GB Group sends... THE HAPPY HOMEOWNER CUSTOM HOMES AND RENOVATIONS
A BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER & GUIDE FOR YOUR HOME 479.464.7336 - www.BuildWithGBGroup.com
MAY 2015
ARE YOU PLANNING TO BUILD A CUSTOM HOME? Hello GB Group Friends and Fans! I hope you’re all having an awesome Spring. Here on this page, I’m including a list of items to consider as you start the process of building a new home. A big misconception when building is that the prep time for starting your custom home is much like buying a new car. You pick a lot, pick a house plan, sign a contract, and off you go. Nothing is farther from the truth. Preliminary preparations can sometimes take just as long as the construction of the home itself. One or two years out is a great time to start working on logistics. This is not to say that we can’t speed the process up and make things happen a lot faster, but two years is a nice leisurely pace for you, the homeowners, to get your ducks in a row. Here are some things to think about as you start down the path to build your custom home. The big four necessities are: houseplans/blue prints, financing, lot/land, and a contractor. I’ll expound on these, and then, below that, I’ll mention some other pieces to the custom home building prep puzzle that you may not be aware of. Construction plans or blue prints- There are many avenues to acquire these. The main three ways are to 1) buy house plans online, 2) work with a draftsman to draw up the house that you already have sketches of but which need some tweaking, and 3) work with an architect to create something from scratch based on needs, wants, and priorities. Financing- It is a good idea to go ahead and get pre-approved by a bank. Ultimately before you will be able to close on a construction loan, the bank is going to need pricing from your contractor, but a pre-approval will help speed up the process. Also, you can count on 4 to 6 weeks for the bank to do a pre-appraisal on the plans, contractor’s numbers, and land before construction can get started. Land or Lot- Of course, this involves the process of deciding where you will live. A realtor is a great person to get on your side to help locate the perfect spot for you. Contractor- The sooner you get a contractor on your team, the faster and smoother the whole prep process will go. A contractor can steer you in the right direction, and in certain circumstances, can take care of items for you. Sometimes that’s easier for everyone. Of course, I know of a great contractor. You can call our office at 479.464.7336. Those are the four necessary, basic steps everyone thinks of when planning to build, but here are a few items you may not have thought of yet: Septic System- You will need to get a design submitted to the State of Arkansas. (6 to 8 week process). Well- Need water onsite ASAP for construction. You will need to get in the schedule to locate the best place to drill and to do the drilling itself. Continued on page 3
IN THIS ISSUE: Page 1 + Feature Story: Are You Planning to Build a Custom Home?
Page 2 + Comic + Spring Word Search + NWA Community Happenings + Recipe of the Month + Riddle Contest Winner
Page 3 + Useless Trivial Tidbits + Must Read Book + Healthy Home Tip + Positive Quote
Page 4 - Page 5 + Project Spotlight: Custom Home, Rogers, AR
Page 6 +Q&A + Vocabulary Word + Riddle + Feature Story Cont.
Page 7 + Historic Home Remodel Bentonville, AR
Page 8 + Happy Spring from the Tankersleys
N COMMUNITY W A HAPPENINGS MAY 29 - 30 Monster Trucks. Parsons Stadium - Springdale @ 7:30 am. MAY 30 - The Little Craft Show - Spring Edition! Shiloh Square - Springdale @ 10:00 am. - 6:00 pm.
Azalea Anemone Begonia Bluebell Cornflower Crocus Daffodil Dogwood Fresia Gardenia Geranium Hawthorn Hyacinth Impatiens Iris Jasmine Jonquil Lilac Lily Marigold Magnolia Orchid Pansy Petunia Poppy Rose Tulip
Spring Word Search
Re cipe
The kids, Jacob, and I love this salad. Once Spring/Summer hits, we eat it a LOT. If you have a garden or have access to a gardener who gives away extras, fresh garden cucumbers and tomatoes are so yummy to use.
Ingredients:
JUN 6 - ColorDash 5k - Rogers @ 10:00 am.
10-12 mini cucumbers 20-30(ish) cherry or on-the-vine tomatoes 1/4 of a yellow or white onion Approx. 1/4 cup organic mayonnaise Salt and Pepper to taste
JUN 11 - 15th Annual Art of Wine Festival - The Winemaker’s Dinner. Walton Arts Center - Fayetteville @ 6:00 pm. JUN 13 - 2nd Annual Wings & Wheels Swap and Show 2015. Bentonville Municipal Airport JUN 13 - NWA Dog Walk. Bentonville Bark Park. - Bentonville @ 9:00 am. JUL 17 - Casting Crowns Concert. Springdale Performing Arts Center. - Springdale @ 7:00 pm.
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Preparation: Rinse and slice cucumbers, making them whatever thickness you desire. Slice tomatoes. Chop onion in small to medium-sized pieces. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Enjoy! The good news is, you’re the chef, and so you can adjust the amounts of ANY of these ingredients! Play with it until it tastes yummy to you!
Last Month’s Riddle Contest Winner Congratulations to Doug Milligan of Fayetteville!
