Penny Lane Home Builders is a Design Build Firm in Southwest Montana. We specialize in energy efficient, green and sustainable homes for discriminating families who understand the intrinsic value of green building and great design. We build Energy Star homes and we are a NAHB Certified Green Builder. We believe that a Green home must be: Energy Efficient and Healthy for your family. We believe in Structural Insulated Panels, closed cell foam insulation and heat recovery ventilators to help us accomplish those goals.
How are you different from any other Builder or General Contractor?
I create homes for discriminating families who understand the intrinsic value of green building and great design. My background is in design, so I come to the building process from a different perspective than a traditional builder who started as a carpenter or tradesman.
As a designer, builder, and mom, I bring my understanding of form and function to build a home for your family to thrive. I truly believe that good design can improve your life and add to your family’s comfort. Good design can reduce maintenance, improve organization and make daily activities easier, even more fun! My goal is to really get to know your family, how it works, what you like (and don’t like) to build a home just for you.
As your personal project manager, I am in the perfect position to see the details thru from conception to completion with a true understanding of what you want. I love to take advantage of opportunities that may present themselves during construction to make you home even better than we imagined. I represent YOU throughout the process to build YOUR HOME.
Are you a Green Builder?
Yes. I build Energy Star homes and I am a NAHB Certified Green Builder.
I believe that a Green home must be:
- Energy Efficient – if it isn’t, the rest doesn’t matter. Energy efficiency comes first, before solar power, before bamboo flooring, before anything else.
- Healthy for your family, otherwise what is the point?
I will build you a snug, well-insulated home that is energy efficient and healthy because it is not a green home if we don’t meet those two criteria. I believe in Structural Insulated Panels, closed cell foam insulation and heat recovery ventilators to help me accomplish those goals.
Now, when it comes to everything else, the choices will be up to you as the homeowner. Hardwood floor vs bamboo, concrete countertops vs. granite, linoleum vs. vinyl there are hundreds of decisions to make and I can advise and give my opinion, but the decision is yours.
Can you tell me upfront how much my home will cost?
I can give a ballpark figure based on homes I have recently built, or current costs in our area, but it is only an educated guess. Every home I build is a one-of-a-kind. I haven’t built your home before, so I don’t know. As we work together to design your house, on your lot, the budget will be developed and it will be refined as you pick out all the finishes and fixtures.
Can I send you a set of plans to bid?
I don’t compete with other builders for lowest bid. Do you want to live in the cheapest house? I focus on excellent value for a well-built, absolutely custom home that meets your family’s needs for function and beauty.
Do you have floor plans I can pick from to build my home?
I have floor plans for homes I have built and I have some concept plans. These may or may not work for your family and your land, so we often use them as idea generators during the design phase.
Do you have lots to build on or a particular subdivision that you are developing?
I am not a developer. I focus on creating beautiful homes for discriminating families who understand the intrinsic value of green building and great design. Generally, the homeowner purchases the land and finances the construction of the project. I have links on my website to several recommended subdivisions and I also maintain a list of properties for sale that might be of interest to my clients.
Before you purchase a lot, have a site analysis done to determine if it is the best lot for your home. Orientation, wind and shading can have a tremendous impact on the final design and energy efficiency of your new home. I am happy to help with site selection and analysis because I feel it is so important!
What do you mean by designing for a Montana lifestyle?
I am a big believer in Mud Rooms. When you live in a place with four seasons, and sometimes all four in one day, there is a need for appropriate clothing and shoes and a need to store those items so they are accessible and organized. It probably needs to be larger than a coat closet and a few tiles on the floor! When you add in the number of people in your family and the number of activities they love, it translates to a real need for storage for all that gear.
I believe that every homeowner deserves to be welcomed by their home at the end of the day and not by their laundry. I like to use the concept of an entry porch or entry hall to provide guests and family alike a welcoming arrival place.
Southwest Montana is a unique and wonderful place to live with stunning views, an outdoor lifestyle and the challenges that come with a Northern Rockies four season climate. We have abundant sunshine, snow and wind while at the same time we live in a high-desert arid environment and they are all factors in designing your home. Whoever you are and however you spend your time, I can help you make the most of your space and support your family’s Montana lifestyle.