What’s Included in a Luxury Custom Home Build, and How Much Does It Cost?

Maybe you’ve considered building a home, but must address the all-important question: Can I afford it? Luxury homes in Dallas come in all shapes and sizes. Chances are you can find a custom home that fits your needs and budget, but you’ll have to do a little legwork first. Here’s what you need to know about the home-building process:

Location, Location, Location

One of the biggest factors affecting your home-build will be where you build it. In Dallas, there is Highland Park, University Park, Preston Hollow, Lake Highlands, Lakewood, Richardson, Plano, Frisco, North Dallas...just so may options! Dallas neighborhoods range from very expensive to “up and coming.” Choose the latter and you may find you can get more house for your buck. Even better, you may find that your home appreciates over time. Keep in mind that as you price out property in different neighborhoods, taxes may vary considerably by location. You can easily estimate your property tax by talking to a local government branch, or looking up tax records of nearby houses with a similar value (or projected value).

Renovations Versus New Builds

If you’re currently in a home that can no longer accommodate your growing family, you might be thinking that a renovation is the best option. In some cases, renovations can be a cost-effective alternative to starting a new home from scratch. In others, however, a new build may actually be more frugal. For example, adding an addition can uncover unforeseen problems that may make working with your existing structure a cost-sink. This may apply to older homes, especially those built before the 1950s (when both asbestos and lead-based paint were used). Remember, these are most dangerous when disturbed, so you could be looking at costly remediation to make your home hazard-free. Lead remediation alone can cost tens of thousands of dollars. In other words: do your homework before choosing a renovation over a new build.

Consider Your Budget

A home cost in Dallas will vary greatly depending on the scope of the build and where you choose to build it. There is no set cost for custom homes, as each McClung home is completely unique and tailored to the individual. As a good rule of thumb, however, expect a new build to cost anywhere from $100-$400 per square foot. Having a home that meets your exact specifications, however, can be priceless.

Tony McClung will guide you through the custom home building process using his decades of experience and architectural design knowledge. For more information about our custom homes, please contact us.

Four Things to Remember While Building a Custom Home

Think of new home construction and most prospective home builders think of miscommunication between contractors and missed project deadlines, right? Wrong. While these are hallmarks of less-than-prepared building companies, with the right team, you can step into your dream home on schedule and under budget. If you’re beginning your journey in building a custom home, keep these things in mind to make the process as smooth as possible. You’ll step over the threshold of your new build before you know it.

Address the Present and the Future

Life changes and families grow. Rather than building a home that addresses your present needs, plan one that addresses your future ones, as well. Do you plan to have kids (or more of them)? Do your parents or in-laws rely on you for support? Plan more than the next five years – think 10, even 20 years down the road.

Think Layout and Flow

When planning a home, most people think open floor plan, number of rooms, number of floors, the “man cave,” and so on. While this is part of what makes custom home planning fun, these aren’t your only considerations. While less entertaining, planning the mechanical aspects of your home (HVAC, plumbing, and electrical components) is equally important. For example, ensure that you have enough electrical outlets to run all your appliances and gadgets. Addressing these aspects during the planning process assures your home has both form and function. Also, think of how you’ll use each room. It’s easy to get caught in the whirlwind of custom home building: Will you actually use the craft room, the second sitting room, or the library? Think carefully and prioritize. Put your budget into amenities that make your home functional, instead of rooms that will sit unused.

Choose a Designer and Builder Combination

People often have an architect to create their vision and a builder to bring it to life. When these are two separate teams, you’re more likely to have miscommunication between members and a budget and timeline that go off the rails. Pick a professional who both plans and builds homes.

This has a few distinct advantages:

• Such a professional can bring your vision to life – while following local codes, zoning restrictions, and the law of the land. It would be devastating to spend time and energy building your dream home only to have a builder tell you it can’t become a reality.
• It’s easier to keep track of your budget. Your hard-earned dollars are going to one person, so it’s easier to keep track of where to allocate them – and the project is more likely to come in under budget when finished.
• Seamless communication minimizes chances of mistakes. Your designer/builder combo team will be the point of communication for all subcontractors, like HVAC and electrical. With expertise in both fields, this team can address problems as they arise and keep your vision intact.

Think Location

One of the biggest benefits of custom home building is the freedom to choose your perfect location. You may have wanted that rural lifestyle, only to find you dislike the longer trips to the grocery store, work, or school. Think carefully about the location you choose and make sure you can live with every aspect of living in an urban, suburban, or rural setting.

Have you been dreaming of a custom home? Tony McClung has more than 50 years of experience as an “architect designer/builder” and is responsible for some of the most dazzling properties in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Turn your vision into a reality and call (214) 668-7802 today.

Drones and Building Homes

Using a drone helps our clients get a feel of what kind of view they will see from different areas of their home. Here is the view from a future roof top deck!

In the past few years, drones have taken America by storm. These unmanned aerial vehicles are legal for anyone to fly, so long as it’s for recreational purposes (and meets some restrictions). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started making changes, however, and it seems that businesses could soon see the commercial benefit of drones. Luxury Homes Designed and Built by Tony McClung is one company that has found some great benefits of using a drone.

How Drones are Useful

More industries than ever are seeking drones now. Surveyors can look at large swaths of land more quickly with less effort. News companies can offer birds-eye views of celebrations, traffic accidents, and construction zones. Insurance firms can survey damaged cars and homes to complete claims. Even security companies are taking advantage of the potential, using drones to keep an eye on neighborhoods and large pieces of property.

Home building is one industry where drones are especially useful. In fact, more than 20 percent of home construction companies have explored options and used drones on a working site. Another 30 percent said they were either likely or very likely to implement the machines in the next three years.

Why Drones Make Sense for Builders

Why do builders love drones so much? To put it simply, these little machines can do things humans cannot, such as:

• Checking roofs safely. Standing on a roof can be dangerous, especially if it’s finished with a slick material (like sheets of tin). Drones allow builders to view roofs in detail while their feet remain on the ground. This is groundbreaking, especially when you consider that roof-related falls account for more than 10 percent of construction deaths in the last 25 years. 
• Providing more information to homeowners. Drones can give special insight that even the best computer programs cannot. If the client wants to see the view from a not-yet-built third floor window, a drone you can hover at the proper altitude and location to give the client a true preview.
• Examining crawlspaces. Working under the foundation of a residence is uncomfortable at best—and downright dangerous at worst. Drones can enter these small zones and survey for damage, such as leaking pipes and exposed wires. This not only saves effort on the builder’s part, but it also keeps him or her much safer.

• Delivering supplies. Nothing’s worse for a construction employee than climbing a few stories on a ladder to realize he forgot his nails or hammer. Drones can make quick, efficient tool deliveries to anyone on site. A business could use them to offer water and snacks to workers, keeping dehydration and weakness in check. 

It might be hard to imagine, but drones could be the future of the construction industry. The best businesses are putting this technology to use and making safer, smarter, and more-efficient workplaces.

Tony McClung is one of the few builders using an unmanned aerial vehicle to improve his construction techniques. If you’d like to learn more about his innovative drone use and how it can get your project done faster than ever, contact him online or call (214) 668-7802.