Custom Home FAQs
Our services provide clients with the ability to design a custom home, but this often comes with unfamiliar territory. Additionally, the construction of a new home is exciting, but might also overwhelm you. Therefore, at Elements Design Build, we desire to ease your worries by answering all your questions. With that in mind, check out a few of our frequently asked questions below. If you can’t seem to find what matches your concern, however, do not hesitate to contact us!
Answers to your Custom Home Questions
The following questions are often asked by Elements Design Build clients. In order to answer these questions efficiently and effectively, we have compiled a list of answers to these FAQs so that you can understand how to proceed with the design-build process. We also have a Home Builder’s Blog with articles that include helpful information about home design and construction processes.
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Home automation refers to the automatic control of household features (hence the name). A smart home, on the other hand, is a much broader term. In other words, a smart home encompasses a larger range of features, technologies and industries, all connected through the internet. For more information about smart home technology, click here.
Whole House Automation refers to the automatic and electronic control of household features, activities, and appliances. Therefore, some components of an automated home may include centralized control of security locks, appliances, windows, lighting, surveillance cameras, and HVAC systems.
Closing costs are fees incurred prior to and during closing. This is the time when title to the property legally changes hands from the seller to the borrower. Typical fees incurred include attorney fees, title service fees, recording fees, transaction taxes, appraisal fees, and pre-paid insurance and taxes. The amount of closing fees depends on a number of factors, such as purchase price and loan terms. Although closing costs vary from place to place, on average, they amount to 2-3% of the purchase price of the home. (For information about closing on land, click here.)
Earnest money is money that the buyer puts up at the signing of a purchase contract. It shows good faith and serious intent on the part of the home buyer. The amount required varies, but sellers typically require around 1% of the purchase price as earnest money for a sales contract to be valid.
Yes! Not only do we build homes on land for speculative sales, but we can also build your dream home on property you own. Choose from one of our current house plans or bring us your own. We can even help with design alterations and customization to a set of plans. Additionally, if you are looking for a lot to build on, we can help with that, as well. Refer to the “Our Process” page of the website for further information. Also, if you subscribe to our newsletter, you will receive a FREE eBook, “Building a Custom Home on Your Land: A Step-By-Step Guide.”
All of our homes come with a one year home warranty, two year mechanical, electrical and plumbing warranty, and ten year structural warranty. This is referred to as a 1-2-10 warranty. In other words, this means that for the first year, your warranty will provide you with surety coverage for things like site work, concrete, masonry, carpentry, doors and windows, etc. For two years, you will have surety coverage on the delivery systems for water supply, septic tanks (where applicable), plumbing, and HVAC. For ten years, the warranty provides surety coverage for major structural components, such as load bearing foundation systems, load bearing floor, wall, and roof systems, etc. Please, refer to the HBA Guidelines for more detailed information.
No, it is not necessary to use a real estate agent when purchasing a home from Elements Design Build. Purchasing a new home is often the largest purchase a person or family makes. As such, some people are simply not comfortable purchasing a new home without the guidance of a real estate agent. The choice to use a real estate agent is entirely up to you. If you choose to do so, we are more than happy to work with your agent. (Please, remember–when working with a Realtor, you will be required to pay the commission that he/she will earn for helping you with the transaction.)
Our current style houses are spacious, open floor style homes designed to maximize the functionality and livability of the space. We use only the highest grade materials, fixtures, appliances, and finishes. Built with exceptional craftsmanship, the quality of our homes is unparalleled in our market. For more information about our homes, click here.
Yes! All of our homes are built using the latest in energy efficient techniques and products. This ensures maximum efficiency, which helps reduce not only the home’s impact on the environment, but also the long term costs of owning and living in your home. Furthermore, each of our homes features protective house wrap to minimize the infiltration of moisture and air. In addition, we also use dual flush toilets, energy efficient appliances, programmable thermostats, and insulated double pane windows. For more information about Green Building, click here.