Our 7- Step Build Process
We can build you a 100% custom or a semi-custom home. This process starts by working hand-in-hand with our designers to create a custom design plan while remaining cognizant of your budget. We can leverage any sample plans and/or other images to capture the design and other features you are looking for.
Our clients love our 7-Step process because it is truly collaborative, transparent, and efficient, which makes the build process enjoyable.
Introduction and Fact-Finding
During the Introduction and Fact-Finding stage, we will get to know you and share our Redknot process with you. In this stage, we want to review the desired location, budget, design, and special features you have in mind for your project. We can also offer you some of our semi-custom floor plans to speed up the project timeline.
Design and Budgeting
During the Design and Budgeting stage, our team will draft interior floor plans (if 100% custom) and exterior elevations. We develop a detailed budgetary estimate for your home early on during this stage to ensure your home can be built within your price range. This phase offers time to make adjustments to plans before spending time and money on construction drawings.
Finalize Plans and Specifications
During this stage, our team works with you to create construction plans, engineering plans, detailed specifications, and finish levels for your home. We define a list of ‘must-haves’ and ‘nice to haves’ with you to utilize your budget most effectively.
Pricing and Contract
During the Pricing and Contract stage, we review in great detail the specifications you have selected for your home along with pricing. We review every line item of your budget to minimize any financial surprises down the road. During this stage, we review a 100+ page document of detailed specifications and sample selections for your home with the end goal of getting your signature of approval on the dotted line!
Pre-Construction
During this stage, our team is working through permitting and financing while also confirming your final selections prior to construction. Our construction team reviews the detailed presentation with you on a room by room basis, which is a critical step to ensure the home is coming together in the way you envisioned it.
Construction
The construction stage is often what our clients get most excited about. You will watch your home progress with daily updates and photos from your construction manager. There will also be weekly phone calls and site visits can be scheduled as frequently as needed. Once the majority of construction is finished, there will be a final walk-through of the home to check for any imperfections.
Post Occupancy and Warranty
After construction is complete and your home is move-in-ready, we will do a detailed review of your entire home’s features, maintenance items, and warranties. We will hand over all the necessary paperwork and keys to your new home! After you move into your new home, we are always available to assist with any questions or concerns regarding your home.
What is LEED?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a certification process that was set up by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to certify green homes. LEED for Homes is an initiative designed to promote the transformation of the mainstream homebuilding industry toward more sustainable practices. It is a collaborative initiative that actively works with all sectors of the homebuilding industry to target new homes with best practice environmental features. LEED represents a consensus standard for green homebuilding developed and refined by a diverse group of national experts and experienced green builders.
Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points across several areas to include:
- sustainable sites (SS) – The Sustainable Sites (SS) category rewards decisions about the environment surrounding the building, with credits that emphasize the vital relationships among buildings, ecosystems, and ecosystem services. It focuses on restoring project site elements, integrating the site with local and regional ecosystems, and preserving the biodiversity that natural systems rely on.
- water efficiency (WE) – The Water Efficiency (WE) section addresses water holistically, looking at indoor use, outdoor use, specialized uses, and metering. The section is based on an “efficiency first” approach to water conservation. As a result, each prerequisite looks at water efficiency and reductions in potable water use alone. Then, the WE credits additionally recognize the use of nonpotable and alternative sources of water.
- energy and atmosphere (EA) – The Energy and Atmosphere (EA) category approaches energy from a holistic perspective, addressing energy use reduction, energy-efficient design strategies, and renewable energy sources.
- materials and resources (MR) – The Materials and Resources (MR) credit category focuses on minimizing the embodied energy and other impacts associated with the extraction, processing, transport, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. The requirements are designed to support a life-cycle approach that improves performance and promotes resource efficiency. Each requirement identifies a specific action that fits into the larger context of a life-cycle approach to embodied impact reduction.
