MERLE MAGAZINE getting to know your builder
MONEY SAVING TIPS MEET MERLE
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Favorite
Design Trends
WINTER 2018
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR BUILDER
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KITTITAS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT RECAP
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CUSTOM HOME MONEY SAVING TIPS
CONTENTS
WELCOME
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MERLE INC. TEAM’S FAVORITE DESIGN TRENDS
Building a custom home is an exciting yet daunting task. There are lots of decisions to be made in a relatively short amount of time. Additionally, there are lots of misconceptions about building that stem from online forums, reality TV and personal anecdotes. Our goal is to help guide you through the process in an easy yet informative manner. We measure our success through homeowners that love their final product and enjoyed the process to get there.
In this issue, you’ll find helpful tips about selecting a builder, saving money throughout the build and how to prepare to begin building in the spring. We’ll also share some of our favorite design trends and the history behind our company. We hope you enjoy this issue and we’d love to begin the discussion about how we can assist with your dream home. - The Merle Inc. Team 2
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR BUILDER Selecting a builder for your custom home is a huge commitment. You will embark on approximately a yearlong journey to construct your dream home. It’s important to ask the right questions up front to ensure the team is the right fit for you and your lifestyle.
CAPABILITY
CHEMISTRY
CHARACTER
We encourage you to evaluate all prospective builders’ capability. It’s a good idea to tour completed projects and talk to local realtors and subcontractors to get an accurate read on their work.
This is the most important factor to consider when selecting a home builder. You need to determine if the organization and people are a good fit. In return, the builder also evaluates relationships with potential clients to ensure it’s mutually the right fit.
Character is determined by the builder’s ability to withhold promises to clients, subcontractors and banks. It’s important to talk to suppliers, subcontractors and financial institutions and hear their impressions about he builder’s fiscal character and integrity.
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three money saving tips Easy tricks for staying within budget
Consider alternative storage options One of the most expensive rooms in your house is the kitchen. Appliances, counter tops and cabinetry can quickly add up. An easy solution to reduce costs while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere is to consider alternative storage solutions. You can dramatically reduce costs by forgoing upper cabinets and opting for open shelving instead. Worried about space? A wellplaced pantry is the perfect and affordable solution!
make decisions in advance There are hundreds of decisions to make throughout the custom home building process. From the style of your garage door to the light fixtures in the bathroom, you’ll be challenged to make decisions in a timely manner. As you get further into the process and learn more about custom building, you may be inclined to question your decisions and change your mind. This will delay your production schedule and ultimately cost you money. By making decisions upfront and sticking to them, you can help your project stay on time and budget!
utilize mixed use spaces Rooms and square footage added to your dream home design will dramatically increase overall production cost. Consider designing a mixed-use space that can be easily transformed to meet your needs. A simple solution could be to include a stylistic Murphy bed in an office to create additional space for guests. Another option is to consider a sleeper sofa in a media room to comfortably accommodate all your family and friends! 4
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FAVORITE DESIGN TRENDS
Concrete Floors: Concrete floors are the perfect solution for a mountainmodern home. They provide clean lines and an industrial feel paired with the beauty of nature. I love concrete floors because they are stylish and functional. I don’t have to worry about my kids and pets ruining the finishes. They create a really livable and functional space. – Jeff, Merle Inc. Owner
Open Kitchen Shelving: The open shelves create distinct, modern lines and add visual interest to kitchens. Personally, I love my dishes and glassware and enjoy showcasing them as works of art. It adds another dimension of personality that is not available with traditional cabinets. – Amanda, Marketing Coordinator Wallpaper Accents: Gone are the days were wallpaper is strictly reserved for your grandma’s basement. Designs are no longer limited to rose buds and country farm animals. I’m obsessed with the big, geometric patterns of modern wall paper. It’s a great way to add a pop of color and texture to an accent wall or small space. It’s cool to see how the different patterns reflect the homeowner’s lifestyle and personality. – Heather, Project Coordinator Mixing Metals: For years, all metal finishes in a house had to match. The cabinet hardware, appliances and light fixtures were expected to be identical. My current favorite trend is utilizing multiple metal finishes in one space. You can easily turn a faucet or light fixture into a statement piece by selecting something unique like a matte black finish. It still looks great with stainless steel or brushed nickel, but serves as an interesting integration of texture. – Helen, Accounts Manager Connection to the Outdoors: We are lucky to live in a place that boasts the beauty of four distinct seasons. It used to be the sentiment that outdoor living was reserved for warm and sunny days. With the use of discrete radiant heaters, large glass sliders and partially covered patios, it’s becoming easier to enjoy outdoor spaces, regardless of the weather. Nothing beats coming home after a long day and unwinding with a beer next to my outdoor firepit. – Joey, Project Manager
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MEET MERLE
Merle Inc. was founded in 2000 by Merle “Jeff” Schafer. Jeff has a passion for the custom home industry and giving back to the community. Check out what he has to say about the company! What inspired you to create Merle Inc.? I attended Western Washington University and graduated with my B.A. in English. I thought I wanted to be a teacher and enjoyed studying literature. While in school, I worked for a contracting company and completed many remodel and custom home projects. During that time, I realized construction was my passion. I loved making a plan, working as a team and producing a high quality product that families cherish forever. My experience in contracting and trade work inspired me to create a business of my own. I began my first company in 2000 and moved Merle Inc. to Cle Elum in 2004. Why did you choose to live and work in Cle Elum? I chose to put my roots down in Cle Elum for a number of reasons. For starters, this place has always felt like home. My wife was born and raised here (in fact, her childhood home is right next to our new office!) and we knew we’d like to settle down in the area. Cle Elum has the perfect natural setting paired with easy access to city life in Seattle. We built our first home downtown Cle Elum and recently moved a few miles away. It’s a great place to explore and raise a family.
