Your Building Blog for the Rochester Area

We’ve all heard that it’s what’s inside that really counts. But is that really right? Is it true that what people see from the outside is simply superficial? For a lot of the homeowners in the Rochester area, the outside appearance of their home is extremely important as well. In addition to making a home aesthetically appealing, exterior remodeling can add functionality, increased, comfort, and value to your home. Let’s look at some examples where what’s outside is just as important as what’s inside your home.

Replacing Doors

A new door is a cost-effective way to refresh the look of your home and increase its curb appeal. A new door, however, does more than just making your home more beautiful. Adding a new door can also improve your home's energy efficiency, provide better accessibility, and add a layer of security to your home. Plus, many homeowners are surprised to discover that replacing their front door provides one of the highest returns on investment of any remodeling project! Click here for a look at some fantastic entryways that can really dress up your Rochester home.

Adding a Deck

Adding a deck to your home increases the useable living space in your home. It’s like having a whole extra room in warmer weather! And even when the weather turns cold, the visual impact can make the inside of your home feel larger. It's a great place to entertain or just hang out with the family. And it adds curb appeal—and value—to your home. Click here for some additional ideas on how you can enhance your deck.

Putting on a Porch

Some homeowners prefer the closed-in feel of a screened-in porch. It’s a great way to blur the lines between outdoor living and indoor living. You can enjoy the fresh air and gentle breezes without the annoyance of fending off insects. It’s open, and yet, provides a bit of privacy. It expands your living and entertaining space. Also, a porch can let you enjoy being outside—even in a gentle rain. It also adds curb appeal and value to your existing home. Click here for some alternatives to putting on a porch.

Replacing the Roof and Windows

You may not think of your roof as being a very sexy part of your home, but it’s so important. The same is true for your windows. Both of these external improvements can enhance your home's energy efficiency (and your level of comfort inside your home). New windows not only improve the appearance from the outside, but they can also improve the way things look on the inside. Today's windows tend to be larger—letting in more natural light. But they also keep out harmful UV rays. That’s important, given the popularity of open plan living spaces today.

Superior Siding

Replacing the siding on your home can make a dramatic improvement on your home’s appearance, but it delivers more than just good looks. It is essential to the integrity of your home's structure. It can increase the efficiency of your insulation, and help to maintain the structural integrity of your home. It can also reduce maintenance. All of those things add to your home’s value.

You may spend the majority of your time at home inside. But making improvements to the exterior of your home adds a lot of value and comfort—and makes your whole home more useable. Plus, there’s the added benefit of driving up to a home that looks fresh and welcoming.

Our tastes, interests, and needs change depending on the season of life in which we find ourselves. Things that were incredibly important to us at one stage are often replaced by other things we value more. That’s certainly true when it comes to our homes. That’s why it’s important to understand how your Rochester-area custom home values differ based on age.

When it comes to choosing the home for a particular season in your life, the decisions you’ll make will probably depend less on style than they do on functionality, comfort, and convenience. That means you’ll want to consider a floor plan that fits your particular lifestyle.

What Are Your Space Needs?

A major consideration when building a home is just how much living space you will actually need (and how much you can afford). If you happen to be a young couple without children, you may not need as much space as a family with several kids. Generally speaking, if you’re a homeowner in your 20s you’re probably pretty adaptable. You can make do with less space. But as you move into your 30s, you may have other considerations; your family may be growing and you may have young children to think about. The house you build should take that into consideration.

If you are in your 40s there is a good chance you are dealing with older children, who may require more space in their bedrooms (or who may no longer be willing to share a bedroom). And choosing the right home means more than larger bedrooms for older kids. You may also find that you (and your kids) want separate spaces where you can entertain your respective friends, watch TV, or just have some “alone time.”

If you find yourself on the other end of the spectrum (say 50 years of age or above), you’ll want to consider how your needs will change as you mature. Increasing numbers of maturing Americans want to stay in their homes rather than move into retirement communities. If that reflects your desires, you’ll need to make sure the home you purchase will allow you to stay comfortably, conveniently, and safely for years to come. You may have other considerations at this point. You may find yourself working from home more, which could make a home office a necessity. Or you could find yourself caring for an aging parent. In that case, opting for a home with an “in-law apartment” could be an attractive option. Even if no one else moves in with you, you’ll have your own comfort to think of. You may want to look at a floor plan that offers single-level living so that you have everything you want and need on the main level.

How Long Do You Plan to Stay?

