The Comito Column ~ Custom Building Exposed

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:

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.

As we enter our 4^th year of economic downturn with the resultant stresses in the housing market the temptation is greater than ever to go “cheap.” Cheap lots, cheap architects, cheap builders, cheap subs, cheap materials and components and on and on…..

Unfortunately “cheap” almost never equates to good value. While it’s true that many things involved in building cost less than 4 or 5 years ago, there is still no free lunch.

Do you really want to buy a lot that is cheap but offers no view, challenging conditions and is not in a quality area?

Do you really want to hire a cheap designer or architect or draftsman who can’t really spend the time necessary to sweat the details?

Do you really want to commission a builder that is foregoing a reasonable profit to survive but that will be gone soon – maybe while building your home? Or, one that hires the cheapest subs with little talent?

Do you really want to accept inferior lumber, windows, insulation, cabinetry, floor coverings, etc. etc. to save a few bucks? Only to be disappointed and face the prospect of replacing them too soon?

Common sense tells us that a superior home will cost more than an inferior home. A superior home, built by a quality builder with a proven track record, will be built with quality as its theme from the foundation to the final finish details. It will be built to exacting standards, according to a plan that has been carefully prepared by an accomplished architect and builder.

All of us have to find ways to cut cost and offer high quality homes for less in order to be successful. But we also must focus on perfecting performance and customer care as our reputation is on the line with every home we build. If you only want cheap, it’s easy to find – and it’s everywhere. I submit that value is what you really should be looking for.

“Will you have any masonry on the exterior or interior of your custom home?”

Most likely you architect has indicated on your plans some sort of stone or brick accent.  Often times whatever this material is; it will also be carried onto your interior fireplace surround or maybe an accent wall inside, say over your range in the kitchen.

Using “natural stone” products are both beautiful and functional.  They create a timeless and natural feeling for your home.  The depth and texture that a mason creates as he carefully assembles the puzzle pieces will forever be the cornerstone for your home.  Keep in mind that “natural stone” prices for both material and labor can be approximately 40% more expensive than other faux products that we will mention below.  Also, in order for your foundation to carry the weight of “natural stone” a foundation “brick ledge” has to be created.  The labor costs associated with the style of application (i.e. dry stack application with no grout) can also incur additional cost.

Another option would be “natural thin veneer”.  There are several companies that take natural stone and create a thin veneer product.  This accomplishes several things; The “natural stone” look is still there, the cost is less and the weight is now substantially less and does not require a brick ledge.  The mason will still create his masterpiece stone by stone.  This also applies to “natural thin brick” products.  These are created by cutting off the face of a full size brick  (examples of veneers and thin brick  - www.telluridestone.com)

Finally there are “faux stone and brick” products that are a concrete and pumice mixture; manufactured to look like natural stone/brick.  “The faux brick options are often considered more dynamic as they have more options than natural thin brick.  The manufacturer can create a distressed look, various size options, rounded edges, etc.,” says Brian Johannsen of C & C Sand of Colorado Springs.  The cost of faux stone and brick are substantially less than natural stone.  These products are surprisingly very authentic looking and there are endless options.  (www.edloradostone.com).

Visit the C & C Sand showroom at the Coutura Design Inspirations building – www.ccsand.com and take a look at all these options, you’ll be amazed at the look you can create for your new custom home.

As a third generation Colorado Springs Custom Home Builder, Comito Building and Design has been designing and crafting award winning Colorado Springs custom homes since 1983.  Our luxury homes in Colorado Springs are synonymous with extraordinary design, quality, and innovation.  Our team creates homes that are a solid investment for our families who live in them and a testimony to our creativity and craftsmanship.  We hope you will consider us as your resource to help you make your Dream home a Reality.

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.

Debbie Comito – Client Coordinator

Comito Building and Design, LLC

When it comes to choosing a builder for your new Colorado Springs Luxury Home, there are so many important things to look at. The homebuilder you choose will be the one orchestrating everything that goes into building your new custom home, from early design of the home plans to final walkthrough. The relationship and trust you have in the homebuilder needs to be strong, as the process can last up to a year and sometimes longer, plus you will want that strong relationship and trust when it comes to warranty items after your home is complete. When evaluating your options it is important to look at all aspects of each company; Who is on their team? Who will be guiding you through all the selections decisions? Who will be running the jobsite? What is their experience level? How long have they been in business? What do their past clients have to say? Have you seen their product, both under construction and complete?

