The subsequent few months in the process of constructing a new Miami real estate home could prove to be quite an overwhelming and time consuming task. One must realize how difficult it is, if not impossible, to ascertain that the whole venture is going to proceed smoothly, without too many hang-ups.

When buying a home in the Miami real estate market while it is under construction one must be aware of some key notes. First, the contract of purchase and sale must be clear and elaborate enough in delineating the buyer’s expectations. Hence, it must describe the specifications as well as the details of the materials used and labor employed that will satisfy one’s buying agreement. These forms of agreement are designed to provide an enforceable agreement between the selling developer and the buyer.

If the Miami real estate developer requests for a deposit or down payment make certain that the payment is going to be deposited into a trust account because if the agreement should default, return of the deposit to the payee is imperative. On the other hand, if the Miami real estate developer wishes to hold the deposit as a stake holder, it may be more difficult to have it returned. In addition to the standard contract of purchase and sale, one should also include a sheet for specifications and the plans for the house. Building contracts are quite long, complex documents and both the selling builder and buyer should obtain legal advice prior to engaging into a building contract.

Insist that before the date of turn-over, both parties should conduct a walk-through of the property. Make sure that all the work is completed as agreed upon. At this moment, both the buyer and the seller should sign and date the list. Both parties should procure copies of it

The purpose of rendering is two-fold, namely to weatherproof the building wall and to provide pleasing finishes of various textures. Plastering is a skilled trade and an expert plasterer should be employed wherever possible, as there are many points that can only be learnt by experience. However, if skilled help is not available, it is necessary to know the elementary principles involved, that is, how to prepare the surface, choose the mix, proportion the materials and apply the plaster.

The proportions of cement, lime and sand to use depend upon the purpose of the plaster and the nature of the building surface to which it is to be applied. A pure lime plaster is comparatively soft and weak and is slow setting, so it is usually gauged with cement to increase its strength and hardness and to shorten the period of hardening. The strength increases and the period of hardening decreases as the amount of cement increases in proportion to the amount of lime, until with a pure cement plaster with no lime, the strength is a maximum and the hardening period the least. However, as the proportion of cement is increased the plaster becomes less workable and more difficult to apply. The proportion of sand should not exceed three times the combined proportions of lime and cement. A stronger plaster should not be applied to weak porous backing or a strong finish coat to a weak first coat.

For external building plastering or 'rendering' on a dense material such as concrete, dense concrete blocks and hard clay bricks of low porosity, the best proportions to use are 1 part cement, 1 part hydrated lime and 6 parts sand by volume. On exposed building walls subject to driving rains the proportion of lime may be decreased and the cement increased to say 1 ¾:¼: 6 mix or a 1:4 cement plaster to which up to 10% of lime by weight of the cement is added to make it workable.

On external building walls of low strength and high porosity such as low quality breeze concrete blocks the external rendering should not be stronger than a 1:1:6 mix as above and a strong cement mix with little or no lime should not be used.

For internal plastering the best proportions are 1 cement, 1 lime and 6 sand; or 1 cement, 2 lime and 9 sand; or a lime mix only of 1:3 or 4 may be used, remembering that the cement increases the strength and hardness and reduces the period of hardening. For water containers such as fishponds only cement plasters should be used.

The weather during plastering and rendering may have considerable influence on the finished work. External rendering should be started on the shady side of the building to keep it unexposed to the sun as long as possible. No plastering should be done in frosty weather. In cold weather plaster hardens slowly and a longer period of time between coats should be allowed. In very hot weather the successive coats must be kept damp and protected from drying out for at least two days after application. Draughts and local sources of heat may cause too rapid drying out. Gentle heat and moderate ventilation are the best conditions for plastering

Phoenix growth is exploding, thanks to its great winter weather and good job client. If you are considering relocating to Phoenix, building your home is a possibility here. But for most of us, it won’t be a custom home. Instead, you’ll have a choice of floor plans and a few variations in the outside of the home. If you are considering having your home built in the Phoenix or Scottsdale area, consider these 5 tips:

1 If you don’t read anything else, read the subdivision report! Home builders are required to submit a subdivision report, which contains information about the subdivision and what is nearby. The report will spell out whether any of the subdivision is in a flood zone, where the water will be coming from, the nature of the soil, and other important things you should know before you buy.

