Notes
Slide Show
Outline
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Get the Home You Want:

At a price you can afford
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Begin by thinking
of your home
as your cathedral.
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You’re building a homestyle
to match your lifestyle.
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You’re creating a sacred place
where you’ll celebrate birthdays and holidays.
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You’re creating a place
for the human spirit
and family to dwell.
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Your home is the sanctuary
from the busyness
of your fast-moving life.
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This place we call home
is certainly
our personal cathedral.
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As you consider
how to get the home you want,
at a price you can afford,
here are three key ideas:
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ARTICULATE

COLLABORATE

INTEGRATE

Where do you begin?
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First…

you need to ARTICULATE
your lifestyle
AND
your homestyle.
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You need to express
your vision to yourself.
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The best way to express your vision is through the use
of a storyboard.
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A storyboard is a place
where you can display
pictures, colors, textures.
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A storyboard displays the
“plot, action and characters”
of your lifestyle.
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A storyboard is a way
of visualizing your ideas.
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A storyboard is a living collage
for space and aesthetics.
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As you create your storyboard,
it’s a process of
progressive approximation.
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What is
progressive approximation?

At the beginning of your project,
you’ll raise more questions
than answers.
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You’ll need to consider options
for all the decisions
you’ll encounter.
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Ideas are created, changed and
refined until you arrive
at your final destination.
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This is what “progressive approximation” means:

You don’t know where you’re going…but, you’ll know it
when you get there!
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Here’s how you
create a storyboard
for your upcoming project:
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At the top of your storyboard,
place a site plan of your lot
just to create the big picture.
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“Always design a thing by considering it in its larger context: a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, and environment in a city plan.”

-Eliel Saarinen, Architect and Designer
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You want to “see” your furniture and room layout in relationship to the site surrounding it
and within your neighborhood.
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The site plan shows
the footprint of your home
but also includes any features
like entries and walkways…
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…driveways, sidewalks, plants
and where the utilities
are located on your site
 and in your home.
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Ask yourself:
What are the conditions
at my home site?
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Issues such as:

zoning, easements, drainage,
parking, setbacks,
foundation and framing,
sewage, water and CCR’s

are all determining factors!
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If your site is near a wetland
or in a historic neighborhood,
these will also be special
conditions that apply to you!
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Go directly to the web site of the building department with jurisdiction over your home site
for information on codes,
permits and inspections.
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You’ll want to check with them
to review criteria
for what’s required.
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It’s absolutely necessary to analyze your site,
and understand the site’s
existing conditions.
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If you haven’t created
a complete site plan
just put a blank plot plan
on your storyboard,
and…
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…begin to confirm site details
as you do research
for your upcoming project.
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In The House You Build,
Duo Dickinson advises,

“Don’t fight the site!”
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Whether you’re adding a room,
refurbishing your kitchen,
finishing a basement,
adding a bathroom,
building a deck
or designing a new home…
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…take advantage of your site’s
existing features as you
articulate your vision.
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Directly below the site plan,
divide your storyboard
into two sections:

one side for the exterior,
the other side for the interior.
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Ask yourself:

What is my vision
for my lifestyle?

What activities seem important in my life?
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Whatever your vision,
you need to honor
both inside and outside
features of your home.
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You need to characterize
what’s important to you
with pictures, photographs,
colors, textures, patterns.
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These are the images
you’ll be placing
on your storyboard.
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However…
You also want to be realistic.
So, your storyboard
includes post-it notes
reminding you of room
sizes and layout.
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Carry a tape measure
and construction calculator…
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…so you become familiar
with dimensions,
taking notes to post
on your storyboard.
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Rather than expend time
sketching your design,
simply characterize your space
by becoming familiar
with dimensions…and…
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…what products
you may want to use
in your home!
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A document that’ll be
most helpful to you is a
Description of Materials.
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A Description of Materials
will be a general script
for your storyboard.
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This is an outline
of products and materials
you’ll be using on your project
during each phase of work.
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Put this document directly
on your storyboard
to help organize
your scope of work.
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Choose products
that fit your lifestyle.

