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The Pros of Building vs. Buying

Ready for a place to call home, but debating between building vs. buying? Purchasing a home is a major life decision and a serious investment. Let’s explore both options so you feel equipped to make a choice and get the home of your dreams.

When comparing the costs of building vs. buying, consider all variables associated with the final price. Buying an existing home often appears cheaper at the time of purchase, however, the price paid is for the house “as-is.” Additional finances are required for remodeling, renovations, and decorating. 

When building a home, the average cost is much more difficult than calculating the average of an existing home due to customization— an unquantifiable value. New construction allows for a one-of-a-kind home built for longevity.

Energy efficiency is another important factor when comparing costs. When purchasing a new construction home with Core, you can count on the highest energy-efficient amenities. Energy-efficient homes are good for the environment leaving less of a carbon footprint and they save buyers money on utility bills.

  • 2×6 Construction
  • 45% More Insulation Than Average Builders
  • R-21 Insulation in Exterior Walls
  • R-49 Batts & Blown-in Insulation in Ceilings
  • Low-E Double Pane Windows
  • 92+% Efficient Furnaces
  • Energy Saver Power Vent Water Heater
  • Fully Insulated and Drywalled Garage
  • High-efficiency Kitchen Appliances
  • Exterior House Wrap
  • Energy Efficient Steel Entry Doors
  • Digital Thermostats
  • Individual HVAC Returns in Bedrooms and Central Returns
  • Structural OSB Wall Sheathing
  • Test & Balance HVAC Before Closing

On average, newly built homes are at least 70% more energy-efficient than resale homes.

In addition to the above, our Ranch Villas also include reasonable taxes

low association fees, and all exterior landscaping and snow removal.

Existing homes for purchase often come with aged windows, inefficient lighting, and outdated appliances resulting in hidden energy costs that drive up the cost of utility bills.

In addition to Core’s new home communities, any of our home plans or your home plans can be built on your own homesite. On our plans, we will subtract out the cost for the lot and permits from our prices shown and add in permits, fees, and any requirements for the area in which you choose to build. If you have a plan, bring it to us, and we will give a complete price out free of charge.

When it comes to renovating a home vs. building a house with custom needs, consider the following cost:

Building a home offers flexibility and customization upfront. Every family is different, and your brand new home can perfectly meet your family’s needs. If you build with Core, there are many opportunities for you to tour your home as it is built. This keeps the lines of communication open, ensuring your satisfaction with every aspect of your brand new customized home.

When purchasing an existing home, renovations come after finalizing the purchase. The buyer is responsible for the time-consuming process of planning renovations and then paying for them once they are made. Some tasks included with planning for home renovations include:

  • Setting a budget and staying within it
  • Determining what changes and updates need to be made
  • Identifying local building codes and restrictions
  • Researching and contacting reputable contractors

It’s essential to keep in mind that inspectors cannot move items during a home inspection. Costly issues are often identified during renovations that often increase the bill and slow down the process of updating. Some of those items include rotted foundation wood, asbestos, and electrical and/or plumbing systems that are not up to code. 

Prices for a new build may seem higher than an existing home at the time of signing, however after necessary renovations are made to an existing home, it’s likely costs may match or exceed a new construction. If looking for a more straightforward approach to home buying, starting from scratch allows for customization and exact needs/wants vs. a laborious and costly renovation.

So what’s the right decision for you? Buying or building? New construction often has a higher price tag but comes with customizations, options, and energy efficiency. An existing home often has a lower price tag with higher utility bills and ongoing fees as necessary updates and renovations are made.

Still struggling to make a decision? We get it! That’s why Core Homes is here to answer any of your questions. Contact our team here: 815-467-1155 or stop into one of our sales centers.

Single-Family Sales Center: 27531 W. Red Wing Lane, Channahon, IL 60410
Ranch Villas Sale Center: 25703 Rivers Plaza Drive, Channahon, Il

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Core’s Top 5 Floor Plans for Entertaining

🎵 It’s the most wonderful time of the year! 🎵

The holidays are quickly approaching, and many of us are excited to welcome family and friends back into our homes. Is your home ready for entertaining?

One of the top reasons for building a new home is to design a home to fit your needs. As a successful and respected new home builder, we offer a wide range of features and floor plans that keep everyone in the conversation. Core has the home features to create the perfect environment for holiday gatherings, from spacious kitchens to comfortable great rooms.

