HONEST ANSWERS

Home-only prices on our published plans currently run from $283,000 to just over $1 million, depending on the plan and its size. The published prices on our floorplans page don’t include the lot itself or financing — but they do include the building permits, and they typically include the site work (survey, soil testing, septic design and a conventional system, a well to 300 feet, utility connections, clearing and grading, and a starter landscaping package). Because no two lots are the same, we walk your lot before you commit to confirm what’s included for your project. For a real all-in number on your specific lot, fill out a project inquiry and we’ll send a build-cost estimate. For what actually drives the number, see our post on how much it costs to build a custom home.

Most buyers use a single construction-to-permanent loan that covers both the lot and the build, then converts to a normal mortgage once the home is finished — so you’re not juggling two loans, and you only pay interest on what’s actually been drawn during construction. Many buyers get in with little (or nothing) down. We walk through how it works, in plain English, in our post on how to finance a custom home build.

Yes — for the plans we’re actively building. We think it’s only fair. Total project cost varies a lot by lot conditions and finish selections, so the published number is a starting point, not a final quote. A site visit confirms the number for your lot, and once you sign, your price is firm: it changes only for the upgrades you choose and a well that has to go past 300 feet. And if you’re comparing builders, don’t shop on markup alone — we explain why in our post on why a lower markup doesn’t mean a lower price.

The home, finished and warrantied: framing, weather envelope, plumbing/electrical/HVAC, our standard finish package (cabinetry, counters, flooring, plumbing fixtures, lighting), and a 1-year workmanship + 10-year structural warranty (the terms are on our warranty page). The full spec lives on our included features page. For where the dollars actually go when you move from a production-builder base to a true custom build, see our post on the real difference between builder-grade and custom.

Three places: what you can see (cabinets, trim, paint quality, finish work), what you can’t see (framing, insulation, windows, HVAC), and what you can change (the freedom to fit the home to your lot and how you actually live). A well-spec’d custom builder includes — at the base — most of what a production buyer pays extra for. We break it down line by line in our post on the real difference between builder-grade and custom.

No — we can help you find it. Browse Triangle lots on our find land page, or describe what you’re looking for in a project inquiry and we’ll watch for matches. Building “on your lot” works either way: bring us a lot, or find one with us.

Almost every lot has something. A walk-through is part of how we quote — we’ll talk through what’s straightforward, what’s expensive, and what’s a deal-breaker before you commit a dollar. For more on the two questions that usually decide whether a Triangle lot will actually work — perc and topography — see our post on what to look for in a buildable lot.

Bigger than you might think. On septic — which is normal for most Triangle custom lots — the drain field has to live on the lot, plus a designated repair area held in reserve. That alone often pushes you to an acre or more before you factor in setbacks, tree save, and driveway routing. For the deep dive on how drain fields get sized in NC (and the system designs that cut the footprint by 50%), see our post on how big a drain field you actually need.

Possibly. Send us the details through the contact page — the address, the acreage, and what you know about water and septic. We review every submission and reach out if it’s a fit for what we build.

Yes, within reason. Cosmetic changes (finishes, paint, fixtures) are part of every build. Layout tweaks (move a wall, change a room’s purpose) are usually doable. Structural rework (changing the footprint, adding stories) is a deeper conversation and may push you into custom-design territory.

We can. We build from a library of 300+ plans we know inside and out, and 23of them carry a published price because repetition makes them predictable; the rest are priced on request. For an outside plan, we’d treat it as a custom design and quote it accordingly.

About 6 months from permit-in-hand to keys, through four stages: site work, foundation, framing + rough-ins, and drywall and finish. End to end, plan on 9 to 12 months, with pre-construction (lot under contract → design and selections finalized → permitting) accounting for the difference. Every selection is made before we break ground. For the full breakdown of where the time actually goes, see our post on how long a custom home actually takes.

Throughout the Greater Triangle. Our service area is eight counties: Wake, Durham, Chatham, Johnston, Wilson, Nash, Franklin, and Granville. If you’re not sure whether your lot is in our service area, just ask.

The fastest path is a project inquiry form. Tell us what you’re thinking — plan you like, lot you have or want, timeline, anything that’s important to you. A real person on our team responds, usually within a business day.

Yes — we’re always evaluating new trade partners. If you’re a licensed trade in the Triangle, see our trade partners page.

Easiest: call us at 919-873-4000, or send a note via the contact form. We’re a small team and we read everything that comes in.