2. The big builders’ homes look boxy because boxy is more cost effective. Subdivision homes look the same because they are easier to build that way. Home builders work to keep costs down and one of those ways they keep costs down is to make the architecture of the home simple to build. Unless you have over $1.1 million to build custom, settle for some nice stone work in front, call in a designer for the interior and concentrate on making your back yard really cool. After all, Phoenix is all about outdoor living.

3. Check for Incentives. Though builders don’t normally drop the base price, they do throw in incentives. Get your own real estate agent and have your agent shop those incentives for you if you have more than one builder to choose from. You don’t get a better deal when you come in the builder’s sales office without an Agent, you just don’t get represented. If you are relocating to Phoenix, get an agent! There are many details about homes here that may be different than where you live now.

4. Get an inspection. Call in an independent inspector to check the home, at least before your warranty expires. When you sell your home, the buyer will have an inspector look at the home, so why not find those defects while the builder will still fix them for free.

No, it doesn’t! It saves Dollars! Modular Home sales continue to grow at a greater pace than their counterpart, the site-built home. They would grow at an even faster pace but for two issues;

• First and foremost, because people associate them with Trailers, Low Income and Poor Quality and workmanship.

• Secondly – Consumer education. While the modular home builder’s do an excellent job of educating the consumer with web sites and literature, they only get to tell their story to those that are interested!

The fact is there is nothing further from the truth! The terms modular home and quality are synonymous. They are ‘Manufactured’ indoors, in an environmentally controlled factory. They are computer designed, making all of the components fit perfectly, and at a greatly reduced cost, because the modular home builder can take advantage of ‘bulk’ buying.

They are much stronger than the majority of site built homes as well. Let’s ponder this thought for a moment. When a modular home is completed at the factory, it is crane lifted onto a trailer, then transported to your home site, then crane lifted again, and set into place. Can you imagine what would happen to a site built home if you tried to lift any part of it with a crane?

The bottom line is that you can get a better quality home for less money! That would seem to be a ‘No-Brainer’ wouldn’t it? But it’s not! Because people still have the stigma of ‘Cheap’!

You owe it to yourself and your pocketbook to research modular homes. You can truly get the home of your dreams that will last you a lifetime, for less money than a site built home.

Do your research and it will pay off in huge savings and reward you with great satisfaction.

1. Research the manufacturer’s reputation. Find out if they are new to the business or been around for a while. Compare apples to apples when comparing products. Visit the factory if possible. Look at their product on line, then visit their model homes.

2. Research the builder. You will need a local builder, working with the manufacturer, to handle all the on-site work such as excavating and pouring the basement, preparing and completing work on the lot (grading, walkways, driveway), surveying and selecting the placement of the house on the lot, and finishing whatever wasn’t done at the factory (some trim, painting, etc.). Get references from your builder from their customers and suppliers, and check them out. You need to know whether a builder provides quality workmanship, is financially stabile and reliable.

3. Be thorough in the planning stage. Take your time to learn everything you need to about windows, doors, counter tops, etc. Visit building centers, kitchen designers, and so on, so that you can make an informed decision about each item that you choose, as you design your new home. Go over the floor plan carefully, to make sure the sizes and locations of the rooms, placement of windows, height of ceilings, etc., are exactly what you want.

You can save up to 30% percent by buying a modular home rather than a stick-built home. You can also save a lot of time. Modular homes are completed and ready to move in months ahead of site built homes. Modular homes are no different than anything else when it comes to shopping, there are some better than others! You have to do your homework. I suggest a shopping checklist. Write down what’s important to you. Make notes on each manufacturer. Choosing the best manufacturer and the right builder are paramount to your success.

Home trends are the-David who turns into Goliath-of the construction industry. More than whimsical “fads”, trends can and do take entire markets for a tailspin. Taking a look into the not-so-distant past we can see homes built without air-conditioning, homes with one bathroom, single car garage, no microwave, and little to no insulation.

