When you are thinking about building a home, good communication is key in getting the home that you want and expect. A builder can give some very good input for your home based on years of experience in building and working with other customers. However, it’s the job of the home buyer to let the builder know what they want. If you are looking for certain features in your home you need to let your builder know. Photos or drawings are helpful; this will insure that the builder understands exactly what you want. They can also be shared with the sub-contractor doing the work to ensure that they understand as well.

You may not know everything that you want in your home right up-front. A good builder can show you plans and options for those plans. They will help you customize the plans based on your budget and needs. A pre-construction meeting will help you as a home buyer to understand what you are getting, and give you a chance to ask questions or change things that you may not love. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take notes.

After construction has started, things can move fast. If you change your mind on a color or style that was previously decided on, you will need to contact the builder right away, this will ensure that you get the change that you want with minimal fees involved. If you see that something doesn’t look right, don’t be afraid to call and ask about it. Some times subs get used to building the standard house and overlook a change. The sooner the builder is aware of it, the easier it is to change. When a home buyer tells the subs what they want and leave the builder out of the loop things get missed. It’s okay to communicate with the subs building your home, this will give them a good understanding of what you want. It will also give you a chance to ask them questions. However it is the builder’s job to make sure the job is done correctly, and if they don’t know to watch for something that you had requested, it may not get done the way you wanted, it may not get done at all.

Every new home buyer wants to save money, it is also the builder’s job to shop around and find the suppliers that will give you the best deals. Often when home buyers try to save money by getting a similar product at a box store and not through the builder’s supplier, they get inferior products, the order isn’t ready on time and holds up the building progress and they don’t have a warranty on the item. It’s very frustrating to home buyers to find that they have done a lot of running around and the money they saved is less than the cost of the gas they used. Let the builder do the work for you and enjoy the process. Building a home doesn’t have to be a stressful time. It should be exciting.

This program Certifies a home based on an evaluation of Energy Use and Construction Features. It is run by the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency).  It was developed by the EPA and the DOE (US Department of Energy) to help consumers find products that can save them money and protect the environment by saving energy.

A buyer should ask if a home is Energy Star Certified when they are told it is a “green home”. This Certification comes from a third party inspector, not the builder. The inspector will check for items like Energy Star appliances, light fixtures, light bulbs, bathroom fans, HVAC and AC systems and water heater. They also check to make sure it is insulated and sealed. They do this by doing a blower door test. They place a blower in the front door and seal all around it. Then they blow air into the house. When it reaches a designated air pressure they turn the blower off and wait to see how long it takes the pressure to go down. The house is rated and a certificate will be issued showing the rating.

You may be asking yourself why anybody would go to all this trouble to make sure they have a certificate. It’s because the home will be very energy efficient. The home owners will notice things like a more constant temperature from room to room. The furnace and air conditioner will run less because of less air leakage. Knight West goes beyond the Energy Star requirements and installs an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator); this filters the outside air coming into the home. The cleaner air means less environmental pollutants in the home, creating a healthier environment. For people who suffer from allergies this feature all by itself makes it worth the effort. Also, energy savings will be seen on the very first bill and on every bill thereafter for the life of the home. All of this combined energy savings is good for the environment.

R-Value ratings are used to measure insulations ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the more effective it is.

Here at Knight West Construction, we are dedicated to giving our buyers a quality product. We Exceed the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) standard for insulation R-Values.

Take a look at how a Knight West Home measures up.

IECC 2009 Standards:                             Knight West Construction:

R-38 Ceilings                                                 R-60 Ceilings

R-20 Walls                                                     R-30 Walls

R-30 Floors                                                    R-47 Floors

R-10 Foundations                                           R-19 Foundations

Better insulation combined with special building techniques makes a Knight West “green home” a more comfortable living environment. It also helps save on energy costs, making a new home from Knight West Construction not only a great place to live, but more affordable.

For more information on building a beautiful new green home from Knight West Construction you can contact:

William Young                           or           Douglas L. Weight

801-785-8025 Office                                    801-785-8025 Office

801-785-2443 Office                                    801-785-2443 Office

801-885-8630 Cell                                       801-787-8107 Cell

Knight West Construction currently has lots available in the Jacobs Ranch Subdivision located in Saratoga Springs in North Utah County. We can also build on your lot.

