BJ Armstrong

Latest Trends In Custom Home Building

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Bornder) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Now that I got your attention, I actually wanted to take a minute to talk about BuilderTrend, our online construction management software. If you read our last blog post, http://blog.bjarmstrong.com/2012/03/lake-bloomington.html, you know that we recently began construction on a beautiful new home at Lake Bloomington. For the first time, our homeowners actually left the country shortly after excavation began. They went to New Zealand for a couple of weeks to visit their newborn grandchild.

We know that building a new home can be frantic enough at times, let alone when you are on the opposite side of the planet! Well, with BuilderTrend, our homeowners can log in to their own personal website at any point throughout the day to check progress, review the construction calendar, look at photos, even review change orders.

Obviously, this has been greatly beneficial to these particular homeowners, logging in daily to check out new photos and look at the construction calendar so they can see what progress has been made to their home....all while they are thousands of miles away from the site. The homeowners actually sent us a message just a few days into the trip, it read: "Thanks for the pictures. It is not like being there but it is great to see the progress."

It's great to get this feedback, but really we see the software as just a tool we use. It's our people and our commitment to making sure that our customers know each day exactly what is going on with their new home, good and bad, that makes the difference. We stand beside you through the whole project to ensure that it is a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Lake Bloomington

noreply@blogger.com (BJ Armstrong) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:17:00 +0000

I have many childhood memories of Lake Bloomington. Waterskiing, riding mini bikes, getting Jeep's stuck in snow and lighting fire crackers are a few. Lake Bloomington represents a simpler life. Its time to relax and enjoy. This very morning, I love my job. As I check the start of our latest home, I am renewed along with blooming trees and flowers, birds singing and a calm over the water at Lake Bloomington. What a privilege it is to create a place for a family to share lives and create memories!

I cannot think of a better way to start the day. My life is truly blessed for where it has been and for where it is going.

Spring Time Means Outdoor Time

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Bornder) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:40:00 +0000

Well, Tuesday marked the first official day of Spring. Even after such a mild Winter, I am glad Spring is finally here. I'm sure most everyone, like myself, is looking forward to spending much of their time outdoors over the next several months. Whether it be entertaining friends and family, grilling on the barbecue, or simply relaxing and enjoying the nice weather, many homeowners will spend a lot of time outdoors.

I recently read an article in Professional Builder magazine, titled, Trends In Outdoor Living

According to a survey that they took from their home building readers, it is pretty apparent that there has been a substantial increase in homeowners wants and needs for an outdoor living space, stating that is one of the fastest growing segments of residential construction. That certainly doesn't mean just your average 12'x12' wood deck. Today, homeowners are looking to bring the indoors out. Extending their living and entertainment spaces to the outdoors. Some of the more popular features include fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, audio/video systems, and built-in seating.

Here, at BJA Custom Homes, we are seeing these trends as well. In fact, we have just recently completed the designs for a couple of homeowners to be started this Spring.

When it comes to incorporating an outdoor living space into your home, the possibilities are endless! Give us a call today to see how we can help you enjoy the great outdoors!

Morton Custom Build

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Patton) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:28:00 +0000

In August I posted an article about a home we were getting ready to build in Morton ("A 40 Acre Backyard"). That home is now complete and a very nice family has moved in. They were able to close on the home the first week of February. We were thankful for a very mild winter. Morton has had 19 days since December 1 with a high temperature of 50 degrees or more!

The home features lots of cabinetry and built-ins supplied by our friends at Amish Touch. The family room features a stone-faced, wood burning fireplace flanked by built-in cabinets. One of the important amenities to the homeowners was plenty of closet space, and did they get that! The bedrooms upstairs all have closets with custom wood shelving from CSI. The main floor has three huge closets. One big walk-in off the back entry with floor to ceiling shelving, one big closet near the front door also with custom shelving, and a 6 foot pantry in the kitchen. The finished basement has two big walk-ins, a game closet, and finished space under the stairs that can also be used for storage. If we have built a home with this much closet space, I sure don't remember it.

We truly enjoyed working with these homeowners and wish them many happy years in their BJ Armstrong Custom Home!

Building on a budget

noreply@blogger.com (BJ Armstrong) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:31:00 +0000

One of the more frequent comments I hear is “we could never afford to build.” When I probe a little deeper, the real concern is revealed. The construction budget is unrealistic. Everyone has heard a horror story about how it cost way more to build the home of their dreams than originally planned. This all too common scenario is more a reflection on the builder than the owner.

