Eating An Elephant

How do you eat an elephant?  Easy.  One bite at a time.

How does this apply to building custom homes?  Contracting to build a custom home will be a major event in your life.  It has also been compared to running a marathon, climbing a mountain, or giving birth.  There are many analogies that come to mind, but no matter the comparison, building a custom home for yourself will be both the most fulfilling and one of the greatest challenges you might ever face in your life.

Whatever the major goal, whether it be running a marathon or building a custom home, once you commit to the result you'll need a plan as well the fortitude to go the distance.  Every step, or bite, you take is a decision toward the finish of your home, and it takes dedication and endurance, and miles and miles of decisions.

So, how do you develop a plan?  Here are a few essential decisions, to be made in advance, to help you map out a plan:

1.  Choose your coaches - choose a builder who you like and trust and have a rock solid contract to define your expectations.  It also helps to like your builder's other staff members since they will play a key role in the on-time, on-budget completion of your project.  Also, choose an architect or home designer who understands your needs and your vision for your new home and can clearly convey your vision to your builder.  Do your research on your coaches and find out their experience, expertise and expected longevity and stability in their business.

2.  Put your goals in writing - define your expectations through a detailed set of working plans and specifications for the home, and a budget that realistically defines the costs of completing your home within your expectations.  Your builder's expertise in estimating costs will be essential to a realistic budget.  Decide as much information as possible about your standards for your new home and you may more closely rely on your builder and avoid the disappointing news that your budget does not allow for the brand or style you wanted (doors, windows, millwork, cabinets, hardware, flooring, etc., etc.)

3.  Prepare body, mind and soul - before you start, bank your money as well as your decisions on styles, materials and finishes.  If you make your decisions about money or materials after you start, on a daily or weekly basis, your building project will not be timely, not run smoothly, and will not likely be within budget constraints.  Making decisions in advance will leave time for multiple bids, price shopping, and special order of materials during an economy when inventories are very low.

4.  Miles of training time - work backwards from the date you would like to start your new home and leave ample time for every aspect of the advanced planning and decision making that will be the groundwork for a less stressful building experience.  You can expect that the time it takes to make advanced decisions about your designer, general contractor, "must- have" features, finalizing a design and getting permits will be approximately as long as it might take to build the house itself.

5.  Countdown to the finish - understand the standard timeline for building your home, but expect delays and be flexible.    Don't make plans to move into your new home until the last punch list item is completed.  Again, your builder's expertise in estimating the time it will take to complete each phase of your project will be essential to a realistic timeline.

6.  Balance your dedication to the result with life as you know it - while your building project is in process it will almost assuredly interrupt every other aspect of your life, including your relationships, your personal time management and routines, and your finances.  Expect the added stress in your life and make sure your family is on board with the process.  Having a plan, including a well chosen builder, clear goals, and many decisions made in advance will minimize unexpected obstacles.

One thing that accomplishing all major goals have in common is a plan.  If you would like assistance in planning for your custom home building project, contact Winsome Construction, shan@winsomeconstruction.com or  503-472-7402.

Winsome Launches their Featured Architect Series with an Interview with Nathan Good

We have found that often the journey to find the right team of people to design and build is a daunting one for clients.  Your architect or designer and builder are such critical team members that will help to ensure that your building process is all that you want it to be, so how do you make sure that you make informed decisions about which one is a good fit for you and your project?  It is a good idea to check out their websites, to look at their work, to ask for referrals and to meet them and ask lots of questions to find out how they work and to be informed about what you should expect.  Trust and a good working relationship are essential.  

In our business, we have had the good fortune of meeting and working with many of the area’s finest architects and designers.  We felt that it would be helpful to have a place that clients and potential clients could go to learn about our local architects and designers to facilitate this difficult decision.  With this in mind, Winsome has launched the “Featured Architect of the Month” series.  Every month in 2012 we will be featuring an interview with a local architect or designer complete with extensive project photos, website information and contact information.  We will highlight the architect on our blog and a full, detailed interview with more photos to be found on our website.

  

For our first featured architect, we sat down with Nathan Good, an award winning green architect based in Portland, Oregon.  Here is a recap of our talk with Nathan.  Visit our website for the full interview and a more complete set of photos of his work.

Talking to Nathan, with his humble and down to earth style, you would never guess that he is one of the premier architects in Oregon and an internationally renowned green architect that has designed homes and commercial buildings across the United States and even internationally.  I had the good fortune of meeting Nathan back in the late 90s when he was still working with Portland General Electric (PGE) the then utility based energy conservation program, Earth Advantage Institute, which later became a highly successful independent green building resource.  He was innovating then in spectacular ways that continued to change the landscape of green building long after he moved on to other things.  Now he continues to change the landscape of green building through his creative and innovative designs.  He is clear about his vision and drive.  He thinks the future of green building needs to be that green building is standard building practice.   

 

Nathan was drawn to architecture as a child when his parent’s started working on designing a home.  Even as a child, Nathan found that he was fascinated with the decisions to be made in designing a home and how to help people to collaborate to create a final design together.  Even today, Nathan says, “If you were to ask my clients, they would say that negotiating win/win design agreements among couples is my greatest strength.”  Nathan uses a collaborative approach to design, where relationships and working together are emphasized.  “In the process of designing and building a project, I find that it works best to temper the ego and ask others for advice.”  Nathan explains,  “It produces a superior result when I suspend having to be right and ask others to contribute genius to the project.”

