Corvette or Minivan?

Let me be frank: I don’t think that there is a more inappropriate measurement of a home’s value than dollar/square foot.  This is especially true of a custom home.

At Jenkins Custom Homes, our typical budget for a single home is over 300 line items.  The factors that affect each line item can be varied and numerous.

Take roofing material as an example.  Is a clay tile roof imported from Italy the same cost as a 20 year shingle roof, or even a concrete tile roof?  I can assure that it is not.  The import cost alone is more.  Not to mention the necessary framing changes to accommodate the weight of the tile, the numerous flashing and underlayment options, etc.  Which do you prefer, two layers of 30lb. felt or ice and water shield?  Maybe you need a combination of the two?  A lot to consider?  You better find a Designer / Builder that knows what he’s doing.

I digress.

Do you see my point, though? Just within this one line item – roofing materials – there can be a variety of alternatives, each of which has a ripple affect on the rest of the budget.

Allow me to illustrate further.  Here is an over-simplified example.  Let’s say these are the costs for two different homes – House #1 and House #2.  Both homes are 10′ x 10′ or 100 square feet (SF).

Now, before you decide which house you are going to purchase, look carefully at the difference between these two homes.  House #2 is a whopping  67% more for the exact same 100 SF!  What a rip-off, right?

Well, House #1 also has no windows.  Meanwhile, House #2 has windows on all sides, a nice covered porch, better appliances and an extra 1/2 bath.  Still want the first house?

My point is that if you multiply those cost differences by 300 different line items, pretty soon the two houses start to look really different even though they are the exact same size.  My suggestion?  Find out what all is in the house before you decide what the true value is.

After all, have you ever called a car dealer and asked him for the cost per seat of a car you were interested in purchasing?  Of course not!  And if you did, wouldn’t it make sense for the single cab F150 Pick-Up to cost the same as a Corvette?  They both have only two seats!

Then again, if that were the measure of value, we would all be driving minivans, wouldn’t we?!  Or… would we?!

By: Shan Jenkins, Jenkins Custom Homes

How It Works

“People think that it’s this veneer – that the designers are handed this box and told, ‘Make this look good!’. That’s not what we think design is.  It’s not just what it looks like and feels like.   Design is how it works.”

- Steve Jobs

Although volumes have been written in the pursuit of defining “good design”, the above quote, taken from page 10 of the book Design Is How It Works by Jay Greene, may be the best summary of that elusive definition that I’ve found.  Makes sense – considering the source.

However, if you think about it, this quote can be reduced to that age old adage, “Form vs. Function”. That is really what he’s saying isn’t it?  Form without Function doesn’t make good design.  It may look great, but if it doesn’t work, what use is it?

Although I never thought of it in exactly those terms, that really is at the heart of the design/build philosophy of project delivery.  Unless the architect and his team of professionals seamlessly collaborate with the builder and his team of professionals, the “how it works” part remains illusive.  Frankly, the Jurassic method of employing the architect to oversee the builder is woefully inadequate.  You would think that with modern technology that method of project delivery would be as efficient as ever.  Not so.  Technology has quickly advanced construction materials and methods at a pace and breadth beyond what the architect and builder can master together, much less separately.  Add the rapid adoption rate of BIM (Building Information Modeling) to the equation, and it becomes even more apparent the need – or better yet, requirement – for better, more efficient team collaboration.

Accepting the requirement for collaborative design/build, there is no way to execute this philosophy better than within the walls of the true design/build firm.  Separately, the architect and builder will always rest on their primal need for self preservation.  In other words, at the end of the day, the architect ultimately only cares about his reputation and his business, and the same goes for the builder.  Within the true design/build firm, this basic conflict is removed as neither discipline is more important than the other, and the client is the ultimate winner.  Finally, when the designer and builder are united in matrimony, they can give birth to their twins “Form” and “Function” and ultimately, the project (home) not only looks great, but IT WORKS great also.  Ahhhh – triumph!