Regardless of what stage you’re at, you’ll want to consider how long you plan to stay in your Rochester home. It’s important to consider both your current needs and your future needs. And while nobody has a crystal ball that can predict exactly what their future needs may be, you’ll want to keep in mind that your needs will very likely change over time. That’s why, when considering potential floor plans you’ll want to keep potential life changes in mind before deciding on the plan that’s right for you.

Seasons of life change—and each one brings its own delights and challenges. Keeping one eye on your current needs while planning ahead for future needs is a bit of a balancing act. The good news is that you have lots of options.

When it’s time to build your new Rochester-area home there are a number of important things you’ll need to consider. Deciding on the location for your new home is a big step. Getting your budget and financing in order is critical. Selecting the right floor plan is essential. One of the most important things you’ll decide on is which contractor you’ll use to actually build your home. Building a home isn’t an overnight experience—it’s a process that has significant implications. Having the right builder can make all the difference in the world. There are a number of steps involved in selecting your builder, and we’d like to highlight the step too few homeowners take when choosing a builder.

What Most Prospective Homeowners Get Right

Most people considering building a home know that they want to deal with a trustworthy, reliable builder. They want someone who has experience building the kind of home they want. They also want someone who is going to be there after construction is completed to stand behind the work that’s been done.

Obviously, you’ll want to check out work that the builder you’re considering has already done in the area. Chances are, you’ll want to look at a number of different projects to get a feel for the quality of work—and to glean ideas. Most builders will have examples of their work for you to review. You can take a look at a variety of our recent projects by visiting our new homes gallery.

Smart homebuyers also want to educate themselves about the homebuilding process and pick up information about how to make the right choices for the home they want to build. They want a home builder who offers helpful resources that highlight their options. Our Custom Home Guide eBook is a great source of helpful and useful information you’ll need before you begin the building process.

Savvy homebuyers also know that they should check for references of recent clients. Any reputable builder worth his hammer and saw will gladly provide you with multiple references for homes he’s built. That’s just standard practice

The One Step Many Potential Homebuilders Don’t Take

What’s surprising is how few people actually go to the effort to follow up on these references. A list of names, addresses, and phone numbers won’t really help you unless you actually do something with it. A lot of prospective buyers, however, skip this step. They don’t actually pick up the phone and talk to a former client and ask specific questions.

Why People Don’t Follow Up—And How to Ensure You Do

Some people find it a little awkward to call someone they don’t know and start asking them probing questions about their homebuilder. But if your potential builder gives you a name, he’s asked permission to do so. Plus, it’s your money and your future home that’s at stake. How else will you know if your builder really does what he says he does?

One reason many people don’t take this step is that they are unsure about what questions to ask. We get that. Most people don’t buy a new home every day. They may have a hard time coming up with questions that will provide the information they really want to know.

That’s why we’ve included a few suggestions here. You’ll notice that not all the questions are about the physical process of building. It’s important that you get a sense for what it’s like to work with and communicate with your builder. 

• Would you use this builder again?
• What were your builder’s best qualities?
• Why did you choose this builder?
• Did you feel that the builder had your best interests in mind?
• Did your builder communicate clearly with you?
• Did this builder demonstrate character and integrity during the project?
• How well did the builder communicate change orders to you?
• Did your builder treat you with respect?
• What was the worst thing that happened during the project?  Was it resolved to your satisfaction?
• What would you do differently if you were to start over?
• Was your project completed on schedule?
• Did the project come in on budget?
• Did you ever have a time when you felt the builder was not being truthful?
• Did your builder meet—or even exceed—your expectations?
• What would you say were your builder's limitations or weaknesses?

You’ll probably come up with a few of your own, but at least these will get you started.

If you’re more of a visual learner, you may want to start with some short-but-helpful videos that explain some of the basics of the homebuilding process. Here are three videos you find useful.

The Homesite Selection Process - How Gerber Can Help!: Watch this video and learn first-hand from about the homesite selection process.

How to Pick the Right Floor Plan - Explainer Video: Picking the perfect floor plan for your family's needs when building a new home is very important! Here are some helpful tips to consider.

The Pre-Construction Process - Explainer Video: What happens before construction begins? With Gerber Homes, we strive to keep you in the loop throughout the entire process!

There are a lot of steps in the homebuilding process. But don’t forget to take the one step that can provide you with a real picture of what it will be like to work with your prospective builder. Talk to past clients and ask them pertinent questions. We hope the questions we’ve provided here make that process easier for you!

If you recently built a new home in the Rochester area, you’ll probably never forget the first time you walked in the door after everything was put away and the furniture was in place. Maybe you even thought to yourself: “I can’t believe we live here!” The good news is that with a little effort you can recapture that feeling—at least to a degree. Here are some tips for keeping your new Rochester home looking and feeling fantastic.