Be open to
the range of possibilities!
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Here’s the essence
of articulation:

You’re describing
your lifestyle AND homestyle.

You’re doing this through
the use of a storyboard.
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Your storyboard displays
the building site, the exterior
and the interior
of the house following
the Description of Materials.
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The second step is…

Share your vision
with others.
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You need to COLLABORATE
with the building community!
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You need to create
a traveling file
to share your vision.
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A traveling file is a
sample portfolio of,
what you consider to be,
your current best ideas
from your storyboard.
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After you’ve characterized
your lifestyle and homestyle…
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…you’re now ready to share
your ideas with others
in the building community.
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This is a file to take with you
as you travel to
suppliers’ showrooms
sharing your ideas.
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As you enter showrooms,
you’ll say,
“This is what I have in mind,”
and then ask,
“Do you have any suggestions?”
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You’ll include
in your travel file
those dimension post-it notes,
which characterize
your sense of space.
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You need to have a sense
of the quality and quantity
for products
that may be required
on your project.
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This is a way
to share with suppliers
your scope of work.
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You won’t be totally accurate,
but it’s a beginning point
for collaboration.

Here are several examples…
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Is there a family member
who’s in a wheelchair?
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If so, then size of
openings and accessibility
is an issue.
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Are you responsible
for holiday gatherings?
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If so, then size of
kitchen and dining
is an issue.
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Do you require
a home office?
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If so, then location of
extra phone lines
and electrical outlets
is an issue.
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You want suppliers
to be familiar with your lifestyle
and the homestyle
you hope to create.
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You’re going into the
building community
to hear what suppliers
suggest for your project.
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You’re going into the
building community
to find people
you can depend on
to give good advice.
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Here’s how you
locate suppliers
for your upcoming project:
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Starting with the ideas
on your storyboard,
begin your search at
www.OwnerBuilder.com
on the “Specifications” page.
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On the “Specs” page,
you’ll find web site references,
which will help you match
your ideas to each phase
of the construction process,
and then to manufacturers.
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By first identifying
the product manufacturers
that best suit you,
you can then locate
local suppliers
of these products.
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Ask them for product details
as well as provide their
“preferred contractor” list!
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Your local product suppliers
are the best place to find
reputable trade contractors.
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You’ve got to know for certain
that you’re shopping at a place
where the product being sold
will be installed by contractors…
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…familiar with
the manufacturer’s
installation instructions
and
product specifications!
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You’ll want to know that
you’re getting a good value
for the dollar spent
for both labor and materials.
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A document that’ll be
most helpful to you is a
Construction Cost Breakdown.
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This is an outline
of cost categories
for your project.

It is a format
for organizing
labor and material costs.
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The budgeting process
requires you to go from
rough estimates to
formal proposals,
and do a cost analysis.
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As you go through this process,
you’ll want to be certain
everyone is using
the same format.
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This means following a
Construction Cost Breakdown.
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Accompanying all your ideas,
there should be a cost
assigned to each phase of work.
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“Avoiding slavish devotion
to a particular style
gives you the flexibility
to choose what fits
your budget.”

Duo Dickinson
The House You Build
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Here’s the essence
of collaboration:
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You’re engaging
the building community
in a dialog.

You’re doing this
through the use of
your traveling file.
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Your traveling file shares
your lifestyle
and homestyle
so others can contribute
to your vision following
a Construction Cost Breakdown.
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The third step is…

Unify your vision.
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You need to INTEGRATE
design and build aspects
of your project!
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To unify your vision,
work simultaneously
with a designer and builder.
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This means
creating a complete set of
drawings and specifications
that are budget based!
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Drawings are a graphic
representation of your project
showing dimensions of
length, width and depth.
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Drawings are basically
the square foot layout
of your home.
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Specifications are a written
description of the products
to be used in your home.
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The “specs” complement
the drawings by showing
what products you’ve chosen
for the various spaces.
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Home building and remodeling
is both an art and a science.
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Contributions are made
from both sides of the
building community.
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You need to seek input
simultaneously from both
designers and builders.
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As you seek professionals
to help you create
drawings and specifications…
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…you’re looking for
professionals who’ve done
a project like yours!
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You have a storyboard
chock full of ideas.

