Blog

It Ain't Easy Being Green

9/9/2015

True. Being green involves further planning, can incur additional costs, and can sometimes take more time and certainly, requires a level of experience and the proper legal certification. As a Certified Green Builder, we understand the process and detail that goes into planning homes that rank high on the "Green Scale." This is why the new KC green apartment development caught our eye. Kansas City has rapidly become a forward-thinking modern marvel of a city in the past few years capturing national attention for everything it has to offer. With the construction of these new riverfront apartments, it looks like KC will continue to rival the best of the big cities in lifestyle amenities as well. According to national experts and the development team, the two buildings will comprise the largest U.S. multifamily apartment project using Passive House Institute-certified construction, a system that’s more energy-efficient than the highest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building standard! Set for a 2017 tenant move-in, this is certainly a development to watch over the coming year!

Proper Insulation

2/4/2015

Building a home is many interesting parts coming together. Some may look completely fascinating while others seem terribly boring. One such task is foam installation. When building a home, proper installation of the foam insulation needs to be placed in the walls to ensure that your home is protected appropriately from the elements. Planning carefully for insulation results in reduced utility bills and superior comfort during throughout the home's lifespan.

To properly insulate a new home, you’ll need to know where to insulate and the recommended R-values for each of those areas. The U.S. Department of Energy has created a Zip Code Insulation Calculator to determine where you need to insulate and the recommended R-values based on your climate, type of heating and cooling system, etc. The calculator also provides cost estimates and a rate of return.

Want to see a Moffitt Built professional craftsman install foam insulation? Check out this video - it's actually very cool to see!

Ups and Downs

9/24/2014

New statistics from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) have indicated that though mortgage applications are currently at a 14-year low, homebuilder confidence has reached a nine-year high! Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose for a fourth consecutive month in September to the highest its been in nine years.

The NAHB uses a very precise system to reach these numbers: Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 30 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.”

Scores from each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor. So, good news - home building is looking positive and if its something you've been considering, the market is in your favor!

9 Questions Prior to Remodeling

9/15/2014

Considering a home remodel? There are many things you should not only ask yourself but be sure you cover with your remodel expert. Prior to starting the process, taking the time to ask these questions will help you and your remodeler feel more comfortable and streamline the process. Home remodeling takes time and patience but the end result is often more than gratifying. MOJO Built takes immense pride in all of our home remodeling projects and enjoy every step of the way. Working closely with the client and answering questions up front is one of the best ways to ensure a pain-free, enjoyable, and successful remodel. MOJO Built's professionalism and years of experience can guarantee a positive experience from initial questions to end result.

Make Your Kitchen a Focal Point

7/30/2014

There are many things to be said about a home's kitchen. It's generally the center of the home; where everyone gathers to talk, cook, laugh, and dine. A kitchen can be a very special focal point when designing one's home and many things should be taken into consideration during the planning stages. This article offers some great ideas about what you need in a kitchen that's bound to be a high-traffic gathering spot. Get cookin'!

Great Expectations

7/7/2014

When remodeling your home with Moffitt Built, there are certain things you can expect: professionalism, quality, proper and excellent craftmanship, and doing whatever it takes to maintain the original integrity of the home when called for. Remodeling is an exciting but also stressful project. Sure, the outcome and intention should be transparent, but along the way, knowing what to expect out of the process can be very helpful.

Beginning stages of a Moffitt Built Remodel in Leawood Estates

Moffitt Built Standards

5/28/2014

Moffitt Built believes that honoring and respecting the natural landscape and community around any project site is of utmost importance. We have been committed to working with this mentality since the beginning. Whether it's a custom home build-job or a remodeling project, the company ensures that all of the necessary steps and precautions are taken to deliver this level of quality and distinction to the project.

A rare occurrence happened while working on a current remodel project in Leawood Estates: we came across this robin's nest nestled on the side of the home. A perfect example of the Moffitt Built standards, we made sure it was removed and transplanted accordingly and are happy to report that the mother and egg are doing just fine.

Make the Most Of It

4/14/2014

To follow our post from Friday and sticking with the spirit of the Spring Home Shows, this article is a convenient reference guide for how to make the most out of the home shows amidst the thousands of vendors, ideas, and inspirational models. To make the most out of these shows and tours, and help you reap the benefits of all of the information and resources available to you, read on...

go green with these energy-saving tips

2/10/2014

Contrary to what Kermit the Frog may tell us, it IS easy being green! As a certified Green Builder, keeping green and eco-conscious is of utmost importance to me. Staying conscious of your energy consumption during the winter months and making small easy changes can make a huge difference in those monthly bills.

For example, using your ceiling fan to keep a room warm instead of turning up your thermostat is one easy way to control your energy consumption: adjust your fan to turn clockwise which will pull the cold air up and keep any heat in the room trapped.

Check out more green energy tips here.