Med City Builders of Rochester, LLC

COLORING CONTEST 2012!!!

2012-02-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year again for the annual Coloring Contest. If you were at the Rochester Area Builder's Home Show and stopped at our booth, the kids had a chance to enter into the coloring contest to win $100 gift card to Toys R Us! We have posted the entries on our Facebook page "Med City Builders of Rochester, LLC". All you have to do is like your favorite picture. The two pictures with the most likes will win! Good luck to all of our contestants!

What a difference a year makes

2012-01-16T11:56:00.000-08:00

To say the least!!! We went from record snowfalls to record lack of snow in one year. Both years have lead to very little frost to deal with in the ground, so both years have been good for a winter full of building and an early start this spring. One of this years benefits is that the lack of moisture in the ground and air should lead to better building materials this winter and a lack of the nail pops and or sheetrock cracks that occur because of it. We are already starting to see the spring market heat up. Several of my listings have seen an upsurge in showing activity and several of the clients waiting to sell prior to building are seeing the same results. I typically have the spring rolling and underway once the Home Show is finished, so now is the time to begin the planning process. The show is only a month or so away and by the time plans and financing get completed, we are a month away already. I have several homes underway right now for any potential client to preview as well as a 100 or more homes from the past that we can look over as well. I have super relationships with past customers and am happy to take the time you need looking at possible floor plans. The spring looks to be a busy one for me, so call today to ensure we can accommodate all of your needs!

Would you pay 1% more to have your entire home be 100% American Made?

2011-12-13T12:24:00.000-08:00

I recently read about and watched a report on ABC News about the effects on our economy of buying American Made products for building new homes. They stated, if all home builders in our country bought just 5% more American made products than before, we could generate some 250,000 new jobs in our country. I currently use many of the products on the list ABC published, but was looking for feedback for our own region on if buyers would be willing to pay the 1% difference in price they discussed if I used ALL American made products. I really would appreciate your feedback. I plan on making a conscience effort to purchase more American made goods regardless, but would love to hear your feedback. I will post this on Facebook as well and would appreciate your input!

Should we drain our water heater???

2011-11-29T13:11:00.000-08:00

I know many of my past customers use this blog as a tool for making their homes more efficient. During all of my final walk throughs, 30 day walk throughs, and even the one year walk through with my past customers I mention emptying their water heater yearly. While most don't ever even touch this appliance once it is turned on, there are some very inexpensive things we can do to make it last much longer than the typical life expectancy. To drain your water heater, simply turn the switch to the unit off. It is typically located near the floor where you would also adjust the temperature. Once it is shut off, find the main line of water into the water heater. This is located just above the water heater usually. Now that the power and the water source is off to the unit, attach a garden hose to the screwed outlet on the water heater. Once the hose is attached and ran to the floor drain, take a flat head screw driver and use it to open the valve next to the screwed outlet. It typically doesn't take long to drain the water out, but by doing it this way the sediment on the bottom of the water heater leaves as well as the water. This sediment is typically what accumulates over time and will eventually cause the water heater to rust from the bottom. Once the water heater is drained of the water, screw the valve closed completely. Then open the water valve on the top of the water heater back up to fill the unit up. Remember not to turn the water heater on before any of this. Doing so can damage the water heater due to how fast the elements can heat up. Once the unit is filled and no water is leaking from the valves, turn on the water heater switch to start the heating of the water once again. This is really that simple to do and it will more than likely add years of worry free operation to your homes water heater.

Wait till spring or start now?

2011-10-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

Simple question and most would say waiting till spring is the right answer. I can't totally disagree with them either, but we are in the perfect storm right now. Building costs and labor costs have been suppressed for years now and the pent up demand is starting to build in our industry. I have first hand seen the costs starting to tick up the wrong direction for the homeowner looking to build down the road. While waiting till spring has his merit, the idea of an interest rate going from the low 4% range even to a 6% range decreases a buyers buying power by tens of thousands of dollars. I also wrote blogs in the past discussing the ideas of the materials being so much dryer in the fall and winter months. Come spring the materials have had a chance to gain moisture from the snow and the increasing humidities in the air. This is the first cause of a home seeing nail pops and sheetrock cracks. I monitor the homes I build a year after they are completed and have definitely noticed a difference on the homes we start in the fall vs spring. The fall homes have much less movement and much less for cosmetic cracks over time. That all being said, I'm not against spring building. It is obviously the busiest time of the year for me. I just don't want to see someone miss out on a valuable opportunity when while we are sitting in the eye of this perfect storm. Call or email your requests today!!

We are rolling again!!!

2011-09-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to drop a line to all my past customers and friends for their support over the past few years. It has been a struggle in this business and I have managed to stay busy with all of your support. We just dug one basement for an expanding family in NE Rochester getting ready for twins!! I am just finishing up with a large project in the metro area of Lake Elmo and hope to post some finished pictures when completed next Friday. 6400 sq ft fully finished home on an acreage and finishing on the day we scheduled 5 months ago! We have 5 more to dig prior to the fall rush and hope to have several more to start before the snow starts to fly. One of our projects is going to be in Northfield on the Country Club golf course there. Should be a fun project and a super couple to work with. Another home to start is in NE Rochester for a couple expanding their business and getting closer to their family. It is a gorgeous Ranch on a super lot in Shannon Oaks. We then plan on digging a home for another expanding family in ManorWoods west of Rochester. We are just getting going on the selections and should be digging by mid October. We should be starting another home in NW Rochester sooner than the homes listed above. Another up and coming family who is currently getting all their new home selections dialed in for us to roll along. Lastly, we are looking at a larger 2 story in SE Rochester for a developer. This home would be a great home for any family looking to expand and will be ready for a move in by the time the snow would start to fly. I really do appreciate all of your support and hope the summer found you all some fun family times. Drop us a line anytime here with thoughts and ideas you have. We are all ears and appreciate the feedback!!!

Is Fall a good time to build a home???

