Most of the inquiries we’ve received over the years have been specific to our construction process and how it can save time and money without ever sacrificing quality or the ability to customize. If you’ve been questioning some of these same points, the information below will help.
Yes, we have a construction consultant/designer that can help you realize your project with an eye to timeless design and your specific tastes.
On average, a typical home takes about 4-5 months. The complexity and scope of the project will dictate individual timetables, as will time of year and weather. More complex and detailed homes will take longer to construct.
Builders will often talk in square foot cost measures, but they have many limitations. Square foot measures can only be meaningful if the assumptions (site costs, shape complexity, level of finish, etc.) are known. Ranch homes will cost more per square foot than 2-story colonials, for example, because the foundations and roof structure of the ranch are larger to enclose the same square footage. When comparing to similar homes we have constructed, a ballpark measure of $125/square foot and up may be useful as an initial guide.
As expected, total square footage, floor plan, site costs, shape complexity, level of finish, and amenities all play significant roles in the cost of a new-construction home. We would be happy to provide you with examples of past new-construction projects for you to get an estimate of how much your new home might cost. Remember that you want to use certain key elements in making valid comparisons to our previous projects – for example, ranch homes will cost more per square foot than colonials because the foundations and roof structure are larger to enclose the same square footage.
The Preferred Builders team will work with you on any part of the process that you need, including finding and assessing an appropriate site. As with every other step of the way, your participation before and during the site search is crucial, and will help us better meet your needs and vision. Finding the best site to suit your needs is the first step to a successful project.
Many factors will influence your decision to stay and renovate, or to build a new home. The most important is usually location. The current location may be so ideal that it may be an easy decision to stay. The lack of availability of suitable building lots in the desired area may also dictate staying in your existing home.
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.
A typical large-scale addition and renovation takes about 3-5 months to construct. The complexity and scope of the project will dictate individual timetables, as will time of year and weather. A smaller scale project, such as a finished basement, will take less time, about 8-10 weeks.