Frequently Asked Questions
You asked, we answered
Ultimately, determining the timeline for building your new home depends on where you start measuring. Generally, the process begins with designing your home. This typically takes 1 to 3 months but depends on how clear your vision is defined.
Once we have a working plan, we can create a detailed budget. This process generally takes about a month and once approved, is used in the next step to secure financing. Financing can take anywhere from 1 to 3 months, depending on how organized your finances in the beginning.
After financing is in place, we move on to permitting, which usually takes about a month. In some cases, permitting can run concurrently with financing which helps streamline the process a bit. Once permits are secured, we begin on-site construction, which typically takes 3 to 6 months, depending on the complexity of the home and the time of year.
Builders often refer to costs in terms of costs per square foot. While this can be an efficient process, it does have limitations because it’s only meaningful if certain key assumptions are all understood (like site costs, design complexity, and level of finish). For example, a ranch-style home can typically have a higher cost per square foot than a two-story colonial because the ranch home requires a larger foundation and roof structure – even though they are enclosing the same square footage.
A general starting point of $235 per square foot can serve as a guide when comparing homes that we’ve built. Many other things can significantly impact the final cost of a new home, such as total square footage, site conditions, floor plan, architectural complexity, finishes, and amenities. Be sure to consider key factors, such as home style when making comparisons since design differences can greatly influence cost per square foot. We’d be happy to share some examples of past projects in an effort to help you estimate your home’s potential cost.
Economic factors will also likely play a role. Over-improving a house for the neighborhood may dissuade some people from renovating, while improving the house to match a more sophisticated neighborhood may drive the decision to stay.
Sometimes a particular feature would indicate a new house should be built. For example, if your vision for new, larger spaces would require 9′ ceilings for a balanced look and feel, and your current home has 8′ ceilings, it is probably more economical to choose new construction over renovation.
Living through a large-scale renovation can be a substantial interruption to your day-to-day life, and often proves to be emotionally and physically challenging. Additions can be somewhat isolated from the current house in many cases, however a renovation project (with or without an addition) may involve a majority of your primary living space. The dust, noise, and lack of privacy may tip the scale to building a new house or to moving into temporary housing during the project. If the kitchen and bathrooms are all involved, moving out will almost always be a necessity to allow the project to proceed as quickly as possible.