The National Association of Homebuilders has released a great guide to use when interviewing potential builders click here.

Remember it is always best to do your interviewing early (even before any home plans are drawn) as the homebuilder you choose can be a valuable resource when it comes to designing a home that will fit your home budget.

This process called Design-Build is what we at Comito Building and Design strongly believe in. The team at Comito Building and Design is known for our relationships with our clients, working as a team from the beginning creates greater continuity of service and ultimately a better home at better value for our clients.

As a third generation Colorado Springs Custom Home Builder, Comito Building and Design has been designing and crafting award winning Colorado Springs custom homes since 1983.  Our luxury homes in Colorado Springs are synonymous with extraordinary design, quality, and innovation.  Our team creates homes that are a solid investment for our families who live in them and a testimony to our creativity and craftsmanship.  We hope you will consider us as your resource to help you make your Dream home a Reality.

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.

As a Colorado Springs Custom Home Builder, we often get asked to competitively bid out a finished set of plans for potential customers.  Homebuyers use this process as a way to get a handle on what the home will cost and to obtain the best price. At Comito Building and Design, we prefer to take a different approach, called Design-Build. In this approach we formulate a team consisting of an architect/designer, the client, the builder and sometimes an interior designer. As a team, we will work together from the beginning to design a home that will fit your budget, your home site and your overall design goals.

For nearly 30 years,  this approach has proven to be the best, most efficient and ultimately the least costly in time and money.

Most professional residential architects have embraced this approach because they have seen the true benefits for all involved. The ones that don’t support this approach and instead advocate the “bidding approach” should be asked this question: How many of the homes you have custom designed for your owner clients have never been built? I believe you’ll find the percentage to be quite high! The reason is that even experienced and otherwise very professional architects typically lack the knowledge of where construction costs really are, resulting in a plan that is more costly to build than what the client expects. With a builder involved from the outset, we can advise our clients as to the cost of what they are designing along the way, helping you make design decisions more informed and budget focused.

In the bidding approach; when the costs from a qualified high quality builder come in too high, the first response is to bid the project to inexperienced mediocre contractors to obtain a lower cost – at least initially. Most often the completed project ends up costing as much or more than what the more experience Colorado Springs Custom Home Builder originally quoted.  Additionally, our experience has also shown that the ultimate quality of the finished product and the customers’ experience are sub-standard as well.

In my 30+ years of experience in building high quality homes, I have never seen plans and specifications for high-end custom homes be of adequate detail, quality and clarity for clients to obtain truly comparable pricing. The bidding process encourages the contractor to use inferior products, materials and workmanship to be successfully chosen.

When we manage or participate in the design-build process we are responsible for identifying early on where the budget is going. We help gather all the utility, soils, engineering, geological and other information for the best, most predictable result. Most architects are ill equipped to provide these services and if asked to do so have to charge accordingly. We also provide useful material, product, and contractor recommendations for the architect and client to ensure the best-finished product.

Let us provide you with best experience throughout your Colorado Springs custom home experience! From site selection to move-in, we will seamlessly handle all the details to ensure that you are getting the finished product  and the finished price you desire.

At Comito Building and Design, we believe a great home at a fair price and a wonderful experience should be the desired outcome of your custom home building process. As a third generation Colorado Springs Custom Home Builder, Comito Building and Design has been designing and crafting award winning Colorado Springs custom homes since 1983.  Our luxury homes in Colorado Springs are synonymous with extraordinary design, quality, and innovation.  Our team creates homes that are a solid investment for our families who live in them and a testimony to our creativity and craftsmanship.  We work with many of the top Realtors in the county.  We hope you will consider us as your resource to help you make your Dream home a Reality.

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.

As a homebuilder, I hear this question ALL THE TIME! “Is anyone really building in the current economic climate?”

My response, “Only the smartest ones.”

Are you kicking yourself for not buying stock or mutual funds in March of 2009 (the lowest point for stock indexes in the past 5 years)?

The same relative buying opportunity to purchase or build a new home at incredible value holds true today. Even new construction, which rarely experiences significant price drops, is a relative bargain. We’ve seen overall cost decreases of 15%-20% recently.

In a recent post by Financial analyst Dr. Steve Sjuggerud, True Wealth, Sjuggerud says “Right now, is the best time in history to buy a house in America.”  While many of us in the industry have been touting this for months, Sjuggerud uses century old financial facts - cold, hard facts to back up his claim.

