What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Solen Homes, Bellevue, WA (2026)

03/03/2026

Batt insulation and rafter vents installed following MEP rough-in.

Proper insulation improves thermal efficiency and overall comfort. Batt insulation was also installed in the interior walls for sound dampening.

Rafter vents maintain a continuous ventilation path between the insulation and roof sheathing, helping prevent moisture buildup and protecting the roof assembly long term.

02/21/2026

Before You Close on Your New Home — Check These!

Closing day is exciting, but before you grab the keys and celebrate, take a little time to look closely.

Here’s what I always tell homeowners to check:

1️⃣ Walls & Ceilings

✅ Any visible cracks?
✅ Paint touch-ups that don’t match?
✅ Water stains on ceilings?
✅ Corners and trim clean and straight?

Small cracks in the first year are normal. New homes settle as temperatures change and as furniture weight shifts. Minor drywall or trim cracks are usually cosmetic.

Most builders offer a one-year warranty. It’s often better to let the house go through a full year of seasonal movement before scheduling final touch-ups.

2️⃣ Floors & Tile

✅ Scratches or damage?
✅ Any hollow sounds when you walk?
✅ Uneven tile lines?
✅ Noticeable height differences?

Walk the space. Don’t just look at it.

3️⃣ Doors & Windows

✅ Do doors open and close smoothly?
✅ Do any doors swing open on their own?
✅ Do windows fully seal?
✅ If they’re auto-locking, do they actually lock?

Good sealing affects comfort, noise, and heating efficiency.

4️⃣ Test All Plumbing & Electrical

✅ Turn on every faucet
✅ Flush every toilet
✅ Check under sinks for leaks
✅ Test every outlet
✅ Turn on every light

Don’t assume it works — actually try it.

5️⃣ Appliances & HVAC

✅ Range hood
✅ Dishwasher
✅ Range/Stove
✅ Refrigerator
✅ Washer & Dryer
✅ Heating / HVAC system

Turn everything on. Make sure it runs.

6️⃣ Electrical Panel & Main Shut-Offs

✅ Know where the electrical panel is
✅ Make sure breakers are labeled
✅ Locate the main water shut-off
✅ Locate the gas shut-off
✅ Confirm water heater and furnace are operating properly

In an emergency, this matters.

7️⃣ Documents & Warranty

✅ What’s covered under warranty?
✅ For how long?
✅ Do you have manuals?
✅ Do you know where the furnace filter is and what size it is?
✅ Who do you call if something goes wrong?

Keep these organized. Future you will thank you.

8️⃣ Final Thought

Closing day is exciting, but this is your last chance to catch things early.

If you find issues, document them in writing and agree on a timeline for repairs.

02/05/2026

After installing the skylight, the ADU is officially "sealed in" — meaning the roof, windows, and exterior waterproofing are complete, keeping the interior protected from rain and moisture.

This step is critical before starting mechanical and electrical rough-ins to prevent water from getting into new ductwork or wiring.

For this project, mechanical rough-in includes exhaust ducts for bathroom fans, the kitchen hood, and the dryer. Electrical rough-in includes wiring for outlets, switches, lighting, smoke/CO detectors, the electrical panel, and in-wall heaters.

Rough-in is also a great time to think about future furniture layout. For this project, we pre-run wiring inside walls in the living room so outlets can be installed later in more functional locations — not hidden behind sofas or large furniture.

Small planning details like this can make a big difference in everyday living!

01/28/2026

Why the lowest price is rarely the best choice.

A lot of people think: “I met a few builders, they all seem capable… so I’ll just go with the cheapest one.”
But when it comes to building a home, the lowest bid is often not the best value.

“Can they do it?” and “Can they deliver what you want, on budget, on time, with quality—and without constant stress?” are two very different things.

Here’s why low bids often backfire:

👉 Cheap doesn’t always mean complete
Low prices often come from missing scope, underestimating, or removing items that should be included. Halfway through the project, it becomes: “That’s extra,” “This wasn’t included,” and suddenly your total cost is higher than expected. And once construction starts, there’s very little room to redesign or cut back—usually the only option is to pay more.

👉 Poor quality is hard (and expensive) to fix
A home isn’t something you can easily redo. If the work is done wrong, fixing it or switching builders later can be extremely costly. In my experience, repeated rework doesn’t always solve the root problem—because if the skill level was there, it wouldn’t have been built poorly in the first place.

