Do we have to build what you offer, or can we use a house plan of our choice?
At RJS Homes, we work with many types of floor plans, from the ones we offer to those found in building magazines. While browsing through builder magazines can help inspire ideas, it is important not to lose sight of your budget when choosing your dream home. A plan may not reflect the complexity or extra costs it will take to build this home.

To help you assess what would be within your means, here are some general guidelines:

• Foundation size and complexity are important in determining cost. Houses with large or complex foundations tend to be more expensive. (This helps explain why ranch homes can be more costly than colonial homes when comparing cost per square foot.)
• Complexity of the roofline also plays a factor. Some homes today are being designed with a hip roof rather than the traditional gable roof. This can increase the cost of your home, since the framing of a hip roof requires more time to construct, greater skill level and extra materials – all resulting in higher costs.
• The lot or location of your home also contributes to the cost. See "How does our lot choice affect our home and budget?" for more information.

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What is the first step in creating your dream home?
Schedule an appointment with one of our building professionals for an initial consultation meeting. During this time, we will help you explore all the options, asking numerous questions and listening to your ideas. This in-depth process helps us gain insight to what you want in your dream home. After this initial meeting, we can begin the process of forming a design and developing a detailed plan as to how we can work together throughout the entire building process.
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Once we have our initial meeting, what's the next step in the process?
This is where it becomes exciting. First, our team of professionals will help you select the right home – one that fits your lifestyle, family size and budget. With numerous floor plans available, we can modify the layout/design of any plan to suit your needs or preferences.

The next step is choosing a lot. At RJS Homes, we own a variety of prime lots throughout the local area. If our selection of lots does not fit your requirements, we can work with your Realtor to secure a lot that fits the style of your home. Our experience enables us to build on complex lots, whether it has a steep grade or unique shape.
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How does our lot choice affect our home and budget?
Location is everything, not only in determining the resale value of your home, but also in how much it will cost to build your home. When selecting a lot, ask yourself these important questions:

• Is city water/sewer available, or will the lot require a well and septic tank?
• Is the lot cleared of trees and brush? Does it require special excavation?
• Does the style of your home require a unique lot (e.g. for a walk-out basement)?
• Does the lot have the necessary water, sewer and gas lines already in place, or will they need to be installed?
• In some developments, homes must adhere to certain requirements like exterior materials used, the size of the home, the position of the garage. What does the development require?

All of these will affect your building costs.

The direction of your lot and the layout of your terrain are factors you should consider. For example, the climate of your home can be affected by which direction your house faces. Those facing south receive greater solar heat, while those having a northern or southern exposure provide greater energy efficiency. When it comes to the terrain, lots with a higher elevation offer better drainage, not to mention views.

Other factors to consider are:

• What is the reputation of the school district? Of the community?
• How close are you to highways, stores, medical facilities, police/fire, etc.?
• Is the lot located near railroad tracks, airports or other negatives that could hinder resale?
• How will tax inflation impact your mortgage in the future?

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The equity in our existing home will be our down payment. What do we do?
Making the transition from selling your home to building a new one can seem financially intimidating. Fortunately, many banks offer a variety of loan options/programs, like a bridge loan, that can ease the process. A bridge loan gives you the flexibility of starting the construction process on your new home, while trying to sell your existing home. To learn more about the various loan options available, talk to your bank's loan officer or someone from our list of recommended lenders.
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Will our contract price change?
As long as you don't make any changes to the building specifications after the contract is signed, the price of your house remains the same. If alterations are needed during construction, we will gladly make them. However, you are responsible for any additional costs.

To avoid changes and additional costs, we encourage you to explore all the possibilities for your home during the selection/pre-construction phase. It is important that you carefully think through what you want in your dream home before finalizing the contact.
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What happens if we want to change something during construction?
While we discourage making alterations during construction, we understand that some people may change their mind, which is why we offer an easy change order process:

• Simply fill out a change order.
• We will draft an agreement, explaining in detail the new material(s) and/or construction needed as well as the cost.
• The cost of the alteration needs to be paid up front. Once this is done, the change is made.

This ensures that there are no unexpected costs at the time of completion.

It is important to understand that all costs incurred in changes are your responsibility. Please know that excessive changes can impede the construction of your home.
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How long does the construction process take?
Once the contract is signed and financing is approved, construction is typically completed within 180 days. Working with reliable subcontractors that keep your project moving forward, we are committed to building your house on time. While we do everything possible to expedite your project, there are uncontrollable circumstances like inclement weather, changes, etc. that can delay the building process.
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After the contract is signed, when does the construction start?
We start building your home within 30 days – unlike some builders who are eager for you to sign the contract only to delay your project for months. We take no part in these "waiting games," because your time is just as valuable as ours.
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