DIY Network

Steps to Building a Better Home: Homeowners' Reaction to New House From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-126

Move-in Day has finally arrived for our patient and happy homeowners!

The custom house our homeowners (Brad and Lynn Oberg and their two daughters) have been dreaming about and planning for more than two years is finally ready for move-in!

Looking around their completed home, Brad and Lynn like what they see. "This is going to be so nice, Brad," Lynn said. And Brad can't pick a favorite of at least "17" great views.

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Check out this great view of one of the "showplace" areas of the Oberg home!

Our Homeowners' Advice

After settling into their new custom-built home, Brad and Lynn sat down to share some good advice to anyone considering building a new home:

• Be prepared to do a lot of legwork.

• Really think about which rooms in the house you'll use the most and where you like to entertain, and focus on these rooms as a showplace for the house.

• If you're at a point where you really need to hold close to your budget, start with that number right up front and constantly look at it.

• It's a lot easier to stay on top of things as they happen than to have to go back three weeks after something is installed to discover there's a flaw.

• Be prepared for delays and to have to go a few extra months due to weather, construction changes, etc. The Oberg's were hoping eight to nine months and had to go almost 12 months.

This one-year DIY journey with the Oberg family has come to a close. It's time for Brad, Lynn and their daughters to enjoy this high-tech, energy-efficient dream home!

For more information on home construction, please be sure to check out our Blueprint for Home Building series.

For more information on increasing your home intelligence quotient, click here for the Home IQ online-package.

RESOURCES :

Lighting for Oberg Home (Lutron Electronics and Sterling Lite)

Lutron Electronics Co. Inc.
Website: www.lutron.com

Sterling Lite, Inc.
20800 Rt. 19
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Phone: 724-772-7474
Fax: 724-772-3286
E-mail: sterlite@stargate.net

Home Builder for the Oberg Home
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: buildm@zoominternet.net

Moving Services for Oberg Home
Hindman Moving & Storage
Website: www.hindmanmoving.com

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidelines
Website: www.epa.gov

GUESTS :

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Jeff Winkle
Director of Community Development
Cranberry Township
2525 Rochester Rd.
Cranberry Township, PA 16066-6499
Phone: 724-776-4806
Fax: 724-776-5488
E-mail: winklej@twp.cranberry.pa.us
Website: www.twp.cranberry.pa.us

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: gcrbs@adelphia.net

Eric Newhouse
Systems Integration Designer
IBACOS
Website: www.ibacos.com

Bruce Dickson
Project Manager
IBACOS
Website: www.ibacos.com

Bill Rittlemann
Project Engineer
IBACOS
2214 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Website: www.ibacos.com

Ronald Henshaw
Manager, Code Administration
2525 Rochester Rd.
Suite 400
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Phone: 724-776-4806
Fax: 724-776-5488
E-mail: henshawr@twp.cranberry.pa.us
Website: www.cranberrytownship.org

Dennis Fowler
Cranberry Township Inspector
Department of Public Works
2525 Rochester Rd.
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Phone: 724-776-4806
Fax: 724-776-5488
E-mail: admin@twp.cranberry.pa.us
Website: www.twp.cranberry.pa.us/publicworks/

Duncan Prahl
R.A., Senior Building Scientist
IBACOS Website: www.ibacos.com