Castle Pointe Homes - Des Moines Custom Home Builder

Des Moines Custom Home Features Insulating Concrete Forms

2010-09-21T13:59:00.000-05:00

Des Moines custom home builder, Castle Pointe Homes is raising the bar on energy efficient homes in the Des Moines area. Or should we say we’re raising the block? One of the new custom homes we have under construction is being built with Insulating Concrete Forms. From the street, it may look like our crews are building the home with giant foam blocks that resemble Legos, but ICFs are so much more.

The foam blocks, which provide high R-value insulation, will be stacked in a manner that looks easy but actually is best left to professionals. The blocks will then be filled with concrete. The resulting walls will provide stability, energy savings and protection from the elements.

ICFs save homeowners money twice. First, during the construction of the home, homebuyers can choose smaller, less expensive heating and cooling units. The ICFs are so effective at regulating indoor air
temperature, that larger, more expensive units simply aren’t required. Plus, homebuyers will save on their energy usage bills for years to come. The “tight” construction and heavy insulation prevent drafts or hotspots in the home, making it more efficient to heat and cool.

In coming posts, we will update you on the progress of the home and post some pictures to help you better understand the new technology. We’ll also tell you more about this building method that can make your home both safer and less costly to run and maintain. In the meantime, if you want to look into using ICFs in your next home, contact Castle Pointe Homes today.

Castle Pointe Homes Offers Tips to Winterize Your Home

2010-09-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

Summer is officially behind us, and the cold winter will be here before we know it. With its mild temperatures, gorgeous colors and sunny days, fall is the best time to prepare your Des Moines area home for the coming winter. Castle Pointe Homes encourages you to move beyond sealing your windows and having your furnace checked – measures that will lower energy bills and keep you warmer. We hope you’ll take the extra steps that will also protect your home from the dangers of snow and ice.

This is a good time of year to walk around your home, go into your basement or cellar or, if necessary, enter the dreaded crawl space to check on your pipes. Pipes that burst in freezing weather can quickly cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home, so it’s worth the effort to take a thorough look. Even if you’ve insulated your water pipes already, you’ll want to check for cracks and tears in the insulation and replace or re-tape.

You may have to wait until late in the fall to complete this next chore, but cleaning the debris from your gutters
then flushing water through the downspouts is a vital step in winterizing your home. Otherwise, ice dams can form in clogged drains, causing water to seep into your home.

While you’re cleaning the gutters, look up. Are there any limbs that are in danger of snapping and damaging your roof when they become heavy with snow or ice? Now’s the time to get them down – or to call a tree service to take care of it for you if the job’s too difficult.

To further protect your home, you may want to improve the insulation in your attic. The area under the roof needs to maintain a certain temperature to keep snow from melting and refreezing, a cycle that can damage your roof. The good news here is that you can get a tax credit of 30 percent of your expenditures, up to $1,500, for purchases that go toward greening your home, including insulation. See the Equifax Personal Finance Blog’s article, “Tax Credits: Effortless Energy Tax Credits,” for more information and links to the appropriate IRS forms.

If you have questions about protecting your home, improving your home or building an energy efficient new home in Des Moines, please visit the Castle Pointe Homes Web site or give us a call at 515.988.4201.

There’s One Word for Castle Pointe Homes’ Concrete Siding Work: Excellent

2010-08-31T23:08:00.001-05:00

When you ask brother and sister Chris G. and Kathryn G. about their experience with Castle Pointe Homes, one word is often repeated. How would you describe the workmanship? “Excellent!” How about the customer service? “Excellent!”

Chris and Kathryn live in separate homes built in 1978, and each called on Castle Pointe Homes when the original siding needed replacing. While Chris considered a less expensive vinyl siding option, both siblings settled on James Hardie fiber cement siding and trim. Mike Miller, president of Castle Pointe Homes, recommended the product based on his observations of its longevity, made during his years in the custom home building industry.

As an added feature, both Chris and Kathryn chose James Hardie’s prepainted siding. The choice eliminated the time, expense and hassle of painting their homes’ exteriors. Plus, the baked-in color is guaranteed for 15 years.