Proactive Protection

If you’ve purchased a new home, you’ve made a significant investment. And when you make that kind of investment, you want to protect your investment so that it retains its value—both in terms of financial return and in terms of the value your home provides in terms of comfort, convenience, and peace of mind.

But even the best-built homes can’t take care of themselves. They require proactive protection: action on your part as a homeowner. That doesn’t mean you have to devote all of your time to keep your house looking like a showcase. It does, however, require you to be aware of some key areas that need consideration and a minimal amount of elbow grease. Keep in mind that not every maintenance task has to happen at the same time. Let’s look at some key areas that you’ll want to keep an eye on—and also look at a plan for doing the maintenance.

Boring Can Be Beautiful

Sometimes the things that make your home warm, welcoming, comfortable, and convenient aren’t even things you see or think about all that much. And yet, even the most lavish home doesn’t feel like a great place if it’s too cold in the winter, or too hot in the summer. Even boring things have a beauty of their own! Here’s a look at some of the boring things that can matter a lot in your Rochester home.

That’s why you’ll want to make sure you stay up to date on maintenance for your HVAC system. Even something as simple as changing the filters on your furnace regularly during the winter months can help. Not only will your furnace run more efficiently, but you'll also keep dust and other allergens down.

How often should you change your filters? There’s no single answer that fits everyone. Some HVAC experts say to change them every three months. Others recommend changing them monthly in the winter. If you have pets, it’s not bad to do it more frequently to eliminate fur and dander. The best answer we’ve come across is: “Change filters when they’re dirty.” Of course, that means checking regularly (probably once a month). The thing is, that furnace filters are pretty inexpensive. Paying a few dollars a month to ensure clean air and efficient heating/cooling is probably worth it.

The same holds true with having your HVAC unit serviced. Chances are it won’t need much (if anything) in the first few years. But it’s cheap insurance. And it provides peace of mind. Once you’ve done it, you don’t have to think about it anymore.

Inspect And Clean

We all like to think that our houses are clean, but never underestimate the power of dirt! And even if you’re really good about keeping your home looking great, there are out-of-the-way places where dirt and dust can accumulate and cause problems. These aren’t places you have to keep spotless all the time, but accumulated dirt or dust can cause problems that may (eventually) require more intense maintenance. Here are some areas that need regular cleaning to keep things running smoothly.

• Roofs/Gutters/Downspouts
• Exhaust fans in all bathrooms
• Range Hood fan in the kitchen
• Refrigerator/Freezer coils (don’t forget the one in the garage!)
• Dryer lint trap and exhaust
• Fireplace flue

Seal and/or Treat

Some of the surfaces in your home may need to be resealed or treated to ensure that they hold up and continue to perform well (and to look great). For instance, if you’ve installed granite countertops, you’ll want to make sure that you keep them sealed. Different surfaces may require different types of sealing. Check the paperwork you received when your counters were installed. The good news is that this isn’t something you’ll need to do often (perhaps once every year or two). Doing it as recommended, however, means you’ll enjoy your countertops for a long, long time.

If you have tile floors, you’ll really want to keep an eye on the grout between the tiles. Once again, this kind of maintenance isn’t required frequently, but keeping an eye on things and keeping up with maintenance can keep your floor (or bathroom/shower tiles) looking like new.

Some hardwood floors require occasional treatment or sealing as well. Again, I’d encourage you to look at the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific flooring. If you don’t need it, don’t do it. But if it is recommended, following those recommendations can significantly extend the life of your flooring—as well as keep it looking great.

By the way, if you haven’t purchased a new home recently (but are considering doing so in the future), here’s a post that compares different types of flooring for your bathroom—including a look at typical maintenance.

Create a Plan

Chances are you’ve heard the well-known quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (author of The Little Prince): “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Simply having a goal of living in a well-maintained house won’t make it happen. You’ve got to have a plan.

One problem that many homeowners encounter is that there are a lot of details to think about. We’re all busy and it’s easy to overlook things. I’ve got good news for you: You don’t have to remember all the details and map out a plan. We’ve already done that for you!

Simply click here to check out our Annual Maintenance for Your New Home Checklist that breaks down the essential maintenance tasks by season. You won’t have to try to remember what to do when—or wonder if you checked all of the things that you needed to check. It’s all laid out for you!

Some items occur more than once a year, so they’ll appear in two different places on this checklist. So even if you think to yourself: “Didn’t I just check the batteries on the smoke detectors?” you’ll be up to speed.

All of the items on the checklist are easy to do and don’t require much in the way of special skills or tools. The biggest part of home maintenance is simply staying on top of the condition of things and making sure they’re working properly. And if you find something that does need special attention, it’s almost always easier (and less expensive) to catch and fix the problem early.

