DIY Network

Production Building From "Best Built Home" episode DBBH-101F

In this first segment of "The Best Home," host Lynda Lyday talks about production building, which gives homebuyers complete control over how their home will look and feel. Instead of a homebuyer running from supplier to supplier, all the choices that need to be made can be done all under one roof.

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What Is a Production Home

Traditionally custom-built homes are those "one-of-a-kind" houses with a big price tag while production homes are more affordable "many-out-of-the-same-mold" variety. The key to production homes these days, however, is the improving quality of the best-built practices by the builders, and they are quickly closing the gap between custom- and production-built homes.

Production homes are more affordable for homebuyers, and ...

these days production-home builders are improving their building practices tremendously!

The Oakwood Homes Demonstration House is part of the New House Center that interested homebuyers can tour.

Most prospective production homebuyers look for the following when purchasing a best built home:

• Good location.

• Well constructed house.

• Hassle-free buying process.

Rob Vargo, a homebuyer in Colorado, said finding a home was frustrating because, "I wanted to find something a little bit different. I was very interested in the way it was constructed, and I was, for lack of a better word, kind of looking for that dream home -- being our first home, which may not be realistic."

Rob and his wife saw a sign for Oakwood Homes that said More House, Less Money and they had seen every other "major builder" in the area, so they gave Oakwood a shot. Rob's wife (Amanda) said, "There was a uniqueness to each one [home]."

The couple toured the model homes and were able to check out the features for each -- and they were impressed. "The floor plans were spacious. There are lots of windows. There were lots of ways to have Oakwood personalize your home," Sandra said. "We could have our first home just the way we wanted it."

Donald Carpenter, the director of product management at Oakwood Homes, explains that the "New Home Center" (image on right) provides the homebuyer an opportunity to work with a professional designer at no extra cost. The homebuyers make decisions on everything from siding to the backsplash in the kitchen to even the exterior landscaping.

Note: The New Home Center is basically a one-stop shopping experience. The home-buying process is complicated, so it's important to keep in mind that an educated buyer is a better buyer.

When prospective homebuyers take a tour of the demonstration house inside the New Home Center, a customer representative is with them every step of the way to answer any questions -- from explaining the insulation cutaways (figure A) and roof shingle samples (figure B) to a home-mechanicals demonstration (figure C).

Note: Before you move into the new house a customer representative also takes you through to demonstrate how to take care of the home, including explanations on the different features and warranties.

In the next segment take a tour of homes in Atlanta that utilize EarthCraft standards for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

RESOURCES :

Oakwood Homes
Phone: 303-486-8500
Website: www.MoreHouseLessMoney.com

Hedgewood Properties
E-mail: sales@hedgewoodhomes.com
Website: www.hedgewoodhomes.com

EarthCraft House™

EarthCraft House is a voluntary green building program of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association that serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. The aim of the program is to help Atlanta's home builders be leaders in smart growth management and environmental stewardship.

Website: www.earthcrafthouse.com

Pulte Homes
Toll-free: 800-777-8583
Website: www.pulte.com

GUESTS :

Paul Kreischer
Energy Efficiency and Comfort Consultant
Lightly Treading
Phone: 303-733-3078
Website: www.lightlytreading.com

Rob Johnson
Energy Efficiency Consultant
EarthCraft House
Website: www.earthcrafthouse.com

Michael Dickens
CEO, BuildIQ
Website: www.buildiq.com