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Home Building

May 26
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open floor plan kitchen living area

Pros & Cons of the Open Floor Plan

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An open floor plan has become a popular layout for new homes over the last few decades. Often referred to as “open concept,” we get many requests for open floor plans when building custom homes in York County, PA.

So, what is an open floor plan? The open floor plan typically refers to the home’s main living areas. For example, the living room, dining, and kitchen areas are one grand open area, rather than having barriers dividing them into individual, more closed-off spaces. Wondering if an open floor plan is right for you? Here are some things to consider.

Pros of an Open Floor Plan

Better Traffic Flow – With fewer walls and doors in the way, it can be easier to carry a heavy load of groceries or reposition furniture. Love to entertain? An open floor plan is ideal for hosting guests – they can easily move about. An open floor plan is also especially beneficial for people with disabilities and aging generations to navigate around the main living areas.

Improved Sightlines – Parents love open floor plans for kitchen and living spaces because it allows for easier multitasking. You can be in the kitchen preparing dinner or cleaning dishes while also keeping an eye on the kids as they play or watch TV nearby.

Makes Your Home Feel Larger and Brighter – Along with a more modern feel, fewer walls and doors help to make your common areas feel spacious. Additionally, an open floor plan optimizes the natural lighting since all your space benefits from the windows on the exterior walls.

Cons of an Open Floor Plan

It May Feel Too Large – If you prefer small, cozy spaces, an open concept living area may seem too big – especially if these areas take up a good amount of square footage.

Lack of Privacy – Just as open sightlines allow for easier multitasking, they can also make you feel as if you are never alone. If you like to listen to music while working in the kitchen, keep in mind that it may compete with a TV in the family room. That goes the other way as well! While watching TV, you may also hear sounds from the kitchen – like the dishwasher, blender, etc.

Obvious Clutter – Without separating walls that often provide nooks and crannies, there are not as many obvious places for storage and organization to hide the clutter of everyday life in open concept living. Maybe you prefer to keep your kitchen messy. With an open floor plan, your messy kitchen is always on display.

Have Something in Mind for Your York County Custom Home?

Share your ideas with us and get inspired to create your dream custom home in York County, PA, with Jeffrey L. Henry Inc. We’ll discuss your needs and preferences to design a floor plan that works for your life now and in the future.  Reach out to us online or call 717-246-5509 for an appointment.

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Feb 19
0
new home dining area

What Makes an Energy Efficient Home?

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An energy efficient home has become an important priority for new home buyers today. There are many reasons for wanting to increase the energy efficiency in a home. Not only does it help keep your utility costs down, but an energy efficient home can also earn you more when it comes time to sell. Not to mention, less energy consumption is much better for the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the home’s carbon footprint. Here are six areas that make a real impact on a home’s energy efficiency.

1. Air Sealing

To reduce drafts, you’ll want to ensure a tight seal around all doors, windows, outlets, and vents. Along the same lines, your ductwork may be leaking if you feel that some rooms are too hot or cold compared to others. Keeping these areas sealed up tight saves energy costs and keeps must, mold, and allergens out.

2. Windows

Not only is a tight seal around your windows vital for energy efficiency, the type of windows you purchase can have a big impact as well. Look for double-pane, low-e windows when building your new custom home. They reduce drafts and heating and cooling costs and limit the amount of outside noise.

3. Lighting

Light bulbs are one of history’s greatest inventions, but they haven’t always been very eco-friendly. Instead of choosing traditional incandescent bulbs, opt for more energy efficient CFL bulbs or even LED lighting choices. These can help reduce your new home’s energy use by 50-75% over existing homes.

4. Equipment

One of the most important areas for energy efficiency is the equipment you use every day without even thinking about it. Your furnace and air conditioning system, as well as the water heater, can reduce your monthly utility bills if they are newer, high-performing models. Look for high-efficiency equipment and a thankless water heater.

5. Insulation

Insulation helps to keep the warm or cool air you’re paying for from the HVAC system inside your house, instead of escaping to the outdoors with all your hard-earned cash. It also helps to block excess noise from the street from entering, so you can enjoy a quieter, more comfortable home.

6. Appliances

One of the most common ways to impact a home’s energy efficiency is with your appliances. Look for Energy Star models of washer and dryer combos, refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers when building your new home. These can help reduce your energy use by half, even over models that are only 10 years old.