Taking a little bit of time to stay on top of maintenance for your new Rochester home will ensure that your home will continue to look great and feel comfortable for years to come.  And taking care of these items in manageable amounts will mean you have time to enjoy time outside of your home as well—no matter what season we’re in!

As home builders in the Rochester area, we obviously field a lot of questions about which floor plans make the most sense for individual homeowners.  And of course, people want to know about home features and which materials will serve them best when it comes for cabinets or flooring. But for a lot of homebuyers want to know about schools in the area. We understand how important that is, so let’s look at some greater Rochester area schools you’ll want to know about.

To make things a bit easier for you to evaluate, we’ll organize the information by school districts and communities—with specific schools listed under those categories. For additional information about individual schools, you can click on the link to the specific school district.

Rochester (Brighton Central School District)

The Brighton Central School District is a top-rated public school district located in Rochester, NY that has a student population of approximately 3,500 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1.

How The District Stacks Up

#1 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#8 of 675 in Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#10 of 692 in Safest School Districts New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#20 of 689 Districts with the Best Teachers in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#306 in Best High Schools in America in 2019 for Brighton High School by U.S. News and World Report

#45 in Best New York High Schools in 2019 for Brighton High School by U.S. News and World Report

#79 in Best STEM High Schools in 2019 for Brighton High School by U.S. News and World Report

Schools in the Brighton Central School District

Elementary Schools: French Road Elementary, Council Rock Primary School

Middle Schools: Twelve Corners Middle School

High School: Brighton High School

Webster (Webster Central School District)

The Webster Central School District is an outstanding public school district located in Webster, NY. It has over 8,000 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.

How the District Stacks Up

#8 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#24 of 680 Best School Districts for Athletes in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#77 of 689 Districts with the Best Teachers in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#80 of 675 in Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

Schools in the Webster Central School District

Elementary Schools: Plank Road North Elementary School, Plank Road South Elementary School, Klem Road North Elementary School, DeWitt Road Elementary School, Klem Road South Elementary School, Schlegel Road Elementary School, State Road Elementary School 

Middle Schools: Spry Middle School, Willink Middle School 

High School: Thomas High School, Webster-Schroeder High School  

Webster (Webster Central School District)

The Webster Central School District is an outstanding public school district located in Webster, NY with more than 8,000 students in grades PK, K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.

How the District Stacks Up

#8 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#24 of 680 Best School Districts for Athletes in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#77 of 689 Districts with the Best Teachers in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#80 of 675 in Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

Schools in the Webster Central School District

Elementary Schools: Plank Road North Elementary School, Plank Road South Elementary School, Klem Road North Elementary School, DeWitt Road Elementary School, Klem Road South Elementary School, Schlegel Road Elementary School, State Road Elementary School 

Middle Schools: Spry Middle School, Willink Middle School 

High Schools: Thomas High School, Webster-Schroeder High School 

Canandaigua (Canandaigua City School District)

The Canandaigua City School District is the leading public school district located in Canandaigua, NY with slightly more than 3,500 students in grades PK, K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1.

How the District Stacks Up

#11 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#2 in Best School Districts in Ontario County for 2019 by Niche.com

#132 of 675 in Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#164 of 689 Districts with the Best Teachers in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#196 of 688 in Best Places to Teach in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

Schools in the Canandaigua City School District

Elementary Schools: Canandaigua Primary-Elementary School 

Middle Schools: Canandaigua Middle School 

High School: Canandaigua Academy 

Victor (Victor Central School District)

The Victor Central School District is an unparalleled public school district located in Victor, NY with fewer than 4,500 students in grades PK, K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.

How the District Stacks Up

#6 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#1 in Best School Districts in Ontario County for 2019 by Niche.com

#1 of 680 Best School Districts for Athletes in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#30 of 692 in Safest School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#62 of 675 in Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

Schools in the Victor Central School District

Elementary Schools: Victor Primary School, Victor Intermediate School, Victor Early Childhood School

Middle Schools: Victor Junior High School

High School: Victor Senior High School 

Fairport (Fairport Central School District)

The  Fairport Central School District is a highly rated public school district located in Fairport, NY that is home to nearly 6,000 students in grades K-12 and has a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1.

How the District Stacks Up

#7 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#61 of 689 Districts with the Best Teachers in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#78 of 675 Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#44 of 680 Best School Districts for Athletes in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

Schools in the Fairport Central School District

Elementary Schools: Brooks Hill School, Jefferson Avenue Elementary School, Northside School, Dudley School

Middle Schools: Martha Brown Middle School, Johanna Perrin Middle School 

High School: Fairport High School, Minerva Deland School 

Ontario (Wayne Central School District)

The  Wayne Central School District is a highly regarded public school district located in Ontario, NY that has just over 2,000 students in grades K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1.