It doesn’t really matter if you are spending Two Hundred Thousand or Two Million dollars. There will be decisions to make and choices about finishes and products. Hire a builder that is willing to help you find the appropriate products for your project. There should be value in the products chosen. Require that you receive written specifications of all products prior to signing a construction contract. This will hep ensure your budget becomes reality.

Movie Theater

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Finn) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:33:00 +0000

This is the latest update to our movie theater room
addition. This room started out as a fishing garage and spent most of its life like that. When we took this room over we started by building the floor than followed by the drywall and trim work. The fiber optic lighting was the next step and was one of the coolest processes, which we have blogged previously about. This step took the longest and was way worth it in the long run. After the construction and the mess, Impressive Home theater came in and did what they do best…..audio and video. Impressive installed a 135 inch 3D projection screen TV, than we installed chairs that seat eight people. These chairs themselves are very neat, They have a blue LED lights under the chairs and they recline with the push of a button. The last thing that we did was install a blue LED rope light that’s surrounds the ceiling. All the time and hard work we put into this room paid off, it looks great and was a great project to be on.

BJA Custom Homes Begins Exciting Renovation

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Bornder) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:59:00 +0000

BJ Armstrong Custom Homes recently began renovating a historical Bloomington home. The home, built in 1900, is the childhood home to former Illinois Governor and presidential candidate, Adlai Stevenson II.

Of course, it has been quite some time since the Stevenson family has occupied the home. Through all these years, the home has started to show it's age. That is why the new homeowners came to us. They wanted to renovate (not remodel) a few rooms in the house while maintaining the historical integrity and character of the home.

This created a unique and exciting opportunity for us. One where the tiniest details make a world of difference. We collaborated with the homeowners and devised a plan that would suit them as well as the historic home. This plan included renovating the kitchen as well as the home's three bathrooms.

Here is a photo of the existing kitchen alongside a rendering I developed of what the kitchen will look like:

Part of the design plans included items the homeowners were able to salvage from local buildings: cabinets that will be revamped as the kitchen island and a marble sink that will be go in one of the bathrooms. Other items to be considered were repairing damaged plaster, refurbishing the existing trim moldings, even refinishing the 100 year old service bells in the kitchen, bringing them back to their original shine!

I must say that this has been a fun, exhilarating project for me to work on. I feel like we have risen to the occasion and can't wait to see the house once the renovation is complete! Look out for future blog posts with final pictures!

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Patton) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:14:00 +0000

We are grateful for the trust and support you have given us.
We are thankful for your business.
We look forward to the new year and the opportunities it will present.
We hope you can take some time to slow down and enjoy the holidays with family and friends.

From all of our families to yours, Merry Christmas and all the best in 2012!
-The team at BJ Armstrong Custom Homes

Holiday Decorating Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney Monaco) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:28:00 +0000

Made In America

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Bornder) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:20:00 +0000

Here is an interesting news story about homes built in the USA:

video platform video management video solutions video player

This story certainly got me thinking. My immediate thought was that we already do a fairly good job at this. However, I know that if I explored this further that I might be shocked by what I found.

This whole idea is very intriguing to us. The positive impact that this would have on our nation's economy is extremely appealing. Therefore, we at BJ Armstrong Custom Homes are going to do our part to strive to make our homes as American made as we can. So....are you in?

Thank You

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney Monaco) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:31:00 +0000

Tis the season to give thanks, and at BJ Armstrong Custom Homes, we have plenty to be thankful for.

We would like to thank our past, current and future customers, our vendors, and our supporters. We are extremely blessed to have you in our lives and are grateful that you have allowed us to be part of yours.

We wish you and your families a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

The Theater Room

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Finn) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:19:00 +0000

Here is the latest update on our theater room. When this project first started, the new theater room was transformed from a boat garage. It took many hours and hard work to make it look the way it is now. The fiber optic ceiling was a project within itself. We first had to start by drilling 300 tiny holes through the drywall for the fiber optic lights to go through. Next, it was time for the drywall. It was difficult for the drywall crew to mud, tape, and sand around the many small holes. The final step was painting the drywall. The paint crew had a lot of patience working around the fiber optic strands. The giant 135 inch projection 3D TV sets off the room.

Impressive Home Theater is responsible for all the audio and video in this theater room and sounds great with a really sharp picture. There were many projects to overcome in this room and was all worth it in the end.

Last One

noreply@blogger.com (BJ Armstrong) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:21:00 +0000

A few years ago I had an amazing opportunity to develop some ground surrounded by Prairie Vista Golf course. This week, I have the pleasure of announcing our last building! This community has turned out more amazing than I could have ever predicted.