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Jeff and Elisia Schafer with their sons Waylon and Jake.
Which project has left a lasting impression on you? I’ve worked on countless homes throughout my career. From lavish multi-story mansions overlooking Puget Sound to quaint country abodes, each home has presented me with an amazing memory. I love getting to know clients and working closely with their families to create a home of their dreams. My favorite projects are ones that include a unique challenge. Whether its building a custom five car garage or integrating a home onto a sloped property, I enjoy coming up with creative solutions. Tell us about your new office space. What does this mean for the company? We recently moved our office space from Roslyn to the old Valley Floor building in Cle Elum (located on Peoh Ave). The new building has provided us with the necessary space to accommodate our growing team. Merle Inc. started as a small operation consisting of myself, my wife and one office assistant. Now, we have 45 employees and one of the largest crews in the area. The two-story space allowed us to create functional spaces for our different departments. We have designated spaces for our project coordinators and managers, finance and marketing team. We completely remodeled the interior of the building and are proud of the sleek and modern interior finishes. The ground floor of our building will be a designated showroom. We will have various vendors on site to provide our homeowners with an easy one-stop shop approach to selecting finishes. I’m excited to collaborate with our partners in a new way! The team is what makes the building special. You can come in at any time and hear the buzz and excitement of collaboration. We’ve got a great group of people who are passionate about serving our clients. Our work wouldn’t be possible without amazing employees at every level of the organization.
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PREPARING TO BUILD IN
SPRING
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As the year draws to a close and you begin thinking about 2019, the clock is ticking if your plans include building a custom home. There are several steps that must be completed prior to beginning construction. Winter is the perfect time to plan and execute surveys, homeowner association approvals, permitting and more. If you’ve already purchased your perfect lot and are looking to get started, here’s what to do next.
1. Selecting a Design Team A design team helps translate your dreams and visions into plans and products. If you have already selected a designer, you’re well on your way to beginning the next steps! If not, that’s okay. It’s time to start meeting and interviewing prospective professionals. This process is highly personal and can take approximately three to four weeks. 2. Design Process Once a design professional is selected, you’ll partake in a series of meetings and brainstorming sessions. For most projects, homeowners meet with the design team four to five times to fully develop their vision. Some homeowners also choose to work with an interior designer to help them decide finishes, color choices, appliances and more. Working with an interior designer can help ensure your home has a cohesive feel, but will likely add an additional one to two months to the overall timeline. It’s important to begin working with all professionals now to stay on track. 3. Homeowners Association Design Review Committee The review examines the proper placement of the home, the integration of your design with the existing neighborhood and overall adherence with the external layout of the structure. Each HOA has different requirements. However, the review for homes in Suncadia and Tumble Creek usually add six weeks to the process. 4. Engineering Once the design team has approval from the HOA and the plan set is finalized, the plans are sent to an engineering firm to prepare them for permitting through Kittitas County. 5. Permit Application The building permit review through Kittitas County is the next step in the design phase. During the busiest time of the year, this phase can take up to six weeks. Once all plans are approved, construction can begin. 6. Financing It’s important to note that if you’re using institutional financing for your project, the application and approval of loans can add three to five weeks to the process. Make sure to address your financial status and begin planning early in the process to help your project stay on track. Building a custom home is an exciting and lengthy process. By handling the technical details during the winter, you’ll be prepared to break ground in the spring! 10
WANT MORE MERLE? Curious about our work? Check out our website and social media sites. Or give us a call. We’d love to meet you! www.merleinc.com | Instagram: @merle.inc | Facebook: @MerleInc1 | 509.852.7695