How the District Stacks Up

#7 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#3 in Best School Districts in Wayne County for 2019 by Niche.com

#291 of 675 Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#243 of 680 Best School Districts for Athletes in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

Schools in the Wayne Central School District

Elementary Schools: Ontario Elementary School, Ontario Primary School

Middle Schools: Wayne Central Middle School 

High School: Wayne Senior High School

Pittsford (Pittsford Central School District)

The Pittsford Central School District is an exceptional public school district located in Pittsford, NY with just over 5,500 students in grades K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1.

How the District Stacks Up

#2 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#16 of 675 Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#22 of 692 Safest School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#28 of 680 Best School Districts for Athletes in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#161 in Best U.S. High Schools in 2019 for Pittsford Sutherland High School by U.S. News and World Report

#23 in Best New York High Schools in 2019 for Pittsford Sutherland High School by U.S. News and World Report

#78 in Best STEM High Schools in 2019 for Pittsford Sutherland High School by U.S. News and World Report

#108 in Best U.S. High School in 2019 for Pittsford-Mendon High School by U.S. News and World Report 

#18 in Best New York High Schools in 2019 for Pittsford-Mendon High School by U.S. News and World Report

#157 Best STEM High Schools in 2019 for Pittsford-Mendon High School by U.S. News and World Report

Schools in the Pittsford Central School District

Elementary Schools: Jefferson Road Elementary School, Thornell Road School, Allen Creek School, Mendon Center Elementary School, Park Road School

Middle Schools: Barker Road Middle School

High School: Pittsford-Mendon High School, Pittsford Sutherland High School 

Penfield (Penfield Central School District)

The Penfield Central School District is a superior public school district located in Rochester, NY with just under 4,500 students enrolled in grades K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1.

How the District Stacks Up

#3 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#19 of 689 Districts with the Best Teachers in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#28 of 675 Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#29 of 680 Best School Districts for Athletes in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#108 in Best High Schools in New York for 2017 for Penfield Senior High School by U.S. News and World Report

Schools in the Penfield Central School District

Elementary Schools: Scribner Road Elementary School, Cobbles Elementary School, Harris Hill Elementary School, Indian Landing Elementary School 

Middle Schools: Bay Trail Middle School 

High School: Penfield Senior High School

Honeoye Falls (Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District)

The Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District is a top-rated public school district located in Honeoye Falls, NY that hoses slightly more than2,000 students in grades K-12 and has a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1

How the District Stacks Up

#4 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#64 of 689 Districts with the Best Teachers in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#57 of 675 Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#68 of 680 Best School Districts for Athletes in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#371 in Best U.S. High Schools in 2019 for Honeoye Falls-Lima Senior High School by U.S. News and World Report

#51 in Best High Schools in New York in 2019 for Honeoye Falls-Lima Senior High School by U.S. News and World Report

Schools in the Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District

Elementary Schools: Manor Intermediate School, Lima Elementary School

Middle Schools: Honeoye Falls-Lima Middle School

High School: Honeoye Falls-Lima Senior High School 

West Irondequoit (West Irondequoit Central School District)

The  West Irondequoit Central School District is a top-notch public school district located in Rochester, NY with 3,526 students in attendance in grades K-12 and a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1.

How the District Stacks Up

#5 in Best School Districts in the Greater Rochester area for 2019 by Niche.com

#40 of 689 Districts with the Best Teachers in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#59 of 675 Best School Districts in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

#102 of 680 Best School Districts for Athletes in New York for 2019 by Niche.com

Schools in the West Irondequoit Central School District

Elementary Schools: Southlawn School, Seneca School, Rogers Middle School, Iroquois Middle School, Colebrook School, Briarwood School, Listwood Elementary School, Brookview School 

Middle Schools: Dake Junior High School 

High School: Irondequoit High School

While we haven’t covered every single school in the Greater Rochester area, this list gives you a pretty good idea of the quality and availability of great schools in many areas where you might consider building a home. We understand the importance of building your dream home at a location that fits your lifestyle and family needs. That’s why we offer our customers, communities in the most sought-after Rochester and Surrounding Area Locations. Gerber Homes is one of the largest Rochester & Finger Lakes Area Homebuilders with Communities in Wayne, Ontario, and Eastern Monroe Counties.

Often, when people think about custom homes, their thoughts turn toward luxury features. Images of expensive stonework, exotic woods, and gold-plated bathroom fixtures come to mind. But what does it really mean to build a custom home?

