Learn what makes design-build new homes unique, with options to modify your floor plan and create a new home that’s right for you and your family.

Raleigh Custom Homes | Two Story Foyer

What are the most important questions to ask a home builder?

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Are you asking the right questions when you talk with custom builders about costs for your North Carolina new home?

Here are 7 smart questions to ask custom home builders about their services, processes, and prices – before you sign a contract.

Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | Built In Bookcases

Questions to Ask a Home Builder: What’s included in your services? 

Travars Built Homes is a design/build custom home builder. We cover everything from permits to site assessment, plan modification, construction and completion of your home. We offer the highest quality standard features, finishes, materials and craftsmanship in the local market for affordable custom homes. Read more about our services and standards, here.

Questions to Ask a Home Builder: Can you help me find a floor plan that can fit my budget?

Yes, we will make suggestions for floor plans based on the budget you give us. When we go over plans together, we’ll offer suggestions for layouts and livability of the home, and tell you why certain types of architectural designs take more to build than others, even when layouts may appear to be similar. (Having the same number of square feet does not equate to the same build costs – specialty treatments and detail work in an architectural design that you might not even notice can make a huge impact on your build costs, even when layouts appear to be similar.) We can suggest modifications or alternate plans that can be more cost effective.  

Chatham County NC Custom Homes | Second Story Overlook Railing

Questions to Ask a Home Builder: Can you modify my floor plan?

Do I need to pay an architect or is the price of modifications included with your home price? Travars Built Homes can make a wide variety of changes to your plan, at no extra charge. We can re-arrange the kitchen, include an in-law or multigenerational suite, add a basement, or convert a two story room into a bonus room upstairs. Ask us about your floor plan – we’ll show you all the possibilities.  

Questions to Ask a Home Builder: What kind of details can I expect to see in a custom home quote? 

Your Travars Built spec package will include about 15 pages of details about the materials, processes, services, and energy efficiencies in your home. Keep in mind that you can only compare what is given to you in writing – that’s what will be in your contract.

Questions to Ask a Home Builder | NC New Homes

Questions to Ask a Home Builder: How much interaction will you have with me when my new home is being built? 

Our build process at Travars Built Homes is outlined in your personal online portal, where you can stay in-touch and informed about what’s happening with the build of your new home. You will also have the opportunity to meet with your builder on site at all key points during the build. 

Questions to Ask a Home Builder: Is my site work (such as grading, clearing, driveway, septic, well) included in your pricing? 

When you choose Travars Built Homes, your site work is allowance based. We allocate dollar amounts for your clearing, grading, footings, etc. The allowances are based on footprint size, topography of the lot, how much vegetation and trees there are, and other factors we consider based on years of experience building new custom homes in North Carolina. And we go over everything with you – just ask us for pricing.

Questions to Ask a Home Builder: How long does it take to you to build a home? 

A typical timeline to build a custom home by Travars Built Homes is about 6-9 months, once the project is underway. Get more details about our timelines to build, here.

White Modern Farmhouse Bathrooms | Mebane NC New Homes

Remember to ask each builder the same set of questions, and request pricing on the same (or very similar) floor plans so there’s no confusion about what’s offered. Want to learn more about the process to build a new custom home in North Carolina? Contact us!

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Wendell North Carolina New Homes

How long does it take to build a custom home?

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North Carolina new home building timeline

A typical timeline to build a custom home is about 10 months from foundation. We’ll give you more information based on your plan and location.

Available Homes | Chatham County New Home Builder

What are the key phases of a pre-construction timeline? 

Before we break ground on your new home, we’ll work with you through:  

  • Floor Plan Selection
  • Floor Plan Customization and Design
  • Build Permitting
  • Pre-Construction Prep

Here’s how the overall timeline for your new home build project works:

During the Plan Selection Phase, we help you find a new home floor plan that suits your lifestyle, budget, and home site. Start with some popular floor plans from a variety of architects on our site. Tell us what you’re looking for, if you want something different! The floor plan selection phase usually takes 2-4 weeks.

During Floor Plan Customization and Design, we help modify your floor plan. What are some common changes we make? Here are the kinds of changes we can make to your plan as part of our design phase – at no extra cost to you:

  • Making a master shower larger
  • Separating sinks and vanities
  • Opening up the kitchen or adding an island
  • Adding a mother in law suite or small apartment in the home
  • Turning a front facing garage to a side load
Modern Farmhouse | Chatham County New Homes

Our in house design team works closely with you and your budget. This phase usually takes 2-6 weeks.

Wendell North Carolina New Homes | Dark Cabinetry Master Bath

Next, we submit for Build Permits. We’ll do your site assessment in conjunction with your floor plan footprint, water hookup, and setback requirements for your lot – taking things like the slope of your lot and the length of your driveway into consideration. The permit phase usually takes 5-7 weeks.

You will meet with the builder on site to take a look at the survey placement for your new home before we get started on clearing and prepping.  

How long does it take to build a custom home?

What are the key phases of the home build?