Speak to a prospective home-owner today and not only are these things “must haves” but you best include amenities like a dishwasher, garbage disposal, two car garage with remote opening doors, first floor master-bedroom (with a walk-in closet), an entertaining space such as a deck or patio, and please ensure that the laundry room is on the main floor.

These home trends have crept into the building industry and have changed the shape of the modern home. According to the Home Builders Association, “The features that average home buyers want today used to be considered optional and were standard only in upscale luxury homes”. The average person decades ago has likewise up-scaled their own lives and is thus looking for these “luxuries” today.

These people are the “Baby Boomers” and they will drive the industry trends for the next 10 years. In 2003 there were 3.5 million baby boomers who turned 55. In 2010 there will be a total of 30.5 million baby boomers who are 55 or older. What does this mean? That the size of the home will get smaller, as retirees opt for less maintenance, and the quality of the homes will increase as they ask for more amenities and luxuries.

Couple this with trends towards greener and healthier homes and you have a market about ready to explode. Builders can study these trends now and prepare and profit from the trends ahead of time. This is the career launching pad for the future builder, the “innovative builder”, who is looking for a niche, a competitive edge and increased profits.

The builder of the future will have addressed future trends in his homes, now; plotting along trends lines, nailing down profits all along. Trends are simply an inquiry into the buying customer’s mind. This information is readily available to the inquisitive and news-attentive builder.

Homes tomorrow will be more client-centered, or trend-ready. These homes will address concerns of today: flu epidemics, water pollution, environmental pollution, energy conservation, and energy harnessing via solar passiveness and collection, and aging populations who need medical responsiveness, all of which will be addressed by the home builder of the future–or now.

Build a home. This is by far the most repeated advise in human history.

Adults are quick to recommend this option. In fact, it's the most common advise on the lips of many mature people.

However, many youngsters think differently. Building a new home is not a priority for them. They just want to hang out and have fun. They want to buy the latest gadgets and feel cool.

It's okay to flow with the times and enjoy the best technology can offer. Heck, that’s one of the big advantage of being alive in the 21st century.

Yes, enjoy life’s little pleasures but don't forsake the golden advise to build a home.

THE 7 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD BUILD A HOME

1. Building a new home helps you save money.

Most people find it difficult to save. They simply spend their money as it comes. But when you build a home, you save all that money. A home is a huge investment in capital. This means you also make a huge savings for the future.

2. A home appreciates in value over time

Property values increase with time. In developing countries like Nigeria, prices are always on the rise never down.

For example, in mega cities like Lagos Nigeria real estate owners are making a killing. Lagos Nigeria landlords are in the habit of raising rent arbitrarily. For instance, at the beginning of 2006, my Lagos Nigeria landlord wrote me through his real estate agent to inform me that my rent has doubled starting 2007.

I was so pissed off that I bought a land and started building.

I have long known the value of real estate. I had enough money to build a home. But I kept procrastinating. It took a sudden sharp increase in my rent to jolt me to action and start me on the path of building a new home. As I write, my home is on the verge of completion.

If you're like me, it's time to wake up.

Real estate appreciates in value over time. Any home you build now will pay for your retirement when it's time.

3. There is pride and fulfillment in owning a home.

Here's a typical example.

My landlord's daughter once had a dispute with one of the tenants. After much quarreling, she yelled in anger. "This is my father's house! Anyone who doesn't like my rules should go live in his father's house".

Some pride, right?

You don't need to be arrogant like my landlord's daughter because your dad or you own a home. But your sense of achievement and accomplishment after building a new home is simply out of this world.

Don't believe it? Experience it.

4. Your home can serve as collateral when you need a loan to execute another project. Your car can't. Even your most expensive electronics gadgets can't. See the value of owning a home?

5. Building a new home elicits an overwhelming excitement in you.

The truth is . . . building a home goes beyond just owning a home. Build a home is a wonderful advice because it elicits in you excitement that is beyond explaining. The feelings of worth and success just overwhelms you.

