Many of our prospective luxury home and remodeling clients have the same or similar questions about our services. Below are answers to some of their most common questions about custom home building.
Do you do remodeling work also, or are you just a custom home builder?
Yes, we absolutely do remodeling work! We are well-known in the area as one of the best custom home builders around, but much of our business is actually remodeling work. We can handle any type of remodeling project including kitchens, bathrooms, or additions. As with our building work, for a remodeling project we make sure to incorporate energy-efficient elements wherever possible, such as lighting and materials.
How much does it cost to build a custom home?
The answer to that question varies tremendously based on many different factors. Elements like the number of stories in a home, the amount of decking, number of garages, number of bathrooms, and many other things determine the cost of a custom home. Also, the location and geography have an effect on cost. If you are building in an area that has a very restrictive homeowner’s association, or are building a home on an upward or downward-sloping property, that will drive up the cost.
How long will my custom home build or remodeling project take?
A custom home build usually takes 6-9 months to complete. The time varies based on the location, size and complexity of the design, and size of the lot. A remodeling project can take anywhere from two weeks (typical for a bathroom) to 6-8 weeks (typical for a kitchen). If an addition is involved in a remodeling project, it really depends on the size and complexity of the addition.
Is it hard to get a construction loan for a luxury home?
No, it is not hard to get a construction loan, but it does require that you go through an extensive budgeting and planning process before applying for the loan. We help you through that process as a matter of course when you work with us on your custom home build. All things considered, getting a construction loan is no more difficult than getting a loan to purchase an existing home.
Can I visit my custom home during construction?
Absolutely yes! We encourage frequent visits from our clients, and can even arrange for weekly walk-throughs if that is desired. We want to keep you informed about what has been accomplished in your build so far, and what is coming up next, so you always know how the project is coming along.
What if I change my mind about a certain aspect of the project while construction of my custom home is going on?
Changes can certainly be made during the construction process, but depending on the nature of the change, it may cause added expense or delays. In general, things like moving the position of a window are not a problem. However, when it comes to moving a load-bearing wall or changing the size of the home, it will be more complicated. Also, the difficulty of making a change depends on how far along the project is. For example, changing the type of finish at the last minute would add more to the cost of the project than making that change early on.
That being said, our clients routinely request changes during the building process, so we are used to working them to make sure that they are satisfied with the finished home.
How do we start the process of building a custom home?
When building a custom home or starting a remodeling project, the first ideal step is to interview and select a builder as an important member of the team. Although not critical, this is best before engaging with an architect and design team to start laying out a concept and specific plans. Having your builder on your team, reviewing plans and preliminary designs with a keen focus on cost controls and value engineering selections can make the design process efficient and effective, while avoiding future delays and/or costly design rework.
One thing that is important to understand is that we are not a cookie-cutter home builder. Many home builders will replicate the core design of their homes over and over again, making only minor changes each time. This helps to keep costs down to a certain extent, but the result is a lot of “custom” homes that look almost exactly the same. We, on the other hand, build our luxury homes for our client’s unique tastes using unique design elements for the area that they live in. You can rest assured that if you work with us, your home will truly be one-of-a-kind.
Custom Homes