- indoor environmental quality (EQ) – The Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) category rewards decisions made by project teams about indoor air quality and thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort. Green buildings with good indoor environmental quality protect the health and comfort of building occupants. High-quality indoor environments also enhance productivity, decrease absenteeism, improve the building’s value, and reduce liability for building designers and owners. This category addresses the myriad design strategies and environmental factors—air quality, lighting quality, acoustic design, control over one’s surroundings—that influence the way people learn, work, and live.
- location and transportation (LT) – The Location and Transportation (LT) category rewards thoughtful decisions about building location, with credits that encourage compact development, alternative transportation, and connection with amenities, such as restaurants and parks. The LT category is an outgrowth of the Sustainable Sites category, which formerly covered location-related topics. Whereas the SS category now specifically addresses on-site ecosystem services, the LT category considers the existing features of the surrounding community and how this infrastructure affects occupants’ behavior and environmental performance.
- innovation in design (IN) – Sustainable design strategies and measures are constantly evolving and improving. New technologies are continually introduced to the marketplace, and up- to-date scientific research influences building design strategies. The purpose of this LEED category is to recognize projects for innovative building features and sustainable building practices and strategies.
- regional priority (RP) – Because some environmental issues are particular to a locale, volunteers from USGBC chapters and the LEED International Roundtable have identified distinct environmental priorities within their areas and the credits that address those issues. These Regional Priority credits encourage project teams to focus on their local environmental priorities.
Based on the number of points achieved, a project then receives one of four LEED rating levels:
LEED certified homes receive a significant tax abatement in Cincinnati
The below chart is a representation of the various LEED levels and their corresponding max tax abatement amounts and durations. In an effort to promote homeownership within City limits, the City of Cincinnati offers residential tax abatement for LEED rate homes. LEED is changing the way we think about how buildings and communities are planned, constructed, maintained and operated.
| Visitable | Non-Visitable | Visitable | Non-Visitable | ||
| Non LEED Certified | Max Abatement | $275,000 | $275,000 | $275,000 | $275,000 |
| Term (years) | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | |
| LEED Certified | Max Abatement | $275,000 | $275,000 | $275,000 | $275,000 |
| Term (years) | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | |
| LEED Silver | Max Abatement | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| Term (years) | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | |
| LEED Gold LBC Net Zero | Max Abatement | $562,000 | $562,000 | $562,000 | $562,000 |
| Term (years) | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | |
| LEED Platinum LBC Petal | Max Abatement | No Limit | No Limit | No Limit | No Limit |
| Term (years) | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 |
Please visit www.cincinnati-oh.gov for the City of Cincinnati’s tax abatement overview.
Why LEED?
A home is more than just shelter. Our home is the most important building in our life. LEED homes are built to be healthy, providing clean indoor air and incorporating safe building materials to ensure a comfortable home.
LEED-certified buildings are resource efficient. They use less water and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And as a bonus, they save money! Using less energy and water means lower utility bills each month.
Certified green homes typically sell faster and for more money than the comparable non-green homes. We believe in building a quality home and this is why we incorporate LEED for Homes specifications in every home we build.
Tax Abatement Calculator
Use our tax abatement calculator to find out what you could save in property taxes by building a LEED Gold home in the city of Cincinnati. This calculator assumes a 2.58% tax rate, a LEED Gold home, a 4% interest rate, and a 30-year loan. Adust the land value and structure cost to equal your total wanted spend (Value of Land and Improvements line). Adust the CRA Tax Abatement Value if you’re interested in building a LEED Silver or Platinum home to the values at the bottom of the sheet. If you choose platinum, enter your Value of Land and Improvements to the CRA Tax Abatement Value.
For assistance with the calculator or a building project, please Contact Us.
Redknot Homes | info@redknotrealty.com | 513-445-9225
Model Home Address: 3584 Handman Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226
Mailing Address: 7723 Tylers Place Blvd, #137, West Chester, OH 45069
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