Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does it cost to build a new home?
We have built for as little as $85 per square foot and as high as $200. As you may imagine, each home is unique and has many variables to consider. Many of our customers are working with $110 per sq. ft. type budgets. This could translate into a custom, 2,400 sq. ft. house, attached garage, deck/porch, septic, utilities, driveway, and landscaping. After we have developed all the features of your new home, we will put together a written, line item budget plan that encompasses everything - all the way from foundation and framing to the last coat of paint and final clean up. Because of our serious experience (and historical data base), our clients really enjoy our ability to accurately predict costs before construction begins.
2. How do we get started – what is the first step?
The real answer is to just simply call us and we will make an appointment. We want to listen to your ideas and plans. Then, if you do not have your land, we’ll focus on that. If you have your land but no design, we will start that process. Once a client has their land and a home design with all the necessary details, we will take this work to lenders for financing and building & safety staff for building permits. Actually every client is different in terms of where they are at. Sometimes we start from the very beginning but usually the client has put some of the pieces together all ready.
3. How does financing work, do I have to come up with any upfront money?
Generally speaking, if you own your lot, a bank or lender will consider that your “down payment” and then you have the option of building with no additional cash out of your pocket. Initially, many of our clients are not sure about a construction loan or how it all works. We are very experienced in financing options and we will match you up with one or two lenders and get you all the answers you need, usually within a day or two. In fact, our clients really come to appreciate how hard we work and how our experience come to bear as we help our clients get from the planning stage to the actual building stage.
4. What towns or areas does your company work in?
Our “backyard” is the greater Anza/Aguanga Valley area, Temecula, Murrieta and I-215 corridor. Anywhere in Riverside County works for us. Depending on circumstances, we can go anywhere in Southern California.
5. How do I figure out what kind of a builder you are, what are your building
standards?
This is one of the fun steps for us. We will introduce our systems, experience and capabilities in each step and everything we do together. But, most importantly we are going to show you our homes we have built. We like to say, “the proof is in the pudding – you have to kick the tires”. Most of our work involves standard building practices that represent no extra cost to you. When you see our other homes, dozens of issues and questions seem to disappear. Our clients now understand how the windows will be finished (without spending extra money), how the ceiling lighting is typically laid out, how we finish the porch or decks, etc. We have vast experience and capabilities in all facets of residential land development and construction which we can and do demonstrate “on paper”, but we really like to show off our completed work!
6. Are we a green builder?
Yes. Green building means so many different things to so many different people. Our general building practice standards include dual pane, low-e windows, solid core doors, tank less water heaters, most efficient air compressors/heat exchangers available by industry leaders, timed irrigation, drought tolerant plants and special sod (for grass), radiant barrier roof plywood and more than sufficient wall and ceiling insulation. Non-active or passive issues including how the home is sited on the lot and how the suns’ path will interact with the home are very important considerations to our client’s comfort and their pocketbook.
7. Can I make changes?
Of course. It is your home and you are the client. However, there is a huge difference between lots of little changes that really do not add up to a hill of beans, and then there are changes which define project scope and/or change the construction completion schedule. Each and every time a client says to us, “Can you do this, can you build this or make this happen?”, the answer is always yes. We are experts in residential construction. After we say yes, we immediately advise our client if it is a minor thing (no charge) or a major thing which will change our budget schedules. There is a general rule of thumb we talk about a lot with our clients – “It is really inexpensive to erase a line on a piece of paper and change the pencil marks”. Our planning work is usually so complete that most of our projects run into very few changes during construction.
8. If I all ready have my plans, or want to use my own home designer, will you still build me my home?
Absolutely, we are here to serve our clients and their needs.
9. Who makes all the decisions about colors, styles, finishes, etc.?
Our clients do. Many times our clients have seen another house and then tell us to follow that motif. For those clients who have the time, they will go out shopping and tell us where and what they found – we go purchase it, pick it up and use it. Many times we will bring a choice of three to the project site and the client will direct us accordingly. Many times we will arrange a few shopping days with our clients when we look for the finish items together – floor coverings, bathroom fixtures, appliances, light fixtures, tile, color samples, etc. If you are a “magazine picture clipper” keep it going. Pictures can make communication a lot easier when talking about finishing the home.
10. I all ready have a house, but I need help on a deck, addition, landscaping, building a new space for my parents, or whatever – will you do the work?
Absolutely. Residential construction and helping families live better is what we are all about. We have done million dollar plus renovations for celebrity homeowners and never added one new square foot. Often we are asked to do a kitchen or bath remodel and leave it at that.
If you have a question you really need an answer to right now, just email us now! We will respond as soon as we see it.