Both Chris and Kathryn report that Castle Pointe Homes took about two weeks to complete their projects,
and work proceeded as they expected. “They consulted with me at every step in the project,” commented Chris. “In addition, when they found other flaws with the exterior of my house, they recommended solutions and did the work themselves. They really took pride in the quality of their work.”

Each of the siblings has recommended Mike Miller and Castle Pointe Homes to others who are in need of replacement siding. “Mike and his help are great people and very accommodating to work with,” said Kathryn. “I have and will continue to recommend them to others interested in Hardie plank siding.”

Chris said, “Mike is a great guy to work with. He is patient, listens to what you need and tries really hard to come up with solutions. I have recommended him to a number of other friends, family and co-workers.”

When you’re ready to make improvements to your existing home or build a new Des Moines custom home, contact Castle Pointe Homes and let us finish your project with excellence, too.

Historically Low Interest Rates Make NOW the Time to Build a Custom Home

2010-08-27T15:17:00.001-05:00

If building a Des Moines custom home is one of your goals in the next few years and you’re hesitating only because of the current economic climate, Castle Pointe Homes has good news for you. The current market will actually make your new home dreams more affordable now than they have been in years. And as the economy recovers, the cost to build your home is likely to increase again.

First, there’s the matter of actual homebuilding costs. The economic rules of supply and demand are at work, and with low demand in the housing industry, supplies of materials and the availability of labor are on the rise. That means prices are going down.

Then there’s the benefit of historically low interest rates. According to a recent article on the Equifax Personal Finance Blog you can save $75 per month for every $100,000 financed when the interest rate is 4.5 percent versus a previous norm of 5.675 percent. On a custom home, that can save you significant money on a monthly basis and also over the life of the loan.

But the news gets even better than that. Castle Pointe’s preferred lender, Bankers Trust, is currently offering 30 year fixed loans up to $417,000 at only 4.125 percent interest with a 1 percent origination fee. A 15 year fixed loan up to the same amount carries only a 3.625 percent interest rate with a 1 percent origination fee.

Mortgage rates are at a 50-year low, and they won’t stay here forever. To find out more about what it takes to qualify today, contact Chad Pietzsch at Banker’s Trust at 515-222-5898 or CPietzsch@bankerstrust.com. To find out more about building your Des Moines custom home with Castle Pointe Homes, visit our Web site, call Mike Miller at 515-988-4201 or e-mail info@CastlePointeHomes.com.

Des Moines Custom Home Buyers Praise Castle Pointe Homes

2010-08-18T17:13:00.001-05:00

Timeliness. Sound money management. Accessibility. Those are the three themes running through a recent testimonial prepared by buyers of a new Des Moines custom home built by Castle Pointe Homes.

When asked to prepare a recommendation to share with other potential clients, the homebuyer Megan T. praised the work of Castle Pointe and owner Mike Miller. “We could not have been happier using Mike,” wrote the homeowners. “He was extremely attentive and made sure everything went according to our plans.”

An on-time closing was an important factor for these buyers, and they said the home was ready for move-in when promised. One issue that could have delayed the completion was the delivery of the wrong product for the stone kitchen backsplash. They say Miller addressed the matter without delay so things could continue moving forward.

The buyers praised Castle Pointe’s habit of seeking out the best prices on the best quality products. Castle
Pointe was equally careful in choosing subcontractors. The buyers noted that Miller worked with them to find a painter who not only was the most knowledgeable and experienced but also offered the best estimate.

Perhaps the most telling comments about Castle Pointe’s customer service was the home owner’s description of Miller’s hands-on approach. From sweeping their home and cleaning up any scraps left behind by subcontractors to taking the time to ask questions about details such as shelving heights and trim placements, Miller was involved in every detail of the home building process. He kept the buyers involved and informed, too, calling them daily with updates.

The buyers say that Castle Pointe was continually concerned with making them happy. “I always appreciated how he took the time to make sure everything was PERFECT,” wrote the home buyer.

If you’re looking for a hands-on Des Moines custom home builder who appreciates hard work and value, visit the Castle Pointe Homes website or call us at 515-988-4201.