Doug was the first to respond to the riddle and is the proud winner of a $5 Starbucks Gift Card! Way to go, Doug! If any of you are still wondering what the riddle answer is, here you go: Last Month’s Riddle: How do you make the word “one” disappear? The Answer Was: Make it GONE. 2
Calling all suckers for brain teasers! Look on page 6 for this newsletter’s riddle, and email in your guess to contact@buildwithgbgroup.com.
Must Read Book
Positive Quote
“As you go the way of life, you will come to a great chasm. JUMP. It’s not as big as you think.” -Native American Proverb
Seven Men
By Eric Metaxas Have you ever wanted to change the world but thought there is no way one person (you) could do it? Using seven great men as examples, this book combines a history lesson with the possibility of what we, as men and women, can do with our lives. It illustrates how we can make a difference. The book tries to answer the age-old question, “What makes a person great?” Although the philosophy behind what makes a man can be very subjective, I felt the author hit the nail on the head. Take a look and give this book a try. I believe you will be able to take something positive away. Written by Jacob Tankersley
Heidi’s Healthy Home Tip Hi everyone! In this newsletter, I have a Heidi Healthy’s SOUL Tip. Hope you don’t mind the slight variation this time.
was grocery shopping in Sam’s when a shock of inspiration hit me. I literally had to PULL MY CART IOVER, grab some napkins (because I didn’t have my journal), and start scribbling my little heart out. In the end, this is what poured onto the page: A DECLARATION FOR UNIQUENESS. (Both mine and yours.) As you read, speak it to yourself. I hope you will embrace the truths in this declaration, pull them deep into your heart, and make them your own. -------
DECLARATION FOR UNIQUENESS: Today, I hereby declare not to be like anyone else in the world. I’m done comparing. Finished with thinking someone else’s way is the right way, because this only limits me from expressing myself fully and living life to the highest potential. Today, I hereby decide not to be like anyone else. I will let my light shine, in hopes that others will see that they, too, are free from the confines of comparatism, if only they should so decide it for themselves. Today, I hereby insist. I will be an individual—not for the sake of individualism itself—but rather to open myself up to others, and them to me. My newfound freedom will allow floodgates of joy to flow between me and every fellow human being I encounter. It is for them that I push forward. It is for them that I press onward with my beacon of “Self ” lit brightly, so that when I encounter each individual, they do not see me, but instead, see their own Self in the light. Written by Heidi Tankersley ------Onward and upward my fellow beacon carriers. xxheidi
USELESS TRIVIAL TIDBITS 1. Bill Gates is the richest person in the world He’s worth $79.2 billion. 2. The chief translator for the European Parliament, Ioannis Ikonomou, fluently speaks 32 languages. 3. Over 1,000 birds a year die from smashing into windows! 4. Van Gogh only sold one painting when he was alive. 5. The most common street name in the U.S. is Second Street. 6. A horse can look forward with one eye and back with the other. 7. A standard slinky will stretch 70-80 feet. 8. A family of 26 could go to the movies in Mexico City for the price of one in Tokyo. 9. Simplistic passwords contribute to over 80% of all computer password break-ins 10. One quarter of the bones in your body are in your feet. 11. Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a “Friday the 13th.” 12. Crocodiles and alligators are surprisingly fast on land. Although they are speedy, they are not agile. So, if being chased by one, run in a zigzag line to lose him or her.
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Custom Home - Rogers, AR These clients had a clean, modern home design that I immediately fell in love with. We really enjoy custom home projects that have definitive architectural design. The Weavers were great to work with as we moved through each and every detail, and that kept their home true to the original, modern design. From the trimless interior doors, to the baseboards with shadow cove that lie flush with the sheetrock, this home is fresh and crisp. I love the abundance of glass and the large retracting 14-foot door that slides open to combine the indoor living space with outdoor patio. The homeowners had great ideas, and it was a lot of fun putting them in place. Here are a few of the ammenities: cork floors upstairs, polished concrete downstairs, cable handrails on stairwell and second-story deck, indoor garden bed for bamboo, flat TPO membrane roof, free-standing tub, double-sink vanity, heated towel rack, large master closet with island. This home shines, clean and white throughout the open floorplan. Thank you, Weavers, for the opportunity to work with you on your custom home!
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Custom Home - Rogers, AR
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ARE YOU PLANNING TO BUILD A CUSTOM HOME? Cont. From page 1
Site development or UtilitiesYou need to make sure all necessary utilities are in place. Do you have water, electricity, and gas onsite already? How far away from future house? Road- If a road is needed to the construction site, the sooner the better. Land Clearing- The more quickly you can clear the build site, the sooner you can see what you are working with. Permits- This could be building permits or permits related to other aspects of the build. Lot Splits- If there is an existing residence on the land, the property is going to need to be split before financing can be put in place. Also, sometimes banks will want to divide large pieces of land from the house. Lot Survey- Sometimes an old survey can not be found in the records. Driveway Approval- County permitting requires a driveway approval. Heat and Air Load Calculations- County permitting requires a load calculation. I hope this helps you get started working toward your dream home. If you are needing referrals for any of the items listed above please contact us and we would be happy to help. We look forward to the potential of working with you soon!