There’s More to Custom Homes Than Spending More Money

While it’s true that you’ll spend more for a custom home than you will for a “production” home, the custom home building experience really isn’t about opulence—it’s about customization. That means building a Rochester-area home that fits your family’s lifestyle like a glove. It means designing the space and the look of the home so that it reflects your personal sense of style—and the way you live and entertain.

Just because you’re building a custom home doesn’t mean writing a blank check. You still have to pay attention to your budget. Here’s an article that cautions about some of the surprising places that your Rochester custom home could cost more—and how to prepare for those surprises.

What Custom (Can) Look Like

Let’s look at a few areas in your home where having a custom home looks a little different. Perhaps the best way to do that is to actually show you examples of custom homes we’ve built for our clients.

Here’s a Great Room in a custom home we recently built. You’ll notice that there’s nothing “typical” about it, from the woodwork and lighting in the Great Room ceiling to the unique fireplace and the stunning hardwood floors. It’s light and bright and open (making it a great place to entertain). And even though it’s an open floor plan, there are design elements to clearly delineate between the Great Room and the kitchen/dining area.

Here's a closer look at the kitchen in the same home. Even the cabinetry in this kitchen is unique—reflecting the homeowners' personal style and preference. And you can tell from the range and hood that this is a family that enjoys cooking. Your particular kitchen might not be outfitted with appliances for gourmet cooking, but this gives you an idea of the possibilities. This family wanted a kitchen island that accommodates food prep and casual dining. You might choose something different.

The Master Bathroom is another area where custom homeowners like to include something a little different. You can see some of the custom touches in the bathroom cabinets and countertops. There’s also a walk-in shower (with large shower head). You could also add features such as a steam shower, or heated flooring for those cold Rochester mornings.  Another custom feature that’s become popular is having the toilet closed off from the rest of the bathroom.

Here’s a Master Bedroom in a custom home that looks a little different than what you’d find in a standard “production” home.  Notice the unique ceiling that ads depth and visual space to the room. If this were your home, you might choose to extend the room to include a larger reading area—or perhaps include a built-in audio/visual center that hides away when it’s not in use.

Sometimes the location and lot you chose is one of the most significant custom elements of your home. You can see from this image that the custom home we built takes advantage of fantastic views of open space—including a pond in the back. It's no wonder that these homeowners opted for full-length doors at the back of the home that leads out onto a patio that lets them enjoy the scenery.

Want to See More?

Click here if you’d like to take a virtual tour of another custom home we recently built for Homearama 2018. It provides you with more ideas of ways you can make your home uniquely yours.

You Have Choices

At Gerber Homes, we offer a wide variety of great floor plans that may be exactly what you’re looking for. If one of those floor plans meets your needs, that’s great. But if you’re after something more specific—a design that really reflects your personal sense of style and lifestyle, I’d encourage you to download our free Custom Home Guide that will walk you through the particulars of setting a budget, selecting your building team, finding the right home site, negotiating the contract, and actually designing the home of your dreams!

It’s that time of year when we’re hurtling toward the holidays and everything they entail. Usually, that involves a lot of entertaining—and eating. Then we're faced with our post-holiday New Year’s resolutions.  According to Forbes.com roughly 40 percent of Americans were still making those resolutions up until a few years ago. But there’s a big difference between making them and keeping them! Forbes also reports that only 8 percent of Americans actually keep their resolutions! Maybe that’s because we tend to resolve to do things we really don’t want to do. Maybe instead of resolving to lose weight and go to the gym, it's time for a New Year (Home) resolution.

Resolve to Remodel Your Rochester-area Home

What if (instead of torturing yourself) you made a resolution to remodel your home? Why does that make sense this time of year? One thing that happens over the holidays is that many of us have a lot of guests in our homes to celebrate. And while that can be great fun, it can also surface some the flaws and shortcomings of our homes.

Think about how well your current home functions while you are entertaining your guests. Is there enough space? Are people comfortable? Is cooking and entertaining fun for you (and your guests), or do you dread having to work around guests? Let’s look at a few specific rooms that tend to be problematic over the holidays.

Your Kitchen

People tend to congregate in the kitchen. What was that like at your house? Were guests comfortable? Was there enough space for them to mingle? Was your kitchen bright and welcoming? Or was your kitchen cramped and dark? Were you cut off from guests who had to be elsewhere while you prepared meals? But before you jump into redesigning your kitchen, you’ll want to think about exactly what it is you want to change. That means coming up with a plan that reflects how you use your kitchen. Here’s a post that helps you figure out your “kitchen personality” so that your Rochester kitchen matches your persona.

