How pricing works
How pricing works
We print no figures, because an addition costs what the house, the lot and the design make it cost. These are the six questions people ask, answered in plain words.
What decides the price
Five things move the cost of nearly every project we build.
Size, and whether the room is a bump-out or a second floor
The ground, the foundation and what the structure needs
How much of the existing house has to change
Finishes and systems
Permits, engineering and the time the work takes
What the estimate includes, and what it doesn't
The estimate lists the scope, the allowances for things you'll choose, the schedule and what's left out. It doesn't include what we can't see behind a wall until it's open, and it says where we've set aside room for that.
What the design fee covers
The survey of the house, the sketches, the drawings, the engineering and the permit file. It is a separate agreement, signed before the build, and the agreement says whether it's credited if you build with us.
How and when you pay
A deposit when the build agreement is signed, then payments tied to finished work. Each payment comes with a lien waiver for the work it pays for. North Carolina rules on deposits apply, and the contract states them.
If the job changes
A change is written, priced and signed by you before the work moves. It changes the price and the schedule by the amount on the page and by nothing else.
When you get the number
After you've chosen an option and the drawings are done. The price comes in writing, before you sign the build agreement, and it's the figure the contract carries.
Why no figure
Cost guides disagree, and houses do too
Published ranges for an addition differ widely, and none of them knows your lot.
A bump-out on flat ground and a second story over a house with a brick veneer are different jobs. The honest answer comes from the drawing, and we put the number on paper as soon as there is one to price.
Questions
About the money
Do you charge for the first visit?
No. We walk the house and listen. We charge for the design work that follows, not for the visit.
Do you offer financing?
We don't lend. Some clients use a home equity line, a renovation loan or savings. Talk to your lender before you sign, because the terms are theirs.
Can I choose my own materials?
Yes. Where you choose, an allowance holds a figure in the contract. If your choice costs more, the difference is a change you approve.
What if the estimate is higher than I expected?
We can show you where the cost sits and what changes it. A smaller room, a simpler roof or another option on the comparison page may be the better fit.
Ask us what your house would need
We'll tell you what drives the cost and when you'd have a number.