Building your dream home is exciting, but understanding what tasks you handle versus those your builder manages is crucial for a smooth process. At True Built Home, we focus on constructing high-quality homes on your land, guiding you through each step while clearly defining responsibilities. Our collaborative approach ensures you have complete clarity and confidence from the outset.
True Built Home specializes in building beautiful, high-quality homes on your lot across Washington and Oregon. Our team constructs the physical structure, ensuring superior craftsmanship and adherence to local building standards. The price you pay covers the complete build of your selected model, providing clarity and transparency from the start.
We offer a variety of customizable stock home plans that suit diverse preferences and budgets. True Built Home handles blueprint preparation and engineering, included within our processing fee. Customizations to our standard plans are possible, starting from as little as $750, based on the extent of modifications requested.
While we handle construction and engineering, certain tasks fall under your responsibility to manage efficiently. Clearly understanding these responsibilities will help ensure a smooth and timely construction process, especially when you recognize the importance of the role of the home owner throughout the build.
Securing building permits can be complex, particularly in densely regulated or urbanized regions, and understanding your chosen home plans thoroughly can streamline the process. Hiring a permit specialist who can efficiently manage the permitting process saves you time and frustration. True Built Home does not offer in-house permit services, making external specialists invaluable.
Excavation includes clearing the land, leveling the building site, and digging for the foundation. You should hire reputable local excavators to ensure quality work. Request multiple bids and include tasks such as:
Connecting utilities, such as power, water, sewer, or septic, is your responsibility. Often, your excavator can help facilitate trenching and grading necessary for utility connections through local public utility districts (PUD). Reviewing completed True Built homes can give you a clearer sense of how these utility setups fit into the bigger picture.
Foundation pouring occasionally requires specialized equipment, such as pump trucks, depending on site accessibility. True Built Home does not cover pump truck expenses, which are billed separately if required for your site.
If access is limited or the terrain is challenging, a pump truck is often the only workable solution. These extra steps ensure the foundation is poured correctly and without delays. Planning for these possibilities early can help keep your timeline on track.
True Built Home leaves painting to homeowners, allowing considerable cost savings. Painting is a manageable task you can perform yourself or hire locally. Typical costs range between $0.75 and $1.35 per square foot for exterior and $0.75 to $1.50 per square foot for interior painting. This step also gives you the freedom to choose finishes and colors that reflect your preferred home features, adding a personal touch to your space.
Due to varied land slopes, True Built Home does not include decks, patios, sidewalks, or garage aprons in the base price. If these features are desired, we can recommend subcontractors, ensuring compliance with building codes, such as tempered glass for decks.
Keeping the construction site clean and organized throughout the build is an important responsibility for the homeowner. It’s not just about post-construction cleanup; it also supports safety, keeps the project on track, and reduces the risk of costly delays.
Landscaping is optional and typically not required by lenders during construction. Similarly, erosion control is usually managed by your excavator, especially in critical areas prone to runoff or erosion. If you’re planning to coordinate these services yourself, reviewing guidance on hiring a custom builder can help you make informed decisions and avoid missteps.
The homeowner-driven model allows significant savings by enabling homeowners to manage or perform certain tasks independently. Builders typically mark up subcontracted services, adding substantial costs for simple tasks. Managing tasks like painting, excavation, and permitting allows homeowners to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Carefully selecting the right builder or subcontractor enhances efficiency, ensuring specialists handle tasks such as excavation and utilities. Understanding the homeowner’s role in the project makes the building process smoother, more cost-effective, and rewarding.
Considering a variety of features when planning can help you create a more accurate budget and timeline. Exploring examples of completed homes can also provide useful insight and inspiration for your own project.
Additionally, understanding key considerations of home construction can guide informed decisions throughout the process. Staying informed about each stage gives you more control and helps avoid common pitfalls.
The cost to build a house in Seattle, WA, can vary widely based on factors such as location within the city, the size and type of the house, the materials used, and the complexity of the project. You can see our transparent pricing on all of our home plans on our website.
Custom made homes are better than pre-made homes for numerous reasons. The main advantage lies in the layout and structure since we can accommodate individual preferences. You don’t have to choose a home from a catalog of cookie-cutter builds and can craft your space from its foundations to its roof tiles.
Our designers allow you to see what your house will look like, and you can customize your options to your heart’s content.
Although we can build on most Washington lots, some places work better than others for specific home layouts. If you have questions about your style options due to your lot’s unique features, give us a call. We can help you to determine the best step to take to transform your ideas into reality.
The size of the homes you can build in Seattle, WA, will depend on the zoning laws, lot size, and any other local regulations that might apply. Generally, homes can range from compact city dwellings of under 1,000 square feet to larger, more spacious homes of 3,000 square feet or more.
Yes! True Built Homes offers extensive customization options for your Seattle home, from floor plans and finishes to energy-efficient features. Tailor your home to match your style and needs.
Building a home with True Built Homes typically takes several months, depending on the complexity of the project and permit processes. Expect a clear timeline during your initial consultation.