Your Family Room

Did your guests enjoy hanging out in your family room? Was it a natural draw because it’s open and spacious? Could friends and family stay connected to you while you were in the kitchen? Was it a fun and relaxing place that felt like it was connected to the rest of the home—or did your guests feel isolated? Maybe simply “re-doing” your existing family room isn’t practical, given the current layout of your home. Perhaps you’ll want to look into a family room addition that provides the space and comfort you crave.

Your Guest Bathroom/Powder Room

This is the other room that everybody sees. Did you shudder a little bit inside every time a guest went into your bathroom? Were you concerned that they’d notice that it’s a slightly past its prime? Remodeling a guest bathroom or powder room can actually be a lot of fun. It's kind of a "one-of-a-kind" room that doesn't have to mimic the overall interior design of the rest of your house. It can be fun and fanciful—or simply functional. But it should be inviting and interesting. But before you get too carried away with your flights of fancy, pay attention to these four things to remember when remodeling your bathroom.

Your Guest Bedroom

It’s not unusual for homeowners to have overnight guests during the holidays. Maybe you regularly have overnight guests. Do the kids have to give up their bedrooms for the guests? Perhaps adding a guest bedroom will solve your problems. If you work with your remodeler, you might be able to come up with a multi-functional room that serves as a home office or a craft room that can also easily double as a guest bedroom.

Maybe this year, instead of (or in addition to) resolving to run a half marathon, lose 10 pounds or develop biceps of steel, you should resolve to improve the quality of living in your home. That’s a resolution you can get excited about—and actually accomplish! If you’re looking for additional ideas and information, I’d encourage you to download our free Remodeling a House, Creating a Home eBook. It’s a great way to expand your living space, add your own style and personality into the design, and improve the functionality of each room.  With a home remodel, you can make your current home into your dream home!

Sometimes a remodeling of your Rochester-area home involves a bit of a cosmetic “face-lift.” Perhaps you want to make your family room a little brighter. Or you may decide to reorganize your kitchen so that it’s more efficient. Maybe you want to take advantage of unused space in your basement or attic to give your family more living space. There are times, however, when remodeling is more than just freshening up your home. We’d like to walk you through a recent remodeling project we worked on in 2018 that started (literally) from the ground up.

Clearing the Way

To be honest, before we could do anything else, we had to remove the existing home in order to begin construction on the new home. That meant not only demolishing the old home, but also removing the existing foundation.

Setting a Firm Foundation

Because the home was a complete redesign, we started with a brand new foundation. As you can see, there's more involved than just digging a hole and pouring concrete. It takes a bit more time, but it's the right way to do it!

Focus on Framing

Here’s where it actually starts looking like we’re building a house! What you don’t see in this image is the insulation and siding that help make this an energy- efficient home. We take energy-efficiency seriously in the way we build—and in keeping our clients aware of new developments.

The Not-So-Sexy Stuff

Some of the most critical parts of the building/remodeling process involve things that aren’t all that sexy at first glance. Who really gets excited about ductwork and HVAC systems? Actually, we do, because they play a huge role in making sure that your new home is comfortable (without costing you a fortune in utility payments).

Homeowner Involvement

We know how important it is for you to be involved in something as personal and critical as your home. That’s why we keep you in the loop during the process. We even have some suggestions on how you can be effectively involved in what’s going on.

Finishing Well

Choosing the right finishes is an important part of the process. That includes selecting things such as cabinets and flooring. It’s also fun and exciting to see an important room such as the kitchen taking shape before your eyes. Because the kitchen is so important, you’ll want to make sure you take the time to research and plan the ideal kitchen before you begin construction. Click here for a great resource that can help you do that.

Exterior Touches

While things are taking shape inside the home, there are still exterior touches that are being added. Pouring concrete and adding stone finishes help add that touch of substance and make your home look “finished.”

Move-in Ready

Finally! After a lot of preparation, heavy lifting, and times when progress seemed slow (even though it was necessary), you're ready to move into your newly finished—and beautiful home.

Good News! It Won’t Always Look Like a War Zone!

There are a lot of elements that go into the process of remodeling or building a new home. There may be times when you come out to look at the project and it will look more like a war zone than a home. That’s a normal part of the process. The good news is that it won’t always look that way—and we think you’ll be delighted with the finished product!

By way of proof, here’s a look at some of the finished rooms from this house we’ve been talking about.

Here’s the finished Great Room.

It looks a lot different with all the finishes completed and the fixtures in place. Imagine what it will look like with rugs, furniture, and people!

Here’s the Kitchen.