Castle Pointe Homes Comes to the Rescue with Cement Board Siding and Trim

2010-08-11T09:39:00.001-05:00

Before - Does Your Home Have a Siding Issue?

Mike Miller and the crew at Castle Pointe Homes have recently been coming to the rescue of homeowners experiencing problems with rotting siding and exterior trim.

The problems often occur in homes constructed about 15 years ago. Common building products technology at the time did not provide the longevity homeowners had hoped to experience in their outdoor siding
and trim. Far from just a cosmetic issue, the siding is often irreparably damaged by the effects of weather.

As an Iowa custom home builder for more than 20 years, Miller has the experience to know what will last and provide the greatest long term value for homeowners, whether he’s building one of his energy efficient homes from the ground up or coming in to renovate and replace. He primarily installs James Hardie cement board siding and trim which is proven to last. Castle Pointe recommends Hardie siding because it is designed to withstand the Iowa climate.

After - Doesn't This Look Better?

Homeowners often choose pre-painted cement board to avoid the hassle of painting. The Hardie ColorPlus® Technology is also designed to withstand the climate and lasts up to two times longer than traditional paint. Warranted against cracks, chips or peeling for 15 years, the color coats do not fade like field-applied paints.

For more information on replacement siding, home renovations or building your dream Des Moines custom home, visit the Castle Pointe Homes website or call us at 515-988-4201.

Why Settle for Ordinary?

2010-05-25T15:43:00.000-05:00

Your Des Moines custom home is a reflection of your dreams, your design preferences and your lifestyle. At Castle Pointe Homes we build finely crafted homes with these goals in mind. Our homeowners love our personal service, as well as the knowledge and experience we bring to each project. From locating the perfect lot, to picking the latest technology options to ensuring that your home is energy-efficient from years to come, Castle Pointe Homes will be there every step of the way.

Luxury Custom Home for Sale

2010-05-24T16:41:00.001-05:00

Des Moines custom home builder, Castle Pointe Homes is pleased to showcase this beautiful 5,000 square foot custom home. Located in the sought-after Urbandale, IA area at 16009 Plum Drive, the home is situated on a .59 acre wooded lot and is priced at $789,900. This incredibly open one- and a half story floorplan includes a dramatic staircase in the two-story great room. With four bedrooms and six bathrooms, there is plenty of room for a growing family.

No detail has been overlooked, lavish interior appointments include granite and travertine countertops, custom iron railings, cherry hardwood floors and a wet bar complete with appliances. With cherry cabinets, dual sinks, pot filler, double ovens, granite and soft close drawers, the home's executive kitchen is the envy of any chef. The first floor master suite features a walk in tile
shower with body sprays, double vanities, travertine tile, a whirlpool tub and a washer/dryer.

An office with cherry built-ins is perfect for a home office or just a retreat to read a good book. The home's theatre room will be the perfect place to view new movie releases or play larger that life video games. Other hi-tech features of the home include central vac, an intercom system, security system with a front door camera, stereo system and exterior speakers. A large laundry room and mudroom with lockers ensures that clutter will all find its place.

Worried about energy bills? Don't be! Icynene spray foam insulation was used throughout the home and zoned HVAC gives you the ultimate climate control.

For more information about this home, contact Castle Pointe Homes or call 515-988-4201.

Referral Program - vacation in the Cayman Islands

2009-12-21T15:52:00.002-06:00

Do you know anyone looking to build a new home? Check out the Castle Pointe Homes Referral Program to learn how you can get a free vacation to the Cayman Islands. Check out the following link - Cayman Islands Vacation.

Wooded Lots Available

2009-11-28T17:15:00.003-06:00

We have new wooded lots available for your Des Moines custom home. Check these lots out at: Executive Wooded Lots. It is getting harder to find these private wooded lots. Call Mike @ Castle Pointe Homes to inquire - 515.988.4201

Incredible lot available for your custom home

2009-11-24T00:45:00.001-06:00

Looking to build your dream custom home? Castle Pointe Homes has a new 1.48 acre wooded lot available in Summit Estates in Urbandale. Lot 11 on Maple Drive.