There is an ongoing debate in the building community over which exterior building material is better, HardiePlank or stucco.  We wanted to find out from you which you prefer.  First we will lay out some facts for each.  Let’s start with HardiePlank lap siding.

HardiePlankis a cementitious board that will not rot or wear like wood boards, but has the same appearance when painted.  HardiePlank appeals to those who have a taste for the craftsman style home which is becoming quite popular.  In addition, HardiePlank comes with virtually no maintenance.

Stucco is a classic material that has been popular for a long time and has been proven to stand up to the fads that come and go.  Stucco is virtually maintenance free and a durable material.  Stucco can be combined with other materials like rock or brick and brings a great quality to a home with either choice.

What we have seen through our experience is that people choose between these two products based on appearance because both products are very durable and low to no maintenance.

So which do you prefer, let us know?

You have heard us say this many times before but our homes are built to NAHB Green Standards as well as Energy Star Certified.  The building methods we use make it possible for those who built a Knight West Home to receive a large savings in their power and gas utilities.

Recently we contacted Rocky Mountain Power and Questar Gas.  They gave us an accounting of the utility costs for each home we have built in the last two years.  During one of the conversations we had with them at one point the employee stated under her breath that these seem low, well they are!  When we calculated the average cost for power and gas utilities it came out to $69.00 per month for power and $35.00 per month for gas.  That is very affordable and it is because of our building methods that this is possible.

Contact Knight West Homes, you could be in a brand new Energy Efficient Home within months.

Jammony is Knight West Homes prefered lender. They are our preferred lender for new homes in Utah because they are reliable, quick and easy to work with.  Our clients have had great experiences with them.

Their approach to helping people through the mortgage process is refreshingly different. For us, making the decision to refer people to Jammony came down to 3 things:

1. They save people a lot of money. Jammony charges a flat fee for their service saving the average borrower over $4,000 in closing costs on their new custom home. There are no kick-backs or back-end payments. Additionally, their automated pricing system allows borrowers to instantly find the best loan for their needs without expensive loan officers.

2. They find a way to get hard deals done. As everyone knows, underwriting mortgages for new homes is getting harder. However, not only are they great at getting the easy deals done quickly, they frequently find ways to help borrowers no one else is able to.

3. They do what’s best for the borrower. 97% Customer Satisfaction and an “A” rating on the BBB after hundreds of transactions says a lot about what customers feel at the end of the process. As we’ve used them, our experience has been right in line with those lofty standards.

While we used to refer our borrowers to multiple lenders to get quotes, we haven’t been able to find another option that consistently performs for our buyers at the same level of savings, service, and ability to get things done as Jammony.

If you’d like to know more about how Jammony can save you money or what type of financing options are available, please feel free to give them a call 801-701-0621 or visit www.jammony.com.

If you are considering a new custom home in Utah please contact Knight West Homes at 801-785-8025 or go to the Contact Us link above.

We always enjoy the opportunity to showcase the great subcontractors we work with. This time we would like to intruduce you to Dave from Precision Woodworking.  Knight West Homes has partnered with Precision Woodworking for many years and throughout that time we have greatly appreciated Daves’ quality craftsmanship and creative style.  He has been excellent when working with our clients to help them turn their dream kitchens and bathrooms into a reality.  Dave custom builds all of the cabinets we put into each Knight West Home. We look forward to working with him for many more years to come.  For more information on Precision Woodworking you can visit their website at http://www.precisionwoodworkinginc.com.

Please contact Bill Young or Douglas Weight at 801-785-8025 for more information.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Knight West Homes builds many homes in the Jacobs Ranch subdivision located in Saratoga Spring.  We have grown to love this community and often check up on some of the fun activities they have going on.  Here is a list of some great things Saratoga Springs has planned for the coming months.

SARATOGA SPRINGS TRIATHLON

Saturday, August 20th   8:30 a.m.   Saratoga Springs Marina in Pelican Point 200 E. Harbor Pkwy.

HARVEST FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 24th from 12 until 4 p.m.
There will be carnival booths from local PTA’s and clubs. A costume contest for infants to 12 years old. A pumpkin carving contest open to everyone and a Hot Dog meal served by the Civic Events Committee for $2.50. There will also be fall portraits by Carma Gray Photography.

