LET’S BEGIN
Now that you’ve settled on a floor plan and signed your contract, the most fun part of the home building process begins! A week or two after the contract, it will be time to come to the design center and make the selections for the interior and exterior of your home. Since there are so many things to think through when it comes to your home, we have a few tips to make the process easier and less overwhelming.

PLAN OF THE MONTH: THE DRAYTON

The Drayton plan is a spacious low country farmhouse plan. With 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, there’s room for any family. The 10′ ceilings with extra large 7′ tall windows bring in loads of natural light, and the 9′ island has plenty of space for both cooking and entertaining. The exterior siding is the perfect backdrop for stone or brick accents, and many clients are choosing the board and batten style siding instead of the traditional horizontal lap siding.

WHY LIGHTING MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

When most people are thinking about how their new home is going to look, they concentrate on things like cabinets, flooring, and plumbing fixtures. While these items are definitely crucial to the overall design of the space and should be the first ones considered, few people ever think about the lighting in their home – one of the things that can truly transform a space.

TOP 5 ELECTRICAL ADDITIONS

Electrical items are relatively inexpensive yet they can make life in your new home so much easier. We’ve all experienced the frustration of needing another outlet or having places in a room that are too dark because of lack of light. Our floorplans eliminate these frustrations with lots of recessed can lighting and tons of outlets, but there are a few fun items that might make the way your home functions for you that much better. Here are our top 5 electrical items to consider adding to your new home.

PLAN OF THE MONTH: THE MAGNOLIA

The Magnolia plan is one of the most popular plans here at Collins Builders. This two-story home boasts 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 living spaces, and an office. A formal dining room, large kitchen, and expansive island make entertaining in this home a dream. The master bedroom has his and hers closets, and the bath has both a tub and shower for the perfect retreat. The second floor has 4 bedrooms centered around a large game room. A two story foyer and two story family room make the home feel even larger than it is.

ALL ABOUT COUNTERTOPS

Here at Collins Builders, we have two main types of countertops in our design center: granite and quartz. Both are excellent options, but clients often ask us which one is best for their home. There are a few things to consider to answer this question for yourself, but just know that whichever you choose, you will have a beautiful, durable countertop that will last.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT BACKSPLASH

The kitchen is truly the heart of any home. It’s the room where we entertain, have long conversations, and cook the meals that we serve to our friends and family. Because it’s such an important space, everyone longs for a beautiful kitchen. One of the easiest ways to make your new kitchen stand out from the rest is with a backsplash, but with all the choices available today, how do you pick the right one?

CABINET STYLES

When it comes to setting the style of your home, one of the most influential factors is the cabinets you choose. Since many of today’s plans have open concept kitchens as the center of the home, your kitchen cabinets in particular are a major design element. With so many different colors and styles to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?

5 OPTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

When building a new home, everyone focuses on the big things like how many bedrooms and baths they need, two car versus 3 car garage, etc. And these items are of course, the most important. However, once you have the layout done, did you know there are many small things you can add to your home that will make living that much easier?

IMPACT OF INTEREST RATES

Here’s a quick read from one of our Preferred Lenders Ian Macdonald on Interest Rates.

Lately, I have been asked about the impact of interest rates on the affordability in the housing market. While rates have certainly fluctuated to higher levels over the last year they have come down since the beginning of March and from a historical perspective, interest rates are still very low. In fact, rates are about the same right now as they were in the beginning of 2017. So, let’s look at how rates affect a person’s purchasing power and the affordability of a home…