Here are our top 5 floor plans for entertaining:
ASPEN
This ranch floor plan uses every inch of its 2,100 square feet of living space wisely. Highlights include 9-foot ceilings on the 1st floor, a beautiful open great room concept, and a large kitchen with an island, making entertaining a breeze. The Aspen even has space carved out for a separate den area.
CAMBRIDGE 2
The Cambridge II is a modern, well-designed, 2-story home. Want extra space? The Cambridge comes standard with the superfamily room and you can add an optional sunroom. With 2,400 square feet and 9-foot ceilings on the 1st floor, the Cambridge II is a great place to call home for the holidays.
CARMEN
Your guests will be in awe from the moment they walk into your 2-story foyer with beautiful oak railings. This 3,900 square foot, 2-story home equips 9-foot ceilings on the 1st floor and a large kitchen with a center island connected to the family and dining room. 
ALEXANDRIA
Our Alexandria model is a spacious 3,000 square foot, 2-story home with a full basement. Your guests enter a stunning 2-story foyer showcasing beautiful oak railings and dramatic archways. You’ll love the large kitchen with an island, formal living and dining rooms, family room adjacent to the kitchen, as well as a den and laundry room off of the kitchen.
HAMPTON
Like the Aspen, this 2,100 square foot ranch floor plan allows guests to feel comfortable with its 9-foot ceilings on the 1st floor, a beautiful open great room concept, a mudroom, and a large kitchen with an island and walk-in pantry.
Let Core build you the perfect home for the holidays.

For more information, visit our website homesbycore.com or contact our sales office at 815-467-1155.
Ready to cook up a custom creation? Call us at 815-467-1155
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Core Homes: Homebuying Made Simple

Selling and buying a home can be a stressful time. At Core Homes, we want to make the process easy for you. We have our own real estate agent, Lynda Baker, who will help you sell your home from the start. Lynda has years of experience and makes the process of selling your home easy and enjoyable. We also offer a list of preferred lenders with who we have been working for over 15 years. Our lenders are extremely familiar with the new home building process and want to make this time as easy as they can for you too.

At Core Homes, we love to work closely with our homebuyers to make sure we build them the quality home of their dreams. We understand everything that goes into building a new home, and we are here to walk you through the steps.

At our sales office, we handle everything from contract to closing. Our homebuyers come in to select all the items we use when building their home during the building period, including siding, flooring, countertops, cabinets, and more! While your home is under construction, we have our superintendent walk you through your home twice. First is our pre-drywall walk; this is to walk through your home for you to see the framing, electricity, and plumbing before the drywall is installed. Then your final walk happens a week before your home closes. This allows you to walk through your finished house and make sure everything is the way you wanted. At Core Homes, we want our homebuyer to be a part of the new home building process. Our sales office is always available to answer your questions.

For more information, visit our website homesbycore.com or contact our sales office at 815-467-1155.

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Kitchens Deliciously Customized Just for You. Build Your New Home with Core.

The kitchen designed initially for cooking meals has transformed into the heart of your home. Core Homes understands that a kitchen is a place for the family to convene, socialize with friends, work on homework, pay bills, and enjoy food. This area is also vital in year-round celebrations, especially the holidays, so we know it’s just as important that we customize a kitchen to fit all your needs. At Core Homes, we bring you options and personalizations to create an inspiring space that will ensure every day is fantastic no matter what is thrown at you.

KITCHEN ISLAND

A kitchen island is a perfect place to have heart-to-hearts with family and chit-chats with friends. It is also a great addition to your kitchen as it adds more storage space, seating options, and space for preparing your favorite dishes. With more people working from home, they also provide an additional workspace for the students and professionals under your roof.

CUPBOARDS & CABINETS

Say goodbye to boring cupboards and cabinets. At Core, birch cabinets as your standard option with the choice between 7 shades of color. Our cabinets have 36” uppers giving your family ample cabinet space to store your wide variety of cooking supplies.

LIGHTING

Lighting places a key role in attracting attention to your kitchen. Consider customizing your kitchen and showcasing your island with pendant lighting. This type of lighting helps reduce glare and eye strain, and it never goes out of style. We also offer can lighting, so not only can you get your ceiling back, but you can show off a sleek, modern look.

TOP-QUALITY APPLIANCES

Want more? No problem. Top-quality and great appliances come included. Our kitchens all feature a high-efficiency refrigerator, gas range stove, dishwasher, and microwave. And, you have the option to upgrade these appliances to stainless steel. 

UPGRADE

Add value and durability to your home by dressing your countertops in granite or quartz, make life less complicated with pull-out trash drawers, shelves, and pantry cabinets, and store all your snacks and large equipment in a walk-in pantry. Let’s top it off with a pop color and creative design in your new custom backsplash.

When you let Core Homes help create the kitchen you have always wanted, you’ll choose from quality, stylish design options that will also serve your preference and style.

