. As a rule, this kind of quality is dependent on the skill and integrity of the builder. It occurs inside walls, above ceilings, and under floors. Outer quality is visually seen and felt. Outer quality can be very personal and is frequently a matter of taste and temperament. It is important to evaluate the standard of outer quality demonstrated by a builder. If the builder's standards do not match yours, find another builder. You'll be in for a great deal of disappointment and aggravation if you think you can change the builder's standard of excellence to meet your own standard, no matter how attractive the price may seem. Service - before, during, and after construction - is another potential source of anguish. If the service is poor, the entire project becomes difficult. The builder needs to help you find the best schools, community, transportation, and location for your home. Once found, soil testing, engineering, zoning regulations, etc. need to be completed. The architectural team must be talented, flexible, experienced, and above all, good listeners. The builder's team must be easy to contact and readily available to discuss any aspect of the process. The builder needs the ability to provide immediate assistance or advice on design, engineering, financing, or any other aspect. To do the job, he needs professional architects, experienced craftsmen, and expert accountants on staff. A builder should anticipate your questions, provide you with detailed schedules, and provide the information you need to make decisions easily and efficiently. Timeliness is also a key component of value. A project must progress according to schedule. The cost of carrying land can be many thousands of dollars each month. Although extenuating circumstances can cause small delays, you should expect the building process to be completed on time. When the construction of your home is delayed, you can toss your budget out the window. Also, how much do you earn per hour? What is your time worth? How many wasted hours are your willing to devote to correcting the mistakes and inefficiencies of a bad building team?

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