2011-09-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

I have heard many of my clients express concerns about building too late in the fall or winter. I have built a few hundred new homes in the Rochester and Surrounding communities and meet with my clients at the one year point of when we closed on their new home. I do this to not only meet up with my past customers, but also to gauge how the home we built reacted over the past year. One of the surprising things I have found is that the homes we build through the winter actually show much less movement than the ones we build in the spring. There are a couple factors attributed to this I believe. First, all the raw materials going into the home are at a point where they are the driest point of the entire year. The humidity is virtually gone in the fall and winter months. Secondly, I feel with the lowered humidity the home doesn't actually take on moisture while we are building. When wood takes on moisture, it swells. If this wood doesn't dry out prior to the vapor barrier going on or the sheetrock, it is much more likely to cause nail pops and sheet rock cracking over the next year. Building in the fall and winter can have its challenges as well. Heating costs may be higher, but due to the fact we are able to build these homes in a 2 to 4 month window we don't see that as much of a factor in our homes. The bottom line is that potential clients should not have concerns about building in the winter months if the builder they choose is capable of handling the conditions that come with it. You might be surprised how well the home will function for you if you do!

Does Your Builder Come Highly Recommended?

2011-06-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

I am sure you have all heard horror stories about how time consuming, expensive and stressful building a new home is. That doesn't have to be the case! Building a new home can be fun, easy and within budget! Plus you get your dream home with everything YOU want! The key is to pick the right builder. As a builder, it is our job to figure out all of the small details and put it together...basically taking the stress off your shoulders!

The best recommendations you can receive about a builder are from past clients. They have been through the process and can honestly tell you their first hand opinion and experiences. This is why when we meet with prospective clients, we include a reference list along with a letter of recommendation. We encourage our clients to check up on us. Whether you are building or buying a house, it is a big event in every person's life, so it is important to us that our clients feel comfortable with their choice and are confident in our work and service.

I have included a recommendation letter from a client that recently built a new home with us.

We would love to hear what you expect out of your builder, whether you are thinking about building, currently building, built in the past or have never thought about it! We look forward to hearing from you!

Our Best Energy Star Rating Yet!

2011-05-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

We have posted in previous blogs about the Energy Star Rating and what that means for both us as a builder and our clients. We recently completed a home and got the best score to date, which is 26 points above the Energy Star standards! For more information on Energy Star, visit http://www.energystar.gov/.

Win Dinner for 6 at Osaka AND a Toys R Us Gift Card!!!

2011-04-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

As you may have read in a previous post, we are giving away Dinner for 6 at Rochester's new Osaka Sushi & Steakhouse. In addition, we have decided to add a $100 GIFT CARD TO TOYS R US!

Heres how you can win BOTH!

Come and visit us during the Rochester Area Builder's Parade of Homes at 1121 Maplebeck Enclave, Byron (Somerby Subdivision) during the showtimes listed below and pick up a floor plan for you and/or your child to draw your dream floor plan. If your child enters his/her drawing, you and your child will be eligible to win the Dinner for 6 AND the Toys R Us gift card!

Parade Times:
Saturday, April 30th 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m.
Sunday, May 1st 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m.

Saturday, May 7th 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m.
Sunday, May 8th 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m.

And remember, entries will be voted on our Med City Builders of Rochester, LLC Facebook Page.

Please see our previous blog, dated April 12, for additional entry information.

Win A Dinner for 6 at Osaka Sushi & Steakhouse!!!

2011-04-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

We will be giving away a dinner for 6 at the new Osaka Steak and Seafood. You can design your own floor plan and your group along with your friends and family can vote for you to win. Pick your 6-person group that you'd like to enjoy drinks, appetizers, steak and/or seafood, and dessert with. Print it out the floor plan and submit your drawing.

To Be Eligible, You Must:

Ø Complete your customized plan and submit to Med City Builders of Rochester, LLC. The only restriction is to use the plan we provide, otherwise, it is yours to be creative with!

o Email to jenni@medcitybuilders.com

o Mail or drop off to

§ 2518 Superior Dr NW, Suite 103

Rochester, MN 55901

Ø Visit our website, www.MedCityBuilders.com and “Like” our Facebook page

Ø The finalists will be posted on our company’s Facebook page. The winner will be determined by how many “likes” each finalist receives.

Ø Encourage friends and family to vote “Like” for the winning picture!

Ø Pictures must be submitted by May 16, 2011. Voting will be open May 17, 2011 – May 23, 2011 at Noon.

Ø The winner will be posted on our website, Facebook, and our blog.

Ø Have fun!!

Why Spray Foam Insulation?

2011-04-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

Spray foam insulation is a common word used in the building industry, but still not as readily used in our market. There are typically 2 types of spray foam used today. One is an open cell foam insulation and the other is a closed cell foam insulation. I will spend my time discussing the closed cell products.

Many of my clients begin discussing things they'd like to do in a home to make it a "Greener" home. Often I hear of possibly using geo thermal heating systems, solar panels, and even wind to power their homes. Once price is discussed these items often get pushed back on the wish lists either due to the cost or the fear of appraisals not being able to be achieved. Appraisers need to form an opinion of the property by the homes around it. If it is the same home as the neighbors, but has a $40,000 geo-thermal heating system in it they feel most buyers are not willing to pay that difference. Therefore the appraisal will come in less than needed to complete the project and the difference needs to be covered in the form of cash by the homeowner. At this point, I typically discuss spray foam to allow them to enhance the homes efficiency and do so without spending an excess of money. Often, I can spray foam a homes sidewalls for $3000 to $5000 more than a typical fiberglass insulated home. This is a workable number for appraisals and one that can typically be included in the price of the home without outlaying additional cash from the homeowner. The biggest difference in the way spray foam acts vs typical fiberglass insulation is the removal of air movement between the interior and exterior of the homes wall which I will call the stud pocket. I tell people that there are 3 ways heat is gained or lost. It happens through conduction, convection, and radiation. Radiation typically occurs through the windows of a home, while conduction occurs through the pass through of walls. The best way to describe conductions path of heat transfer is when you put a metal rod in the fire. You will burn your hand if you hold on to the end that is not in the fire eventually. The last way is convection. With spray foam insulation, convection has a difficult time occurring because we fill the entire stud pocket with the foam. Often people can feel air movement in the outlets of homes built in the past. This is typically not the air directly from the outside, yet the air spinning in the stud pocket behind the sheetrock. In the winter, the homes internal wall temp is around 70 degrees so the air in the stud pocket starts to rise. As it gets to the top, the air hits the outside wall where the temp can be minus 10 degrees so it begins to drop. The more dramatic the temperature difference between the two surfaces, the faster the air spins in the wall. This is why a typical fiberglass insulated wall actually loses R-value as the temperature difference increases. A home with an R-value of R-19 is based on the fact there is only a 10 degree temperature difference between the inside of the home and the outside. This is where closed cell spray foam shines. If we fill that entire stud pocket with something that does not allow any air movement, we eliminate one of the three ways heat can be transferred in the home. R-values on spray foam homes stay very stable despite the temperature changes. It does 2 other great things as well. It strengthens the outside walls and it makes for a much quieter home in the inside. I have talked in depth about the Energy Star ratings on homes and the one thing I'd like to mention is that our homes Energy Star ratings don't differ that much when we use one type of insulation or the other. We are still able to build an extremely tight home with fiberglass insulation. The true benefit comes through the energy bills my clients receive, although I don't have a true idea on the payback that each home will receive. If I spend $5000 extra to put spray foam in and it performs like I've mentioned above, the payback is much easier to achieve than a $40,000 Geo-Thermal heating system. I hope this helps you better understand the homes possible insulation systems.

