We can help you do that.
There are several critical steps to work through the process of building a new home. But there’s nothing more satisfying than pulling into the driveway to your home that is built specifically for your family’s needs. From every square foot of the plan, to cabinet stains, paint colors down to the knobs on your bathroom vanity, we help make sure your home turns out just the way you’ve always imagined.
At Mountainwood Homes, our full-service design/build services are not just for remodels, but also for new home construction.
Frank Revard handles New Home Construction, and we sat down with him to get answers to all of our questions about building a new home.
Why select Mountainwood to build your new home?
We have one of the deepest experience levels of any builder in the Portland metro/Vancouver area in terms of personnel. Our capabilities range from entry-level housing to extreme, high-end luxury homes. From our Design Team’s ability to create inviting spaces to the knowledge of the construction team to execute the plan, the experience of our team sets us apart.
What’s the benefit to building new?
The number one thing is that your new construction dollars go a lot further than remodeling dollars. The client is an integral part of the design which gives them everything they want without having to compromise to existing conditions.
How long does the process of building a home really take?
If you don’t have a lot or any ideas, it takes a bit longer to decide those things.
The conceptual can take up to 30 days. The actual construction documents with engineering can take an additional 30-60 days, and jurisdiction plan check can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks.
The construction of the home is based on weather, but it can take anywhere from 4 to 7 months depending on the complexity of the project.
We build in the rain and in the winter. It just takes longer because we’re cautious on making sure everything is in order before we move on to the next stage. There are drying times to account for.
What’s 1 question clients always ask?
Initially people ask, “How much does it cost per square foot?” We don’t have a one-size fits all model. We build to your specific needs. Based on a very quick interview, we can give you guesswork averages based on historical fact.
We have an excellent design staff to make everything that we do custom. The building costs are the same for custom design versus a canned plan from the internet. Canned plans are a good starting point, but we customize everything.
What’s something most people don’t know that you wish they knew?
You can wander off in quicksand really quickly if price gets out of hand. So it’s wise to connect with a contractor so we can help align your budget with your wants and needs.
One of the most underestimated issues to building is the amount of effort needed to get through the various jurisdictions – state, county, local requirements, permitting process, habitat issues, tree mitigation issues, land-use problems, all of which we are experts at navigating.
Mountainwood has the talent to design and construct the entire spectrum of the housing industry from contemporary to traditional, timber frame to concrete poured in place walls.
How hard is it to find a lot?
It’s very challenging in the Portland metro area. We have staff well-versed in quantifying the lot and performing due-diligence to make sure it’s a buildable lot. We analyze such things as slope, soil stability, access, and utility connections which are costs that people don’t anticipate. We assist in identifying the feasibility of the properties that we’re involved in.
How far will we go to build?
We build from the Oregon Coast to Hood River and from Salem up to Kelso. However, with the right project, we’ll go anywhere. We are licensed in both Oregon and Washington.
Favorite part of the building process?
I personally enjoy the design, taking it from conceptual to reality and allowing our talented construction staff the flexibility to control the production of the project and all of its daily details. I like logging in and seeing all of the daily progress photos on our shared website portal.
How does someone start the process?
There are several ways of engaging Mountainwood Homes. No matter if you:
- Have land or don’t have land
- Have plans or don’t have plans
- Are anywhere in between these steps
No matter what phase you are at, we can help guide you through the process from designing, budgeting, bidding, and then building your new home.
Let’s talk!
If you have any questions, concerns or issues about building a new home – call me. We can have a low-key conversation that doesn’t cost anything. I’m not selling used cars…yet.
Kristin Alderman can be reached at 503-746-7338 or through our website.