  • Excavation: Grading, clearing and site preparation
  • Foundation, damp proofing
  • Framing
  • Windows and doors
  • Roofing
  • Rough mechanics, electrical and plumbing
  • Siding, exterior paint
  • Insulation
  • Drywall, paint primer
  • Interior trim, flooring
  • Cabinets, counter tops
  • Trim outs/ fixture installs
  • Final paint
  • Final punch work and clean up
  • Move in day!

You’ll be involved and informed throughout the build with onsite and design selection meetings and your interactive online portal. 

Want to know more about the custom home construction process? Reach out with your questions.

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Modern Farmhouse | Chatham County New Homes

How to Modify a Floor Plan

Posted by Travars Built Homes on

Looking for a builder who can change your floor plan? 

See 3 examples of how Travars Built Homes can modify the Blufton Way, a floor plan by Frank Betz, with some popular floor plan characteristics. Ask us for more information about design-build custom homes in Durham, NC.

Option 1: Looking for ways to open your floor plan? Create a vaulted ceiling in the family room.

How to Modify a Floor Plan | Custom Homes Durham NC
The Bluffton Way floor plan by Frank Betz.

The Bluffton Way is an open floor plan with 2669 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a main floor master, huge kitchen, and open family room.

The modification you see in the rendition above indicates the possibility of going from a flat 12′ ceiling to a vaulted 18′ ceiling with a open rail overlook.

Adding ceiling beams to the family room vault ceiling can provide even more eye appeal and personality.

Chatham County New Homes | Beam Ceiling

Option 2: Need another garage stall for a shop, hobby area, or third car – but don’t want to change the front exterior of your floor plan? Consider a carriage garage.

How to Modify a Floor Plan | Custom Homes Durham NC

The Bluffton Way floor plan by Frank Betz.

What is a Carriage Garage?

A carriage style garage floor plan has a third stall set to the side, apart from the main garage. (Attaching a traditional third stall to the existing garage would push the front elevation out another 10-14 feet.)

Option 3: Need a spacious place to gather? Add a cost effective bonus room, game room, theater, kids playroom, homeschool, or flex room.

How to Modify a Floor Plan | Custom Homes Durham NC
The Bluffton Way floor plan by Frank Betz.

One of the most cost effective ways to add square footage to your floor plan is to eliminate the 2 story great room and add a huge bonus room above it. The ceiling in the great room can still feel spacious – simply add a few steps into the bonus room to keep your 11’+ ceiling height.

Chapel Hill Modern Farmhouse | Bonus Room

Get information about building a custom home with Travars Built Homes – including more ways to modify your plan in Durham, NC.

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Top 4 Ways to Boost Curb Appeal of Your New Home

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Love the layout, hate the exterior of the custom floor plan you want to build? Change it! Here are 4 ways to increase curb appeal in the Chapel Hill area by considering different exterior materials for the build of your new home, with pros and cons.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #1: Vinyl Siding

If you want to save money, vinyl is an exterior material worth considering. Be sure to take your time with your color selection, and take a look at all the options.

Pros: Want a more custom look? You can dress things up with shutters, gable vents, corbels or column wraps. Vinyl can be cleaned with power washing and typically would not be repainted at a later date.

Cons: Some communities do not allow vinyl exteriors. Vinyl siding may fade – with darker colors absorbing more sunlight than lighter colors. It can also expand and shrink with temperatures.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #2: Vinyl Siding and Veneer

A small amount of stone veneer and picture frame details around the windows can make a big difference. The stone water table provides another texture for this home, and won’t break the bank if the amount of stone is kept to just enough for a water table and column base. If you are doing exterior selections, consider picking the stone first. Then choose roofing with a similar color scheme, such as Drift Wood or Weathered Wood shingles.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #3: Fiber Cement Siding With Stone Accents

The curb appeal of this fiber cement and stone home does a very nice job of blending multiple texture types and materials. The medium blue shakes seen on the face of the garage wall break the patterned straight lines. They also pull the color right out of the stone veneer below. The light blue lap siding on the sides and rear of home and complementing white picture frames around the windows, gable vents and gutters combine to make a well balanced exterior. The Mackenzie seen just below follows this formula and also looks great!

Pros: The mix of materials and colors make this home feel custom and comfortable. Adding stone to the front but keeping the other 3 sides of the home in fiber cement saves on cost.

Cons: Fiber cement costs more than vinyl. Stone veneer costs more than fiber cement.

Request a build price for the Mackenzie, here.

Custom Home Exterior Material Example #4: All Brick and Stone

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The classic look of full brick veneer creates curb appeal so compelling that some entire communities require it. This full brick home is even more interesting due to the brick color choice and the stone front accent on the garage face.

Pros: Bricks are sturdy and durable, typically requiring almost no maintenance other than occasional power washing.

Cons: That low maintenance and solid look comes with a higher price tag than most exterior materials.

Get information about building a custom home with Travars Built Homes – including more ways to create a cost effective new home in North Carolina.

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