With 28 homesites, each with a unique view of the golf course, we also have unique owners. Each unit has been customized to suit each particular personality. What an amazing experience to have an opportunity to share in their lives this way. Even better, is watching them share in each others lives as the owners of the Village at Prairie Vista. There is still an opportunity to build your special home, don't wait!

I have been asked, many times, "what's next?" Well, I am glad you asked. I am beginning a new venture at Trails on Sunset Lake. Located on the North East corner of Bloomington Normal (its actually in Normal) this is a perfect location in terms of convenience. While the attached units at Prairie Vista are great, we are looking to shake things up a bit. For this project, we are going to build Patio Homes. In short, a patio home is the Villa that you see in Prairie Vista, but in a single family version (no common wall). There are far too many benefits to list here, so you will have to trust me that they are awesome! Here is a preview:

I cannot wait to hear your thoughts.

You're Invited...

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney Monaco) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:02:00 +0000

The BJ Armstrong Real Estate Team is so excited for our open house party this Sunday! We have reinvented the standard open house to become a fun family event. This Sunday at 1907 Wakefield, in Tipton Trails, we are hosting an Open House Party from 1-4pm. This event will showcase our client's home beautifully. We cannot wait to receive valuable feedback and sell this home!

Additionally, Jenny Lein Photography, one of the premier photographers in town, will be on site providing complimentary family portraits. Rebecca Bergquist, our local mortgage expert, will be available to answer all of your financing questions.

Come visit us this Sunday, November 6th, from 1-4pm at 1907 Wakefield in Bloomington!

New Construction Tech

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Patton) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:54:00 +0000

New technology for the home is one of my favorite things about the new construction business. In the twelve years I have been building, dramatic changes have occurred in home audio, video and home automation. The iPod itself didn't even exist until 2001. My Sony Walkman can attest to that.

While some of the home technology options are incredibly cool, they are so expensive that nobody is willing to spend the money on them. Others are much more affordable. One of those is the Sonos Wireless Home Music System. Instead of using wires in the walls to hook up speakers and controllers, it simply uses Sonos hardware and your wireless router to send music to individual speakers. Those speakers can be moved anywhere in the home. It's a nice option for homeowners and gives them much more flexibility to move the speakers around the home and take the whole system with them if they move. The system can be as extensive (and expensive) as needed, or very simple. And instead of using an expensive controller, you control the system with a cell phone or tablet. Sonos offers free apps for the iPhone, iPod, iPad, Droid, etc. It's all very simple to install and use, and the sound is great. You can play any music on your computer whether it's from iTunes, Pandora, Slacker, TuneIn Radio, Spotify (also a very cool product), or many, many more.

We still pre-wire our homes for distributed audio and will continue to do so partly to accomodate future products. It is a relatively small expense and doing so gives homeowners the most flexibility. Sonos however is a nice alternative. I heard about if from Dustin LaFond and our friends over at Impressive Home Theater. While I get nothing out of talking about Sonos (unless someone over there wants to send me some gear), I just thought I would mention a great new product. Check them out at http://www.sonos.com/.

Favorite Room

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney Monaco) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:56:00 +0000

Last week we met with a couple to plan the designs of their future home. In order to accurately capture their vision, we began by discussing their favorite rooms in a house. This helps the client to articulate their ideas and for us to pinpoint the important aspects to include in their home design.

I started to think about it, and we all have that one room in the house that we LOVE. It is different for everyone, but personally, the room that can make or break me is the kitchen. I have a vision in my mind for my dream kitchen, and it would be wonderful to see this kitchen materialize. At BJ Armstrong Custom Homes, we would love the opportunity to make your dream home come to life!

So my question for you is, which room is the most important? Let us create your dream room, in immense detail, and design a house around it. We look forward to building a home that you will love in, laugh in, and live in.

Kitchen Remodel Receives Recognition

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Bornder) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:59:00 +0000

BJ Armstrong Custom Homes recently completed an exciting remodel for homeowners in a historic Normal neighborhood.

The remodel, mainly the kitchen, took several weeks of planning to ensure no detail went unnoticed. The homeowners had a vision for their dream kitchen and it was our job to reference that style and translate it into the designs.

All of this planning, hard work and attention to detail paid off. The homeowners were more than ecstatic with their fresh, new kitchen. In fact, they were so impressed with the quality and design of it, that they thought it should be worthy of some national recognition. They proceeded to submit some pictures to the Reader Remodel Contest offered by This Old House Magazine. Their kitchen turned out to be one of the top picks selected by readers and the This Old House Magazine editors!!