Questions & Answers
You ask the Q, We give you the A
Q: What kind of decking material should I use for my home’s deck and what are the differences between them? A: This is a question we get once it’s time for our custom home clients to decide what material they’d like to use with their outdoor living space. The three most common decking materials are: cedar, pressure-treated wood, and composite lumber. They all share similarities, but the choice comes down to cost, maintenance and appearance. Take a look at the pros and cons here: Cedar: The heartwood of this tree is rot resistant. Cedar doesn’t readily absorb moisture— and, since moisture is what creates twisting and splitting, cedar decking tends to lie flat and straight. Cedar is also soft when used for stairs or for decks with furniture. Its lifespan is about 15 to 20 years and you have to clean it and reseal it every year or two. The cost of the cedar is moderate, more than pressure-treated wood but somewhat less than composite. Pressure-Treated: If economy and longevity are what you’re looking for, go with pressure-treated wood. It’s stainable, hard enough to resist abuse, and many brands carry a lifetime warranty. But beware, not all treated woods are created equal. The standard treated decking may costs less than cedar. But inexpensive treated wood is often full of moisture and will shrink unevenly and twist when it dries. The reality is that a pressure-treated deck may last forever, but if you buy wrong, it’s going to look bad forever, too. Composite Decking: If near-zero maintenance is your goal, buy composite decking. Most is made from recycled plastic and wood chips or sawdust. It’s more expensive than cedar, but once it’s down, it won’t rot, splinter or twist. You can even stain most types after four to six months. Since the material is defect free, you can use every inch. Maintenance involves spraying it off with a hose. Cons: Some people don’t like the aesthetics of composite, and the material can be cold on bare feet. Email us at contact@BuildWithGBGroup.com with your question.
Written by Jacob Tankersley Just give us a call to setup your appointment at 479.464.7336 or email us at contact@BuildWithGBGroup.com.
Above: Home renovation, Wilson Park, Fayetteville.
VOCABULARY
RIDDLE CONTEST! BE THE FIRST TO ANSWER THIS RIDDLE & WIN A
$5 Starbucks Gift Card
THE RIDDLE:
Throw away the outside and cook the inside, then eat the outside and throw away the inside. What is it?
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TO PLAY: Email now with the answer to the above riddle. Whoever responds first with the correct answer wins! Email contact@BuildWithGBGroup.com All ages can play!!!
Above: Home renovation, Fayetteville.
Word of THE month APLOMB Noun
Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
Sentence example:
You’ve handled a difficult situation with perfect aplomb.
Historic HOME Remodel - Downtown Bentonville, AR During this extensive home renovation, we worked with our clients to take a home that was built around the turn of the 20th century and bring it back to life. While we did add 21st century utilities and functions, we tried to keep the home authentic to the original era and design. We added just over 400 sf, including a two-car garage, a breezeway to the kitchen, and a transformation of the attic into a third story with guest bedroom and bath. We created an all-new kitchen, including new appliances, cabinets, a large island, and a deep farmhouse sink, finishing it off with trim that matched the rest of home. By using custom craftsmen, we were able to match to the new hand-railing on third-floor stairwell with the antique handrail (original to the home) on the first floor stairwell. We also matched the siding on the garage to that of the original home. Outside, we added a new backyard deck and a new second-story balcony The mechanicals and electric were updated. We refinished all the hardwood floors, and repainted everything both inside and out to freshen the space. The homeowners chose to keep the original, antique fire mantel, and it adds exquisite detail to the finished home. Working with the Marquardts was fantastic, and the final product exceeded our expectations. Thank you, Marquardts, for the opportunity to work with you!
GB GROUP CONSTRUCTION
Thank you for reading this month’s newsletter! Would you mind spreading the word about our company to your friends and family? We would be so grateful! Call us for all your custom home building needs. Phone: 479.464.7336. PO BOX 7734 | Springdale AR 72766 W W W. B U I L D W I T H G B G R O U P . C O M
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GB GROUP CONSTRUCTION CUSTOM HOMES AND RENOVATIONS P.O. Box 7734 Springdale, AR 72766
Connect With Us.
SPRING is here! pring S y p p Ha he From T ys rsle e k n a T
Hello friends, clients, homeowners, and future custom home project compadres! We hope this newsletter finds you doing well! The sun is out, the rainy season is nearly gone, and we are jumping full force into beautiful weather! Yay! (Not only does this sunny weather make us feel good, it also helps on the construction sites). For all of you who are, or have been, our clients--Thank you. We're so grateful for you. For all of you who we will have the privilege of working with in the future--we are very much looking forward to it. And for EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU reading this newsletter, we send you a hearty, “HAPPY SPRING!” Lots of Love, The Tankersleys
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GB Group Construction | P.O. Box 7734 Springdale, AR 72766 479-464-7336 | www.BuildWithGBGroup.com