7 Bad Reasons to Use Your Own Trade Partners: Part 1

7 Bad Reasons to Use Your Own Trade Partners: Part 1

Can my electrician friend and I moonlight the electrical when you build my house? Do you allow me to use some of my preferred subcontractors on my custom home build? These are common questions builders get. Bringing your own Trade Partners is...
8 Principles For a Successful Custom Home Building Project

8 Principles For a Successful Custom Home Building Project

Start With WHY. You may be finding yourself asking these questions: Why do you want to move out of your existing home? Why do you want a sustainable home? Why you aren’t buying or remodeling an existing home? Why should I start looking for a...
The Story of Burken Punt

The Story of Burken Punt

R-Value Homes is pleased to show off one of our 2023 Homes. The home dubbed "Burken Punt" features stunning detailed craftsmanship and unique custom features. You cannot help but feel the difference when standing inside an R-Value home. This West...
Can I Price My Custom Home by the Square Foot?

Can I Price My Custom Home by the Square Foot?

I need to start by qualifying these comments. The problems below are mostly unique to custom home building. Semi-custom and Production Home Builders, or “spec” builders are structured differently, and can often achieve higher accuracy with square...
How Hidden Site Costs Increase the Cost of your Home

How Hidden Site Costs Increase the Cost of your Home

An unfortunate reality is that many folks get blindsided with the actual cost of their home. We seem to think the only things that make a home costly to build are the flooring and countertop choices. In part 1 we looked at design, in this blog we’ll...
Is It Cheaper to Build a Custom Home or Remodel?

Is It Cheaper to Build a Custom Home or Remodel?

Recently I encountered an interesting study on the real cost of home ownership. I’ll look at the data below, but suffice to say I found it quite interesting, because it reminded me of the main reasons my wife Missy and I purchased our 1893 Victorian...
6 Surprising Factors That Blow the Budget, Plus 1 You Already Know

6 Surprising Factors That Blow the Budget, Plus 1 You Already Know

We all want to know how much to budget for our new home cost in West Michigan. We do our research on square foot costs, look at new homes for sale in our ideal neighborhood, and consider the additional cost of major items, like ICF walls. Yet an...
The Secret of Great Humidity Control Part 2: Solving the Problem

The Secret of Great Humidity Control Part 2: Solving the Problem

Our previous blog post examined some of the problems of humidity control in custom homes. In this post, we discuss solutions; but if you've not read the first post, go back and check it out now!
The Secret of Great Humidity Control Part 1: Identifying the Problem

The Secret of Great Humidity Control Part 1: Identifying the Problem

Humidity control in West Michigan is a challenge. Unlike Phoenix or Atlanta, Grand Rapids weather cycles between humid and dry in a matter of days, no matter the season. Despite this, excellent humidity control is no secret. While we think every...
Do Solar Panels Work in West Michigan?

Do Solar Panels Work in West Michigan?

Whether you are environmentally conscious or simply looking to save money on your energy bills, solar energy can benefit your home under the right circumstances. Learn about the drawbacks and benefits of including solar panels in your custom ...