Custom homes are often thought to be large and elaborate, and while that may be the case, the fact is, they're simply homes that are one-of-a-kind designed for specific clients. And they aren't dependent on square footage, as this cozy Craftsman proves.

Working with an architect, our empty nester clients designed the plan to suit their daily lifestyle and frequent visits by grandchildren.

The snow has melted.  The birds are chirping.  The temperatures are rising.  And the daffodils are blooming! Hooray - spring has finally sprung!

And taking a few minutes for a spring checkup of your home will help keep it in top condition.  Here are a few tips.

1.  As the snow melted, your sump pump worked harder to keep water away from your foundation.  These few steps will help it do its job:

Various cabinet doorstyles - flat panel, raised panel and slab - were explored in a previous installment,  but when you're choosing cabinets, you'll also want to consider the overlay, a term which indicates how much of the cabinet frame shows.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall.  Who’s the fairest of them all?

She (or he!) who has the right light in the master bathroom - that's who!

After all, lighting is the key to looking your best when you step outside the room.  But with so many beautiful fixtures available, how do you choose the right ones and know where to put them? 

There’s no single or simple answer to that question but several factors should be considered, such as size of the bath, wall color, layout, ceiling height, and whether or not there is a window, to name a few.  

Ready to create your beautiful kitchen and baths? You probably have a good idea of how you want your cabinets to look, but aside from the color and wood species, there are many other details to consider.  Understanding cabinet terms can be a big help when you're making your choices.

Knowing the lingo of door and drawer styles is a good place to start.  There are variations, but the door styles you'll most often hear are flat panel, raised panel, and slab..

It’s no surprise that we think new homes have lots of advantages over existing ones – after all, Ann Arbor Builders has been building homes for many, many years.  But the advantages of building a new home aren’t just our opinion.  Here are a few good reasons:

For decades, the norm for ceiling height was 8 feet.  And then came McMansion mania.  Foyers and family rooms soared to two stories. Balconies overlooked downstairs rooms. They made homes look impressive and grand.

But downstairs was often cold because heat rose to the ceiling.  Upstairs was noisy because TV and other sounds rose, too. 

Thanks to the demand for better energy efficiency and more efficient use of space, ceilings have been trending downward.  

With the exception of two buyer-specific custom homes, we haven't built a two story space in years.

By the time you've signed your building agreement, you undoubtedly know some of the features and finishes that your new home will include, but you'll still have choices to make. For example, your building agreement will specify the type of roofing and siding materials, but what color do you prefer? 

Choosing all the finishes that reflect your own personal style - that's the fun part about building a new home!  Or at least it should be.  And it can be with teamwork between you and your builder.  That means making your choices on time and in the order that your builder needs them. 

Just like purchasing an existing home, the first step in building a new home is consulting a lender who can help you determine a realistic budget. Even if you’re paying cash and know how much you have to spend, there are factors that impact the overall budget of your new home, such as site preparation and the finishes you choose, that must be taken into consideration. 

It’s also important to choose the right lender, one with construction lending experience – and better yet, with local construction lending experience. 

There are several scenarios in which you may purchase a new home, from purchasing a “package” of land and home from a building company which owns the land to hiring a builder to construct your home on land you own or will buy. Every scenario must be reflected in the building agreement, but beyond the legal requirements that all builders must follow, each has his or her own practices.