The Comito Column ~ Custom Building Exposed

Update to the latest Custom Home Building and Remodeling trends in The Pikes Peak Region and beyond. New home products, green building, alternative energy efficient new homes, state of the art building techniques, architectural design trends will all be discussed. Get the latest on new home communities, niche properties, and great building lots in Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas.

Outdoor Entertaining Spaces ~ A Must Have in Your New Custom Home

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Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Coming off the Labor Day holiday many of us spent time outdoors enjoying the warm days with family and friends and in most cases these gatherings were probably centered around food and entertaining. Over the past few years one trend we have seen requested in almost every Colorado Springs Custom Home we design and build is outdoor living and entertaining space. With our fantastic Colorado weather, homeowners want to be able to live and entertain in comfortably appointed and decorated outdoor spaces, including complete outdoor kitchens and covered sitting areas with gas fireplaces. Check out this award winning outdoor space from a design-build team in Flat Head Lake, MT.

National Association Of Homebuilders ~ Outdoor Entertainment Space Adds New Dimension to Lakeside Retreat

When the owners of a home along Flathead Lake in Somers, Mont., approached the builder about creating an outdoor entertainment space, they specifically requested the inclusion of a kitchen and dining/gathering area that would enable them to prepare meals for friends and family while also feeling like part of the lakeside activities.

To meet that challenge, the builder/architect designed and positioned an outdoor kitchen on the main level of the home overlooking the beach, sunning deck and boat dock and adjacent to the main level outdoor living room. 

This outdoor kitchen earned the 2010 Best in American Living Awards Platinum award in the Outdoor Room category. 

 Convenient and Impressive - With a View

The outdoor kitchen features a large DCS barbecue/grill with two oven drawers and a special drawer for seasonings; generous granite countertops; and a spacious granite island prep bar - all strategically centered on the water view.

Double bi-parting, 6-foot patio doors provide convenient access to the interior kitchen and dining space, making it short work for even the most involved meals for large gatherings of friends and family.

 Low-Maintenance, Protected From the Elements 

While the low-maintenance kitchen is covered, the materials and finish were selected to further protect the kitchen from the elements.

The kitchen features stone tiled flooring and cabinet boxes built of marine-grade plywood with a marine finish. The cabinets boast scrub-planed, antique glazed cherry doors, and the pullout drawers provide perfect storage for the outdoor entertainment bar supplies.

 Efficient, Spacious, Flowing

The efficient kitchen design includes a corner sink, ice maker, large refrigerator, island prep bar and dining area for eight.

The space flows onto an expansive outdoor living room with access to the lawn and a beautiful stained and stamped concrete patio - which then leads to a generous lakeside deck and boat dock.


At Comito Building and Design, we build custom homes with our unique design-build approach, that begins with our team designing a home that perfectly suits your homesite and budget. If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the custom home building process or any of our Colorado Springs luxury home sites call us at 719.219.5421 or visit us online at Comito Building and Design.



Semi-Custom vs. Custom Builders

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Monday, August 20, 2012

Many new customers that we talk to about building a new Colorado Springs Custom Home are confused about the difference between a semi-custom home and a custom home. 

The decision to build a custom home or a semi-custom home is a key first decision and one that largely impacts the choices you will make down the line from light fixtures to flooring to bedrooms.

But what is the true difference between custom and semi-custom homes?

Custom homes
Custom homes give you, as the homeowner, full control over the quality and function of your new home. These homes are unique; they are designed specifically for you and the piece of land on which you want to build. Those desiring a custom home often work with a design-build team which helps them decide on their piece of land and design a home to fit that particular homesite. Because of their originality, custom homes require you to make many decisions, and some time will be spent researching products and visiting stores that sell these products.

House in the palm of a hand 300x199 Building a Custom Dream Home: Advantages and DisadvantagesSemi-custom homes
With semi-custom homes, the builder provides you with pre-designed house styles and floor plans, and you pick the one that best fits your housing preferences. Often times, these existing designs can be modified slightly to fit personal specifications. Modifications might also be made for a specific piece of land on which you want to build. Similarly, there is some flexibility in the products and features that you choose for these houses; however, the home builder usually has narrowed the choices for you.

Advantages of custom homes

  • When building a custom home, you have full control over each aspect of your home.
  • You are an integral  part of the design-build team, your ideas, desires and budget drive the project.
  • The home is designed specifically to your homesite which enables the home to  take full advantage of any views or focal points.
  • Ultimately, you decide every product and feature in the house.
  • As a custom home owner, you live in a unique home and can appreciate each of the choices you made during the building process.
  • The functionality and quality of your home is to your standards and meshes perfectly with your lifestyle.

