Great question!

There are a couple of different ways that you can find a reliable architect, designer, or design-build firm to design your new home. 

The best way to find someone that you trust is usually word-of-mouth. Talk to people that you know who have built their own home, and see what type of process they used. Ask them what they liked best and least about the process, and learn from their mistakes. If they loved their architect, design-build firm, or contractor, that's a great place to start. 

Other ways to find local design solutions for your new home would include seeking out local trade associations like the AIA chapter (if you're choosing to complete this using the design-bid-build method) for your local area, or the local NARI (for other solutions like design-build, designers, or contractors) chapter for your area. 

Additionally, websites like GuildQuality can point you towards local resources, as well as other social media-oriented sites like Houzz which feature projects from local professionals. Angie's List can be hit or miss, as can Yelp, although they might give you a few ideas. 

Keep in mind design-build firms as an alternative to hiring just an architect!

Alex,  

Solar panels are a great long term solution for energy savings. The average time frame for recovering the initial cost of the panels and installation is about 5 years, so if you are planning on living in the home for longer than 5 years, you will begin to see a return on your investment around year 6 and beyond. Also a big bonus is that tax credits are available to homeowners on both the state and federal level for solar currently!

Hope this helps! Good luck with your new home =)

Eric Consuegra, Arocon Roofing and Construction

Hey Scott, 

I would say the best course of action would be to contact a certified mold remediation company and set up an inspection to determine if mold is present, because you never know what kind of mold it may be and it's better to be safe than sorry! 

Hope this helps!

Eric Consuegra, Arocon Roofing and Construction, LLC 

Scott,

The easiest thing to do is check in the attic and look at the sheathing. If there is any mold growth, you can tread it with a proper mildewicide and make sure that the fan ducting is extended to vent through the roof or through the side of the home (i.e. to outside).

Good time to check the venting of the roof in general as well as look into any air sealing and insulation.

Don't worry about the mold having spread to the home and points further than the attic...it will not have as a result of a poorly routed bath fan.

If you are concerned about the mold while accessing the attic, have proper PPE (personal protection equipment) on to include a respirator that is effective against mold spores.

Don't disturb them until you treat them.

+1

If you can amortize it into the long term loan on the home, it is a 100% no brainer.

Yes!!

The shape of your roof will definitely have an impact, but generally speaking, solar pays for itself in spades.

The other thing to consider is that solar is ideally tailored to your personal electricity requirements, which you won't know for sure until you've been in the house a few months (a year, for a complete picture). You're probably safe installing a smaller system (which is what you usually find on new construction), but you'll likely find it won't cover everything. If you decide to go forward now, just make sure the system is expandable down the line; this is one of many reasons you'll want microinverters as opposed to a string inverter.

Good luck!

Solar panels are a great "green" addition to any home. That said, the roof underneath the solar panels is just as important. With an asphalt roof, the homeowner is going to be removing the solar panels to replace the asphalt roof long before the solar (PV) needs to be replaced. This wise choice would be to install a lifetime aluminum energy star rated roof and attachthe PV solar to the new metal roof. When the PV needs to be replaced or removed the roof will still be in service. In fact will last for many years beyond the life of the solar panels. On a different note, if you decide to install solar be sure you have a landing area for the snow slides coming off the panels. It is a little known problem that is just coming to light by the industry. Snow slides coming off a roof with solar can cause significant damage or injury. Be sure to address this issue with your solar contractor.

Get with a local solar company and have them look at your plans.  You may be building a home that cannot work with solar due to your roof pitch, orientation or shade.  Let them give you a site assessment and run the financials based on your available incentives.  You can look them up here:  http://dsireusa.org/

John,

Where is the home located in terms of climate region. There are some nuances when it comes to tuning glazing packages per elevation.

Keep in mind that standard Low-e glass will reduce the amount of radiant energy that enters through the window by more than 200% over clear glass right off the bat.

WoW Home Solutions

Since 80% of a window is glass, it is always wise to pick the right glass for the direction the window faces in your home.  LowE 366 Argon filled glass for the south and west exposures may be the best fit.  LowE 272 Argon filled glass for the north and east exposures might save you money and be just fine in those locations.  Visable light will be something you want to check if you have plants that require lots of light to grow.  The higher the number the more light for the plants.  Any window that has a U value of .27 or lower will be very energy efficient in both the summer and the winter.  Double pane vs. triple pane may make a difference, so be sure you review the manufacturers specifications before you make that decision.

The other decision you have to make is what kind of frame you want the window made of.  Vinyl, wood, wood clad and fiberglass are the main options you will have to consider.  Each has their plus and minus points.  However, as I stated above, 80% of a window is glass and most quality windows have the same glass options from the same manufacturers, so be sure you pick the right glass with a low U value and you should be happy.

Also, keep in mind that installation of the window is just as important as the quality of the window and the glass that is in it.  I advise you to get two or three bids and check each contractor out to make sure they have happy window clients.