To see the full interview with Nathan, visit our website at http://www.winsomeconstruction.com/building-with-us/design-services/nathan-good/

Building Green Council

Our goal at Winsome Construction is not only to build the smartest and most energy efficient buildings, it is also to make sure every structure that is built is better than the last, whether we work on the build or not. The goal is to reduce our reliance on natural resources, improve air quality (both indoor and out) and to save homeowners time and money. Taking the time to be on committees and boards enables us to work with others to help our community to reach these goals.

Recently we joined the Steering Committee of the Building Green Council at the HBA (Home Builders Association of Portland) as part of our commitment to building better buildings. The mission of this council is to foster green building knowledge, education and application. It takes a lot of effort to keep on top of all the “green” and innovative construction methods and materials. The technology changes on a daily basis, and unless you have a research team you will miss something. This council works to educate HBA members and the community about the best materials and techniques and also lobbies those who have the power to include these processes in building codes both locally and nationally.

As a member of the Steering Committee of the Building Green Council, Winsome Construction is helping to shape the construction industry for a brighter, smarter future. If you have more questions about green or smart building practices, please contact us.

3...2...1... Launch!

Winsome Construction launched into the New Year with it's new name and a celebratory Open House attended by over a hundred guests.  The event was a few hours of cheer and networking by old and new friends, including catered snacks, hosted bar and a self-tour of the Winsome Construction model home located in the West Wind subdivision at Hill Road and NW West Wind Drive in McMinnville.

Guests mingle at Winsome Construction Open House

Guests were greeted by Winsome staff members and mingled with guests including Winsome's sub-contractors, vendors and clients.  The self-tour was designed to educate guests, not only giving information about specific features of the model home, but also providing information on innovative possibilities in green building alternatives for any home.  The model home is a Prairie style home and a beautiful example of Winsome Construction's superior craftsmanship.

   

A "Trivia Contest" gave guests a chance to win a wine, cheese and chocolate basket by answering questions about building features that could be discovered on the self-tour or by asking Winsome staff members.  Congratulations to Ted and Joan Rodgers who were the winners of the basket, chosen randomly from the guests who answered the most questions correctly.

Henderson House was designated as the charity for the Winsome Construction Open House event.  The organization will benefit from a barrel-full of donations of blankets, dry goods, clothing and gift cards brought to the event by Winsome's guests.

Henderson House donations by
Winsome Construction's Open House guests

The model home was specially staged for the Open house event and Artist, John Strombe, attended the event and was invited to set up some of his beautiful paintings at the model home for guests to enjoy during the event.  

If you missed the Open House event and the opportunity to see the Winsome Construction model home, you are welcome to see the home during business hours, on Saturdays from 1-4 pm or call 503-472-7402 for an appointment.  Winsome Construction is planning it's first annual company picnic in July 2012, don't miss it!

News Register:  http://web.newsregister.com/news/results.cfm?story_no=275438

Smart is the New Green

Frequently we are asked the question, “What is a green builder?” There is no easy answer. “Green” means many different things to different people. There is no universal definition. One person may feel being “green” is recycling consumer packaging, while another would argue being “green” is not to purchase the item if it has packaging. In the building trade, there are also many shades of “green.” Ultimately, being “green” depends on what you want, need or can incorporate into your building plans.

At Winsome Construction we define how we build simply as smart. We build with goals of healthier spaces for occupants, environment and surrounding communities, at a lower lifetime cost. That’s just “smart” building. Most of the smart advancements in building are considered green, and incorporating these advancements is now beginning to be more common.

New and smarter building techniques and products become available every day. The challenge as a “smart builder” is staying on top of it all. There are several organizations designed to help builders and property owners build the smartest structures possible. Winsome Construction is an active member in several of these groups.
      • US Green Building Council
      • Earth Advantage Institute
      • Energy Trust of Oregon
      • Home Builders Association of Oregon
      • Green Building Guild of Yamhill County
      • Energy Star
     
As a smart builder, Winsome Construction recognizes that each building’s purpose and owner’s needs are different. We take the time to sit down and look at your needs as well as the building site to make sure the smartest structure possible is built. Everything from the foundation to the finishes can be built to create a healthier, more sustainable and more energy efficient building.

Watch this blog for information about smart building practices. We will share helpful advice, new and interesting trends and products, and of course, stories of our experience as a smart builder. To learn more you can always visit our website www.winsomeconstruction.com or email us at info@winsomeconstruction.com

Nathan Good Vineyard Estate

High on a hilltop overlooking a 40-acre working vineyard, a very special home is already under construction.  Long before the groundbreaking, Architect, Nathan Good, and the vineyard owners began planning for the home site and future winery on the property.  A select team of contractors was assembled, to be led by one of the top green builders in the region, Shan Stassens of Winsome Construction (www.winsomeconstruction.com).

Every aspect of the plan incorporated three goals:  respect for the environment, homage to the beautiful setting of the vineyard, and comfort of the residents and guests of the vineyard.

The home is expected to be completed in July, 2012 and receive L.E.E.D. certification, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, from The United States Green Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1988).  The home is also expected to be “Net Zero,” producing energy equivalent or in excess of it’s usage.

In this blog we will journal the progress, features and innovations of construction of The Nathan Good Vineyard Estate:  an Oregon Wine Country Net Zero Home, including photos and video.