Hungry for customization? Call us today at 815-467-1155 or visit our website at homesbycore.com to learn more about how we can build the kitchen and home you crave.

Connect with Us!

Website: www.homesbycore.com

Blog: https://homesbycore.com/news/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoreHomes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomesByCore

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CoreHomes/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu1iun8oD5cFbYv2jc9zNXg

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New: The Aspen and Hampton Ranch Home Models


Core Homes has some very inviting news—our Aspen and Hampton ranch home models are available in the Minooka school district’s beautiful Whispering Oaks neighborhood.

Whether it’s square footage you’re seeking or 9-foot ceilings to call your own, these models offer a balanced blend of comfort and luxury. Which is your best fit?

Aspen (click for more info)

2100 sq. ft.
Ranch plan

Includes:
3 bedrooms + den
2 bathrooms
9’ ceilings on first floor
Mudroom
Open great room concept
Large kitchen with island
Full basement
Brick front
Concrete driveway
Conduit

Hampton (click for more info)

2160 sq.ft.
Ranch plan

Includes:
3 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
3 car garage
9’ ceilings on first floor
Mudroom
Open great room concept
Large kitchen with island + walk-in pantry
Full basement
Brick front
Concrete Driveway
Conduit

We’re equipped and ready to build the home of your dreams. 

Give us a call at 815-467-1155 to learn more. 

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Blog: https://homesbycore.com/news/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoreHomes
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomesByCore
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Semi-Custom Single-Family Homes at a Great Price.

Check out what the Patch, Joliet, IL, has to say about us!

Core Homes has been a premier local home builder in the Southwest suburbs for many decades. Their commitment to quality craftsmanship and customer service is visible in every detail of their new semi-custom homes. You will find their many floor plans are designed with your lifestyle in mind.

Over the past several decades, the goal of Core Homes is to create a homebuilding company that provides a superior product for a more reasonable price, while improving the community as a whole. Core Homes’ dream has developed into a thriving company that works personally and attentively with customers all throughout the building process. Core Homes constructs semi-custom and custom homes, as opposed to production style homes consistent with that of large regional and national builders. This gives the buyer choices; meaning they serve your interests, not the other way around. Only a family owned company like Core Homes can offer such extraordinary service. They know that a home isn’t just a house, it’s their customers’ biggest investment. That is why they treat each buyer and their relationship with them with the highest priority and feel privileged to be a part of their new home experience.

Core Homes take great pride in developing homes that are unmatched by the competition. However, they understand that each buyers’ taste is different. If you love one of their homes, but would like to put some personal touches on it, feel free to contact them to discuss how they can further customize the home to meet your desires.

First class finishes with expert craftsmanship are standard and will please even the most selective buyers. Examples of their quality and energy-efficiency include 2×6 wall construction, Low-E high performance windows, 95+ high efficiency furnaces & A/C units, brick exteriors with architectural shingles, and copper plumbing with Moen fixtures. All of their homes come with sodded lots and a landscape package. Quality remains a distinguishing factor of Core Homes and the quality of every element of your home is accounted for throughout the entire building process.

Core Homes chooses a handful of projects each year to ensure they can focus on even the smallest details of every home that they build. Currently they have 2 single-family home communities. Want a stunning new home at a dazzling price? Check out these two new home communities.

Whispering Oaks is located in Channahon and features beautiful homes. These homes range from 2,000 to 4,200 square feet and include two-story and ranch floor plans with three to five bedrooms, with full basements includes. Highlights of Whispering Oaks include its location in the highly sought after Minooka Grade School / Minooka High School districts, Channahon Park District, & Will County Forest Preserve walking trails.

Core Homes firmly believes in the guiding principles of honest business practices and hard work. Core Homes has built new homes throughout the Southwest suburbs for decades, leaving happy homeowners all along the way. Core Homes has the values, principals, and track record you are seeking to provide your family with a beautiful home and strong foundation.

To learn more about our homes, give us a call at 815-467-1155, or visit our website www.homesbycore.com.Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail


New Home Holiday Decorations

There’s nothing quite as inviting as a seasonally decorated entrance to your new home. Bring holiday cheer to your front yard with these fun ideas:

 

 

 

• Decorate an outdoor chair with a holiday throw pillow and a cozy blanket. It can be something a little sparkly or perhaps bring Rudolph to your doorway.

• Next to your front door, you can add a small tree to decorate.

• Nothing beats a wreath on the door. Add your own touches to personalize.

• Pine garland is perfect to drape over the entrance or along banisters.

• Add holiday cheer with your favorite lights. You can coordinate with your other decor or add a splash of color. Try string lights, projectors, icicles or net lights for your bushes.

