Costa Homebuilders Presents
questions to ask a custom home builder
Where does Costa build homes?
Costa serves the greater Pittsburgh area, providing new custom home construction from upper Butler County down to Morgantown, WV, covering the entire greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area. If you’re not sure whether your lot, or the place you have in mind, falls within our service area, check out Where We Build and get in touch if you’re still unclear.
Do you have a long-term structural warranty?
Costa Homebuilders insures the homes that we build through a third-party warranty company for a period of 12 years. This warranty remains in effect during those 12 years, whether or not Costa is actively building homes at the time.
Since it is in the best financial interests of the warranty company to insure a superior product, they have a rigorous application and approval process to ensure that only high-quality construction materials and techniques are being used when building a home. This, of course, works to the home buyers’ advantage: they are purchasing a very high-quality product that is also warranted for over a decade.
Do I pick my house from models or can I create a new, custom design?
Costa Homebuilders offers its clients a complete custom home-buying experience. We believe that you should design the house that best fits your family to ensure that you are pleased with every aspect of your home and that you are effectively using all the space in your home.
Costa bases our custom homes around 1 of 3 floor plans, those being 2 story, 1.5 story, and ranch-style homes, with each floor plan being based around your lot as well as your family’s wants and needs. 2 story homes can fit more space in a tighter lot at the cost of needing stairs, ranch floors keep everything on 1 floor for ease of access, and 1.5 story homes split the gap between the two, keeping your main amenities and bedroom on the first floor while putting extra space upstairs for guests.
We also build estate homes, the basis for which usually being one of our floor plans as mentioned above, but this category tends to be much more specific in terms of pricing, as estate homes will generally have more details associated with cost, including multiple spaces or buildings, additional exterior considerations, etc.
For each of these floor plans, we’ve got models and photo galleries demonstrating what the finished product looks like.
After you’ve decided on a floor plan, you’ll meet with our architect to discuss the exterior look of your home. He can help you decide how to best blend the exterior with the interior floor plan that you’ve designed.
These services are included in Costa Homebuilder’s custom design program and are at NO extra cost to you after you decide to build.
What benefits are there to hiring Costa Homebuilders to guide me through the home-buying process and to then construct my home?
As a 4th generation builder, Costa Homebuilders believes in constructing our houses to exceed the minimum building code set by law.
Since we have been in business for decades, we have tried-and-tested products and methods that we use, because we know what works best.
We are a family owned and operated builder, so there is no red tape involved in your home building process. If we see any problems during the construction of your home, we will investigate it and decide on the best solution so that work can continue in a timely manner.
Here are a few instances where Costa Homebuilders goes above and beyond what the building code requires:
- Costa pours 9 feet of concrete for foundation walls. Most other builders use concrete blocks, and some builders only use the blocks on three sides of the house, leaving the fourth (if there’s a walk-out-basement, as is common in Pittsburgh) framed only in lumber.
- Engineered vs. dimensional floor joist systems. Costa uses engineered floors in all of our homes. They offer more consistency and stability, which results in flatter floors, little movement, and less squeaking. Since these joists are stronger and can span longer distances, it results in fewer posts in the basement and wider rooms with more open spaces.
- Tile and wide-plank hardwood flooring are available with no additional upgrade.
- A poured concrete patio or deck is included in the price of each home.
- Each house includes a concrete sidewalk and driveway.
- High-quality Pella brand windows are standard in each home, instead of less energy-efficient builder-grade contractor windows.
What items are included in the price of a Costa Homebuilders home that other building companies normally charge extra for? What items are not included in the price of the home?
Since most builders follow minimum building code for their homes to reduce costs, many items are not included because the code doesn’t require them, so builders don’t include them in their costs. Here are a few common items that are not included in other builders’ construction programs but are included with a Costa home. If you are considering using another builder, be sure to ask if these items are included in the price of your home:
- 80-90% brick exteriors
- Ceiling lights in all bedrooms
- Concrete sidewalk and driveway
- Deck or Patio
- Laundry tub
- Floor drains in basement and garage
- Basement rough-ins for future bathroom
- Exterior hose bibs
- Garage door openers
- Separate tub and shower in master bathroom
- Exterior spotlights
- Sixteen inch on center on interior and exterior wall framing
- Engineered lumber
- Large concrete footers for a more stable structure
At Costa, we go above the minimum building code to provide these items at no additional cost to you so that your home is move-in ready.