I know that from experience.

Try this. Build a home. And get the experience of a lifetime.

6. A house his a concrete asset. It stays with you generation after generation. And with passing generations comes attachment and emotions. Nothing else in this vast universe gives as much satisfaction as building a new home.

7. Pass a legacy to your children. Give them something to inherit.

A home is a concrete asset you can pass to your kids. It is an asset that they cannot easily forget.

What to be remembered?

Build a home. Leave it as a legacy for your kids. Generations after you will remember.

Building a new home is just incredibly exciting. Don't miss out on the fun.

Take my advice. Build a home.

So you've taken the plunge and bought your dream log home. Congratulations! Whether it was purchased as your main home or as a vacation home, there are many reasons why the log home lifestyle is different from living in a traditional home. Here are some tips to help you enjoy the true log home lifestyle.

Proper Decor

First and foremost, your decor should be a good match to the rugged, rustic beauty of the log interior and exterior walls. The logs should be the backdrop to decor that reflects your own personal style without clashing with the primitive uniqueness of the logs. Whether you choose furniture made from logs and twigs, traditional wood antiques, ranch style decor, an old western motif or just a comfy cabin style with a modern edge, there are many styles that will go well with a log home interior. If practicality, usability and cost is your main goal, then even simple wood furniture from places like IKEA would be a good fit. However, if you really want to stay true to the tradition of log home interiors, then consider spending more on some antiques and handcrafted wood furniture. Extremely modern furniture with straight edges and bright colors may not match well with your log home's interior but you can always mix and match to find that perfect eclectic feel that best reflects your personality. A type of furniture that would go perfect in any log home is log furniture. You'll find there are talented craftsmen who create beautiful chairs, beds, tables and benches completely from logs.

Nature

One of the reasons people buy a log home is to be closer to nature. Whether they buy a log cabin deep in the woods as a vacation getaway or ski lodge, or whether they choose a larger log home in a forested but sparsely populated area, you can bet the setting will more than likely be somewhere where nature and wildlife is bountiful. You can better enjoy nature by having a patio, deck or balcony where you can have meals outside. Also, don't obstruct the view from your windows with furniture, lamps or curtains that can't be opened completely. You want to be able to see the beauty outside your windows during every season. You may also want to bring nature into your home to help decorate it. You can make gorgeous decorations for holidays and year round by using pinecones, fallen leaves, twigs and branches. Pinecones can even make a beautiful centerpiece for your hall table or dinner table. You can also decorate your art and picture frames with found twigs and branches.

Warmth

I'm not just talking about heat here, it's obvious you should keep your log home at a warm yet comfortable temperature. I'm talking about adding a warm and cozy feeling to your log home so you and your visitors will feel comfortable and at ease. Increase the warmth of your log home by having lots of throw blankets available, hang them over your couch or sofa. Add lots of pillows. Have candles around to light when the mood strikes or when guests visit. Lighting also plays a huge part in the sense of warmth of your home. You'll find many types of lighting that works well with the interior of your log home. If you're going for the rustic look, a chandelier made from a wagon wheel or antlers would work great. For a slightly more modern look, consider metal lighting such as lamps with punched tin lampshades or lighting fixtures made of wrought iron. Lighting placement is also important, but even more important for a log home since a log home's interior tends to be darker than a traditional home's interior. Typically, you'll want to have a couple lamps in each room, but you may also want either a hanging lamp to give light to the whole room or a third lamp. Test your lighting schemes to see what works best for your particular interior environment as some log home interiors may have a lighter finish or even a finished and painted interior. Whatever lighting you choose, it should enhance the nightime ambience of your home while remaining practical.

Peace

If your log home is a true vacation getaway home, then you may not want to have distracting things like a huge TV, video game consoles, massive stereos and computers. Instead, have things available that will truly enhance the peace and calmness in your home like books, puzzles and board games. Also, have plenty of tea, coffee and/or hot cocoa handy. Just sitting by the fire drinking hot cocoa and reading a book, or sitting by a window with some herbal tea watching the snow fall, these are some of the true joys of log home living.