The Benefits Of In-House Design

In the custom home industry, there are basically two delivery methods: design/build and traditional bid and build.  Among design/build firms there are two delivery methods as well. There is in-house design and outsourced design. With in-house design, the architect or residential designer is on staff.  With outsourced design, the architect or residential designer works for him or herself, or for a separate firm.  In Austin, most builders outsource the design.  Shan Jenkins, of Jenkins Custom Homes, has done it both ways, and he strongly advocates the in-house design approach for a variety of reasons.  Some of his reasons, like the cost savings and time savings, are very practical.  Others, like the way the client has more control over the creative process, are less obvious to the casual observer.  Either way you cut it, however, it makes building a new home a better experience for everyone.

The practical reasons for having a residential designer in-house are the time savings and cost savings it allows the client.  In the case of Jenkins, because the designers work in the same office as the supervisors and cost estimator (not to mention the rest of the staff), they have almost instant access to the resources they need to provide cost feedback to the client on design details.  For instance, “I like that wrought iron detail but not at that cost.  Is there a way to achieve the same look with less expense?”   This means that work proceeds at a much faster pace, especially throughout the design phase.  Also, having an in-house designer is one of the reasons Jenkins can guarantee that the cost is within 5% of the initial budget.

However, a less obvious reason Shan Jenkins believes in this approach is that having the design team in-house means that the client has more control over the creative process.  When a builder outsources their design work, the client must explain his or her wishes to the builder, who then submits the change to the designer.  Quite often, what the client had envisioned and what the designer returns are two very different things.  So the client must again attempt to explain what he or she wanted, and the builder must again submit it to the designer.  After a few weeks of that type of back and forth, many clients will simply settle for what they have been given, just so they can move forward with the process of building their new home.  With Jenkins, the client is continually interfacing with the designer, which means the design evolves in real time, with the client present to give his or her input, the designer sketching each detail as the client speaks. Want to add a half bath by the door to the pool?  No problem.  The designer can sketch it in right there during the meeting on trace paper and, if it isn’t the way you envisioned it, you can correct it right there on the spot.  Shortly thereafter, the team will provide you with cost data on that additional bath.  Before any changes are made to the plan, you can decide if it’s worth the extra money.  It’s a win-win for both the client and the builder.  The synergy that is created from having everyone working together as a team to accomplish the desires of the client means a superior home and a superior home building experience.

Top 5 Kitchen Trends for 2010

There is possibly no more important room in your house than the kitchen. The kitchen is the hub of activity, the source of sustenance, and the number one room a potential buyer will consider when choosing a new home. That is why designing the kitchen must be done with an eye to the current trends. Here are just a few of the trends we found for 2010.

• Kitchens are getting bigger. “It seems as though families are getting smaller and at the same ti me, kitchens are getting bigger. Designers are using industrial appliances, state-of-the-art cabinets and countertop materials, and including a kitchen island whenever possible.” (source: http://interiordec.about.com/od/kitchenislands/a/a_kitchenisland.htm)
• Kitchens are getting to be more earth-friendly. “Eco-friendly is all the rage these days, but most notably in the kitchen where a few small changes can make a significant impact. You can use inexpensive recycled or natural materials such as recycled glass counter tops or formaldehyde-free bamboo for work surfaces and flooring. Convenient built-in recycling centers and food composters can save space and make recycling simple. The overall idea is making the kitchen effortlessly eco-friendly so that being green isn’t a sacrifice, it’s just an easy part of your everyday life.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are focusing on being both convenient and multi-purpose. “This year’s kitchen features products that are…all about convenience-meets-multifunctionality.” (source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,1637271,00.html) What does that mean? Well, “sinks with accessories, such as built-in preparation boards, colanders, and/or drain trays…storage that is both stylish and highly engineered…Cupboard inserts and custom storage areas with adjustable dividers and pull out baskets…appliances set on wheels or movable islands which allow you to easily rearrange the kitchen for convenient preparation, cleaning, and entertaining… which is not just multi-functional, but also kind of fun.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more colorful. Color trends change regularly, but the top color choices for kitchens include “Creamy Neutrals, Veiled Violets, A Gamut of Grays, Pale & Punchy Greens, Bold Turquoise” (source: http://www.kitchens.com//design/color/color-trends/color-trends-2010.aspx). Also consider that “Unexpected flashes of color and bold shapes are all the rage, and offer a nice juxtaposition to the earthy mellowness of the eco-friendly trend.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more high-tech. “Just like every other aspect of our lives, kitchens are featuring more technology than ever. A lot of this technology is focused on making the kitchen more enjoyable and adding a bit of the “wow” factor. From flat-screen televisions and computer-based entertainment systems to retracting ventilation hoods and gas burners, technology can make the kitchen more fun, convenient, and cool. The kitchen is both a social and functional space in the home. Small additions, like a small mobile device charging station, really illustrate this point. Imagine your family returning home in the evening, immediately plugging in their mobile devices, and congregating in the kitchen to catch up with each other.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)