Fact #1 MORTGAGE RATES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST LEVELS IN AMERICAN HISTORY: Investors only see a couple decades of mortgage rates on a chart but Sjuggerud accessed Global Financial Data databases that track real estate data going back centuries.  The charts show mortgage rates since 1900 and as you can see, today’s rates are lower than they were in 1900!

Fact # 2 HOMES ARE MORE AFFORDABLE THAN EVER: Based on a 40-year history of the Housing Affordability Index, Sjuggerud points out that houses are more affordable than they have ever been. Affordability takes into account:  home prices, personal income, and mortgage rates.  Sjuggerud explains this simply, “What people think about when they buy a house isn’t the price of the house …It’s the payment.  People think, “Can I afford this mortgage payment on my monthly income?”

As I said, home prices have dropped significantly – in some markets prices have fallen by one-third. And mortgage rates are at record lows. But, incomes (nationwide) haven’t fallen … which makes homes more affordable than ever. 

Additionally, land prices, which again rarely decrease, are phenomenal bargains. Steals in some instances such as distressed or bank owned properties. With this combination, along with some intestinal fortitude about the future, you can get in or upgrade into a new custom home in Colorado Springs with the latest technology and energy efficiency available today.

At Comito Building and Design, we believe RIGHT NOW, is the time to take advantage of an incredible opportunity to build the Colorado Springs Custom Home of your dreams.  But, industry experts say this opportunity won’t last long!  As we come out of this economic downturn construction crews are slim and building supply inventory is modest. Any uptick in demand will put pressure on prices - fast!

At Comito Building and Design we believe a great home at a fair price and a wonderful experience should be the desired outcome of your custom home building process. As a third generation Colorado Springs Custom Home Builder, Comito Building and Design has been designing and crafting award winning Colorado Springs custom homes since 1983.  Our luxury homes in Colorado Springs are synonymous with extraordinary design, quality, and innovation.  Our team creates homes that are a solid investment for our families who live in them and a testimony to our creativity and craftsmanship. We hope you will consider us as your resource to help you make your Dream home a reality.

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.

As you’ve read, Mark and I are building a custom home with Comito Building and Design.  Many of you are familiar with the large, award winning custom homes by Comito Building and Design, but after months of research and planning, Comito Building and Design is excited to now offer smaller custom homes priced from the $700,000s.  Our home is part of this new collection of custom homes designed for homebuyers who are looking for smaller, less expensive custom homes without compromising on individuality, quality, experience, or style. 

As the Marketing Director for Comito Building and Design, it’s always exciting to see the foundation go in and the walls go up but as a homeowner, I have to tell you that the real excitement is just getting started!  In the last few weeks we’ve been busy with interior and exterior selections with Joni Bader (Comito Building and Design’s award winning interior designer) making selections to create a home that’s uniquely ours.  We’ve also met with Home Run Electronics for the wiring of our new home (Mark really loved this meeting).   

While this is very exciting for us, it could also have been a very overwhelming experience if it weren’t for the Comito Building and Design Client Coordinator, Debbie Comito.  Debbie has attended absolutely every appointment with us as we selected the decorative interior features and exterior finishes of our Colorado Springs Custom Home.  Debbie has painlessly guided us through the selection process.  Her extensive product knowledge and her honest approach to our budget have been extremely helpful.  She’s helped us to make good design choices while being mindful of our budget to make sure that the selections we made would provide us with years of lasting enjoyment and financial success. 

To date, we’ve finalized our exterior stone, stucco and paint colors. On the inside, we’ve selected our cabinets, countertops, floor coverings and tile. We could not be more excited - this home will truly be one of a kind and a reflection of our Colorado Contemporary style!

Stay tuned for more and don’t forget to follow our weekly video blog on our home building process and experience!

A third generation Colorado Springs Custom Home Builder, Comito Building and Design has been designing and crafting award winning Colorado Springs custom homes since 1983.  Our luxury homes in Colorado Springs are synonymous with extraordinary design, quality, and innovation.  Our team creates homes that are a solid investment for our families who live in them and a testimony to our creativity and craftsmanship.

The last time I talked (in my blog) about how the custom home building process starts with the home site.  Now the fun begins - Designing a Colorado Springs custom home to a budget! This task requires an honest and frank discussion with the professionals who are helping bring your dream to reality – your architect (or designer), your builder, and possibly your interior designer.  Oh, and maybe your banker!

