Hey Alex, 

One of the best ways to stay on good terms with your neighbors during a large construction project is to keep the job site as clean as possible at all times.  No one likes construction debris creating an eye sore in the neighborhood, especially when the debris enters someone elses yard who is not having any construction work done.  

Also, the crews need to be as polite and courteous as possible and aware of their surroundings. Cigarette smoking, loud music, cursing, are all things that really irritate home owners and shouldn't be acceptable on any professionally run job site.  

It is also important to let your neighbors know the work schedule so they can expect the delivery trucks and crews to help coordinate parking that is convenient for everyone.  

Communication and clear expectations are very important. Let your neighbors know what to expect, and when to expect it, so they are not caught off guard.

Hope this advice helps. Good luck with your home improvement project!

--Eric Consuegra, AROCON Roofing & Construction, LLC

First off, congratulations on the new home! Here are some tips that I hope are helpful:

• Be excited, communicative, and available throughout the process
• Remind those working on your home to be as tidy and quiet as possible
• Do not accept disruptive behavior 

PLUS Your excitement is contagious - many companies offer referral rewards - so if your neighbors catch your excitement and have the need for one of the services the company is providing - you can take advantage of those programs - earn points, dollars, rewards, etc. 

Establishing a friendly relationship with your neighbors is pivotal, so you are already half way there! Invite them over to see the progress and then the finished project!

All the best,

~Michelle Slowe

NEWPRO

I would encourage you to read up on SPF and if you do go that route, make sure you get a great and insured installer.  SPF does have additional benefit from and air sealing standpoint but beyond the airtightness improvements, does not (in the case of OC SPF) have any greater R-Value than traditional batting assuming that both are in an static air environment.  Best thing you can do from a real high performance wall assembly is to thermally uncouple the exterior wall from the framing.  This will net you a much higher performance assembly than SPF alone but should be done by someone that is familiar with this approach and applications. 

SPF is great but I prefer it to be used as an air sealant first and foremost. 

Educate yourself on the pros and cons before you engage in an insulation schedule. 

Eric Novotny

Hey Andy, 

When dealing with contractors out of state, communication is key. I would suggest that email updates be sent by the builder on a weekly basis accomapined by photos of the progress. You should also plan on making personal sites visits as often as possible to ensure quality control. Hope this helps with your project!

Cheers, 

Eric Consuegra, AROCON Roofing and Constrcution, LLC

Hey Alex, 

?I would say that close cell spray foam insulation is the way to go if your budget allows for it.  Although it's much more expensive than batt insulation, the long term savings on your energy bills will be far greater.? Hope this helps! 

Cheers, 

Eric Consuegra, AROCON Roofing and Construction, LLC

Spray Foam. Much better insulator and fills any gaps that might otherwise be missed.

Alex,

Solar is one of the best home improvement opportunities available to homeowners today.  The return-on-investment is over 100% (unlike most of home improvements).  See immediate cash flow savings by "zeroing-out" your energy bill.  The increase in value and decrease in time-on-market will also help when it comes time to sell.

There is still a 30% federal tax credit available, as well as other incentives depending on the state where you live.  Financing options range from cash purchase to lease/PPA.  You'll see the best rate of return on a cash purchase, though any option is usually better than the price you pay for utilities.

Solare Energy has been serving San Diego for 25 years and provides our customers with a free energy audit and rate analysis before designing a solar panel system for their homes.  This allows us to accurately size the system to your energy consumption needs and get you the best value for your investment.

Learn more at www.SolareEnergy.com or call 858-547-4300 for San Diego area solar installations.

Rob Shaw
Marketing Manager
Solare Energy, Inc.
San Diego, CA

Do your homework.  You can never ask enough questions.  Take your time.  There is alot of fantastic information on the internet.  In construction, there are many ways and opinions on materials, processes and costs.  Only deal with reputable contractors.   Check their credentials, get references and ask to see work they have done.  With the last down turn in the economy, usually the good contractors are left standing, so use one that has been around for awhile.  You could also hire a construction management consulting firm.  They will know what questions to ask your contractor and can even help manage your project during the building process and confirm the project is on schedule and being executed as promised, using accepted building practices.

Contact an established mold remediation company.  Mold can be dangerous to your health and you don't want to take any chances.  We run into mold frequently due to just the situation you have.  As seen in the picture, oftentimes the airflow from the soffit into the attic is clogged with insulation causing humidity to be trapped in the attic.  This is another contributor to mold so make sure you don't also have this situation.  We always use a certified and credentialed mold company.  This is not an area you want to cut corners.

Solar Panels are increasing in energy generation and energy storage is getting better and better.  You definitely need to make sure that your dwelling is positioned on the property to maximize benefits.  While it is way down the road, make sure to investigate the implications of what happens when the day comes to replace your shingles.  I would make sure you also have adequate insurance in the event the panels are damaged by hail, trees etc. and that you have a comprehensive maintenance program in place should you elect to have panels installed.  You may want to check with your local building code authority and see if you are able to have solar panels on your property other than on the roof if you have enough space.  Just like the VCR, solar panels are coming down in cost and going up in efficiency, so you may want to wait.  If you could have many less panels in the near future, that produce more output, that may be the best choice. Here is a link of many residential applications https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0LEVzpL309ThhkA45xXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0YXQwZXBpBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDQxNl8x?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-745-s&sz=all&va=solar+panels+homes

The biggest mistake you can make is to focus on price.  Interview people that have had a custom home built. Ask them, "what would you do different?".... there is your answer of what mistakes to avoid!

There are many types of custom builders out there, just like there are many types of homeowners. The one qulaity that is the most important is if the builders you talk to take the time to listen and to find out if you are a match for each other.

There are many one-size-fits-all builder types, but that is only acceptable if your goal is to create a one-size-fits-all type of space.

Take your time. Get a feel for how your builder answers your questions, and take notice how many questions he or she asks. At the end of the interview were you excited about your project? Did your builder present ideas and offer options that are budget appropriate? Do you know exactly where you stand, with a clear path forward? Do you feel comfprtable?

These are the most important questions. Truly, if you have found a builder who meets these needs, there are very few complications that can lead to a negative experience, because if you have someone you feel free to communicate with, then you have someone who you can work with.