Resources
Helpful Hints
Building a home is a huge decision. Please contact us directly for a personal discussion about your questions.
Choosing a Property
Slope of the Lot
The Slope of the lot will affect how water drains off the property and where problems will arise for footings, foundations, septic tanks, and landscaping.
Shape of the Lot
Is the lot long and narrow or more of a square? Is the space usable for the footprint you want for the house? Is there enough yard or driveway where you want it?
Proximity to Services
How far are you from things like streetlights, electricity, water, sewer, internet, phone, or even major roads can have major consequences on your home building project?
Taxes and Fees
It is always wise to consider the typical property taxes or HOA fees that might be in place for your chosen property.
Trees
Trees can be an asset to a property providing beauty and shade but they can also cost a lot if they are in the way of building or if they carry disease and will require maintenance.
The Direction the House Faces
From passive solar, watching the sunset to understanding where the snow will melt last, the direction the house faces has a lasting effect on your experience.
Zoning Issues
Always consider the zoning issues before you choose your property. Zoning can affect things from what pets you can have to if you can build fencing or have a pool.
Schools and Shopping
Depending on your stage in life being closer to schools, medical facilities, shopping or recreation can help you choose the right place to build.
Easements
Research the possible easements as they give others the right to access your property in ways such as walking path, hunting rights, or even driveways.
Neighbors
How close are the neighbors? Often when you are building your own property one may build on a large lot far from other homes. This is a decision that needs to be made consciously for the needs of you and your family.
The Style of Home You Want
Consider Your Long Term Goals
If you plan to stay in this house for a while choosing the style that will suit you in the long run. If you are building this to sell in the not so distance future considers the market demand and build with the consumer in mind.
Keep Your Budget In Mind
Make sure your budget matches your aspirations. Begin with a realistic view of what you can and cannot do.
Look at Homes and Floorplans
Do your research and learn about the feature you want. We have floorplans we can show you from our previous builds to give you some ideas.
Research and Choose an Architectural Style
What do you want your house to look and feel like? Do you like a more classical style or is modern more your thing? Consider different style types to narrow down your taste.
Build the Right Size Home
While it is nice to have a big home one just considers things like utilities, cleaning, and overall size needs. Built the right size house for your current and future needs.
Ranch vs Basement vs Multi-story homes
There are trade-offs between having multiple stories and having the added storage of a basement. However, everything comes at a cost and must be considered with practicality and need in mind.
Features and Must-Haves
Exterior Features
When considering the construction of your home do you want adobe, brick, concrete block, log, metal, stone, straw, stone, siding, or wood? The exterior materials set the stage for your new home.
The Roof
You will be able to choose between shingles, concrete tiles, metal, rock, shake, slate, tar, tile, wood, or even solar panels. The color of the roof is also to be decided.
Your Yard
You get to decide where your house sits on your lot and with that comes the landscaping decisions. When construction is being done things like sprinkler systems, swimming pools, decks, courtyards, patios, outdoor cooking areas, sheds, and workshops should be planned and integrated when possible.
Types of Rooms
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want? Will you have a mother-in-law apartment built-in? Do you want an office to work from home? Will you want a family room, media room, gym, library, storage, sunroom, guest quarters, basement, wine storage, or even an extra apartment to rent out as an income property?
Dinning Areas
Will, you have a separate formal dining room or a dine-in kitchen. Do you want a dining bar or a table and chairs? Consider if this area is an open concept or separate and more formal.
Master Suite
A master bedroom can be just a mother bedroom or a suite of rooms that includes a dressing room, jetted tub, and walk-in closets. The design can be simple to elegant.
Utilities
How will you heat and cool your home? Will you have an attic fan, ceiling fans, programmable thermostats, efficient windows, solar power, gas, water heater, sky lights, or many other features available?
Fireplaces
Do you want a fireplace in your home and will it be fully functional or a display. Will it be wood burning, gas, or decorative? If you will be using the fireplace for heat will you have more than one throughout the house.
Flooring
Will the flooring vary by room or will you pick a couple of standards throughout the house? Do you want different flooring in the bathrooms or kitchen? Consider things like durability, water resistance, comfort, and style.
Kitchen
The kitchen is often the centerpiece of a home. Do you want yours with an open floor plan or as a separate room away from the main living space? The kitchen can be as basic or as extravagant as you like so consider appliances, cabinetry, wet bars, islands, dining bars, countertops, and access like backsplashes, sinks, faucets, and water filtration, and range hoods.
Bathrooms
The number of bathrooms and placement should be planned carefully to meet the needs of both house inhabitants and guests. Accessibility is important with easy main floor access essential. Bathrooms often add value to homes with lots of great options available.
Accessibility
Consider the accessible needs for yourselves, your guests, and your future needs. Consider extra-wide doorways and hallways, ramps, and grab bars.
Choosing an Architect
Choose an Architect with Similar Style
Choose an architect that is familiar with building houses in the style you wish to have albeit classical or modern. Make sure they have experience in residential design.
Review the Architect's Previous Designs
Look through the architect’s website, floor plans, and pictures to ensure you like their style and they will design the home you want with the features that are important to you.
Meet the Architect
Take the time to meet the architect and see if they are the right person for you to work with.
Understand the Fees
Make sure you understand the price of services. Is the price based on hours or the total project? When are the funds due? What happens if the project gets more complicated? What extra fees might you be looking at?
Consider Architect familiar with Geographic Region
By choosing an architect that is familiar with your geographic region to make sure they are versed in municipal processes and building restrictions and requirements.
Check Referrals
Ask the architect to give you firsthand references of previous clients so you can ask about their experience and have other questions answered.
Work Load and Timing
Ensure the architect can complete the job in the time you require for your build. Make sure they can commit to your timing needs.
The Building Process – A Strong Foundation
Support the Building
The main purpose of a foundation is to support the building above it. The foundation has to be built to support a full load of the weight of the building.
Moisture Control
Missouri is famous for web basements. The foundation must be built with a strong system to control and mitigate ground moisture from seeping and weakening the foundation.
Insect Control
A properly laid foundation can keep bugs and critters out of your home. This includes things like the proper distance between foundation and framing to keep out termites.
Resists Movement
A strong foundation is built to withstand the forces of nature and other calamities. Using strong footings, more rebar, and thicker walls can insure the foundation stands up to challenges.
Insulation
Your foundation helps to insulate your home keeping it cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Construction Quality – from Structure to Final Details
Expert Project Management
Adam Feise manages every project directly himself to ensure that excellent standards are maintained for every aspect of the work.
Upgrades From Windows to Walls
Adams homes are built with imporant features such as 6 inch walls upgrades to allow for more insulation and better buildout.
Excellent Contractors
We use only the best contractors, choosing craftsmen will extensive experience and professionalism.
Timing
While it often takes 6 to 7 months to build out a home, supply chain shortages are making it harder to get materials which can cause delays. Consider having flexible options to ensure the timely completion of projects.