Med City Builders of MN????

2011-03-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

Just a quick heads up to let you all know I do plenty of traveling for clients looking outside the Rochester area. Over the past few years I have spent time building cabins in NW Wisconsin, a home in St Boni which is located on the west side of the Twin cities, will be building a large custom executive home in Northfield this spring, and am soon to be starting a very large executive custom home in Lake Elmo which is located in the NE part of the Twin Cities. I appreciate all of the referrals in the Rochester area my clients have passed my way, but wanted to extend the range of my company to all of you. I still send the same crews to the job sites which allows me to control the timelines, selections, as well as the superior workmanship my clients have grown to expect. If you or someone you know is looking outside the area, feel free to drop me a line. I'm happy to gas up the Med City Builders truck and take a drive!!

Win a full course dinner for 6 at Osaka Seafood and Steak!!

2011-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Win Dinner and drinks for 6 at the new Osaka Steak and Seafood! We will be in the Spring Showcase of Homes coming up, so we will get updates on the times and dates soon. During the Showcase we are planning on another contest, but this one is for the adults. A Design Your Dream Home contest where we will give you the blank floor plan and you can submit your best home layout. We will be voting for the winners on Facebook like we did before with the Coloring Contest. We plan on giving away a 6 person appetizer, drinks, dinner, and dessert at the Osaka Steak and Seafood located at the old West Fire Grill in Rochester. I tried it for a trial run and it was some of the best food I've eaten!!! I hope to see you at the Showcase and email us if you can't so you too can get your floor plans to submit.

Custom Home Building

2011-03-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

This is a term that is used pretty loose in our industry and can mean many things to many people. To some a custom home is one that is simply modified from an existing floor plan. To others a custom home is one that is created from just its most basic level in just thoughts to the final product. Custom home building in Southern MN takes on many other aspects as well. Whether or not to incorporate energy saving ideas or not and how to orientate a home to achieve the most desired result. Selecting a builder that allows you to explain your ideas and that listens to what you want vs what they might want is a tough choice for some people. One of the biggest obstacles I face day in and day out is to determine what people are trying to say when they are really not saying what they want. That has come from helping many clients design many homes and many hours up front with them figuring out how they wanted to get there. It happens during the design process and many times through the selection process. One of the biggest tips I can give any of my clients is to trust your gut feelings. I have taken many clients full circle only to end up doing exactly what they thought they wanted in the beginning. A true custom home builder's job is to make this idea a reality for you no matter what level of custom you feel you are on. Call anytime to get your dreams set in motion!!

Attention Air Exchangers!!!!

2011-03-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

Depending on the price points needed to be attained by my clients, I include Air to Air Exchange units as often as I can. On average, I install them in 85% of the homes I build. The clients I build homes for have these systems explained to them them several times during our many walk throughs, but as we all know our lives take over and we forget what we should be doing with them once we are in the home. One of the first things I try to make clear is the air exchanger is actually the diamond shaped center core inside the box hanging from the ceiling. The box around it has a fan that makes the center air exchanger an active system. That center core is where the heat is extracted from the warm moist air leaving the home and where it blends with the cold air coming in. This is the reason for the 2 screen filters on the unit. Once filter or screen is for the air coming in and one filter or screen is for the air going out. Both air flows have dust in them and both need to be filtered so they don't dirty the center core or air exchanger. By keeping the 2 screens around the center core or air exchanger clean, it will allow the system to do what we installed it for. If these screens get dirty, the air cannot go through the air exchanger as easily and it also can potentially clog it. To clean the screens, simply open the door on the unit and remove it. Then slide the two screens off the center core and tap out the dust or soak them in hot soapy water if very dirty. Make sure they are dry before installing them onto the center core or air exchanger and vacuum out any other dust you might see in the housing around the center core. This should be done at least monthly or whenever you change your furnace filter.

Once a year, I recommend removing the center core and soaking that in hot soapy water as well. Fall is a great time to do this just prior to turning the system on for the winter months. I described the running schedule in an earlier blog. Again, make sure this core is dry before putting it back into the housing. At this same time, I recommend cleaning the intake screen at the exterior of the home. The air exchanger will run in the summer months and will be bringing on dusts when running the bathroom controls to remove moisture. This is the reason fall is a good time to clean the filter to make sure the air coming into the homes air exchange unit is cleaned before it even gets to the unit.

One of the most important things to keep in mind with these systems is that they work best when kept clean. It is impossible for you to expect a dust free home if the appliance in your home responsible for bringing in the fresh air is clogged. A little bit of maintenance goes a long ways with these types of systems. They are designed for making a home more efficient, but one of the most beneficial things they do is cut down on air born allergens. If you keep it clean, your home will be healthier and greener!!!

