Quality Homes By Design, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions

From custom designing your home to on-site construction, the process of building your Quality Home by Design, Inc. home is well-established. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about our unique and time-proven building system approach.

What is the 1st step?

--How much does a Quality Home by Design, Inc. Cost?

--Are Quality Homes by Design, Inc. Homes energy efficient?

--What if I need Financing?

--Are Building Permits a Problem?

--What is included as standard features in a Quality Homes by Design, Inc. Home?

--What options are available?

--How do I Custom Design my Home?

--Who is my contact?

 

 

WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP?

The first step towards owning a Quality Home by Design, Inc. is to contact one of our Customer Service Representatives. In a single brief conversation we can generally zero in on a specific model or design concept, and prepare a Free Cost Estimate tailored to your building location.

 

HOW MUCH DOES A QUALITY HOME BY DESIGN, INC. COST?

A general statement about costs, or costs per square foot, is difficult to make. Each Quality Home by Design, Inc. home is custom designed for client, site and environmental conditions. For example, beach homes require treated lumber, galvanized steel connectors, hurricane wind loading, vinyl windows, etc. Homes built on mountaintops require upgraded insulation and heavy snow loading capability. Generally, our “stick built” homes cost less than other custom designed "masonry structure" homes. And our two-story and patio homes are usually competitive in price with conventional homes. Quality Homes by Design, Inc., can generally, offer no-obligation Free Cost Estimates, utilizing local area builder’s costs.  Although some customs homes or projects may require deposits, for prints and other materials needed to obtain an accurate estimate, ask for details pertaining to your situation. These provide a good starting point for knowing what your total "built" or "turnkey" costs are likely to be.

 

ARE QUALITY HOMES BY DESIGN, INC. HOMES ENERGY-EFFICIENT?

Quality Homes by Design, Inc. To allow for the greatest adaptability to local conditions, we offer upgraded, energy-efficient roof, wall and floor insulation packages, and a variety of high performance windows, including energy-efficient, low-e. For hurricane-resistant homes, we conform to the highest criteria. And for salt-air and tropical climate homes, we offer treated lumber and special corrosion-resistant galvanized and stainless steel packages for metal connectors and fasteners.

 

WHAT IF I NEED TO FINANCE?

Quality Homes by Design, Inc. quality and appealing design of our homes and use of our preferred lenders will ease the process of financing your new home (WAC). Thus, obtaining home financing for credit worthy clients should pose no difficulty. If you do not already have a lender in mind, you may wish to consider financing through one of the national mortgage lenders with whom we work. (Pre-approvals are normally obtained quickly after submitting applications). When applying for your loan, we strongly recommend that you be fully prepared. Lenders will require your personal financial data, firm quotations from Quality Homes by Design, Inc. (builder), a site plan, survey and comprehensive house plans and architectural drawings. 

ARE BUILDING PERMITS A PROBLEM?

Each home at Quality Homes by Design, Inc. is custom designed to comply with local codes and conditions. As an example, coastal homes require hurricane-resistant and wind loading capability, while Inland homes usually require energy-efficient insulation capability. Each county, state (or province) and often, each municipality, has its own building code requirements. We rarely encounter permitting problems, however, permits should only be sought after all preparatory work is complete and a comprehensive submission can be made. Submissions frequently require a site plan, complete house plans and architectural drawings, energy calculations and often structural and/or local engineering for site specific issues, e.g., soil compaction analysis, etc. Our Design Services Department will do all of the necessary preparatory work for permitting.

Quality Homes by Design, Inc. standard features include nearly everything needed to build a "weather tight" home, from concrete, concrete reinforcing steel, common nails, roofing felt and shingles. We provide structural elements, structural fasteners, insulated floor, wall and roof panels, trusses, wall frames, windows, doors, corner panels and interior framing, stairways, cabinets and counters, floor coverings. Including supplying material and labor for foundation construction, shell assembly, common nails, paint, roofing materials, interior sheetrock, plumbing, electrical, heating & air-conditioning, appliances, and various miscellaneous and minor construction materials.

 

Whether you’re interested in a small beach house or a sprawling year-round home, Quality Homes by Design, Inc. can provide the perfect leisure living home plan. Quality Homes by Design, Inc. options include various sizes of decking, high wind loading, upgraded insulation, coastal and tropical acclimatization packages, various types and sizes of doors, windows and skylights, and innumerable choices of cabinets, countertops, appliances and floor coverings. One of our Customer Service Representatives will be happy to explain in detail the many items and options available through Quality Homes by Design, Inc.

 

Once you have a general floor plan concept in mind and have received a Free Cost Estimate, the next step is to begin work on your custom house plans and architectural drawings (you’ll need these for financing, and we will need these for construction bids and the building permit). We then require a Design Deposit equal to 5% of our estimated package price to begin this work. In most cases this is credited 100% towards your home purchase. During the design phase, you will work closely with our Design Services Department to create the ideal custom house plan for your needs and site. Each house plan and architectural set is individually prepared and includes floor plans, sections, elevations and many finish details. When the design phase is completed you should have nearly everything necessary from a technical perspective to apply for financing and for us to begin preparations for the building permit.

 

In most cases the person with whom you first speak will remain your principal contact throughout your association with Quality Homes by Design, Inc. This approach allows us to best meet client needs. At Quality Homes by Design, Inc. we are all here to serve and assist with all your building needs.