You can also try your hand at cooking and join us in a “Chili Cook-Off”. The grand prize is $100.00!

We encourage you to check out these events and see what a great community Saratoga Springs is.

For more information on these or other upcoming events go to www.saratoga-springs.net.

We have had a very busy few weeks and have had the great opportunity to meet and sign contracts to build beautiful brand new homes for some great families.  We are proud amd grateful these families have chosen to build with us.  Many of Knight West Homes clients are refered to us from previous clients which is a great compliment to us.  Our proudest moment is when we hear from satisfied clients.  W have had the good fortune of experiencing that time and time again.

We are eager to begin building these homes.  Knight West Homes is known for building excellent quality homes very quickly.  Our affordable, custom homes are completed in approximatly 60 days from foundation.  We can do this because of the precision we take in scheduling our subcontractors and being as efficient as possible with each day. 

If you would like to see why so many people are choosing Knight West Homes as thier builder call us or come in anytime.  We look forward to meeting with you.

Every Knight West Home is built to strict NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Green Certifications in addition to being Energy Star rated. In recent years we have implimented the newest building science principals to ensure that we meet and exceed these standards and offer our clients a healthy, comfortable and energy saving home. The great benefits that our clients receive from these standards is why we build Green. 

There are many benefits from building a home with Knight West Homes including,

Heating and cooling equipment that performs at an extremely high rate of efficiency allowing for a more consistent and even temperature throughout the home.

Very small amounts of heated and cooled air is wasted because leaks are eliminated and ducts are sealed.

R60 attic insulation and R29-30 wall insulation which provides home owners with a more comfortable living environment.

A fresh air system which provides healthier air for a home  that is asbestos free, mold free, pest free and radon free.

Indoor pollutants and allergens are reduced.

And of course a drastic reduction in energy costs because of the tight construction of our homes.

This is just a small list of the benefits of an energy efficient, green Knight West Home.

If you are interested in building a home we would love to meet with you.  Please contact us and see if building is right for you, we promise you won’t be disappointed.

(Home plans have been mirrored to place garage on lots high side)

Everyone at Knight West Homes is very excited about our newest model home.  Like all of Knight West Homes this home will be expertly constructed with quality materials and strict Energy Star and NAHB Green Certifications. 

This time our model home is a crisp and clean craftsman style home. The main floor of this spacious home is 1672 sq. ft. with 9′ ceilings and an unfinished basement with 1768 sq. ft.  The exterior is Hardiplank siding with a Ledgestone rock wainscot. Included in this home are granite counter tops, oil rubbed bronze hardware, light fixtures and plumbing fixtures and a third car garage.  Another great aspect of this home is the location from which you will enjoy a breathtaking lake and mountain view. 

Completion date to be September 2011.

 We also have many other affordable custom home floor plans available, if this home does not suite you we can find one that will.

Please contact Bill Young or Douglas Weight at 801-785-8025.

Knight West Homes offers all of our clients a one year warranty on their home.  This is a great thing to have in case something needs to be repaired during that first year of homeownership, however, due to the excellent building standards and quality products that are put into each home this warranty rarely needs to be used!

Moen plumbing fixtures are an example of the quality products that go into each home.  The Moen plumbing fixtures not only come with our one year warranty but Moen provides a lifetime warrenty on all of their products.   

To receive more information on the products we use in each home please contact Bill Young or Douglas Weight at 801-785-8025.

We have introduced you to a few of Knight West Homes recent clients over the past months.  It is always fun to hear from them and to share the great experiences they have had. 

This couple is no different from the many of Knight West Homes satisfied clients.  They had not even considered building until meeting with us.  Not only are they very pleased with their home and the building experience but are surprised by the savings they are seeing on their energy bills each month.  You will hear them state that they pay about the same per month on their energy bills now with a large home as they did in a small apartment.

Come visit with us and find out if building is right for you! Even if you have not even considered building you may find yourself in a beautiful, brand new home before you know it.

That’s right, we are going social. We’ve made a big effort to be sure to keep in better touch with our clients and friends. In doing so, we’ve started a Facebook  fan page and even started a Twitter account. We keep both of these site updated with great information about happenings at Knight West, as well as updates on the industry.