• Light up your walkway with luminaries. You can DIY this idea or buy them at a local store.

• You can repurpose old jars for luminaries or to add some shine and decoration.

idea from Etsy and Pintere

• Add a holiday outdoor rug. Dog lovers unite with this adorable outdoor area rug from Wayfair. • Decorate a Winter Container.

Hungry for customization? Call us today at 815-439-9000 or visit our website at homesbycore.com to learn more about how we can build the home you crave.

Connect with Us!

Website: homesbycore.com

Blog: https://homesbycore.com/news/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoreHomes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomesByCore

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CoreHomes/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu1iun8oD5cFbYv2jc9zNXg

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Our Recipe for Customized Kitchens

Core Home - slider 4
Core Home

The kitchen is the most important room in a home to many and it’s no wonder. The kitchen is where hot meals and warm conversations pair with quality time and memorable gathering. Laughter, chit-chats, and heart-to-hearts are no stranger to this special space, too.

This area is a vital element in year-round celebrations especially the holidays, so we know it’s just as important that we customize a kitchen to help you entertain right. At Core Homes, we bring you ample cabinet space to store your wide variety of cooking supplies comfortably,  a spacious refrigerator to store all your sweets and treats, and an island to serve up each delectable recipe you and your special guests put so much time and energy into.

When you let Core Homes help create the kitchen you have always wanted, you’ll choose from quality, stylish design options that will also serve your preference and soiree style.

Hungry for customization? Call us today at 815-467-1155 or visit our website at homesbycore.com to learn more about how we can build the kitchen and home you crave.

Connect with Us!

Website: homesbycore.com

Blog: https://homesbycore.com/news/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoreHomes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomesByCore

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CoreHomes/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu1iun8oD5cFbYv2jc9zNXg

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Constructing Sunrooms Specialized for You

Livingroom

Everyone loves a sanctuary. That’s why it is no surprise when new home buyers choose to take advantage of our option to add a sunroom to their beautiful new abode. The sunroom is just one of the options we’re proud to offer to our clients. It’s exciting for us here at Core Homes to construct homes that accommodate our clients’ many different personalities and lifestyles. The sunroom option is an excellent way to make that happen.

We often see families choose to transform the sunroom into a dining room and use it as an extension of space from the kitchen. This leaves plenty of room for everyone to comfortably get together, share a delicious meal, and make lasting memories.

We have also seen the sunroom space crafted into a sitting room where rest and relaxation is at its best. Enjoy bird watching, meditating, or reading in this peaceful room.

The sunroom also delivers an additional dose of natural light to your home, lifting the brightness of the space as well as your mood.

Don’t forget to take a glimpse at the moon in this awesome add-on space. You might even want to park your telescope there.

Call us today at 815-439-9000 or visit our website at homesbycore.com to learn more about building a home that fits you perfectly. Sunroom and all.

 

Connect with Us!

Website: homesbycore.com

Blog: https://homesbycore.com/news/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoreHomes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomesByCore

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CoreHomes/

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Add a Little Fall to your New Home

It’s time to kiss the summer weather goodbye and say hello to the brisk air and gorgeous colors of autumn.

If you’re looking to extend your porch-sitting season a bit longer or spice up your welcome mat for guests at your new home, keep reading for some fun, easy ideas to decorate your stoop, porch, or garden this fall.

• Add color! Simple pops of autumn color make for a great touch. Pick up some seasonally-perfect mums for a container or a throw pillow for an outdoor chair or couch. Looking for a creative way to showcase the flowers? Try placing them inside of a red vintage wagon.

• Layer with haystacks, crates, and baskets and add cornstalks and tall urn garden containers for height.

• Decorate with pumpkins, gourds, pinecones, and scarecrows. Mixing and matching pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors add a nice rustic feel.

• Carving your address or street number into one of the pumpkins on your stoop brings a personalized and clever extra.

• Have an outdoor table? Top it with a bowl full of pinecones, leaves, pumpkins, apples, or whichever fall favorites you’d like. Ornamental cabbage or flowering kale also make for a nice centerpiece.

• An autumn wreath on your front door and a seasonally-perfect welcome mat offer a warm greeting to family and guests.

• Keep a blanket handy. If you’re someone who plans to enjoy this season on your front stoop or on a piece of outdoor furniture, you’ll want that homemade quilt or something cozy nice and close.

www.homesbycore.com

Call us today at 815-439-9000 or visit our website at homesbycore.com to learn more about this delightful Channahon community.

 

Connect with Us!

Website: homesbycore.com

Blog: https://homesbycore.com/news/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoreHomes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomesByCore

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CoreHomes/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu1iun8oD5cFbYv2jc9zNXg

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