The only items we don’t price in are appliances and landscaping/lawn. This gives our customers the ability to customize their appliances and landscaping specifically to their needs and style.
Has your construction crew been working with Costa Homebuilders for a long-time? Are they reliable?
Yes, absolutely. Costa uses the same group of contractors to work on each house. We don’t put our work out to bid and then pick the lowest-priced contractor. This way, not only can we ensure the same quality in each house, we can confidently set a timeline for construction and completion of your home, as we’re extremely familiar with the specific crew that will be building your house.
When do products and colors get chosen?
We have a process in place that allows customers to make their selections over a four-month period. This eliminates the stress of having to pick all items at once, which can be difficult for home buyers who would like time to choose products. Our clients tend to appreciate having this longer period to decide, as there’s fewer regrets about choices when the time is given to seriously consider every choice.
Can we make changes during construction, and how are the costs charged?
Costa Homebuilders understands that you could change your mind or would like to make additions. We’re very flexible and are happy to help you as you make changes. Changes can be made up until the dates that are noted on the selection form. After that date has passed, major changes could mean that extra costs are incurred. No fees are charged for change orders, you only pay the cost of product and labor with the new selection.
How many years of experience do you have?
We have over 24 years of experience and are the 4th generation in a family of builders. We’ve been building homes all over the greater Pittsburgh area for that entire span, and our work can be seen from Butler County down to Morgantown, WV.
What sets you apart from other builders?
Our process, our team, and our execution. Starting from the ground up, the New Life® Process helps us to plan, design and visualize the new home before any materials are ordered. This process helps us to align on what the final home will look like, before bringing it all into a plan outlining all of these details, including design selections, specifications, budgets and more. Once this gets your approval, we start building, using our own trusted team of builders.
How long will it take to build my new home?
It will take 7 to 14 months to build a home based on the size, site prep, and the specifications of what the customer wants and needs.
Who will oversee the construction, and who will be my primary contact through the build process?
Your team will consist of five key people. The general manager, construction manager, project manager, selections coordinator, and service coordinator after occupancy.
What items are and what items are not included in the price when building a new home?
Typically items not included are the lot, certain site costs, appliances, and landscaping.
Do I get creative freedom to choose products and colors in my new home?
Absolutely! We’re focused on making sure the home comes out exactly how you envision it, and the products used in building your home play a major role in this. We make sure to get your approval before any materials are ordered, and the choice of color/texture is entirely yours.
Am I free to make changes during the homebuilding process?
Customers are free to make changes during the process up to selection dates and not after items have been ordered.
Will you provide references of recent buyers/occupants?
Yes, we will provide references to qualified buyers in addition to our testimonials page.
Do you have a financing plan established?
We encourage you to do your homework regarding what bank you choose to finance your build. There are many banks that have more experience handling construction loans and will make the process move along move quickly and smoothly.
Are there options in the floor plan - for example, can a basement or deck be added?
We are a fully custom home builder, so we can build whatever our clients want and we budget for it in advance. This is to make sure they end up with the home they wanted at the price they expected.
Can a room such as the basement be left unfinished?
Usually basements and attics can be left unfinished however, most municipalities will not allow builders to leave main rooms in the house unfinished.
How much "customizing" can be done versus standard features?
Customization is what we do! Again, all customizations can be accounted for during the budgeting process.
We offer a wide variety of luxury home features, including:
- Gourmet Kitchens
- Wine Cellars
- Expanded Outdoor Living Areas
- Heated Floors
- Kitchen Islands
Looking for more inspiration? We’ve written blog posts on our favorite luxury home features that may provide some ideas for your new home.
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