Disadvantages of custom homes

  • Building a custom home is typically more expensive depending on the products and features you choose.
  • The unique products and features in custom homes are not purchased at bulk rate costs; therefore, you often pay more per square foot.
  • Typically, custom homes take longer to build.

Advantages of semi-custom homes

  • You can find a new home that fits your needs, but you do not have to develop a blueprint from scratch.
  • While working within your builder’s pre-set budgets, you can often choose quality features and products to customize the home.
  • Some products and features, though not as unique as those in some custom homes, may be purchased at bulk rate costs; therefore, the cost per square foot is less.
  • By beginning the home-building process with a pre-designed home style and floor plan, some people feel more confident in their ability to build a house that fits personal wants and needs.

Home owning family 300x199 Building a Custom Dream Home: Advantages and DisadvantagesDisadvantages of semi-custom homes

  • You may have to make significant sacrifices on products and house styles.
  • Quality and functionality may be compromised.
  • Multiple modifications to these homes may cause you to spend more money than was originally anticipated or budgeted.
  • Homebuilders set budgets that may rule out some high-end home products and features.

While there are advantages and disadvantages to both types of homes, it is important for those looking to build a home to accurately assess their desired home specifications. How important is uniqueness? What is your budget? What is your construction time frame? Asking these types of questions can greatly aid you in making a decision on the type of home to build and better ensure that you enjoy one of the largest investments you’ll ever make – your new home.

At Comito Building and Design, we build custom homes with our unique design-build approach, that begins with our team designing a home that perfectly suits your homesite and budget. If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the custom home building process or any of our Colorado Springs luxury home sites call us at 719.219.5421 or visit us online at Comito Building and Design.


Who Will Be Your Building Partner?

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Monday, August 06, 2012

“Within budget”…”on time”….”quality workmanship”…”superior service”…”positive experience”….”lasting relationships”…if you are currently shopping for a home designer and/or builder you have heard these phrases over and over. And while they are legitimate and worthy of the truth, they don’t distinguish one builder from another, and they are each subjective phrases.

So while you consider who will be your partner in creating your home, think to yourself “what are the top 3-5 aspects of our new home and the process that are the most important to me and my family?” If you decide that quality, budget and service are your highest priorities than develop a list of questions that will make it clear to you whether a designer/builder can deliver on these aspects of the process. For me to tell you, “our materials are all high quality” doesn’t very well prove to you anything. However, if I show you a variety of options within our framing methods, our insulation product and our a/c systems than you can decide if these represent “quality materials.” Furthermore, toasting to your newly poured foundation with a glass of champagne might not be your idea of superior service.

My point is that our team at Comito Building and Design makes it our priority to understand your expectations and your desired experience and we work to deliver on that. We are unique in many ways: our design experience, our construction experience and our genuine care about what you experience and receive. Please let me know how I can help you understand the details of our design/build process.

– Claude Comito

Value Engineering: The Importance & Tips

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Monday, May 14, 2012

As part of our Design-Build process we focus a lot on value engineering the plans we design. The process of Value Engineering is closely looking at how a plan or blueprint functions in an effort to make the living space as efficient and cost effective to build while maintaining the overall feel and design of the home. In many cases simplifying the plan a little bit can save big money, in order to realize the benefit of Value Engineering it is important to have an experienced builder who has a handle on current construction costs on your team at the start of the design process. This is a great article with an example of how it is done.


Value engineering can save time and money on any size job, even a multimillion-dollar home. The key is to start early with a team that you trust and communicate well with, says Robert Hidey of Robert Hidey Architects in Irvine, CA. “We ask a lot of questions initially, trying to drill into budget issues and define the overall direction of the project,”

He recommends that construction costs be reviewed at the conceptual, schematic, design development, and construction document phases. “I’d say 50 percent or more of the time it’s not done that way, and we end up at the back end of a project when it’s very difficult to take significant dollars out. You can always dial back the finishes and minimize some of the ornamental detailing, but the sad part is you’re downgrading to hit a construction budget.”

To illustrate proven value engineering tactics for the custom home building market, Hidey put together this side-by-side comparison of two homes designed in 2002 (before VE) and 2012 (after VE efforts). The concepts include condensed program spaces (no living room or family room); simplified, functional outdoor spaces; a simplified roof structure; and the elimination of recessed and shaped window openings.