You have a traveling file
to share your vision.
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As you interview prospective
designers and builders,
the first question you’re asking:
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“Does your work experience
complement the type of
project I want to do?”
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We’ll make the assumption
that you’re pre-qualified
for a construction loan;
this is a project you can afford.
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After pre-qualification,
you can move forward
in the design/build process
with confidence.
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Most important:

Be sure you’re working
with a designer and builder
who has done a project
like the one you’re considering.
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If you work with a professional
who has done a project
similar to your own…
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…there’s an understanding
for upcoming issues and
what should be your priorities.
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The designer and builder
will already understand
description of materials
and construction costs
for the work to be
accomplished.
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Your relationship
with professionals should begin
with them describing
the project they’ve accomplished…
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…similar to
the one you’re considering.
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In Creating the Inspired House,
John Connell reminds,

“When builder, architect, and
homeowner pursue the same
vision…it’s artful teamwork!”
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Here is the essence
of integration:

You’re unifying drawings
and specifications.

These documents will
complement one another.
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The devil is in the details
so you need to be working
with professionals
who are able to integrate
drawings and specifications.
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Here are suggestions
to integrate these details:
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SUGGESTION:

Description of Materials and
Construction Cost Breakdown
forms will be the format
for all professionals
to use as a common template.
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Carry these forms with you
into every meeting with
suppliers, architects and
builders so folks are familiar
with these outlines
from the beginning.
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Explain to folks
that these documents
are required by your lender
so you need to follow
these forms for loan purposes.
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Pencil-in product suggestions
and best-guess cost estimates
but don’t forget…
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…this is a process of
progressive approximation.
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You’ll weigh and consider
your options, refine choices
and make decisions
over an extended period of time
until you arrive at a final budget.
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SUGGESTION:

 Ask architects and builders
for referral to recent customers
with a project like yours.

Get permission to contact them.
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When you visit the architects
and builder’s project, note both
inside and outside features
of the house.
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For the variety of features,
obtain manufacturers’ names
and products’ model numbers.

Determine the local suppliers
providing delivery
of various products.
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While visiting the project,
categorize features by cost:

Economy
Average
Custom
Luxury
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Each room of the house
will feature product selections…
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…so note products you prefer,
whether they’re affordable,
who manufactures them,
and where you can get them.
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You’ll contact local suppliers
to discuss product choices,
options, and the range of costs
for the various features.

Ask suppliers for their
preferred contractor list.
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SUGGESTION:

Use the Internet
as your preferred tool
for research and development.
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For peer to peer advice,
visit www.ThatHomeSite.com
to join a free, online forum
where you can research
what others have done
and develop peer relationships.
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Point your browser to the free,
online “Home Building Guide”
at www.OwnerBuilder.com.

Click on the Project Planner
for a time-based format
for project management.
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At OwnerBuilder.com,
refer to the free “Budget Estimating” article.
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SUGGESTION:

Create a single page flyer
with your project name and
address at top of page,
and directly below it
show a map to your site.
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"YOUR NAME"
  • YOUR NAME
  • YOUR ADDRESS
  • YOUR CITY


  • SITE ADDRESS
  • DIRECTIONS TO LOCATION
  • MAP TO YOUR SITE LOCATION


  •        SLUG MAIL, EMAIL, PHONE, CELL
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Besides a site address,
provide a mailing address
for product information
and cost proposals,
which will be mailed to you.
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Give everyone a variety of ways
to “Keep in Contact”
whether it’s by cell phone, email, fax, slug mail or landline.
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Get this very same information
from everyone else as well.

A map to their business location
and business card with all
details so there’s a variety
of ways to contact them, too.
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All the folks in the building
community need to remember
that this place we call home…
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…is our personal cathedral.
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It’s much more than wood
and nails, concrete and steel.

It’s about building relationships.
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To get the home you want
at a price you can afford:

Articulate

Collaborate

Integrate
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You’ll create a homestyle
to match your lifestyle….
…a truly sacred place.