It may not have looked all that inviting before all the cabinets where in place and the hardware had been put on. But with those things completed, new flooring in place, and great lighting, it’s a warm and welcoming space! Look at how bright and open it is.

The Inside Even Looks Good From the Outside.

Here’s another look at the kitchen through the patio door. A beautiful exterior gives way to a glowing interior that invites family and friends inside!

This is when you look back and realize you're glad that you took the time to plan ahead. And you’re also glad you worked with a trusted builder/remodeler who took your wishes, ideas, and dreams and helped you achieve them!

There are a lot of phases of the building/remodeling process that we didn’t cover. And we just scratched the surface of what we did talk about. We offer helpful resources to answer your questions whether you're planning a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel or a whole home renovation. We’d love to help you through the process so that you can enjoy the home of your dreams!

People looking for a home in the greater Rochester area often assume that they either have to choose an existing home that's on the market or build from the ground up. While both of those may be good options for some people, there is another option: Purchasing a model home. Could that be a good option for you? Let’s take a look at some of the essentials for evaluating the suitability of a model home for your family’s needs.

Location

We all know about the importance of location when choosing a home. Where you choose to live is every bit as important as the kind of home you choose to live in. Choosing the location of your home can be a little tricky. Sure, you can get a feel for how far it is from important locations such as schools, shopping, and other family activities. But that’s only part of the picture.

If you’re purchasing an existing home, you can get a bit of a sense for the existing community. But what if you want a newer home? If you’re building a brand new home, it’s a little harder to do that because if the homes are being built it can be hard to visualize what the community will look like. With a model home, you’ll often have the ability to see the community that is developing around it. We build homes in a variety of different communities in the greater Rochester area and we have model homes in numerous communities. Click here for a look at the communities you can visit and actually walk through a model home.

More Bang for Your Buck

I’ll let you in on a little secret. When builders build a model home they like to show off just a little bit. OK, that’s really not a big secret, but it’s true. We builders use model homes as showcases. That means we tend to put our best foot forward. A model home will often have upgraded floor plans. It’s likely to have upgraded finishes for flooring, cabinets, and countertops. What that means is that you can get top-of-the-line materials and design for a great price. Builders also tend to use interior designers to decorate the interiors of model homes. And while you won’t get to keep the furniture and pictures they use to stage the model, you’ll still get the benefit of having had a professional’s touch in color-coordinating things. You can also tap into a professional’s design flair by taking pictures of the staged home and then adapting that interior look to your personal tastes.  That’s one of the things that taking a visual tour can really help.

Availability

What can you do when you have your heart set on a new home—but simply don’t have the time to wait? That’s where a model home can really shine. You may need to make a move quickly for a number of reasons:

• You could be relocating to take a new job.
• You could have an addition to your family on the way.
• Maybe you have mature parents moving in with you that you weren’t planning on.

Building a brand-new home takes time, and involves a lot of decisions up front and during the building process. With a model home, you don’t have to make a lot of those choices. Plus, the home is already built. That means a faster move-in time frame. We regularly post listings of available model homes that you can either visit in person or visit online with a virtual tour.

Eliminate Guesswork

For some people, one of the toughest things about building a new home is visualizing how things are going to look. Some potential homeowners can look at floor plans and see the end results in their minds. For others, the floor plans are just lines and numbers on a piece of paper. It’s hard for them to envision the end result. With a model home, you can actually walk through every room in the house. Not only do you then get to experience what each individual room looks and feels like—you also get a sense of the flow of the entire house. You can experience what it's like to move from the kitchen to the family room. You'll have a first-hand look at how each bedroom is set up. You'll know what it feels like to take linens from the bedrooms to the laundry.

Even if you decide that you still want to build, taking the time to tour a model home is a valuable experience. Model homes can help you take the guesswork out of choosing a home that’s right for you and your family.

Take Advantage of Trends

I mentioned above that builders often use model homes to showcase their craftsmanship. Another thing that model homes are good for is to introduce potential homebuyers to new homebuilding trends. While we try to keep prospective clients abreast of new trends that will make their homes more comfortable and convenient, there’s nothing quite like seeing it for yourself. So if you buy a model home, you’re probably buying something that’s in step with the latest home design trends. That makes it more enjoyable for you—and it also means more value later on if you should decide to sell your home.

What If You’re Not Sure That New Is Right For You?

Building a brand new home isn't the right answer for everyone. If you're trying to figure out if it's right for you, visiting a model can help answer some of those questions because you'll see things first-hand (without having to look past other peoples' "stuff" in an occupied home. If you'd like some additional insights, here’s a helpful post that delves into the topic in a bit more detail.