Tips for Hiring an Architect in Hawaii

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Today, we talk about selecting an architectural style for a recently purchased lot.

• Select a style and type of house prior to hiring an architect. Most architects prefer to work in one style.
• Browse online and in magazines for styles that would compliment your lot. These examples can provide you with the features. When you find those examples, research the architect that build those houses. Are they in your area? Are they accessible?
• Look at three architects before picking one. What happens in the beginning is crucial to the end result.

Thanks so much! I look forward to talking with you soon.

Are You Planning on Building a New Home in Oahu?

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Today, I want to talk about some of the things involved in building your own home. There are many people involved in the process and there are many factors that can make it difficult.

The first thing to decide is where you want to live. There are a lot of things that go into it. Deciding on a lot is key, and the best way to do that is to go online. Often times, you'll find a property that is in bad shape that you can tear down and rebuild on the lot.

Another huge decision you need to make is how much you can afford to spend on the lot. When you buy a run-down property to knock down and build a beautiful home in its place, you have to ensure you have the funds to make it happen before you begin the process. A good rule to keep in mind is that the purchase price of the lot should be 1/5 to 1/4 of the amount that you're going to spend on the house. So, if you buy a $1 million lot, you want to put a $5 million house on it. Establish your budget accordingly!

If you have any questions about building a new home in Oahu, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I've helped many people build the home of their dreams and would love to do the same for you!

Financing Your New Construction Home

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Buying a Oahu home? Search all homes for sale

After you've found the lot of your dreams, the next step is determining how you're going to purchase it and finance the building procedure.

First, go to your local banker and talk about your plan. Typically you want to buy the lot or the tear-down house with cash, and then finance the build and convert that loan into a permanent mortgage. This way, you don't have to deal with double-billing.

Again, you're looking to determine what your build cost will be. At that point, you need to hire an architect, lay out what you want, and how much you want to spend. Typically, architects charge between 10% and 20% of the build cost. Included in the architect's services is management of the general contractor and builder to make sure everything is done according to plan.

At that point, your architect will help you find a builder. If you have any other questions about the new construction process, please give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!