We invite you to ‘Like‘ our Facebook page, ‘Follow‘ us on Twitter, and share our information with a friend. We appreciate any input and feedback you give us and welcome you to be part of our online community. Please feel free to ask us any questions. We look forward to hearing from you! ~~Knight West Homes

In a recent article by the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Research Center, Knight West Homes is listed as a leading builder of Certified Green Homes in Utah.  We top the list with the most certified projects.  The NAHB has a nationally recognizable standard definition of green building.  This requires builders to adhere to stringent program requirements which is of great benefit to home owners who build a Certified Green Home.

One of the many benefits of building a Certified Green Home is the significant energy savings you will have because of the energy efficiency of a Green Home.

Knight West Homes is proud to offer this service to our clients.   Green Homes are of great benefit to their owners as well as the environment.

Click on the link below to read the article and find out more about NAHB Certified Green Homes.  For more information contact Doug or Bill at 801-785-8025.

Have you made it out to the Parade of Homes this year?  The Parade is featuring Utah County’s finest builders and remodelers and Knight West Homes is proud to be a part of it this year.  We have really enjoyed visiting with all the people who have come by our booth.  Saturday is the last day to come and see the beautiful homes in the Parade.  Come by anytime today, Friday or Saturday between 12;00 noon and 9;00 p.m.

We are located at home #9,  316 East Deercrest Lane (1300) North in Alpine.

Remember Knight West Homes is offering a free upgrade to 3 tone paint for all who plan to build a new custom home in Utah before August 31, 2011.

Also, enter the drawing available for a chance to win a gift certificate to Home Depot!

We look forward to meeting you!

We have excellent relationships with all of our subcontractors which in-turn equals savings for our clients on labor and building products.  Knight West Homes has always maintaned an important relationship with all of our subcontractos because we believe that a comfortable and happy work environment brings great work ethic and productivity.   Working with the same subcontractors over time lends itself to higher quality home construction.  We want all of our homes to reflect this.

We will introduce you to many of our subcontractors along the way but today we would like you to meet Vicky.  She works for BMC West where we order our hardware, doors, windows and lumber.

We have been working with BMC West for many years.  We have standard building packages but there are times when our clients upgrade to different things and Vicky is always so great to meet with them and help them to choose the right items for each client.  She is always  organized and we know we can rely on her to get the job done.  We enjoy working with Vicky and would like to thank her for all of her hard work.

This year’s Utah Valley Parade of Homes® is in full swing from June 3-18! Each year the Utah Valley Parade of Homes® showcases Utah Valley’s finest homebuilders and we are proud to be part of it.

The great thing is, for those of you who are thinking of building a new home by August 31, 2011, we are giving away free three-tone paint upgrades for the house of your choice.

For more details, come stop by at Booth #9 in the Parade Book. The address is is: 316 East Deercrest Lane (1300 North) Alpine, Utah.

For more details also feel free to call 801-785-8025 or email info@knightwest.com.

We’ll see you soon!

Interviewing our clients has been a lot of fun.  We are so excited to hear from them and learn of the satisfaction they have with their beautiful new Knight West Homes.

This family was really fun and pleasant to work with.  They had previously lived in an older home so the difference between this home and their previous home is substancial.  We we are so happy to have been able to help provide them with a brand new home.  We enjoyed meeting with them to discuse the features they would like to add to their new home.  It was great see their excitement during the building process. 

Knight West Homes can build a beautiful, brand new home for you as well.  The process is easy and the outcome is spectacular.  Come in and meet with us anytime to discuss your new home. 

The Kingwood is Knight West Homes featured home of the month.  This home is our newest plan.  The Kingwood has a spacious open floor plan at 2,700 total Sq. Ft. with 1,811 finished Sq. Ft.  The price of this home is $247,900 which includes one of our  lots in either Saratoga Springs or Mapleton.  You also have the option of building this home on your own lot.  A third car garage option is available.

All  homes built by Knight West Homes are NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) certified green and built with strict building methods ensuring that you will not only save money on building your home but you will save each and every month on your utilities.

We have many affordable custom home options available to choose from as well as the option to build a luxury custom home.  It is worth your time to come in, you will not be disappointed.