ENERGY STAR Standards for New Homes

At Jeffrey L. Henry, Inc. we are a builder participant in the Pennsylvania Energy Efficient New Homes Program. This means we must calculate the performance score of each qualifying home. The same ENERGY STAR® label that indicates efficiency for home appliances is also used to certify new homes. A home only receives the ENERGY STAR label after passing a series of stringent inspections and performance testing. Homes built to ENERGY STAR standards typically achieve energy savings of 20-30%.

Ensure your next custom home building project is a success. Contact us online today or call 717-246-5509 to start talking about your custom energy efficient home in York County, PA.

In 2019, the Jeffrey L. Henry, Inc. team won the York Builders Association’s PEAK Achievement Award for Best Green Home in the Energy Efficiency/Sustainability category sponsored by the Pennsylvania Energy Efficient New Homes Program. Learn more about that here.

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Nov 15
0

Tips for a Stress-Free Building or Remodeling Project

By | Home Building, Remodeling | No Comments

Do you cringe at the idea of starting a new home build or remodeling project? Sure, there is some level of anxiety to be expected with moving forward on any kind of major project. However, there are steps you can take to ensure that your next experience with a professional builder or remodeler is as stress-free as possible! Heck, we’d even go so far as to say it should be gratifying!

Embarking on a major building or remodeling project will require some patience, but with good planning and the right builder you should be able to reduce worry and enjoy the overall process.

Ready for a stress-free building or remodeling project? Keep these tips in mind!

  1. Choose a Builder or Remodeler You Trust. You know yourself and what kind of working relationship will help you feel comfortable through what could be a long-term project. In addition to trust, you’ll need to understand your builder’s communication style, know who your primary point of contact will be and be able to work well together to put a solid plan in place. Large projects can be disruptive. Make sure you hire someone that will be accessible to you, help you fully understand costs and timelines, and someone you’ll be able to speak honestly with about concerns that come up. If you’d like to learn more about choosing the right builder, we recommend you do these five things. Having the right contractor in place is a MAJOR key to de-stressing your project!
  2. Select Your Design. You might have wonderful visions in your head, but solidifying a design will help you plan for important next steps like creating a realistic budget, timeline, etc. Your builder will be able to help you determine what it possible, make recommendations on how to maximize your investment, and provide a proposal for your project.
  3. Have a Plan. Your plan should be comprehensive and will have many moving parts, so take your time in creating a one that makes sense for your individual needs. Your plan should include:
    1. Timeline – How long is your project expected to take? Will you stay in your home (if remodeling) and what arrangements need to be made? If you’ll be living in your home make sure you work out the details with your builder as to family schedules, pets in the home, etc.
    2. Budget – Make sure you have the financial resources available when you need them. Work out a schedule with your builder as to how/when your payments will be made. Payments are typically tied to major stages of completion and a percentage before work is started. Be wary of anyone asking for a very large sum or the total cost upfront!
    3. Understand your Contract – Your builder should detail the project scope and include information about budget, payments, responsibilities, change order procedures, warranties, etc.
    4. Keep Proper Files & Documentation – Organize your documents so that you have easy access to everything if/when you need to refer back to it. Consider keeping your proposal, contract, all correspondence, invoices, orders, payments, etc. together in a binder or project folder.
  4. Be Able to Step Aside. With a respectable builder, a good design and plan in place, you should be able to breathe freely and enjoy the process from a distance. Keep your perspective and understand that things “will come up.” Weather, materials shortages or other unexpected events are inevitable. Stay focused on a positive end result, keep lines of communication open with your builder and prioritize time for yourself or the family to get away and enjoy some favorite activities.

A smooth building or remodeling process requires patience, planning and a partner that you have confidence in!

At Jeffrey L. Henry Inc. one of our primary objectives is building relationships with our clients and making the project experience a positive one. We’ve been making custom home and remodeling project dreams come true since 1987. Learn more about what makes Jeffrey L. Henry Inc. special!

Oct 14
0
Jeffrey and Justin Henry of Jeffrey L Henry, Inc Custom Home Builder

Discover the Jeffrey L. Henry Inc. Difference!

By | Home Building, Uncategorized | No Comments

There are many reasons to build your custom home or embark on your next remodeling project with the Jeffrey L. Henry, Inc. team. But the key things that set us apart as an exceptional home builder? Our reputation for quality, our commitment to our clients and our extraordinary culture!

A Reputation for Superior Quality – Surrounded by a family of builders, Jeff Henry set out to build his own business with a firm foundation in expert craftsmanship and exceptional attention to detail in 1988. Understanding that our homes reflect our personalities and are sanctuaries for everything we hold dear, the Jeffrey L. Henry, Inc. team takes the time to do things right. We challenge ourselves at the onset of every project to be the best custom home building and remodeling company we can be because that’s what our customers deserve.

