The NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) was held January 21-23, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The IBS is the largest annual residential construction show in the world, where more than 1,400 top manufacturers and suppliers from around the world to showcase the latest and most in-demand products and services.

Attendees were able to tour two exhibits of official show homes. The New American Home® (TNAH), located in Henderson, Nevada, incorporated a wide variety of contemporary-modern design, characterized by minimal decoration, abundant glass and flat rooflines. The New American Remodel™ (TNAR), exhibited the latest trends in the housing industry and advancements in technology and energy-efficiency.

IBS offers innovative education for the industry with a chance for participants to develop and enhance skill sets while earning NAHB CEUs. With topics ranging from sales and marketing to construction and codes, there is literally something for everyone. Sessions are taught by building industry experts from across the country.

IBS is a great way for building professionals to network, learn and grow in all areas of the industry. The P&D team has been closely following the International Builders’ Show to keep up with building trends and the latest industry innovations.

So, you’ve decided to build the home you’ve always wanted. It’s a great feeling to be in charge of your home’s location and amenities. Here’s a short list of things to keep in mind as you’re planning your future home.

1. Establish Goals: This part of the planning process is key. You’ll need to have clear expectations and set your mind on things before the building starts. This includes any information you’ll need to share with your builders on the wants and needs of your home.
2. Set Your Budget: This is absolutely included in your goal but building a home has more costs associated than buying a home. Some things to remember include the cost of the land, local fees and taxes, building fees, not just the home but the landscape and interior features like furniture and decorating. You’ll also want to have extra money set aside in your budget for anything that may come up or exceed the budget set. Working with P&D Builders will help you streamline costs as we provide a design team at no additional charge.
3. Find Land: Location is everything when building a home. When you make a large investment, you’re probably planning on staying there a while. Since you’ll need the land before building, it’s important to secure this or have help securing your land.
4. Builders: This is where P&D comes in. We have custom designs that allow us to quickly, efficiently & cost effectively design unique, exciting plans tailored to each client. By having us build your home, you’re releasing most of the difficult parts of planning, designing and building to trained professionals.
5. Don’t Stray from the Plan: While it’s important to accept things you cannot control or roll with the punches, there is a need for balance. You’ve put plenty of thought into what you want your home to be, discussed it with experts, let them do their job. Don’t get distracted by new ideas or changes that could end up costing you time and money in the long run.
6. Home Sweet Home: Once we complete your build, we make sure your home is completely ready to move into. After that, all that’s left to do is enjoy your new home.

If you’re planning to build a home, contact us to see how we can make this process easier on you.

If you’re struggling to think of gift ideas for your friends or family who have recently moved into new homes, we’ve created a short list of things that a new homeowner may find useful.

1. Welcome Mat or Sign: It’s something that seems small and unnecessary during a move or build but makes a home feel complete and tied together. Personalized ones can also offer a sense of individualism for guests to see upon arrival.
2. All-Purpose Brooms: It’s an old wives tale that upon moving into a new home, a person is supposed to get a new broom to discard all the negativity of the old home carried in the broom. However, nobody wants to use the same broom in the house as they do in the garage and on the porch so a multi-purpose broom comes in handy.
3. Toolkit: If a person hasn’t lived on their own before, there’s a good chance that they don’t already have a toolkit but getting settled involved hanging pictures, shelving and more.
4. Temporary Wallpaper: The perfect gift if your homeowner loves to stay trendy but can’t afford to remodel rooms every time there’s a change of heart. Honestly, who can really afford to do that anyway? Temporary wallpaper sticks on and peels off easier so you can change it effortlessly.
5. A Home Store Gift Card: We’ve been taught that gift cards are not thoughtful but for a homeowner, this could be gold. Sometimes it’s a remodeling project, a decoration project or just realizing how much is actually left to do that has someone walking the aisles of a store looking for nails, paint or tools—a gift card allows them some relief from spending more money after the huge purchase they’ve already made.

Hopefully these ideas sparked your imagination and you’re ready to finish the holiday shopping for the new homeowners in your life. Happy Holidays from our family here at P&D Builders to yours.

Most people get stressed out about hosting during the holidays. Making sure your home is tidy and decorated for more guests than normal can be a daunting task. We’ve put together a few tips to make sure you can keep your holiday spirit up so you can thoroughly enjoy the time spent with the people closest to you.

Focus on your main spaces

This goes for cleaning up, decorating, remodeling or whatever the case may be. Make sure your front porch or entryways are ready to go since it’s the first thing your guests will see upon arrival. Next focus on the kitchen, living room and bathrooms. No need to focus on your bedrooms or the upstairs if your gathering will be held downstairs and you don’t have any overnight guests.

Add your holiday decorations and remove as much clutter as possible. Make sure you keep in mind who your guests may be, in case there is a need to do any minor baby or child-proofing. Using your finest dishware may not be the best option for a family-friendly gathering.

By adding festive decorations such as lights, greenery, seasonal scented candles or other holiday-themed items, you create a warm and welcoming environment that leaves your guests feeling comfortable in your home.