Block walls or Poured walls and my 2 cents...

2011-03-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

Earlier on this past month I discussed the concept of doing ICF foundations and how they rate on an efficiency scale. I mentioned my preference was not to use them and I preferred using a foundation wall construction that consisted of an exterior foam insulation design. There are a few ways we can construct foundation walls on new homes when we decide to move that insulation to the exterior. I commonly use two of them, block walls and poured walls. Both wall designs have their benefits.

The first one I will explain is the block foundation wall. We use the same type of footing depending on the plans designs for each of the wall designs. With a block wall, we can typically install them much faster than a poured wall. Layers or courses of block are added to achieve the desired ceiling height. Typically a 12 course block wall will give you an 8' ceiling when finished. A 13 course wall will give you an 8'6" finished ceiling height, and a 14 course will give you a true 9' ceiling height. Depending on the size of the home, a block wall can also save you money over a poured wall. Where they get their strength is from the open cores in the block we add steel rods to and pump them full of concrete. This is called core filling. This is also where the loads from the upper floors are transferred to the footing below the block wall. Block walls are very strong and have very few problems associated with them when backfilled properly.

Poured walls are the next wall I will discuss. Again, we use a footing similar to the block wall to begin setting up forms to design the poured wall. These forms allow us to build the walls to any desired height since we can regulate how much concrete actually goes in the forms. Prior to pouring the concrete, we add steel rods both vertically and horizontally. This attribute is what truly gives the poured walls the added strength over the block wall. When a load is being passed from the upper floors of the home to the foundation, it is transferred evenly over the footing instead of bearing on specific core filled points. Keep in mind when I say stronger, that doesn't mean a block wall will function any differently when we are completed. The concrete is then poured and cured in the form. Once cured, the forms are stripped from the concrete and we are left with the poured wall.

Both wall constructions allow us to work with Pre-stressed garages and both are capable of working with throughout most of the calendar year. If you have any thoughts or topics you'd like discussed in the future, feel free to drop us a line through our Facebook page or Website. Thanks for reading and heres to a super 2011!

Special thanks

2011-03-03T09:25:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to put out a special thanks to all of the super artists in this years coloring contest. I plan on doing more of this throughout the upcoming year, so stay tuned. It was a huge success for us, considering we did the entire contest through Facebook. I expected the family members to get on board with their children, but didn't think it would escalate like it did. We now have well over 200 "Likes" to our page and hope that will continue to grow as you all tell your friends and family about my company. Thanks again and I will get back to a more construction orientated blog next week.

Afraid of the unknown??

2011-02-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

Many peoples mis-conception of the building process makes them fear the unknown of what to expect in the building process. I often tell my clients that building a new home with a good builder is like buying an existing home that just doesn't exist yet. While the process of making selections can be overwhelming to some, others find this process completely enjoyable. You are able to make the home as personalized as you'd like. I personally make myself available as well to guide you through that part of the process.

Another fear I'm sure potential building clients have is the fear of cost overruns. When I start the process of working with clients, I try my best to pre-qualify them to know what they are looking for in their dream home. I have built many homes and have a firm grasp on what the amenities you are looking at will cost. This gets us very close to a final price. Before I even have my clients sign agreements to build, I take them on this guided tour I mentioned above. This alone pin points the costs on the home and allows us all to write an agreement that is detailed and extremely accurate. I average less than 2% in overages on all the homes I build and that is from the time we sign contracts to the time the home is completed. Most clients building homes worry about the horror stories that say they can expect 10 percent along the way in over runs. This simply doesn't occur with my company. Once the selection process is complete, my clients can enjoy the building process and watch all the hard work we all did come together. This too allows us to run a much tighter schedule.

I hope this helps explain the ways in which I can minimize your fears in the building process. My clients testimonials are the best way to ensure what I've said is the way I truly run my business.

Are ICF foundations better that others???

2011-02-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

First of all, I'd like to say thanks to all who came out to the Rochester Area Builders Home Show this past weekend. It was a huge success and we had excellent traffic. In last years show, I built 2 custom homes for clients I met at the event. I hope to duplicate that this year and it is really looking positive with the feedback from the potential clients we met there.

One of the many topics this year that I had come from the people visiting my booth was regarding ICF foundations. Although many opinion may differ, they are not my choice for a couple reasons. The first being the added cost to the homeowner. In todays environment with appraisals being so difficult, this can be a factor right out of the gates for people. If the cost of the home is higher than the appraisal, other parts of the home need to be sacrificed in order to get the ICF's into the budget. The other problem I have with them is the mis-information on the efficiency. I think they are a great way to make a home efficient if they are taken all the way to the roof trusses(this is an extremely expensive way to use them), but if they stop at the foundation they are not. The State of MN has conducted studies proving that having more than R-5 insulation below grade is not necessarily a good thing. In MN, the average ground temperature is near 55 degrees all the time as long as it is below the frost line. 55 degrees can be good in the summer or the winter. I think of it this way. If in the summer it is 100 degrees outside and that temperature is trying to get into the home, having the 55 degree ground temp is good to allow the ground around the home to absorb the homes ever gaining heat. The opposite happens in the winter. If it is -10 degrees outside, the home is constantly taking in the 55 degree heat from the ground around the foundation. If the insulation level is higher than R-5, this cannot occur as easily. I look at this type of system as a built in Geo heating system. This is the reason I build my homes with an R-5 exterior insulation. By placing the foam insulation on the exterior, we move the condensation point to the exterior making the basement feel warmer yet. One last thing I recommend to my clients, but few do is to foam 4 feet away from the home to just below grade. This will prevent the frost from actually diving down on the homes foundation and keep the entire foundation wall at the magic 55 degree ground temp. This along with placing retaining walls in all areas that the foundation has taken a jump will keep your new home and its foundation working the most efficient way possible. I'm sure this is an area where many can and will disagree with me, but with my homes scoring on average less that 59 on the HERS Energy Star Scale it is hard to discredit.

Win a $100 gift card from Med City Builders this weekend!