Here is a link to the online article:

This Old House Best Ki tchen Before and Afters 2011

I must say, this is by far my favorite part of this job. It is very rewarding to see the smile on our client's faces when they walk into their home. A home where they will be creating memories for years to come.

It feels good to be recognized!

Fiber Optic Ceiling

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Finn) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:03:00 +0000

A few days prior to writing this BJ tells me we are going to be putting a fiber optic ceiling into the movie theater addition were working on. Imagine in your room you look up at the ceiling and it looks like there were stars in the sky. After doing some research on this particular system it starts to look interesting. I have seen pictures of these systems before but never knew how they worked or installed. Little did I know drilling 300 little tiny holes into drywall would be fun, than fishing the lights through the drywall which was similar to fishing line. After about an hour of drilling holes in the drywall, a day full of putting the tiny lights in the drywall my part was done……so far. Next comes the drywall finishing, the drywall should be put on as if it were a regular ceiling, which after the mud is put on I need to go through and pick all the strings out(sounds fun!). Now paint, similar to the drywall the paint need to go on than pick the fiber optic lights out. Last, cut the fiber optic lights as close to the drywall as possible. This system can require a lot of work and time but will be worth the wait.

That's Interesting

noreply@blogger.com (BJ Armstrong) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 01:42:00 +0000

I have maintained an active real estate license for about 17 years. I have also been responsible for the design and construction of new homes for about 17 years. I love my job, really! There is nothing else on this planet that I can imagine ejoying quite so much. I had an experience this weekend that reminded me of how fun it is.

We recently completed a new model home at 3540 Tahoe Blvd in Trails on Sunset Lake subdivision, Normal IL. This is fun because it is like an unveling. This is a project that we began planning last year. We planned the floorplan (from scratch because I am tired of seeing the same old stuff all the time), the structural details, the exterior colors, the floor coverings...basically, all of the things that you have to plan to build a new home.

This is the exciting part. Our first open house was last weekend. Now, I have a fair amount of experience with open houses, so I do have fun with them. I must admit, however, that a "first" for a new plan with new ideas, makes me a little nervous. Our "new" ideas are a little progressive for the Bloomington/Normal real estate market, so for this one, I was a little more nervous than normal. (If you are wondering what "new" looks like you will have to check out the photos. You can see them here: 3542 Tahoe.) One of our open housians on Saturday made a comment to her companion "that's interesting." I couldn't help myself, I had to ask, so I said "is interesting good or bad"? I think she was a little surprised, maybe embarassed, but I was truly curious. You see, we used tigerwood flooring for the hardwood selection. It is, sadly, labeled "interesting" in Blo-No. Actually this open housian liked it, she was simply trying to understand why anyone would still use oak when they could have tigerwood. I have to agree.

After a long weekend, our traffic was great and the response to our "new" ideas was overwhelmingly positive. I have decided to stop trying "new" things and focus more on the "interesting." It is way more fun!

PS - I love honest and candid comments at open houses

A 40 Acre Backyard

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Patton) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:36:00 +0000

If real estate is all about location, here is a good one. We are currently building in Morton for some clients on a lot that backs up to McClallen Park. McClallen is a 40 acre soccer complex and park that hosts Morton's MYSO, Blaze, Fury and even Morton High School soccer teams. So when the home is completed, our clients will be able to walk across their backyard and onto a huge greenspace that they don't even have to mow. A 40 acre backyard that the Morton Park District will maintain for them!

We have access to wooded lots, lake lots, golf course lots, lots on parks, walkout lots, daylight lots and of course the flat 1/4 acre cornfield lot (plenty of those actually). How about a 22 acre lot with 11 acres of timber located between Morton and Bloomington? We have that too.

Hate yardwork? Don't want any lot? Check out our condo project at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington.

Whatever you prefer, great lots are out there if you know where to look. We can help you find the perfect location and build the perfect home.

Renting vs Buying

noreply@blogger.com (Kristal Green) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Recently I worked with clients that were renting but were anxiously awaiting the day they could purchase their first home. They saw their rent raising each year but knew they did not have enough money for a down payment at this time. They were also concerned that if they found a home that they loved, would they be able to afford the mortgage payment. I encouraged these clients to speak to a Lender about options available to First Time Home Buyers and discussed with them how we could overcome the obstacle of no down payment. Needless to say these clients were able to purchase a home that they loved, with minimal costs to them and a mortgage payment that they could afford.

I often get the question "Is this still a good time to buy" or "Can I really purchase a home with a mortgage payment less than my rent"? The answer to both is yes but not without the right Realtor or Lender to assist you through the entire process.

