St. George, Utah is known for its stunning, sprawling desert landscape. It’s characterized by red cliffs, black volcanic rock, and green sagebrush stretching for miles. With warm sunshine and an arid climate that hardly ever drops to below-freezing temperatures, it’s easy to understand why Southern Utah has become a worldwide destination for outdoor enthusiasts and retirees.
The natural landscape has had a large influence on desert homes both structurally and aesthetically. In the past, it has been a challenge for architects to create modern desert architecture that combines the natural surroundings of the desert with contemporary architectural elements. With ingenuity and experience, architects at Dennis Miller Homes have perfected the modern desert house that unites modern architecture with desert aesthetics-- a true high desert custom home.
What constitutes a modern home design? Modern homes are characterized by clean lines, open floor plans, minimalist interiors, natural materials, neutral colors, and the integration of sustainable materials like glass, wood, cement, and rock. Modern homes are constructed to feel open and breathable and often utilize windows and skylights for natural lighting.
Sustainability has become increasingly popular and more affordable in recent years. It’s especially critical in Southern Utah because, as a desert, the area is prone to droughts and water restrictions. Dennis Miller Homes’s integration of smart resource usage will ensure your home is visually stunning and environmentally responsible. It will also help your utility bill to stay low amid rising utility costs.
Other popular design elements found in custom homes in Southern Utah include large windows and expanded indoor-outdoor living spaces. Since St. George gets little rain and lots of sunlight, large windows make natural lighting a clear choice. Indoor-outdoor living spaces can combine a comfortable atmosphere with the fun of a pool or patio that can be used year-round. At Dennis Miller Homes, anything is possible.
So how do you achieve a custom desert home look? It largely comes with integrating elements from the natural environment. Architects and builders will use materials like stone, wood, and adobe to reflect the southwest region. Popular stones like sandstone and basalt are used because they are native to the Southern Utah area. Adobe characteristics might also be implemented because they reference the homes of the Pueblo people who lived here before Latter-Day Saint pioneers settled in the area.
With all these materials and elements, you’ll find common colors of red, tan, white, grey, and green. At Dennis Miller Homes, we can take an artful mix of these colors and materials to create a villa to be proud of. We can also include responsible, low-maintenance xeriscaping utilizing native desert plants that add beauty and variety to your property while preserving water and lowering maintenance.
St. George's deserts can be harsh and unforgiving. For this reason, a home must be constructed that’s prepared to handle the demanding climate. Materials must be selected for their durability and blended with a state-of-the-art HVAC to ensure your home stays cool and comfortable during St. George’s hot summer months.
With Dennis Miller Home’s network of trusted subcontractors and HVAC specialists, we’ll ensure that your custom home is built to be an oasis from St. George’s harsh climate. We’ll construct your home with premium materials to reduce utility costs and increase comfort so you can enjoy the beautiful desert landscape in peace for years to come.
Dennis Miller Homes has extensive experience building luxury custom homes in Southern Utah. We’ve worked with satisfied clients worldwide who come to settle in this beautiful desert valley. Whether you’d like a modern desert house or a custom home with other influences, we have the expertise and established network of contractors to make your dream a reality.
We meet with you to understand your vision and goals, then work for you to solidify land and service approval, create design and development plans, review bidding and budget, and build your custom home promptly. Explore our gallery of luxurious custom homes for examples from previous custom home projects.
Building a custom home in St. George, Utah, provides so many benefits. You get to live in one of the most beautiful, fastest-growing communities in the United States. You’re close to fabulous Las Vegas, world-famous hiking spots like Snow Canyon and Zion National Park, professional stage plays at Tuachan Amphitheater, multiple golf courses, world-class mountain biking, and so much more. With so much to do in Southern Utah, it’s easy to see why people rush to live here.
If you’re looking into St. George custom homes built to your vision, contact our talented team of custom home designers at Dennis Miller Homes. Let us create the custom luxury home design you dream of and outfit it with the desert style, modern architecture, and amenities to make it your veritable desert oasis. Contact us today to see what we can build for you.
Amidst the striking landscape of desert vistas and red rock canyons, more and more people are building new homes in Southern Utah with the help of custom home builders like Dennis Miller Homes.
