Click Here for
Free Custom Home
Guide

I’m fond of saying that there is no such thing as the perfect house.  Invariably the house is great but the lot is not so great.  You love the kitchen, but the laundry room is in the basement.  The master bedroom is fantasic but you really prefer a master on the main.

Plan B could be to build exactly what you want.  There are still many developed lots to chose from in Alpharetta, North Fulton, South Forsyth and East Cherokee Counties.  To go with those lots, there is also a marketplace full of accomplished builders to create your perfect abode.

The problem most people have is knowing where to start.  To that end, we’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions below the map to help you get started.

Map of Communities with Available Lots
Frequently Asked Questions about Building a Custom Home

How do I select the land / lot?
Each parcel, whether raw land or a developed lot in a subdivision, has its own idiosyncrasies. It is important to work with a builder who has development (infrastructure installation) experience to help you compare one parcel to another. In addition to all the location factors, you are ultimately trying to deduce the all-in cost required to prepare any parcel to build a home. Simply comparing listing prices of properties is not sufficient to understand their true relative cost. For instance, a wooded lot initially costs more to clear but a clear lot eventually costs more to landscape.

Can I bring my own builder to an existing development?
Finding a builder with a broad network of developer relationships is also a key consideration. Most builders need approval to build in a specific subdivision and those builders with more extensive networks can offer more land purchase options for your homesite. It is important to get assistance in this phase.

How do I select the architecture for my new home?
Simply think about the themes of your family's life and the features your home would need in order to accommodate your lifestyle. When designing your home, the process can be as simple as selecting an existing plan from the builder's portfolio, revising an existing plan to fit your specific needs, or starting from scratch with a collection of ideas that an experienced architect can weave into reality. Most people find that reviewing different architectural plans will quickly give them a sense of the ideal elements they envision for their custom home.

How long does it take to build a new home from scratch?
The timeline for the entire project depends on how much time is assumed for identifying the parcel and whether or not the architecture is a derivative of an existing plan or an entirely new creation. Generally, the actual construction time after permitting is approximately 10-12 months. The process of finding the right parcel and finalizing the architectural design generally takes about 2-3 months but can vary widely.

What do I do with my existing home?
With a total project timeline of 10-13 months there is usually abundant time to sell an appropriately priced existing home. Custom homebuilders will usually work with their clients to make interim housing arrangements during the build period in the event your home sells early in the project.

How much does it cost?
Homes with high-quality finishes, such as the million-plus dollar homes of Milton and Alpharetta, generally cost anywhere from $175 - $225 per square foot depending upon the customer's selections. Custom homebuilders will help prepare a detailed budget once the parcel has been selected and the architecture is finalized. During the construction process, there are continuous points of contact with the project manager to ensure the budget goals and objectives are accomplished.

How does the new home construction process work?
It is best to work with a homebuilder who has a specific process and expertise in working with families to create their custom homes. Many homebuilders are more accustomed to creating their own visions as a result of focusing on the construction of spec homes rather than working directly with customers. Building custom estate homes is a highly collaborative process, involving far more than simply constructing a residence.

How much of my time does it take?
As much or as little as wish to invest. If you wish to establish a vision and have the project manager fill-in the details, then it is not time intensive. If you wish to make every selection and have continuous input, then it can take real time.

What if I don't live in the area? Can I really build a house long distance?
If you live outside the immediate area, your builder's client manger can keep you in the loop with photos and written updates throughout the project. The most time-intensive segment from the client's perspective is the selections of finishes (such as tile, lighting, paint colors, cabinents, etc). With some planning, these can often be made in only a few meetings and tend to occur 8 to 9 months into the process, so there is plenty of time to plan ahead before making the selections. In some ways, building a home from long distance is actually easier because the communication tends to occur in more discrete instances rather than continuously. This generally leads to fewer total changes and less chance of miscommunication. It also makes the trips to see the progress all the more exciting since there are an abundance of changes with each incremental tour rather than the seemingly slow progress of day-to-day site visits.

How do I finance the whole project?
There are several options for securing the financing for your home and many local and regional banks are eager to work with customers to find the right financing solution. At the appropriate point in the process, the builder will provide referrals to banking partners that can assist in prequalifying the customer for either construction to permanent financing or presale financing through the builder.


Copyright © 2008 Warmath Real Estate    
XML-Sitemap