Here are a few reasons on "Why You Should Buy".

Home affordability is at an all-time high. The
median mortgage payment on the median priced
home as a percentage of the median household
income is lower than it’s been in a generation.

Mortgage rates are at rock bottom. It’s hard to
imagine interest rates going much lower, and
when they start to inch back upwards, monthly
payments and total loan costs will spike upwards.

Financing is readily available! Banks are back
in the game and ready to lend to well-qualified
buyers.

Owning vs. renting is increasingly favorable.
Since 2009, the average principal and interest
payment has fallen below the average rental rates,
and the gap is now wider than it’s been in the past
22 years.

If you or someone you know is currently renting and anxiously awaiting to purchase their "First Home", let me assist them in making that dream a reality. For three years in a row, J.D. Power and Associates has awarded Keller Williams associates
the distinct honor of “Highest Overall Satisfaction for Home Buyers among National
Full-Service Real Estate Firms.” Give me a call today to begin the process of purchasing your first home.

Kristal Green, Realtor
309-830-5385

Wonders of Paint

noreply@blogger.com (Courtney Monaco) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:34:00 +0000

Many people underestimate the impact that paint can have on a room. Whether buying, selling, or building a home, you will be considering paint colors. When selling your home, painting a few rooms can mean the difference between a potential buyer touring your home or not. Removing wallpaper or putting a fresh coat of paint on dated walls can make a huge difference! It is always best to use neutral colors. This will make it easier for the buyer to envision their furniture and life in the home.

If you are building or buying, you excitedly envision what your life will be like in your new home. Every house has a different personality and many people have a difficult time picking out the right paint color. Take your time and find the color that fits your furniture and lifestyle.

These two pictures are from BJA Custom Built Homes and one of them is currently for sale, 3 Prairie Vista Ct. Our interior designer, Cheryl, does a great job of picking neutral paint colors, while adding extra character to the room with accessories and furniture.

If you are having a difficult time choosing paint colors for your home, we would be happy to share with you some of our favorite colors and staging ideas.

We Build CUSTOM Homes

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Bornder) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:49:00 +0000

I often tell people that I work for BJ Armstrong Custom Homes, but I don’t think they quite understand what being a custom home builder really means.

We don’t take this very lightly. We take pride in being a custom home builder. We stand by you through the entire construction process and guide you through every selection to ensure that each detail is exactly what you dreamed of. At the end of the day, that is our goal. Building the house of your dreams.

This whole process starts with me. I sit down with you and together we collectively bring your ideas to life by creating the designs for your dream home. We spend as much time as needed to make sure that every window, every trim detail, and every hallway will fit your family’s wants and needs. I also take a lot of pride in constantly providing our clients with fresh and unique design ideas that separate us from other builders.

That is what custom means to us. It is every room. It is all of the unique details that separate it from other houses. It is your home.

Acclimating Hardwood

noreply@blogger.com (Bryan Finn) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:07:00 +0000

When choosing hardwood flooring in your new home, there is one key step before installation, acclimation. Acclimating hardwoods is the technique of matching the wood’s humidity and temperature to your home. This process could take up to 7 days, if not longer; all you need to do is bring the material inside your house and let it sit. This step is critical. If you skip this step, after installations, your hardwood will expand and contract due to its new environment. This could lead to cracks and gaps in your floor. As part of the BJA Team, I take pride in the quality of our craftsmanship and understand the importance of this step. This picture shows about 5,000 pounds of material that is acclimating in one of our BJA homes.

BNOpen.com

noreply@blogger.com (BJ Armstrong) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:36:00 +0000

If you follow this blog, you will see some common threads. One of these is that we are always looking for new ways to make our customers' experience better. Today, unfortunately, most of our buyers are concerned with the sale of their existing home. As you see from our previous posts, the BJ Armstrong Sales Team is doing an excellent job of making sales work in this tough market. In order to make it better, we would like to announce a new system that we are implementing. Here is the deal:

Ever tried to see what open houses are available in Bloomington/Normal on a given day? It is nearly impossible! Now, you can go to www.BNOpen.com.

This single site will now direct you to open houses hosted in Bloomington/Nomal. The really cool part is that you can also search the database for price range, day open etc. Check it out today to see the most current offerings. Realtors may choose to add their open houses late, so check back often.

We look forward to many features on BNOPEN.COM that will enhance its usability in coming weeks. Thanks to all the help and support from Cybernautic Design! If you are ever looking for an amazing web designer, call Chad Parker.