Selecting Your General Contractor

There is nothing more exciting than building your own home!  After having an architect design your custom home, or selecting a plan you like from a website like Southern Cottages House Plans, the next step is finding a general contractor to build your dream house.

The best way to find a good contractor in your area is word of mouth. Ask neighbors or a local realtor if they know some good residential builders that you can contact.  You can also call local residential architects and ask them for some contractors they have worked with before.

When talking with a prospective builder, ask for several references that you can contact.  Then call the references.  This is to help you be confident that you will be working with a reputable contractor.  Here are some questions to ask:  What are their thoughts about the company in general?  Who was the superintendent they worked with (the representative of the construction company who is consistently on the jobsite) and how did they like him?  Did they have any problems with the contractor and what were they?  How did the contractor resolve the problems and was it in a way they were happy about?  Did the contractor stay on budget and finish their home on time?  And most importantly, do they love the way their home turned out?  People are usually happy to share both good and bad information.  Remember, this is your dream home and you do not want a negative experience while it is being built.  Checking references is the best way to try to avoid that.

Once you have decided on a contractor, ask for a construction quote based on your construction document set.  This will tell you how much they think it will cost to build your home.  Be sure to do this before signing a contract with any general contractor or sub-contractors.  If you are happy about the quote then sign a contract.  If you are not happy with the quote then you are free to take your plans to another general contractor for another quote.  Then you can compare two quotes to get a better idea of your construction costs. 

Once you have signed a contract it is only a matter of (construction) time before you can begin living in your dream home.  Good luck!

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Live at the Beach All Year Long

The following are some of our favorite beach decorating elements to remind us of one of our favorite locations.

1.  The use of natural beach items. 

Sand, starfish and seashells make a centerpiece extra special.

A picture frame with starfish and sandollars capture beach memories.

2.  Lighting

A simple hurricane candle holder as a centerpiece on a dining table or as an accent in a room.

Light fixtures reminiscent of a waterfront boardwalk, like this Wire Cage Pendant light.

3.  Letting the outdoors come in.

Operable shutters to open the space to outside.

A rug with tropical plant leaves

4.  The color white.

Fresh, clean, comfortable.

White furniture with accents that provide pops of color in a room.

5.  The use of rattan, wicker and other woods.

A rattan bed completed with beach inspired sheets.

A simple lamp with minimal decoration.

Baskets for storage on a shelf or under a coffee table.

You can add a few of these elements to your room or incorporate all of them to have the feeling of living at the beach all year long.  

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Nags Head Cottage

The Nags Head Cottage was designed in the tradition of the Nags Head Vernacular of the Outer Banks of the North Carolina Coast. Wrap-around porches provide protection from the elements. Rooftop balconies take advantage of magnificent views.

Some features of the Nags Head Cottage include 4 bedrooms, each with their own bathroom; a half bath for guests; 3,161 square feet of heated space on three levels; a game room; garage space for two cars; plenty of storage; and an outdoor shower for rinsing off the salt and sand when you come back from the beach.

Front Elevation

Left Elevation

Rear Elevation

Right Elevation