Custom home builders in St. George, Utah (and surrounding areas) can help you incorporate local materials, colors, and designs to create a home that embodies the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape while meeting your budgetary and lifestyle needs.
On top of that, a home construction company local to the area will also know how best to build in the fickle desert conditions and what common building mistakes to avoid. If you plan to build a home in southern Utah, avoid this article's top five home-building pitfalls!
After all, this is your chance to build your dream home in a dreamy environment. The journey ahead can feel long, costly, and sometimes overwhelming. But if you can work with a trusted home builder and avoid these common construction mistakes, you’ll end up with the home of your dreams in a vivid landscape of sunshine and natural beauty.
When it comes to building new homes, there’s no such thing as doing too much research and planning.
Don’t rush the planning phase. Your first step should be to write down a clear vision and goals for your custom home. What is important to you? What are some of your must-haves? Envision your future home and everything it needs to accommodate your family’s lifestyle.
The last thing you want is for an inspection to end in fines and disappointment. Research the area’s residential building codes and regulations before any serious planning.
Choosing a custom home builder in Southern Utah is the most critical decision you will make, as it will directly affect every step of the process -- for better or for worse. Research and compare custom home builders and custom home construction services. Scour review boards and portfolios until you’ve found a trustworthy builder to actualize your vision.
It is highly likely that, in the end, your dream home will cost more than you originally planned. One of the most common errors in building a custom home is failing to prepare for the following:
Expect unexpected expenses. Period. Many unforeseen costs can arise, from clearing trees to needing special permits or structural changes. Leave room in the budget for unforeseen costs (we typically advise between 10-20% of your overall budget) to not hinder construction or scramble to make up for a stressful lack of funds.
You may think you want a custom home fully loaded with all the bells and whistles but don’t underestimate the long-term costs of your decisions. Consider consequential expenses, such as electricity bills, maintenance fees, and other costs required to power and maintain your new living space.
When building a custom house, a critical mistake is managing all the financial aspects by yourself. Working with a trusted advisor and credible mortgage lenders can make a massive difference in the overall cost of building a new home.
A widespread construction mistake is to prioritize form over function. An experienced St. George home builder, like Dennis Miller Homes, can help you avoid these common pitfalls.
Failure to clearly and frequently communicate with builders and contractors can result in costly mistakes. Establish clear lines of communication with all parties involved in your new build. Keep their contact information organized and set clear expectations about your goals and priorities.
There are so many decisions that go into building a new home. It can be overwhelming sometimes, but if you don’t stay active in making decisions, you could delay construction or contribute to some costly misunderstandings. Any site builder worth their salt will invite you to participate in regular site visits and inspections. Attend whenever possible to ensure you are always updated on the process and any unforeseen issues.
We said it once, and we’ll say it again: plan for your future. As you build your brand-new home from the ground up, you have the opportunity to make wise decisions that will benefit you in the long run. Energy efficiency is one such example.
Don’t make the mistake of mindlessly following dated home-building traditions that incur hefty long-term expenses month after month. Take advantage of emerging breakthroughs to make your home energy efficient and sustainable! Spring for solar panels or geothermal energy systems to power your home, add skylights wherever possible, and choose water-wise landscaping designs.
Building a custom home in Southern Utah allows you to design your dream home from the ground up in a beautiful setting. Avoid these new home construction mistakes to save yourself a great deal of time, money, and a whole lot of stress. As long as you research, plan, and communicate, you can establish a powerful relationship with your custom home builder, resulting in a home as beautiful as it is functional and sustainable.
If you’re looking for a custom home builder in St. George, Utah, look no further than Dennis Miller Homes. We have the experience, expertise, and resources necessary to actualize your vision while avoiding all the common home-building mistakes. Contact us today to get started.
Buyers looking for a new home often ask, "How much does it cost to build a custom home?" The cost to build a custom home depends on a range of variables, including the specified location, size of the home, and more. Although many people confuse custom homes with multi-million dollar McMansions, building a custom home means choosing your price.
HomeAdvisor estimates that a custom home can cost anywhere between $350,000 to over $1 million. At Dennis Miller Homes, we tell our clients there is no firm price on building a custom home in St. George, Utah. Instead, our custom home-building process allows you to customize your home and budget.
