How Do I Find the Perfect Home
QUESTION:
What factors should I consider when selecting a builder?
ANSWER:
From Carolyn Helmlinger, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, named DesMoines Area Association of Realtors Realtor of the Year in 2007:
Buying a home is such a “high” that you need to do your research carefully. Ask around when you do your home work. Is this home by this builder a good value for my investment? Will this builder be there next year to handle the warranty? Does this builder have a good reputation and financial stability? Ask all those questions before making a decision.
If you’re still paying rent, can you jump in and start the cycle of ownership? Yes, you might hear about the downturn in the housing market right now, but I would hate to find myself in 2009 wishing that I had bought a home in 2008. There are fantastic interest rates, a wonderful base of home selections, and many incentives right now to help out.
When change comes, there will be BIG changes in the market, and I promise you, all of this will balance out. I’ve been in the business for 28 years, and I know that it will. Spring always, always brings good momentum.
QUESTION:
What factors should I consider when picking a neighborhood?
ANSWER:
From Doug Burnett, owner/broker of Burnett Realty:
What is the general location of the neighborhood? What is the makeup of the neighborhood culture? What is the makeup and age of the neighborhood residents? Ask questions and check out the territory.
People change over their lifetimes, and economics change. My wife, Rochelle, and I have lived in about every suburb of DesMoines. Each one was right for our family at the time. When we moved from Urbandale five years ago, Sherman Hill “called” to us. We wanted to live in a real neighborhood, and we have found it. It would not have been right for us earlier in our lives.
QUESTION:
How do I figure out what the schools are really like in the area?
ANSWER:
From Jo Judkins of Iowa Realty:
In Iowa, we are so lucky. We are blessed with good schools everywhere! I find that if I have out-of-town clients looking to purchase a home in this market, they have done their homework in most cases. If someone wants an area of older homes, then they accept the schools that are established there. If someone chooses the school in an area first, then we work with selecting a home around that decision.
First off, I tell clients to check out Iowa Realty.com and click on the school district link. I can fax or email them a list of schools. We may setup a visit to a school, or we may even go with them on such a visit and encourage them to check out the overall feel of the school.
In so many other parts of the country, schools are such an issue. Here we have such great public schools across the board. Some home owners, of course, are seeking parochial or private schools, so it’s important that we know where those are located, too, from elementary to high schools and work with potential homeowners accordingly to find homes.
QUESTION:
What is the ENERGY STAR designation on Hubbell-built homes?
ANSWER:
From Bob Brice, president of Cenergy:
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy. The EPA introduced ENERGY STAR as a voluntary labeling program to identify and promote energy-efficient products, office equipment, and residential heating and cooling equipment in order to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The program has delivered energy and cost savings across the country, saving businesses and consumers about $14 billion in 2006 alone.
Cenergy is an independent environmental inspection company, and the key word is independent. We truly are an independent third party, and we inspect every home that Hubbell Homes builds. Homes are built to a standard performance test and rated
on the HERS, or Home Energy Rating System. The goal is to have a ranking of 85 or less, making it 15 percent better than code requirements.
The most important factor in making a new home energy efficient and receiving the ENERGY STAR certification involves insulation, specifically the type and the quantity and how well it is installed. We do a pre-drywall inspection, and then at the end we come back to do an airtight test and also a duct leakage test.
I can safely say that Hubbell goes above and beyond when it comes to mechanical ventilation, and that’s extremely important.
Cenergy, as building and energy experts, provides a range of cost-effective, energy-related design and consulting services to builders, architects, and mortgage industry professionals.