Inspirational Gallery

The cost of a home is primarily driven by three things: square footage, design, and amenities.

Square footage is straightforward—the larger the home, the more it costs to build. Design refers to things such as the foundation type, ceiling heights, roof structure, number of windows, and how complex the layout of the home is. Homes with more complex designs generally require more labor and materials.

Keep in mind, Ranch-style homes typically cost more to build because they require a larger footprint for the same square footage—meaning more foundation, roofing, and site work. In contrast, two-story homes build vertically, making more efficient use of those major cost areas and lowering the cost per square foot.

Use our pricing tool to get an estimation.

We primarily build using a fixed price contract.

With a fixed price contract, we create a detailed cost estimate that includes allowances for selections such as flooring, lighting, plumbing fixtures, countertops, and other finish items. As long as selections stay within those allowances, the contract price does not change. The only time the cost increases is if a homeowner chooses upgrades beyond the allowance amounts.

A cost-plus contract works differently. With cost-plus, the builder estimates the project and then charges the homeowner the actual cost of construction plus a percentage. We prefer not to build this way, and most banks prefer fixed price contracts as well. Cost-plus contracts place much more cost risk on the homeowner, while a fixed price contract provides more predictability.

We take a very personalized approach when establishing allowances by having detailed conversations with each client about their preferences and expectations for key selections such as flooring, appliances, countertops, lighting, and other finishes.

These discussions allow us to understand not only their style, but also the level of quality and investment they are comfortable with in each category. Based on that input, we tailor the allowances to align with their specific wants and priorities.

By doing this upfront, we’re able to provide realistic and accurate allowances, which helps minimize surprises and reduces the likelihood of clients exceeding their budget during the selection process.

Homeowners can stay within budget or exceed their allowances in almost any category depending on their preferences.

However, the areas where we most often see costs increase are electrical changes and cabinet upgrades. Electrical changes such as additional lighting, outlets, or specialty lighting can add up quickly. Cabinet modifications and upgrades can also increase costs depending on the style and customization requested.