Why choose H&I?
You have probably heard from your mom or dad growing up that “if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” When your family trusts us with your biggest investment, we take it a step further: “If a job is worth doing, it’s worth overdoing.” This sets us apart is an unwavering commitment to going beyond your expectations.
We start by doing everything we can to make sure you find the right property for you–somewhere that fits your house and your life. We ask the right questions to make sure the lot and your preferred location for your home on the lot are suitable for your dream home.
As you decide where to build your home, it is also time to determine what type of home suits your lifestyle and budget. Most of our clients have started by searching some of the many home plan websites and narrowing their list down to 2 or 3 potential plans–others have come with a concept and asked for a design based on that. Next, we work together to customize your home for your unique needs and taste.
We work together with you and your bank or mortgage company to facilitate the process by providing specifications for an appraisal of the home package. We will recommend a lender if you do not have one, and we are happy to work with any lender.
Once your financing is secured and the property is purchased, we complete any further customizations and submit the plans for approval and permits. We take care of all documentation/drawings and applications (building/mechanical/septic/E&S and others) so you can spend your time selecting your finishes.
Before and after we break ground, we will be in constant contact with our trusted subcontractors to ensure the job is completed on time. We welcome site visits from our clients–informed and involved customers have always been key to ensuring we deliver exactly what you want us to build.
There are plenty of builders who will build you a good home. We will work closely with you to design, customize, and build a great home that you will want to show off to your friends and family for many years to come.
We will let you know the total cost to transform your property into your home. From foundation to finished driveway, we include every aspect of what is necessary inside and outside your home in any pricing we provide.
Finally, we give you a price and a set of specifications which live up to our ideas of what should be standard in a new home. Most builders and even some of our clients consider a number of the items on this list “upgrades”–we consider them essential components in your dream home:
Granite Counters
Granite counters are standard – full appliance suite including garbage disposal. Fully trimmed cabinets layout including crown molding, light rail, and under-cabinet lighting controlled by a switch.
Electrical & Lighting
Dual-panel 200-amp system wired for up to 10,000-watt generator via transfer panel and generator inlet (so that all you need is a generator and generator cord to power most of your home). Ample lighting to fit your style, including plenty of recessed lighting.
Flooring
Taller 5 ¼” base (floor) trim (rather than shorter 3 ¼” base trim).
Hardware
Matching hardware and fixtures in satin/brushed nickel (also available in oil-rubbed/aged bronze) all throughout.
Windows
Energy efficiency – R-21 insulation on exterior walls with Low-E windows (and Low-E door glass if applicable), code-exceeding R-49+ attic insulation, spray foam insulation on basement band joists for excellent air tightness and moisture control, and fully insulated exterior walls in basement (using Superior Walls pre-cast foundation system)
Plumbing
Water system – if well water - ultra-violet water treatment light for bacteria removal (because at some point there will be bacteria in your water).
Water softener (necessary in most cases in the Lehigh Valley due to combined factors contributing to water hardness).
Manifold system (PEX) for more efficient water distribution and simplified shut-off capability.
Exterior
Color-matched mounting blocks on siding in all or nearly all locations where wires / pipes / outlets / lights all come out of or are attached to the side of the house (no more random holes all over your siding with wires and pipes and tons of oddly-colored caulk sticking out) 16.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency (and added convenience) – thermal envelope of the home which includes the basement (no need to insulate between the basement and main floor).
Basement
Exterior walls studded and insulated for easy finishing (using Superior Walls pre-cast foundation system).
Complete basement drainage system including sump pit with either sub-slab drain tile/piping draining to daylight (by gravity) or sump pump installed in basement sump pit and fully wired and piped to direct subsurface water away from the home.
Safety
Active radon remediation / removal system including piping, high-velocity fan, and easy-read manometer (important in nearly all homes in the Lehigh Valley due to subsurface radon in limestone bedrock) – system incidentally reduces basement humidity as well.
These are just some of the benefits of using a builder who strives to deliver quality inside and outside your new home, whether it is going the extra mile in the mechanical systems or providing finishes that you will be proud to have in your new home.
