FAQs
How long does it take to build a house?
- On average, a custom home takes 10-14 months.
- One of the most common questions we get relates to the timeline of when a house is finished. Our resources through Buildertrend make the timeline more transparent as you can watch the building progress of your home in real-time.
How much does a custom home cost?
- This obviously depends on the vision of your home, but a good rule of thumb is averaging the price per square foot.
- You’ll get a better idea of this by learning about the Construction Bidding Phase.
How does financing work?
- One of the first steps to building a house is to obtain a construction loan. In most cases, we can help arrange finances with local and national lenders.
- The loan terms will vary between financial institutions.
Do I need my own architect or home designer or does CNC Homes offer these in-house?
- CNC Homes has several great architects and home designers that we like to work with. Having someone local who you can talk to about your vision goes a long way. With them, you can talk about your favorite architectural styles and your ideal location.
- Having everyone under the same roof means everyone is on the same page with your vision, therefore we prefer when you are also looking for an architect or home designer.
Are architects the same as home designers?
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The biggest difference between an architect and a home designer is licensing.
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Both architects and home designers have degrees in architecture. The difference is that architects have passed the AREs (Architectural Registration Exams) and have received a license from the Architectural Registration Board which varies by state.
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A home designer is often just as qualified as an architect with schooling and experience, but are not licensed or insured.
Are interior designers the same as home designers?
- Home designers are architects without the license. That means that these are the people who plan the spaces of your new home. While interior designers and home designers work together closely, they each have specific duties.
- Home designers focus most on the structure of the home and will generally include all the details of the actual build including electrical and plumbing plans.
- Interior designers focus on the interior of the home including design, lighting, tile, and more. They can make any changes to the home that aren’t structural.
Warranty
- CNC Homes offers a one-year new home limited warranty agreement which includes:
- Defects in materials and workmanship.
- Major structural defects.
- Assignment of consumer product warranties.
- You can submit warranty claims through Buildertrend both on the mobile app and on desktop.
How many homes does CNC Homes build a year?
- On average, we give our project managers four homes a year.
How does Buildertrend work?
- Buildertrend will be a valuable resource throughout your entire your build. We will walk you through all the initial steps of the program both on a desktop and your mobile phone through their app.
- Once you become a CNC homeowner, we have outlined the necessary steps with helpful documentation to help navigate your dashboard.
- With Buildertrend, you can monitor your build from the very start. You will see your finances, what stages of construction your home is in, and follow along with the build.
HOW TO READ A CONSTRUCTION PLAN
Maybe surprisingly, some people don’t know how to read their own home plans. But looking at an architectural drawing can be confusing; we don’t blame you! Here is how to generally understand a construction plan.
Most plans will begin with a cover sheet which will include an illustration of the final product. Next, will be a location plan showing where the house will be built, including the neighborhood and nearby landmarks. The site plans will generally be categorized using a letter and will be numbered. These include topographical information, demolition plans (including greenery and surrounding trees), and utility plans.
After that, come the actual architectural drawings. A good thing to remember is that these plans are not always drawn to scale or they may be on a scale that the architect prefers (usually a scale of fractions). Architectural plans will also be distinguished by a letter and include the floor plans, wall plans, bathrooms, and doors.
The roof plan will detail framing aspects such as trusses, rafters, and other features while the door and window schedule will consist of all the door and window finishes.
Final parts of the plan will include structural plans, specified with the letter S and numbered, which include details about the foundation and framing. The electrical, plumbing, environmental, and mechanical drawings will be diagrams which means that exact dimensions aren’t always provided.
The builder must be in contact with the architect to ensure that the plans are built to code and are accurate.
Plans will have different levels of detail depending on the builder. While plans can change as construction begins, it is best to have all the details of the home up front in order to get the most accurate building costs.
The good thing is that if you start the design process with CNC Homes, we will be there every step of the way with all your FAQs and will help you read your home plan to ensure the final result is what you imagine.