Because you decide which style, features, and amenities you want in your home design the total cost of those will depend upon your selections.
When you work with us, our home builder in St. George, Utah will work with you to set a comfortable budget, whether $400,000 or $2 million.
Our team will present you with a proposal at the beginning of the building process that includes a long-hand bid. This bid will have several different allowances to give you an idea of how much money you will pay depending on your home design.
For example, the long-hand bid often includes an appliance allowance. If you don't use your kitchen as often as other areas of your home, you might decide to install appliances that aren't as high-grade as we included in the bid. On the other hand, buyers who enjoy cooking might want to upgrade their kitchen appliances.
Based on your decision, you can update your budget to reflect how much money you spent on that allowance. Then, you can decide to allocate money from a different allowance or adjust your final budget.
No matter which option you choose, our team will be by your side to regularly update you on where your money is going. We want you to stay informed throughout the process to make design choices to help you reach your end goal.
Unlike quick builds, prefabs, or used homes in St. George, custom homes are original designs informed by our clients.
Dennis Miller Homes's custom home-building services will help you build a home that reflects your lifestyle and budget. Working with our St. George custom home builder, you will be guided through every step of the design and construction process.
You will select everything about your new home, from the location to the floor plan to the finishing touches by collaborating with our design + build team. Before you begin the custom home building process, to ensure you understand the cost of building your St. George custom home, our team has outlined a few variables that may affect the final price.
Let's discuss.
The current real estate market can dramatically affect the cost of your new home. If homes are selling at a higher price, you can expect to pay more to build a custom home. If the market is low, you might pay steady or, even, discounted prices.
Other market factors that come into play when building a custom home are lumber or other material costs. The laws of supply and demand mean that prices sometimes fluctuate.
It is up to you to decide when it’s the right time to build a custom home. Some homebuyers have a flexible timeline while others must begin the building process immediately. Our team will work hard to meet your timelines and ensure you get the best price for your custom home. We are on your side.
Custom homes come with a custom price tag. No matter the current standing of the Utah real estate market, there are always benefits to building a custom home, including:
Although the estimate for construction in the United States is $150 per square foot, that cost fluctuates depending on where you build. For instance, the construction costs for building a custom home in St. George, Utah, are vastly different than they are in Los Angeles, California, or even Salt Lake City, Utah.
The price discrepancy is due to changes in the price of materials, building permits, labor, and other fees by location. No matter where you build, there is always a potential for unforeseen costs. For example, rocky surfaces require special machinery to remove, which may affect your budget.
Our team will analyze potential build sites to provide you with an estimate and alert you to any factors that may increase your costs.
Another location factor that impacts price is the project scope. The size of your custom home will directly impact the cost of building it. Generally speaking, increasing the size of your home or the amount of work that it will take to build your home will increase the total project cost.
If you choose to build your custom home on a lot with sloping, you will pay more for grading, foundation work, and retaining walls. If you select a large lot, you may spend more money on landscaping. Other factors may include adjustments for water table levels, reclamation needs, and tree removal.
When you choose the right custom home builder, you can collaborate and agree on a project scope that fits your budget.
How much design work your custom home requires will affect the final cost of your project. For example, if you need a fully customized home plan drawn up by our team, it will cost you more than if you were to alter a replicated design. At Dennis Miller Homes, we offer it all.
Our three-tier design model ensures that you have the home-building services you need to fit your budget.
The major advantage of building a custom home is customizing your design. As discussed earlier, your specifications determine the cost of your new home. You will spend more money on larger homes with luxury finishes than mid-grade finishes in a mid-size home. The cost is up to you.
Installing optional features in your custom home will also drive up the cost. One feature that many St. George homeowners love to install in their custom homes is an outdoor pool.
While swimming pools are fantastic in a hot location like southern Utah, installing a pool will cost you more money. The variations on swimming pools range from custom-designed pools vs. prefabricated liners, hot tubs, fountains, stone and concrete work, slides, or diving boards.
Our design + build construction team can estimate the cost of your planned outdoor swimming pool in the original bid for your custom home. Together, we can determine how to design a custom home that includes all of your wishes for the right price.
Along with the typical construction costs, there are a few more factors that will affect the final cost of living in your custom home. Some overlooked items are landscaping, fencing, and furnishings.