👉 Lack of experience leads to underestimating complexity
Some bids look cheap because the builder isn’t fully familiar with codes, permitting, or construction details. That often means more “surprises” and added costs later.

👉 High communication stress
Constant disputes over contracts, scope, and responsibility drain your time and energy. In the end, even spending more money may not get you the home you originally imagined—and that’s incredibly frustrating.

In the end, building a home isn’t about choosing the cheapest option. It’s about choosing the right one:
✔ Professionalism
✔ Reliability
✔ Accountability
✔ Clear communication
✔ Ability to deliver on time, on budget, and with quality

Choosing the right team isn’t about finding the lowest price. It’s about finding the best fit for your project.

The right architect and builder may not be the cheapest upfront, but in the long run, they’re often the most cost-effective—and the most peace of mind you can buy.

01/19/2026

Building Your Own Home: Step 3 — Choosing the Right Team (Part 2/3)
Architects, builders, and why the right structure matters.

In Part 1, we talked about how to choose a reliable builder. Today, let’s cover two more pieces that make or break a custom home.

How to choose a great architect

A good architect doesn’t just design something that looks nice—they bring together design, function, buildability, and code compliance.

Here’s what I always look for:

1️⃣ Relevant experience
Not every architect specializes in residential work, and not all are familiar with local zoning, setbacks, ADUs, or custom home requirements. Experience in your area and project type can save months of revisions.

2️⃣ Thinks like a homeowner, not just a designer
Great architects balance beauty, usability, budget, and construction reality—rather than creating something that looks amazing on paper but is over budget or difficult to build.

3️⃣ Clear, responsive communication
This is a long-term partnership. Slow replies and miscommunication don’t just cause stress—they delay your entire project.

Why “one-stop” builders are such a plus

A true one-stop builder typically handles:
• Design coordination
• Budget planning
• Permitting
• Construction management
• Subcontractor coordination

In other words, one team oversees the entire process from planning to completion.

The real benefits:
✔ Smoother communication — no playing middleman between architects, engineers, and trades
✔ Fewer surprises — design and construction are aligned early
✔ Better cost control — avoids “beautiful but unbuildable” designs
✔ More reliable timelines — clear responsibility, fewer delays

For homeowners, that means less stress, fewer mistakes, and far fewer headaches.

01/15/2026

▶️ Building Your Own Home: Step 3 — Choosing the Right Team (Part 1/3)

Once you’ve secured the land and have a rough budget in mind, the next big step is who you choose to build with.

Get the right team, and the process feels smooth. Choose the wrong one, and it can turn into stress, delays, cost overruns—or worse.

This part really matters, so let’s talk about how to choose the right builder.

———————————————
How to choose a reliable builder (GC)

Your builder is the person actually bringing your home to life. The quality, timeline, and budget all depend on this choice. Here’s what I always look for:

1️⃣ Real new-construction experience
Renovations and new builds are completely different. New construction requires deep knowledge of structure, inspections, permitting, and overall project coordination. A good builder isn’t just calling in subcontractors—they’re managing the entire process and solving problems before they become expensive.

2️⃣ Transparency and clear communication
That means breaking down pricing, materials, scope, and risks—not just giving you a lump-sum number.
Be careful of bids that seem “too good to be true.” Often, important items are left out to lower the price, only to be added back later as change orders. What looks cheaper upfront can end up costing more.

3️⃣ Strong coordination and problem-solving skills
Every new build runs into design questions, structural issues, MEP coordination, and city reviews. A qualified builder sees the big picture, brings the right professionals together, and provides real solutions—not just passes messages between subcontractors.

4️⃣ Proper license, insurance, and bonding
This is critical. Many homeowners don’t realize how much protection these provide.
If a builder isn’t properly licensed, insured, and bonded, you may have little to no legal protection if something goes wrong—whether it’s poor workmanship, safety issues, or disputes. Even with a contract, your ability to recover losses can be very limited.

Simply put:
❌ No license = no real protection
❌ No insurance or bond = very hard to recover if problems arise

01/09/2026

So many things only become obvious after you move in. When building a new home, most people focus on the big picture, the house size and the overall style—but it’s often the small details that affect daily life the most. These are five details that often get missed, but make a huge difference in how a home actually functions.

1️⃣ Outlet placement
It's important to think about where furniture and appliances will go. Building code only requires the minimum, but everyday use depends on where furniture, appliances, and lighting will go. Planning this early makes a noticeable difference later.