Lake Travis View Highlights Jenkins Custom Homes In Recent Article

Jenkins Custom Homes is named ‘Custom Home Builder of the Year’

Jenkins Custom Homes proudly announced projected earnings in 2009 to exceed those of 2008. Another testament to the homebuilder’s steadfast success, even in the midst of a recession, was made at the Texas Association of Builders Star Awards, where Jenkins Custom Homes was named the 2009 Custom Home Builder of the Year for Texas.

The competition at the Star Awards this year was stiff, with many accomplished homebuilders vying for a chance at the prestigious award. “Our unique Lifestyle Analysis(c) program, an excellent website, and an amazing team were key to our success this year,” said Shan Jenkins, owner of Jenkins Custom Homes.

In addition to winning Custom Builder of the Year, Jenkins took home seven other Star awards, including Best Custom Home and Best Architectural Design. The homebuilder was also named Builder of the Year in 2006, placing it among an elite handful of custom builders in the state of Texas to win the award more than once.

The award goes to the Texas homebuilder who best displays excellence in areas such as design, construction, industry leadership, and community altruism. Jenkins demonstrates all the qualities the Texas Association of Builders seeks in industry and community involvement. Locally, Shan Jenkins serves as President of the Lakeway chapter of the Home Builders Association of Austin. Nationally, Jenkins serves as host to the Custom Builder’s Symposium tour, and is an active member of various homebuilder associations.

Bethany Jenkins, vice president of Jenkins Custom Homes, attributes Jenkins’ victory to community involvement. “We feel that the more you give to your community, the more you receive. The fact that we’ve had such a successful year is partly because we make getting involved a priority.”

Jenkins Custom Homes has been building luxury custom homes in Austin and surrounding areas for more than 15 years. Jenkins’ unique Lifestyle Analysis(c) program sets the homebuilder apart from its competition, and guarantees any project to be within 5% of the original design cost. With over 100 homes constructed, totaling more than $50 million, Jenkins has a solid track record that is now uniquely recognized through the award of Custom Builder of the Year.

Source: http://laketravisview.com/2009/12/11/jenkins-custom-homes-is-named-%E2%80%98custom-home-builder-of-the-year%E2%80%99/

The Skinny On Energy Efficiency

Google's PowerMeter

When faced with building a new home, you may be surprised at the number of options available for lowering your energy consumption, and thus, your utility bills. However, some ideas are better than others, and a good rule of thumb, according to Bethany Jenkins, Vice-President of Jenkins Custom Homes, is to evaluate the product and choose those with a 2-4 year payback. One of the benefits of building a new home – as opposed to purchasing an existing – is the flexibility you have in design. Here are some of our favorite ways to control energy costs:

1. Start with a great design. Your home’s orientation on the lot, as well as the location of windows and doors, can take into consideration cross-ventilation and the direction of the sun in both winter and summer months.
   
2. Have a carefully planned “thermal envelope”. The thermal envelope is a technical term for the insulation in your home. Think of it like a thermos – the quality of the insulation is what determines how hot or cold your liquid inside remains. The same is true of your home. Putting your money into a high-density foam insulation and highly efficient windows will keep your home warmer or cooler, therefore reducing the number of times the A/C or heater has to cycle on and off.
   
3. Require high-performance mechanical systems (heating and cooling systems, hot water heaters), as well as appliances.
   
4. Employee technology when cost-effective (occupancy sensors for lights, A/C & heater, for instance).
5. Carefully placed trees can shade your house from cold winds or the summer heat, and drought resistant landscaping will lower your water usage.  A good landscape architect can design your green space with eye toward lowering your energy costs.