Your architect is responsible for translating wants, needs, and dreams into a great design.  She/he is not responsible for meeting your home’s budget.  As your builder we will help with budgetary issues and guidelines throughout the design process. We will weigh in with “ball park” estimates, more efficient ways to achieve the same goals, creativity when asked and advice on materials and techniques.  And most of all – experience. 

Don’t have a builder identified yet?  It’s important to select the right Colorado Springs custom homebuilder from the start.  Remember the part about the architect not being responsible for the budget?  Many of the homes that are designed (without a builder’s assistance and expertise) are never built.  And, the few that do get constructed end up going to the lowest bidder and often still come in over budget.  When it comes to the most expensive and time-consuming purchase of your life, it’s important to remember that the lowest bidder is not always the wisest choice.    Your home needs to be thoughtfully designed and expertly constructed by a team of professionals who will provide you with a home that will give your family comfort, livability, style, and value for years to come. The team approach from the beginning is absolutely the most efficient and cost effective direction for your new custom home. This has been proven to me over and over again during my 30-year career.  Hire good people, establish honest parameters, and build trust. 

Once you’ve identified the right team, you’re ready for the next step(s). Assuming you own or are buying a home site, the first meeting will likely be at the job site.  In Colorado, we are blessed with a variety of home sites that offer views, privacy, trees, and sometimes “interesting” topography.  Typically the design of your dream home and the positioning of your home on the home site will be determined based on optimizing the views, the slope, or the topography of the home site.  Other factors that come into play include the style of the home, design guidelines, covenants, building and zoning codes, availability of utilities, access issues or challenges, soils conditions, etc.

It’s critical that your new home team investigate all the controlling factors before too much design work takes place.  A prime example is the need (often times mandatory) to commission a topographical survey and tree location on a treed home site.

Additionally, most communities and municipalities have height restrictions that are often challenging to meet.  Much depends on the methodology used to calculate height.  It may vary considerably from one jurisdiction to another.  Soils conditions also have a significant impact on the design (and budget) of your new home.  It’s important to know (at least generally) what to expect.  Soils conditions and makeup can vary dramatically from area to area and even from location to location.

Obtaining good information at the outset can save money and eliminate future disappointment. 

At Comito Building and Design, we believe a great home at a fair price and a wonderful experience should be the desired outcome of your custom home building process. As a third generation Colorado Springs Custom Home Builder, Comito Building and Design has been designing and crafting award winning Colorado Springs custom homes since 1983.  Our luxury homes in Colorado Springs are synonymous with extraordinary design, quality, and innovation.  Our team creates homes that are a solid investment for our families who live in them and a testimony to our creativity and craftsmanship.

So, you’ve worked your entire life, have lived in many homes, and now you’re ready to build “your home” – the home of your dreams – the one that perfectly suits your lifestyle.  You’ve saved, you’ve talked to your friends and family, you’ve listened to the media, and you know that rates aren’t going to get any better. But, you still have one nagging questions – How?  How do we start the process of building our own custom home?

The answer is CONGRATULATIONS and IT’S SIMPLE! You are now ready to experience a process many can only dream about.

First, think global. What area? Where do you really want to live? Do you already own your home site or do you need assistance in selecting the ideal neighborhood and the perfect home site for your new custom home? What price range are you comfortable with? (Are the two compatible and realistic?) Remember, everything starts with the home site.

It’s important to make sure that your chosen home site will accommodate your dream home and your budget. Typically the home site should be no more than 20%-25% of the overall budget. Of course, there are exceptions.

Get professional advice (a “builder’s eye”) before you start the purchase of your homesite. An honest, professional builder can guide you through the questions related to topography, utilities, construction costs, and any site challenges that may have to be overcome.

Next comes the really fun part – the design of your new Colorado Springs luxury home! But, that’s another topic for another week….

If you are interested in obtaining additional information on the custom home building process, consider Comito Building and Design.  A third generation Colorado Springs Custom Home Builder, Comito Building and Design has been designing and crafting award winning Colorado Springs custom homes since 1983.  Our luxury homes in Colorado Springs are synonymous with extraordinary design, quality, and innovation. 

For additional information on the building process, contact Comito Building and Design at 719.219.5421 or at http://comitobuildinganddesign.com/contact.