Prepare as much in advance as possible

A decent amount of preparation for holiday gatherings can be done a day or so in advance. Consider preparing vegetables and appetizers the night before so there are less things that need your attention the day of the gathering. Consider having a holiday themed drink that can pair with your appetizers and keep your guests occupied while you finish cooking the dishes left.

If you didn’t do a onceover in the fall, it may be a good time to check your HVAC system. You do not want to have an issue with heating during the holiday season or with a house full of people. The same thought applies to making sure sinks and toilets are working properly. If you’ve been putting it off, making sure everything is in working order would be best before you have an increase in traffic through your home.

The final thing to give advance thought to is seating. Have an idea of about how many people to expect so you can begin planning if you need additional tables or chairs and where the best place for those would be.

Enjoy your holiday season

You’ve already done your cleaning, so the day that your guests are set to arrive you can focus on food, final additions, seating and having a great time. Don’t let the stress of making your home feel like a magazine keep you from planning a holiday party that your friends and family will love. If your holiday leaves you with realization that it is time for a new home, let us build your dream home that suits all your needs for hosting. Contact P&D Builders to see what we can do to make your next holiday season the best one yet.

Growing pains often approach with the holiday season. If you watch any home design shows, you may have heard some of these fun facts for making spaces feel larger. If you’re ready for a larger space, but not ready to buy or build your dream home, try making your home feel more spacious with these design techniques.

Focus Upward

Painting the ceiling or adding a wallpaper will draw a person’s eye upward, making the room look taller. Another idea that helps with decluttering and the overall idea of a room looking larger is to build shelves vertically to open a space and provide additional storage. The last tip in this upward approach is to set curtains a bit wider and above the windows. This allows the eye to be drawn up but also makes the window appear wider. If you love natural light, consider ditching the curtain altogether to add depth to a room.

Use Light Colors

Lighter colored walls and flooring will reflect light and make a room feel airy. In addition to using light colors, using different shades of the same color helps to make a room look grouped together and intentional. An added bonus comes in the use of stripes to add length to a room. So, whether it’s a rug or an accent wall, here’s your chance to add something unique to your space.

Furniture

There’s two ways furniture can impact your room in a big way. First, do not put it against the wall. By leaving some space between the wall and your piece of furniture creates the idea of spaciousness. Next, use less furniture. Focus on a larger piece over multiple smaller pieces and use your furniture as storage to save space and keep things less cluttered.

Decorations

Of course, you’ve heard to add mirrors in a room to make it appear larger. But have you heard not to decorate with items smaller than a cantaloupe? Anything smaller than a cantaloupe often looks like clutter instead of art. Avoid having too many statement pieces or anything too small. If you’ve been looking at a giant canvas and holding back because your room feels too small, consider adding it. Large pieces of art can often make a room feel expansive.

Most importantly, make it your own.

You may be itching to get into a larger space but make the one you are in a place that you enjoy. Use different types of décor and furniture. Couches and chairs can be replaced with beanbags, pillows and hammocks. Don’t let the size of your space keep you from loving your place while you work toward getting the home of your dreams. Let us help. P&D Builders can not only help you build your dream home but we offer expert advice for many other services, including building on your lot and interior design to name a few.

You’ve heard of spring cleaning and winterizing your home but these quick fixes in the fall can save you quite a bit of time later. Since the weather is still warmer and there isn’t snow on the ground, fall is actually a great time to prepare for the months ahead.

Clean Your Gutters

You’ve probably heard that you should clean your gutters to keep debris from building up and causing your gutters to overflow. Fall is the best time to do this task because the leaves will fall and create more work if it’s done in the summer. Too much build up and debris could potentially cause the gutters to sag or cause sidewalks to get slick if water pours out of them and freezes.

Drain Outdoor Water Lines and Faucets

This task may not be at the top of your list but it can save you money in the long run. Start by shutting off your main water line. Then open the outdoor spigots to drain them. Frozen water could lead to pipes bursting so this quick fix can be a lifesaver.

Prepare Outdoor Furniture

Bringing in patio furniture may seem unnecessary because it’s intended for outdoor use. But to prolong your furniture, bringing it inside and out of the elements is a must. Use warm water and dish soap to clean cushions or covers and spray the rest off with a hose or wipe it down with a cleaning solution. Store the furniture covered with a tarp or sheet to maintain the cleanliness. By bringing it in, you’re preventing wood from cracking or rotting, metal from rusting, plastic from cracking and cloth from becoming moldy or infested with bugs.

Check Your Heating System

You assume your heat will work when you need it but taking a small amount of time to check the filters and make sure things are in working order will save you from being stuck when the winter hits. Checking this early also gives you time to get a professional in if needed.

Reverse Your Fans

Often forgotten, changing the direction of your fans from counter-clockwise to clockwise is a key to air circulation. During the summer, blades are counter-clockwise to circulate a breeze. When the blades are clockwise, it’s pushing the warm air down into the living space which helps cut heating costs. Most ceiling fans have a switch on them that do this for you. While your up there, wipe your ceiling fan and light fixture down. They are often forgotten.