In addition, a custom home requires having some maintenance items on hand. For many first-time homebuyers, these can be a surprise. Ladders, garden hoses, lawnmowers, and other tools for your home’s daily maintenance and upkeep come with a price tag.
Once you’ve built your beautiful new dream home, you’ll want to decorate it with furnishings that complement the space and match the finishing touches in your home. Furniture and other home decor can be an added expense.
Landscaping around your custom home may also cost more money than you might expect. Many buyers have an idea of what the exterior of their home will look like but forget to budget for a sprinkler system, sod, plants, trees, bushes, and outdoor furniture.
Our Dennis Miller Homes design team can work with you to create an allowance for every aspect of your new home, including interior design and landscaping.
Although building a custom home doesn't include a straightforward price tag, working with the right builder will allow you to comfortably stay within your predetermined budget. Let Dennis Miller Homes be your constant throughout the custom home-building process.
At Dennis Miller Homes we offer complete cost clarity to our clients. In the beginning stages of building your custom home, we will draft a long-hand bid that includes approximate project costs.
Then, you can shop around using the allowances that we decided on together. We will provide complete transparency, so you know where every penny is going towards your new custom home's cost.
Trust our home builders to ensure your dream home fits your budget.
Build your dream home in St. George, Utah, by contacting Dennis Miller Homes today.
The majority of Americans share the goal of owning a home. Making the transition to homeownership is an exciting opportunity and, for most, a landmark point in one’s life. However, a variety of barriers keep this transition from happening. Qualifying for a loan, affording a down payment, or timing in one’s life all prevent renters from becoming owners. However, at Dennis Miller Homes, we have discovered another obstacle for prospective homeowners: the fear of maintenance.
Much like death and taxes, having to maintain a house is an unavoidable fact of life. As a renter, a tenant can simply call the landlord or property manager when aspects of the home need to be repaired, changed, or updated. However, when people have their own homes, that responsibility falls on their own shoulders. Many people are hesitant about owning a home because they fear that responsibility. The fear doesn’t come from having to do the work, but rather knowing how to do the work.
For this blog post, we decided to help eliminate that fear and enable you to take steps to owning, or better yet building, a new home. We’ve come up with 6 common home repairs and tips on how to conquer them.
Not only does the constant running of the toilet water get annoying, but it can also be costly. With the water continually running, your water bill is sure to skyrocket, and plumbers these days are not exactly cheap. Follow this link for a step-by-step guide on how to fix the problem so that you can save time and money.
Energy efficiency in homes is a dominating trend in the housing industry. A top “energy sucker” is the refrigerator. Keeping the coils clean will help your appliance run efficiently and extend the life of the product. Refrigerator coils are usually on the back or underneath the fridge. Use your vacuum or a coil brush to get your coils to a clean state.
Most people try attacking a clogged drain with Draino or Liquid Plumber. However, we recommend having a plunger and/or drain snake on hand. Once you have used those tools, combine baking soda and vinegar to pour down the drain. Most people typically have those ingredients on hand, and it will help you avoid the harsh chemicals of the typical de-clogging products.
Breaker panels are typically located in one of three places: the garage, a utility closet, or in the basement. For larger homes, more than likely, there are different panels for either side of the house. We recommend labeling the different breakers as soon as you move in.
This topic goes back to the energy efficiency of your home mentioned earlier. The more consistent you are with changing your HVAC filters, the more efficient your system will be. This is pretty easy to do. Simply remove the grate holding the filters in place, pop the old one out, and then insert the new one.
There is nothing worse than running out of hot water in the middle of a shower. For one reason or another, the pilot light in water heaters will go out. Knowing how to ignite the pilot light without having to call a handyman is critical. Every water heater model is different. Older models usually require you to manually ignite the pilot light, whereas newer models have built-in igniters. Read the instructions on the water heater to learn how yours works.
Being a homeowner is a wonderful adventure. Coming home every day to a place you get to call your own is a very satisfying feeling. Don’t let the fear of maintenance keep you from experiencing the pride of ownership. At Dennis Miller Homes, we are more than willing to come back to your house long after closing and make sure your home is running smoothly and efficiently. Don’t let the fear of maintenance keep you out of the game. Experience for yourself the pride that comes from owning your own home.
