The Judd Builders Home Building Process
After the initial phone call where we discuss your project and budget, this is what you can expect during the first in-person or Zoom meeting:
- Meet the team
- Discuss wants, needs and wish list items for your new home
- Review home design and construction process
- Further discuss budget and timing
- Review our Pre-construction Agreement
- Sign the Pre-Construction Agreement
- We will conduct a site review as needed to assess your lot
- Our team provides guidance on designs that best align with your lot, goals, and budget
- Fine-tune your initial list of desires, needs, and preferences
- Collaborate with the chosen architect partner to coordinate and refine your house plan, or review and adjust an existing plan if you already have one from an architect or online source
- Explore your project’s interior design requirements
- Coordinate with our team to arrange selection meetings with vendors and designers
- Get introduced to Buildertrend, our construction management software, and receive your login details
- The budget process for building with us takes 40-60 days, depending on the complexity of the project, the level of customization, and how quickly decisions are made regarding design, materials, and finishes. This timeline allows for thorough collaboration with the builder, architect, and designers to ensure the budget aligns with your goals and preferences.
- Begin selections with your project manager who will guide you every step of the way with our preferred vendors
- Finalize budget and discuss project schedule
- Sign Construction Contract
- Project schedule developed
- Secure permits
- Site preparation
- Buildertrend is updated with project photos and construction progress
- Meet periodically throughout the build in-person or Zoom meeting
- CO is issued
- Final walk-through after construction completion
- Post-construction punch list items are reviewed and resolved
- At month 11 post-construction, client sends project manager any additional punch list items prior to the 1-year warranty ending
- All punch list items under warranty are completed by month 12
- Continued after-care of warrantied items
Buildertrend
Buildertrend, our cloud-based construction app, brings the building process and scheduling together in one powerful system.
Effective communication with your builder is extremely important during home building and remodeling. We use a comprehensive cloud system called Buildertrend that brings the entire building process into one mobile app designed for maximum communication and collaboration. We provide our clients with a customized login where they can view their new home’s progress and communicate with us. Buildertrend keeps everyone on the same page and it keeps projects moving.
Features include: project photos and videos, daily logs, checklists, plans, the ability to make selections, schedules, messaging, and document storage.
A Collaborative Process
Designing your new home is an interactive process where your input and involvement are highly valued. Collaboration with designers, architects, and you, the client, is essential during the design phase. We guide you through this crucial step, ensuring you understand how all aspects of the design will come together.
We have established strong relationships with a variety of experienced architects who can help bring your dream home to life. Many of our clients come to us after selecting a plan to customize or after already hiring an architect. No matter the stage, our decades of experience in homebuilding offer creative solutions and ideas that you may not have considered.
Buildertrend enhances collaboration and communication, making it easy for you to provide feedback directly through the app. We work closely with you to ensure that all your needs and desires are integrated into the final design, turning your vision into reality.
Open Communication
Effective communication with your home builder is crucial to the success of any project. Establishing a solid foundation for open dialogue is a top priority for us. Our co-owners, John Judd Sr. and John Judd Jr., take a hands-on approach to project management, staying deeply involved in every phase of construction to ensure your complete satisfaction from start to finish. They are always available to answer your questions throughout the project.
During our initial discussion, we focus on getting to know you and understanding your needs and desires. Our goal is to ensure that your custom home or remodel reflects your unique style. Throughout the building process, our team will maintain open communication, continually seeking your input to make sure the final result meets your vision.
Budget Transparency
Building your home requires establishing a relationship based on mutual trust and understanding. We believe in complete transparency when it comes to costs and budget considerations. Recognizing that your custom home may be the largest investment you’ll make, we find that being upfront about expectations from the start benefits both the client and the builder.
Once your design is finalized, we provide detailed pricing based on your specifications. Our contract outlines every aspect of your home’s construction and the mutually agreed-upon details.
With Buildertrend, our clients can easily access documents and timelines from both desktop and mobile devices, ensuring you stay informed throughout the process.
Green Building and Land Stewardship
At Judd Builders, we are committed to preserving the natural environment whenever possible. We use green building techniques, environmentally responsible practices, and reclaimed or recycled construction materials whenever feasible. We understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for creating an environmentally friendly home, so we collaborate closely with our clients to select sustainable materials tailored to each unique custom home.
Some of the green building features in our homes include spray foam insulation, solar energy systems, high-efficiency lighting, low-E windows, water-efficient fixtures, sealed ductwork, and ENERGY STAR® appliances. A custom-built home from Judd Builders is designed to maximize energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the #1 question we get asked. We build homes in all sizes of homes and there are a lot of factors that go into the budget. We have extremely high quality standards that we won’t back away from. We go above and beyond what is required by code. We won’t work with builder grade materials and finishes. We work with vendors and subcontractors that we trust and have formed relationships based on doing what’s right and being fair. Our name is associated with each house we build and without our reputation for fine craftsmanship, we are just another home builder.
The final price of your new construction home will depend on what you put in your home. Your home’s architectural style, selections, and design choices drive the budget. A smaller home doesn’t always equal a lower cost per square foot. It will still require all the major systems that larger homes have. We will work with you to create a detailed budget for your custom home that meets your specifications.
If your requirements and budget are unrealistic, we will let you know early on before you or we invest too much time. See our blog post “How Much Does it Cost to Build a House in Asheville, NC” for more on this question.
We build and remodel homes throughout Asheville and across Western North Carolina, including Arden, Biltmore Forest, Biltmore Park, Ramble Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Fairview, Fletcher, Hendersonville, Mills River, Montford, Montreat, North Asheville, Swannanoa, West Asheville, Weaverville, and Woodfin. Reach out to discuss your new home, remodel, or commercial construction project.
We currently do not have land for sale, but we can assist you in selecting land that suits your needs and give you insight on the site work that would need to be completed before you can start constructing a home. When budgeting for land, keep in mind that it can be challenging to find property in Western North Carolina that doesn’t require significant grading or excavation before construction can begin. Additionally, if a well and septic system are needed, these costs will also affect your home-building budget. Be sure to choose a builder who is realistic and transparent about costs, especially if you’re planning to build on land with a steep slope.
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