Example Before Value Engineering:



After Value Engineering:




A Time Of Great Opportunity To Build Your Custom Home

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Monday, May 07, 2012

The husband and wife team of Claude & Debbie Comito of Comito Building and Design are feeling good about the custom home building market in 2012. With recent home sales and building permits trending upwards, land costs at relatively low levels, now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity to build a new home.

Comito Building and Design has been designing and building high quality custom homes in the Pikes Peak Region for over 29 years, they have a proven reputation for excellence and an unmatched level of customer service. They utilize a unique design-build approach that takes on the process of building a home as a team, with an architect, a builder and a homeowner.  “When we take this approach, we hit our goal almost all the time of getting people what they want for what they want to spend” Claude Comito says.

Incredible Land Buys. The process starts with finding the right home site, and right now there are incredible land opportunities. Comito Building and Design is a great resource when it comes to locating a building site for your new home. They are experts in evaluating building sites and the advantages or constraints that each may present.  They currently have a handful of lots that are incredible buys in the District 12 area.

Once the home site has been selected the team works with you to design a home that fits the site, your needs and your budget. Construction costs are down 15%-20% and the team at Comito Building and Design doesn’t see that lasting much longer, again making this an ideal time to start the building process. Comito Building and Design is able to build homes from $650,000; with land prices where they are, clients are able to get Comito’s top-notch quality and thoughtful design for under $800,000.

Remodel. If you are looking to stay put and update or re-invent your current home, Comito Building and Design is available to remodel as well. “We feel we offer the best value of anyone doing what we do, because you know you are getting top quality and service at very competitive prices” Comito says.


If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the custom home building process or any of our Colorado Springs luxury home sites call us at 719.219.5421 or visit us online at Comito Building and Design.


Great Real Estate Recession Coming to an End?

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Monday, April 09, 2012

As our national economy finally starts to pick up steam we have to ask the questions: Will 2012 truly mark the beginning of a real estate recovery? Will values start to turn upward? Will people have the confidence to buy or build homes this year?

I believe the answers are YES, YES, YES!

In fact the recent sales & permit data already support this. I certainly don’t think that the market will increase dramatically in the short term. Over the long term, however, events are coming together that will restore faith in the housing market. To be sure, there is still much pain to be felt; and few expect values and activity to rival the mid 2000’s anytime soon; but that’s probably a good thing.

Having lived and worked through (and survived!) three previous housing recessions, I can predict some things for certain:

  1. The recovery will be tepid in many areas and robust in others (location, location, location)
  2. Our “buyer’s market” will shift to a more “neutral market” in most places. Highly desirable areas will shift to a “seller’s market”
  3. What is presently perceived as an overabundance of inventory will someday soon become a scarcity. Especially in new well priced homes, and quality building lots.
  4. Prices of materials, labor and mortgages will go up as demand increases.
  5. Present “below market” opportunities will vanish-QUICKLY.

If you’re still sitting on the fence and wondering if it truly is a good time and opportunity to buy or build- don’t delay- You might miss it!

Check out the latest article in Builder Magazine: 2012 Growth Looks Good

If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the custom home building process or any of our Colorado Springs luxury home sites call us at 719.219.5421 or visit us online atComito Building and Design.

-Claude Comito

Lightning Protection ~ A Smart Investment For Your Custom Home

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Monday, March 26, 2012

There is a lot to think about when you are building your new Colorado Springs Custom Home.  From aesthetic details to ensuring your custom home is secure, the list can go on forever.  One of the most common items people forget about is lightning protection. We recommend that our customers look into lightning protection for their new homes, as it is a great value considering what you are protecting and the amount of strikes we see in this area every year. 

Tornadoes, high winds and snow are the most common weather related news coverage in the state of Colorado.  Lightning strikes are rarely covered but account for several billion dollars annually in structural damage to buildings across the country.  Colorado had on average 5.0 flashes per square mile from 1997 to 2010.  Lightning related damage can be prevented.  Installing a lightning protection system, which meets U.S. Safety Standards, will provide a safe path for lightning to travel to the ground and in turn will save money and possible structural damage to your new custom home.

Lightning protection systems consist of numerous components which are constructed from highly conductive copper or aluminum alloys.  A lightning protection system is intended to last the life of the structure it protects.  When a proper lightning protection system is designed and installed it will create a faraday cage which will protect the home.

There is also a lot of information on the hazards and damage that can be caused by lightning strikes.  We recommend the following websites for more information:

Lightning protection systems are the only scientifically proven way to prevent structural damage from lightning strikes.  So when you’re building your new Colorado Springs Custom Home make sure you add lightning protection to the list of things to look into.  Check out Mr. Lightning’s website at www.mrlightning.com


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