2011-02-07T13:25:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to remind all of you about the Rochester Area Builders Home Show this upcoming weekend. I will be busy getting ready for this as well as heading off to tour the latest products at the Anderson Window plant this Wednesday. Therefore, I will keep the Blog this week short and sweet. This weekends event is a great opportunity for you to stop in to discuss your potential building plans or just talk about previous Blogs you have read. I plan on having plenty of previous homes interior and exterior pictures. I also carry a large book of previous home plans for you to get some great ideas. One of the activities I will be offering this year is a coloring contest for your children. I will be accepting the colored Med City Builders homes after the Home Show and will put the 3 finalists on my companies Facebook page. We will be announcing the winner through my website as well as Facebook. Your child can win getting the most "Likes" on his or her picture. You must only "Like" Med City Builders yourself in order to enter your child. More information will be given at the Home Show so stop by for details!

Last year, the traffic was really positive for us and we hope to see the same this year. I truly feel like there is a tremendous backlog of clients wanting to build a new home. The road block tends to fall in line with their existing home. Having success in the past and present with selling existing homes, I'd be happy to discuss this process with you at the Show as well. You may be surprised, but in talking with other Real Estate agents in the area as well as my own involvement we have really seen an upsurge in the existing market. So feel free to stop by to see all of the latest trends in the building industry, meet knowledgeable people in the trades, and discuss your current situation to see if now is a good time for you to make the move on a new home. To me, it seems like it was a less stressful way for you the client to interview the builders while meeting us at an event like this.

Start to finish. The process to get you there.

2011-02-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

Today I'd like to discuss the basic principles behind my process in building a new home for my clients. One of the first steps in any project is to determine what it is that we are all trying to accomplish. My initial meeting with my clients typically revolves around trying to lay the foundation for what it is they really want to do. Many times they already have ideas of what they'd like to build and I then take these ideas and lay my foundations for what I'd like to present to the draftsman or architects. Most of the time, we start an idea from nothing more than a penciled drawing on a notebook. This is what a truly custom project is stemmed from and the most enjoyable way for me to create the vision. A typical timeline for getting the prelim plans back in hand can be less than a week depending on how complex the design is. Establishing prelims will now allow me to more accurately bid the home the way the client described to me in the first meeting. Once we have started to create the template for the specifications and the floor plans, we really start to dial in the pricing. We do this by beginning the selection process prior to signing any contracts. I like to take my clients on a one or two day tour to the vendors I have had the greatest success with. At this time, we really pin point the details of what is to be built into the new home. As we go through the process, I enter all the information into the book of information we create to organize the details. This book ends up being what is ultimately faxed to all of our subcontractors as well as placed on the job site for their review. Once this part of the process is completed, we incorporate the selections into the existing spec sheet and blueprint. This is when we get the project nailed down as far as the overall price. The best advantage I have found in doing the process this way, is it allows my clients to walk into the actual purchase agreement with near to exact pricing. Thus eliminating the need for change orders along the way. Once the purchase agreement has been signed, I am able to begin the finalization of the plans and ready them for permit.

Building begins once the lot is officially closed and the permit package is ready for pickup. Through this part of the process, I meet the clients at the site to determine the best placement for the home on the lot. As we begin the actual construction, I then develop the written schedule for the entire project. This allows the client, myself, and the subcontractors to be able to follow a timeline that insures completion dates are met. It allows the subcontractors to order in pertinent items that could have possibly held up the construction process. It also and most importantly helps you, the homeowner, to better understand the process and allows the homeowner to know what is being done on a particular day so they have the option of going to the job site to see progress being made. My major focus on any job I supervise is to always have activity regardless of what it is. On days where work is not being completed, it typically means that it is filled with inspections.

Once the new home is completed, we prepare the home for closing. As we have gone through the process, we have met with the clients along the way. As we get to the end, I set up pre-closing walk throughs to uncover any minor defects that can be taken care of prior to closing. This is typically done a week or so before closing. This allows us to have ample time to complete the work. As the closing date approaches, we also conduct a final inspection to insure all of the work is done to the home owners satisfaction. At closing, I furnish the homeowner with a packet of information discussing warranties, spec sheets, State warranties, the timelines for my 30 day post closing inspection, and the 1 year post closing inspection. These 2 last inspections are great ways for me to come back to the home and discuss any questions you as the home owner might have after you have settled in. Many times, it revolves heavily on the complex heating systems we install as well as the Energy Star ratings which I typically have in hand.

In a nutshell, our relationship with you begins at the first meeting but lasts many years after. I often tell my clients that we have just became married once we have signed the final agreements. As a builder, I'm responsible for portions of their new home in upwards of 10 years. I hope this helps better understand a typical building process in the life of one of my clients eyes.

Happy new cabin owners!!!!

2011-01-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

Below is a testimonial that we just recently received from one of our clients.

Greetings Andy,

I want to say thank you to you and your people for the excellent job you did with our cabin. So, please forward this letter to all of your people. First, a little personal history that will underscore my heightened appreciation for all you have done.

The past several months have been challenging for me as I was assisting my father with seeing mom through her final months of life. Mom passed away on December 27^th following an intense battle with Multiple Myeloma. She endured five types of chemotherapy in less than two years and tolerated many weeks of daily radiation treatment. For mom the disease was both debilitating and extremely painful. As their only child living within 2,000 miles I did everything I could to help. I cooked them dozens and dozens of renal meals, cleaned for them, attended countless medical appointments, shopped, offered help with difficult medical and legal decisions and provided emotional support. My job, our home and children and the needs of my parents demanded enough time, energy and emotional investment that it was impossible for me to prioritize the cabin. I knew taking on this cabin build was risky during such a busy and difficult time. Building construction has the potential to be highly stressful. A bad construction experience for us could have been the virtual “straw that broke the camels back.” Fortunately, for me, that was not the case.

Therefore, I owe you all, and my husband Greg, my greatest thanks. You all went the extra mile and built a truly beautiful, cozy cabin.

Andy, Thank you for being the organized leader. Thanks for all of your insights and suggestions. Thank you for listening to us and honoring our needs and ideas. Thanks for your patience and flexibility. We could not have had the cabin we wanted without your willingness to continue working with us on the details. I appreciate the excellent choice in subs and the good relationship you must have with your subs as they did what you asked, what we asked. Thank you for doing the build so quickly, that still amazes me! Greg and I have high standards and Greg is both meticulous and highly intelligent. It takes a quality builder to satisfy us. You have succeeded. I would definitely do another build with your company.

