QUESTIONS, ANSWERED.

A semi-custom home starts with a proven plan, established specifications, and a curated set of choices. Because the materials and assemblies are familiar, they are easier to source and price—usually creating a faster schedule and greater cost predictability.

A true custom home is designed specifically for you and your property. Covewood works alongside architects, engineers, designers, and other consultants, with each professional bringing specialized knowledge to the table. That collaboration creates more flexibility, but it requires more coordination, takes longer, and generally costs more.

Our semi-custom selections are organized into three levels: Economy / Builder Grade, Covewood Homes Standard, and Premium. Each tier provides a clear starting point for commonly selected fixtures, finishes, and materials.

You choose the level that best fits your priorities and budget, then personalize within the available options. Because we already understand the performance, availability, and typical pricing of these items, decisions are simpler and construction can move more efficiently.

Total cost depends on the home’s size, architecture, number of floors, structural complexity, site conditions, utilities, and finish level. A price-per-square-foot figure can be useful as a rough comparison, but it often excludes important property-specific and design-specific costs.

During the initial consultation and preconstruction phase, we align the home, property, selections, and priorities with a realistic project budget before construction begins.

Preconstruction is the paid planning phase that happens before the construction contract and before work begins in the field. Depending on the project, it may include property and site review, scope development, design coordination, preliminary selections, estimating, consultant coordination, scheduling, feasibility work, and early risk identification.

The goal is to turn an idea into a clear, buildable, and financially informed plan.

Preconstruction does not have one flat fee or a responsible one-size-fits-all range. The cost depends on whether the home is semi-custom or fully custom, how complete the plans are, the property conditions, and which architects, engineers, designers, or other consultants are needed.

A semi-custom preconstruction scope is usually leaner than a true custom scope. After our initial conversation, we provide a written proposal that explains the work, deliverables, and fee before you decide to proceed.

The most expensive construction problems often begin as unanswered design, site, or budget questions. Preconstruction brings those decisions forward, while changes are still easier and less costly to make.

It helps align design and budget, identify site or constructability concerns, coordinate the professional team, plan selections, anticipate long-lead materials, and create a more dependable path into construction. It is one of the best ways to protect both time and money.

Fixed price means the contract establishes an agreed construction price for a clearly defined scope, specifications, and allowances. We can usually offer this structure for semi-custom homes because the plan, materials, and options are more predictable. Approved changes, allowance overages, or unforeseen conditions can still affect the final amount.

Cost plus means the homeowner pays the actual documented project costs plus an agreed builder fee. We typically use this structure for true custom homes because the design, details, and selections may continue to develop. It provides transparency and flexibility, but the final total is not guaranteed in the same way as a fixed-price contract.

Construction typically takes approximately 8 to 18 months, depending on the size and type of home, architectural and structural complexity, site conditions, permitting, selection readiness, material availability, and weather.

Semi-custom homes are often closer to the shorter end because many plans, assemblies, and selections are already understood. True custom homes usually require more time for architecture, engineering, design coordination, and specialized sourcing. Preconstruction, design, and permitting happen before the construction schedule begins.

If you plan to finance the project, speaking with a construction lender early is very helpful. A pre-approval clarifies your available budget and helps you understand the construction-loan process before design decisions are made.

An accredited pre-approval letter is required before formal planning and construction begin. We are also happy to share trusted lender contacts if you need a place to start.

No. You can contact us before purchasing property or plans. We can help evaluate whether a potential homesite supports the kind of home you want, and our real estate partners can assist with the property search.

If you already own land or have plans, we will review them for the site, local requirements, buildability, and project goals. For a true custom home, we can help coordinate the architect, engineers, designers, and other professionals needed to complete the design.

We work to complete the key design decisions and selections before construction begins. Early decisions improve pricing accuracy, protect the schedule, and reduce delays caused by unavailable or long-lead materials.

Changes can still be considered during construction. We review each request for cost and schedule impact, document it through a written change order, and obtain your approval before the modified work proceeds.

Clear communication is part of the building process. We establish regular updates and scheduled decision points so you understand what has been completed, what is coming next, and when your input is needed.

Because an active job site has safety and insurance requirements, visits must be scheduled with the Covewood team. We will coordinate appropriate opportunities for you to see the progress without disrupting the work.

Our warranty program begins at closing and generally includes one year of coverage for qualifying workmanship and material defects, along with a 10-year structural warranty for covered load-bearing elements.

The final warranty documents explain the exact coverage, exclusions, homeowner responsibilities, and claim process for your home.

Begin with the project form on our Contact Us page. We will schedule an initial conversation to learn whether you are considering a semi-custom home, a true custom home, or one of our available Covewood residences—and to understand your property, budget, priorities, and timing.

If the project feels like a good fit, we will outline the next step, which may include a questionnaire, property review, lender coordination, or a written preconstruction proposal.

An allowance is a budgeted amount in the contract for an item that has not been finally selected when pricing is completed—often certain flooring, lighting, plumbing fixtures, countertops, or appliances.

When the selection is made, the project cost is adjusted only for the difference between the allowance and the approved actual cost. During preconstruction, we work to establish realistic allowances that reflect the level of finish you expect so the starting budget is meaningful.

Homesite conditions can materially affect both price and timing. Access, clearing, grading, soils, foundation requirements, utilities or well and septic, drainage, surveys, setbacks, easements, HOA requirements, and local permitting can all change the scope.

We review the property as early as possible during preconstruction so these conditions can be identified, priced, and coordinated before construction begins.