Our commitment to education is demonstrated by the completion of various certifications, including the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Certified Green Professional designation. And our dedication to excellence is recognized by dozens of awards, including 2019 Best of York – Best New Home Builder and 2019 PEAK Achievement Awards for Best Custom Home and Best Green Home.

Our Commitment to Clients – Whether it’s a small remodeling project, an addition or a custom home, the Jeffrey L. Henry, Inc. team is committed to ensuring the best possible experience for the homeowner. As a custom builder, we don’t follow standard floorplan designs, but deliver based on the client’s taste and specifications – be it conservative, contemporary or ultra-modern. Our process is set up to keep our clients involved and informed and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Building trust with our clients is what keeps us in business. Check out our video – At Jeffrey L. Henry, Inc. Relationships Matter!

The Jeffrey L. Henry, Inc. Culture – We genuinely love what we do, and we believe that drives our company’s culture. When we treat clients and employees with integrity and do the kind of work that makes people feel good, we are successful. Our culture is unique in today’s environment and tends to attract individuals who are committed to their craft and enjoy being part of our team – resulting in low employee turnover.

Our roots and our work are in York County, Pa. We are invested in the community, including involvement in several associations, support of charitable organizations, schools, sports teams and more. We are a proud member of the York Builders Association (YBA), the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

So, your dream home awaits! Are you ready to discover the Jeffrey L. Henry difference for yourself? Contact us today!

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Jul 25
0

Hiring a Custom Home Builder?

By | Home Building | 7 Comments

You have dreams and ideas and know that you don’t want to have to choose between just a few floor plans. You’ve decided that you want a home that is designed specifically to meet your needs. It’s time to hire a custom home builder!

A custom home is a big investment and the builder you select should be a true partner in the process, which is why we recommend you take the necessary time upfront to find the right builder for the job.

We recommend you do these 5 things when hiring a custom home builder (or remodeler):

  1. Seek Out Local Reputation: For starters, ask your family, friends, and co-workers to recommend any custom home builders that have local expertise in the area where you want to build. Reaching out to your local builder’s association is always an excellent start as well. In the York, PA area, that would be the York Builders Association. A quality builder is certainly capable of building anywhere, but you want a builder or remodeling professional who truly knows the area and is familiar with local regulations, inspectors, permitting, and more.
  2. Set Up a Consultation: Once you’ve compiled your list of builders, it’s time to meet them face to face. Bring a prepared list of questions; don’t be afraid to ask them. Ask the questions that will help give you the confidence you need to take the next steps. Licensing & insurance, how long have they been in business, what sub-contractors they will use, what kind of materials do they use, who will be the project manager? etc. An experienced builder or remodeler who is customer-focused will be willing to answer any and all questions honestly and openly. They should offer up details on how every phase of the process works – from estimating through completion and even what the process is for follow-up and repairs.
  3. Ask for References: An experienced builder or remodeler should be able to provide you with at least 3-4 previous customers for references. Nobody has the experience of working closely with a builder better than a current or previous customer. It’s a good idea to get at least one or two that are recent and one or two that are a few years old. This gives you different perspectives on how issues or concerns that come up years down the road are handled and those that might be more recent. Ask about value, quality, and their overall experience. A previous customer’s ongoing relationship with their home builder tells an important story!
  4. Check Out Their Work: Visit several past projects and ask to see a project currently underway. Does the builder seem to have a certain style of home that they specialize in, or is there a range? Look for any specialty work or customizations that you have in mind for your own project and see for yourself the quality of the work they’ve completed.
  5. Get a Feel for their Style of Communication: Your custom home builder or remodeler is someone you’re going to have a relationship with and be in regular contact with throughout the length of the home building or remodeling project, so make sure you’re on the same page with your communications style & preferences! How often will they provide updates, how accessible will they be, who will be your main point of contact, etc? You want a builder who is a good listener – one who understands your vision, but one that will also bring their insights to the table.

Building a custom home is a lot of work. There are many steps in the process and many decisions to be made along the way. Working with a custom home builder who is a true partner – one that you trust – helps make the experience incredibly rewarding! Just like your dream home, your choice of a builder is personal. Keep these factors in mind, listen to your instincts, and move ahead feeling confident about your custom home journey!

Have ideas about the custom home of your dreams? We’d love to hear about it! Contact us today to set up a consultation!

Need inspiration? Check out some of our work!