Greg and Sharon, Long Lake

New Listing!

2011-01-18T14:06:00.000-08:00

http://homesite.obeo.com/641882

Spring is upon us!!!

2011-01-18T09:41:00.000-08:00

This sounds a little crazy to post in the middle of January, but what a difference a year makes. Since December, I have seen numerous web leads and the same goes for the phone inquiries to build this upcoming spring. As it sits now, Med City Builders of Rochester has 3 new starts in the next 4 weeks! We also have several pre-sold custom homes for this upcoming March through May. All of this before the Rochester Area Builders Home Show and the Spring Showcase, which leads me to believe 2011 is going to shape up to be a great year. Thanks largely in part to the overwhelming influx of referrals from our loyal past customer base. Our hats go off to our past customers for that. With Spring coming earlier than normal this year for us, we urge you to start getting your building plans in order now. The 3 new homes we are soon to be starting have little to no frost in the ground, so it will make for ideal winter building conditions. So if you're in the market to begin the building process, feel free to drop us a line now. You can figure a month of preparation and another week or so to begin the process. That puts you at March 1 if we started the project today and the end of June for your new homes closing date! Let's get building!!!!

Expect lumber prices to spike in early Spring of 2011!!!

2011-01-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

Recent sources indicate a spike in lumber prices nationwide are going to occur in the very near future of 2011. According to Pro Sales Online which is a well known trades web site for the lumber industry, we can expect this. According to a recent published report by Jim Haughey, Haughey believes one such spike will occur in lumber as housing starts increase; he expects they'll rise from an annual rate of around 600,000 today to 800,000 by year-end 2011. "A sharp price spike for lumber is likely in the spring or summer until additional mill capacity is restarted," he said. "The price surge will ebb after a few months, but prices will remain clearly above the pre-spike level."
Along with this a few words have buzzed in the industry with China and Russia no longer having as solid of a relationship as in the past. If this trend continues, China could start to purchase materials for their ever growing appetite for growth through other countries. One major candidate for these purchases could be just to the north of us, Canada. With Canada and the US currently having a smaller than average work force, the demand could cause prices to jump faster than predicted above. All hear say, but something to consider if even considering the thoughts of building a new home in the spring of 2011.

Why wait?

2010-12-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

Many have been hearing this in the real estate world, but many still don't understand the significance of the statement. Even if rates do continue to drop which is highly unlikely, keep in mind the rates of today are so far under the historic average it makes no sense to hold off. If we combine this with the lower subcontractor costs and lower building material costs, we have a perfect storm in your behalf. As I have progressed through the years in this business, I have noticed one thing that has always baffled me. I am always busier when the rates are on the rise vs when they fall. When my clients have done this, they buy out of fear rather than logic. I have always tried to counsel my clients to take their time and make this process a methodical one, but when forced to build in a time just to capture a good rate we don't see that happen. The real estate industry is no different than the stock market, yet people tend to think it is sure fire money maker. Granted today you will sell your home for much less than you would have a year or two ago, but you are also building a home for much lower than you would have as well. Like the stock market, you will more than likely make money on your home if you let time be in your favor. Another idea is the thought of buying bank owned properties. Many of my clients have started the searches this way and have soon realized that even though they buy at a discounted price, the needed enhancements to the property they are looking at adds cost back to the home as if it where a home sold at the market rate. We have never seen new home prices be so close to current market prices on comparable homes, so building is a super option to get what you want, have all of your warranties in tact, and have a home live the way you have always dreamed of!

Financing Information

2010-12-02T12:28:00.000-08:00

This week we are excited to have Roxanne Hellickson join our blog postings!

When it comes to choosing your lender, Roxanne Hellickson at Associated Bank gets the job done! She will meet with you at your convenience. Nights and weekends too! Call today – 507-259-2000

At Associated Bank, the construction financing process is simple.

Andy at Med City Builders of Rochester, LLC will get me the bids/estimates and plans.

My borrowers provide documentation for income and downpayment along with a complete application

I, as your lender, take the paper work and get it processed and approved.

It’s as simple as that!

*One set of closing costs

*Long-term rate locks

*Interest rates at historical lows

*Interest only- payments during construction

*Loans available to fit your financial situation

*Local decisions – we drive the process. We know our customers and our market area. We process and service your loan locally!

*Commitment – We do all the paperwork for you! Fast turnaround time from application to closing!

Call Roxanne Hellickson at Associated Bank 507 259 2000!

Mechanicals (Part 2)

2010-11-22T14:17:00.000-08:00

Today I'm going to touch base on a misunderstood system in the new homes builders are constructing with the most recent code changes. Radon systems are and are not considered part of the homes mechanical systems. In the homes I build, I consider them a vital part of the homes ability to reduce moisture so I feel like they are much a part of the homes mechanical system. In most homes built today, builders are only installing passive radon systems. Therefore, they are not really part of the homes overall mechanical system.

There are 2 ways in which the MN code allows builders to install the required systems. The most simple and the most common system used by builders is to install a passive radon system. By doing so, the builder is required to have either a vent-mat over clean sand in the sub-floor of a home or pea-gravel. Both allow the radon gas to freely flow under the concrete slab of the home to a point where it can escape. With this, the builder is required to run the vapor barrier under the concrete as well to the perimeter and overlap all of the seams. They must also install a pipe that is typically run from the homes sump basket to the exterior of the home. Most commonly, this pipe is run through the attic of the garage where it is more accessible in case a future fan needs to be added to the line to activate it. With a passive system, the home relies solely on the theory the radon gas will just find its way out.