⭐ If you plan ahead and add outlets and switches during the rough-in stage, the home will be much easier to live in.

2️⃣ Storage wasn’t planned well
Open-concept designs create light and visual space, but often reduce opportunities for built-in storage. Fewer walls and open staircases mean fewer places for cabinets and closets. Without intentional planning, homes can feel cluttered much faster than expected.

⭐Visual space is for design. Storage is for living.

3️⃣ Inefficient layouts and circulation
Some homes are large on paper but don’t feel that way in practice. Long hallways, disconnected rooms, and unused transition areas reduce how efficiently square footage is used.

Efficient circulation and multi-use pathways allow space to flow better, function more smoothly, and feel larger.

4️⃣ Timing of material selections
Many materials have lead times that affect construction schedules. When choices are made late, projects may face delays, or you may end up settling for alternatives that are “available now.”

Planning selections early helps avoid delays and unnecessary compromises.

5️⃣ No contingency in the budget
Design adjustments, material upgrades, and site conditions are part of the process. Without a contingency, clients are forced to choose between added cost or reduced scope.

A contingency (typically 5–10% of construction cost) gives you flexibility and peace of mind.

01/03/2026

When adding a new door opening to an existing wall, the first step is always to check for plumbing or electrical lines behind the wall. If anything is in the way, it must be relocated first to avoid cutting into pipes or wiring—this step is critical for safety 💥

Once the location is clear, we plan the door opening size. Space is typically allowed around the opening for door trim, usually about 4 inches, so the finished door looks clean and complete.

Next comes the framing work. We install the header above the opening, along with king studs and jack studs on both sides. These structural elements support the wall load and ensure the opening is safe and stable.

Most doors today are prehung doors, meaning the door and frame come as one complete unit. Because of this, the rough opening is framed slightly larger—usually about 2 inches wider and taller than the prehung door—to allow room for leveling and proper alignment. 📐

After installation, we double-check that the door opens and closes smoothly without wobbling. That’s how we know the job is done right! 👍

12/16/2025

Building a New House – Step 2: Planning & Budgeting

After completing the first step "securing the land", the next and most critical phase is planning and budgeting.

We begin by evaluating the site conditions to determine the home’s location, size, and overall form. This includes lot size, topography, setbacks, and sun orientation. At the same time, we work closely with the homeowner to understand their lifestyle needs in order to plan the interior layout, yard space, and driveway configuration so the home is both functional and comfortable.

⭐ In the current Greater Seattle Area market, new home construction costs typically range from $350–$500 per square foot. Actual pricing can vary depending on several factors, including:

Design complexity
Structural system and material selections
Site conditions
Foundation requirements and overall site constraints

⭐ So how should you start planning your budget?
We generally recommend focusing on the following:

1) Define the overall budget early
This should include land cost, construction cost, design fees, project management fees, permits, utility connections, and a contingency allowance.

2) Use the budget to guide home size and design
Wthin a realistic budget, determine total square footage, floor configuration, and which spaces are essential versus optional upgrades.

3) Set priorities upfront
Some homeowners prioritize structural durability, while others value design features or high-end finishes. Establishing priorities early helps make better decisions within budget.

4) Allow flexibility
Unexpected site conditions can arise during construction. A reasonable contingency helps keep the project moving smoothly and reduces stress.

Thoughtful planning and realistic budgeting from the beginning help keep the project on the right track, minimize major design changes later, and prevent budget overruns!

12/11/2025

When budgeting for a remodel or home purchase, don’t focus only on how "nice" the house looks. The most expensive parts are usually the things you can’t see.

⭐ What drives cost the most:
- Structural changes (moving walls, adding beams)
- Major system upgrades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC)

Finishes like flooring, cabinets, appliances, and paint are the easiest and most affordable things to update — as long as the structure and systems are in good shape.

But if those big systems are aging, you may end up tearing open walls later even if the interiors look beautiful.

⭐ So when choosing a home or planning a remodel, look for:
- A good layout (fewer structural changes)
- Solid structure
- Updated or well-maintained major systems

Outdated interiors are easy to fix. What’s behind the walls matters more for your budget!

Solen Homes

03/03/2026

02/21/2026

02/05/2026

01/28/2026

01/19/2026

01/15/2026

01/09/2026

01/03/2026

12/16/2025

12/11/2025

Address

Opening Hours

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm