| frequently asked questions |
FEATURED HOME
What areas do you build in?
The majority of our projects occur within a 1 hour radius of Charlottesville. While the bulk of our work is here in Central Virginia, Summit has the capacity to handle projects throughout the state and beyond. With a network of traveling subcontractors and project managers, we’re able to produce the same quality custom homes statewide that we do right here in Charlottesville!
What styles of home does Summit offer?
We specialize in Timber Frame and Post & Beam construction. For these projects, our preferred material supplier is Linwood Custom Homes. As in any endeavor, specialization is key and Linwood has specialized in the provision of high quality timber packages for over 40 years. The level of quality in the materials provided by Linwood is unmatched by that which can be sourced from the local lumber yard.
For those that aren’t passionate about timber homes, we offer the full line of Southern Living home plans. As a member of the exclusive Southern Living Builder Program , our company is able to work closely with their design experts in bringing their concepts to life. It’s truly an honor for our company to have been chosen by Southern Living to represent the prestigious brand here in Central Virginia. For more information on this program click here.
What do your homes cost per square foot?
This is by far the toughest question to answer in custom home building. The best answer we can give is this: A new house will probably cost between $125 and $225 per square foot.
When you use this to approximate the cost of a 2000sf plan, you’ll find the home could cost anywhere from 250k to 450k. Unless you really don’t have to pinpoint a budget before you begin the project, you’ll see that the $/sf is really a useless metric for estimating project costs on a custom home.
Why is it so difficult for builders to answer this question? Think about it like this. Can you tell me how much it costs to take a vacation? How about what I should expect to pay to buy a new car? Send my kid to college? These questions contain so many variables that it is impossible for anyone to answer them accurately without first asking several additional questions and gathering much more information. The same is true when calculating the cost to build a new home. A standard 2000sf floor plan will have a significantly lower $/sf cost than the same plan with 800sf of deck, an unfinished basement and a 2 car garage.
The only way to truly know what your custom home is going to cost is to first identify a plan, then begin identifying the variables that will ultimately determine the cost of the project. For information on how to begin this process, please contact us for more information on our Design Feasibility Study service.
We have a defined budget. How can we make sure we’re not going to exceed it before entering into a project?
At Summit, we like to use the phrase “Build It On Paper First”. We’ve made significant investments in our infrastructure which allow us to accurately detail the cost items that will be incurred over the life of your project. We don’t just throw in “ballpark” allowances for finish items. We take the time to identify actual finish items (faucets, flooring, appliances, countertops, etc.) before ever entering into the contract to build. At the time we sign the contract, we’ve essentially built the home on paper. Consequently, we know within a tight margin what the project will cost. All that’s left to do is bring it to life. This process takes a significant amount of effort on the front end but our past clients will tell you that it makes for a very smooth and efficient project.
How many homes to you build per year?
We purposely build only six to eight homes per year. While our market would support more than this, we prefer to stay just big enough to get volume component pricing, but small enough to give our customers (and our projects) the personal attention and detail they deserve.
Can Summit help me with a floor plan that’s not a Linwood or Southern Living design?
Summit Custom Homes is a full service Design/Build firm. Whether it’s merely a vision in your head or a plan that you’ve been dreaming of building for the last 10 years, we have the capability to bring it to life on paper. Most often, our customers will identify a design in one of our many plan books (or elsewhere) and work with us to modify the layout, dimensions, and square footage to meet their lifestyle needs.
What is post and beam construction and why is it so desirable?
Post & Beam is an old world means of construction used to accomplish and support the walls and roof of a structure. In comparison to conventional truss construction, which has become so prevalent in today’s market, Post & Beam allows us to achieve the soaring, view capturing great rooms that so many seek to frame up beautiful views of the countryside.
Can I see a current home under construction?
Yes…and please do! There’s no better way to gather ideas for your future home than to tour previously completed homes. We would love to have you see our product first hand. Email or Call Summit Custom Homes at (434) 244-5600 to make an appointment.