The other and what I feel is the best solution is to install an active radon system to the home. By doing this, I simply do what was mentioned above and add a fan to the pipe as it leaves the garage attic. I have also added another item to our radon system which has greatly enhanced the benefits of the code requirement. In the floors of our homes before the concrete is poured, I install drain tile lines that run every 15 feet through the center of the home as well as around the perimeter. These exterior drain tile lines are run to the sealed sump baskets and the basket is what I've used to run the radon pipe to the exterior. What I have found is that the added drain tile lines drastically helps cut down on the pressure in the sub-floor of the home which is a huge contributor to creating condensation. Condensation is typically what makes a basement feel uncomfortable and colder than the rest of the home. To me the radon system not only has the benefit of removing an unwanted gas, but also acts like a supercharged dehumidifier. The other benefit I have found is that with a fan constantly running in the attic of the garage and constantly pulling air from the footings of the home, it creates a dryer foundation. In reality, it creates a sponge factor in times of huge rain falls making it less likely to have water enter into the homes in such events. A local inspector tried this system in his own home and the theory held true. He had the active system running in his home for 3 years without his dehumidifier turning on. He unplugged his radon fan and the dehumidifier started to run within days of turning off his system.

Like mentioned in earlier blogs, if we can control temperature and pressure we can control condensation. If we can control condensation we are on our way to a much more comfortable home. Never hesitate to call or email with any added information needed.

Mechanicals (part 1)

2010-11-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

Winter is here and there is no better time to talk about our homes ventilation systems. The cold is fast approaching and I thought I'd touch on two vital air movement systems in our homes to prepare for it. I plan on going over the homes air to air exchanger as well as the homes furnace with hopes you can use both with confidence and give you the assurance of a more energy efficient system.

Your furnace is the heart of your home. It is the way to supply heat as well as deliver more comfortable air to the interior of the home. The single most important thing we can all do with our furnaces is change air filters frequently. I don't recommend buying expensive filters rather just changing them more often. Expensive filters only make the furnace work harder to move the air. I always recommend to my customers leaving the furnace fan on throughout the entire year. It has been proven that running the fan constantly uses the equivalent energy as 2 light bulbs, but it greatly reduces the amount of gas consumed by the furnace. This will cut down on your energy costs. Regardless if it is winter, spring, summer, or fall this holds true.

Air flow on the furnace creates a more balanced home when it comes to the temperature which in turn leads to lower humidity. Humidity is caused by temperature differences as well as pressure differences. If we can eliminate both, we are well on our way to a more comfortable home. In a home with a 2 zone system, you are able to change the dampers on the furnace to control the amount of air flow to a certain area. While auto systems are nice, manual systems offer similar results and are much more cost effective to install. With warm air rising in a home, I recommend pushing more of the air flow to the lower of the 2 zones on the furnace come winter. I simply reverse this in the spring when we get ready for the air conditioning to take over. Air movement that is controlled by zones allows us to create a much dryer and more evenly heated home.

There are two types of overall heating systems that can be installed in a home. A Balanced(air to air exchange system) and a Forced Air heating system. The balance system is what I recommend and what is typically installed in my new homes. The air exchanger is a mechanical way to replace dirty air in your home. They should only be run continuous in the winter months as we close windows and stay in doors more often. What they do is pull cold air from outside and push the warm, moist, dirty air from the inside of the home. As these two things are happening they cross paths in the air exchanger and the warmth of the air leaving is extracted and added to the cold air coming in. This is what makes them a more efficient way to replace the air leaving the home. Forced air heating systems are still commonly put in by builders today for the cost savings, but only rely on the fresh air intake pipe in the basement to replace the air needed. If it is 30 degrees below zero outside, that same temperature of air is entering into the home. The only time an air exchanger should be run in the summer is when taking a shower, bath, or doing laundry. Even then, the buttons you press in these locations will only turn on the system for about 15 minutes. Keep the name as simple as it is. Air exchanger simply exchanges air. We want and need to do this in the winter when we have a dirty air environment, but don't want this to happen in the summer when we have paid top dollar to cool and condition the air. We would not want to exchange this expensive air for the humid hot air outside during summer. It has been proven that exchangers cut down on sickness too. They where designed for efficiencies and have delivered this benefit to us as well!

They do require some maintenance, however. Typically they have 2 filters in them to prevent dust from getting into the core of the air exchanger. They need to be cleaned monthly and should be done as a habit when you change your furnace filter. If you simply vacuum or tap out the dust in the filters, they will give you years of worry free use.

Whether you are a past customer or a possibly looking to build a new home, I'd be more than happy to walk through this in person to further elaborate on both of these vital systems in a home. As always I'm looking for ways to cut down on energy consumption, while bringing the most comfortable environment to a home possible.

Your home is an envelope

2010-11-10T13:28:00.000-08:00

Back again for another round of the discussion board. Today I thought I'd add on to what was discussed in the previous blog. Energy Star ratings of a home are heavily dictated upon the homes envelope. The term envelope is a pretty relative term which takes on a pretty important meaning when it is used in new homes. What it is, is the entire sealed compartment within the walls of the home. The moisture barrier and other products are used to create this. With the strict energy codes along with even stricter guidelines by my company it must be as tight as possible. We start creating the envelope of the home as we start the framing process. As exterior walls start to go up, we apply house wrap which helps keep the elements from entering into the home. As we start to add interior walls, I make sure all the walls running into the exterior walls have pre-poly. The reason for this is to have a seam for tying in the rest of the poly once we have past the point of insulation. Most builders don't do this vital step and rely on the caulking of the poly to the actual wood members where the inside walls meet the outside framed wall. Proper install of the windows is also a vital part of this. 80% of all moisture damage in a home comes from windows if not installed correctly. Once the home is framed, the mechanical systems are assembled and installed. Many holes are cut inside the home and penetrations are added through the exterior walls. These are vital areas to be sealed back up prior to the install of the insulation and poly that covers it. Heat, moisture, and air are all able to flow through these areas unless it is prevented. Now its time to be insulated. Insulation may seem like a pretty simple task, but the way it is put in is one of the most watched over areas in my inspection process. Much to what people might think, more is better when it comes to insulation. Small voids in the insulation allow heat to transfer and thus creating possible condensation points in the home. I plan on touching on the differences between spray foam and fiberglass insulation at a later date. After insulation and inspecting for the possible voids, we move to the next step. That's where the poly comes into play which most consider the true envelope. If not installed proper, this can lead to major moisture concerns down the road. Hundreds of gallons of water per year can escape from the smallest of holes in the poly if not repaired. Many misconceptions have led people to believe that a new home should breath and there should be holes in the poly barrier of the home. This is the farthest thing from the truth in the way homes are constructed today. Air flow creates moisture and moisture creates major problems if not controlled. This has been the leading factor in my decisions to install air to air exchangers where applicable. If we can't rely on the walls or windows to bring in fresh air or lose moisture, then we need to do it mechanically.

Properly running air exchanges removes the homes dirty moist air as it builds up and replaces it with cold fresh air from the exterior. Air exchangers are designed to be run in the winter and off in the summer and should have its filters cleaned as often as the furnace filter. Spring and fall we typically have windows open which itself acts like a passive air exchanger. The efficiency of the air exchange unit is my primary reason for installing. The fact it can pick up heat from the air leaving the home and mix it with the cold air coming in gives it this efficiency. That is where the exchanger part of the name came from. One of the major bonuses it also creates is a healthier environment.

A homes envelope is much more complex than this, but I hope I have helped uncover some of the most important aspects of it. The bottom line is to keep a home that is built in today's energy conscious environment as tight as you can.

I plan on touching base on all of my homes mechanical systems as this blog progresses. Feel free to add any ideas you might want to cover as well. Thanks for reading!

Energy Star

2010-11-09T13:58:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of a construction blog for all of my past clients as well as prospective clients into the future. Any input is appreciated and will be taken to heart, so feel free to address anything you feel is relevant to discuss.

In today’s blog, I thought it would be easiest to start with the mission my company has sought out to adhere to. “Green” building has taken such a dominant role in my industry, yet so many people have a tendency to forget the meaning behind it. One of the core concepts behind “Green” building is to use less of our resources to achieve a goal that allows us to conserve valuable energy in the future. One of the largest road blocks for my clients is to incorporate “Green” building into the home yet keep costs to a reasonable level. One way to measure the effects a home is built against the “Green” building revolution is to conduct on site energy audits. For the past 2 years, I have worked with a firm to do just that as well as taken numerous courses to further understand the implications of doing so. The energy audit tests are paid for largely by the local natural gas companies and it allows them to understand what is working in the field as well.

The actual audit consists of many factors and I’m happy to go into depth on each area to show how each can affect the outcome in future blogs. The overall report consists of the Address and Builder of the home, the actual Energy Star Rating, the Tax Credit Status, the HERS Index, the Home Performance Testing Results, and the information on the Mechanical Equipment.

The Energy Star Rating lists the pass/fails and is a good overall impression on how well the home was built in accordance to the requirements. It lists whether or not the home meets the requirements, the HERS index which I will explain below, and pass/fail of the air duct leakage.

The Tax Credit Status gives the percentage over what the 2004 IECC requires. Homes with a score of 60 would often have a rating 55% better than the 2004 IECC requirement. Homes over 50% may be eligible for the 2005 EPACT Federal Tax Credit. As a builder, there are advantages of meeting these requirements. Although I pay more for a home to meet all of these, I am typically able to receive tax credits from the Federal Government by doing so. This is on a per home basis. We all win with this concept of building greener!

The HERS Index scale I referred to above is a linear metric where every percentage point that a building’s energy use is reduced represents a decrease point reduction on the index. In simple terms, the lower the HERS score the less energy a home will use. A new home by the United States standards typically meets a HERS score of 100. The Energy Star rating is at a score of 85. Most of the new homes built today are above the Energy Star rating meaning they are using too much energy to pass the requirements set by the test of being considered Energy Star worthy. The past 2 years tests on my homes have shown an average of just fewer than 60. Homes in 2012 are more than likely going to be required to be at the Energy Star rating of 85 and homes built in 2020 are more than likely going to need a score 65 to 70. Meaning, the homes I build today are built 25 points on average better than an Energy Star home of 2010 and 5-10 points better than homes 2020 are required to follow. Therefore I feel that my homes under construction today are surpassing the goals of 2020! The best score a home can achieve is a 0. That means a home uses no energy. While this is possible today, the costs far out way the benefits achieved from such a low score.

The Home Performance Testing Results offer blower door testing, air duct leakage results, and ventilation flow results. These results are a very important part of a homes overall test result. The homes blower door testing allows us to see where the air flow is being lost inside the walls of the home. Proper insulation, fluffing of what seems to be minor gaps in the insulation, pre-poly where the interior walls meet exterior walls, very tight seals on all poly transitions, caulking of the bottom and top plates, and overall proper caulking of the poly is all part of what contributes to the effectiveness of this test. Too much air leaking from ducts significantly reduces the efficiencies of the homes heating systems. It would do me no good to install a 95.1% efficient furnace if the ducts leaked all of the air flow.

The Mechanical Equipment is the final piece of this complex puzzle. It is a very useful tool to see all of the manufactures names and what types of ratings they all have.

With all that is being done in today’s “Green” movement, it is easy to see why an Energy Star audit is so vitally important. Too many people assume by doing one or two major things (Geo-Thermal, Solar Panels, wind power, etc.) they can consider their home “Green”. The stance I have taken is to find a way to build a home that is extremely energy conscious, yet doing so with as minimal of a cost to the end consumer. This is the standard of Med City Builders of Rochester and not an added cost. There is no need to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a home to consider your home part of the “Green” movement. I have installed an array of expensive systems that in the end don’t see the payback they claimed to provide.

Stay tuned for more information in my future blogs. I plan on going on a step by step basis to explain how heating/cooling systems are best cared for and operated in the next blog. As my past clients know, I spend a great deal of time explaining this in my pre-walk through, my final walk through, my 30 day beyond completion walk-through, and my 1 year beyond completion walk-through. I felt this would be a useful tool for people to better understand on how their homes systems can be used to their benefit in lowering the ever increasing energy costs. Thanks for your patronage!

http://homesite.obeo.com/635746

2010-11-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

Check out our new listing at http://homesite.obeo.com/635746!
Listed exclusively by Andy Cummings at Property Brokers of MN