Building your Custom Home in Flagstaff

(this page is under construction)

Budgeting and Financing your Custom Home

Every build has a budget.  Before you look for property, have a clear and honest idea of how much you are able to spend.

Are you building custom luxury, or beautiful yet cost efficient?

• Talk with contractors about the price per square foot you must be prepared to spend for your needs. 
• Decide on the size of your home.

At this writing, build costs per SF in Flagstaff range from approximately $100/sf to over $300/sf for luxury builds.

With your total budget in mind, choose a homesite that, ideally, is approximately 1/3 of your total build price. 

To search available homesites in Flagstaff, click on Search by Price.

There is absolutely nothing more important to the success of your build than a good set of plans. 

 

Choose an architect or designer with whom you feel comfortable, confident, and who you feel listens to, and understands your needs.

 

Speak with at least three.

 

Once you have chosen your architect and/or designer:

• Stand on your homesite with your designer or architect.
• Make a list of features that are important to you.  For example:

Your Kitchen

•  Do you want a large kitchen with an interior kitchen island or do you like your counter space against the walls?
  • Do you entertain in the kitchen or do you prefer to keep people out of your kitchen?
    •  Do you want to cook, or wash dishes, facing the windows, or facing other people?

 Large, central kitchen island

 

 

 

 

 

Cooktop island

Wall and Door Height

• Do you like tall ceilings ( 9', 10' or higher) and tall door openings (8'), or are you comfortable with standard sized door openings? 
  • Where can you design a ceiling with tongue and groove, or beams, to create character in a room? 

Master Bedroom

• Where are your headboard walls?  What do you like to see when you wake up in the morning?  Will your bed face a window or a closet?
  • What size bed do you prefer? Do you have enough space between windows to place your bed? 
    • Have you considered a high, long window above your bed to add light while retaining privacy?
      • Do you watch television from your bed?  Have you created appropriate space for your TV in your bedroom?

Master Bathroom

• Do you want a tub, a jacuzzi tub, or perhaps no tub and a larger, custom shower?

• Have you created enough wall space to hang towels and robes?

Children's baths and guest baths

• How many bathrooms do you need?
  • How tall are your cabinets and countertops?  Do you want them to be different heights for children's bathrooms?

Windows, Sun and Views

• Where are your windows in relation to sun and views, and how will your furniture be placed to maximize your enjoyment of views?
  • Where are your fireplaces?  Are they placed in the center of a view window, unnecessarily blocking views?
    • Are you focused on energy efficiency and "green" standards?

 Choosing a Contractor

The best way to choose a contractor is to walk through completed homes, and to speak candidly, and privately, with previous clients. 

Please click on the links for public phone listings of general contractors in Flagstaff:

Yellowpages.com:  Yahoo Yellow Pages; AOL Yellow Pages; Yellow Pages Superpages

Please note! If you click on the above links, use your BACK button to return to this site!

 

Featured Contractors*:

Mountain Retreat Builders, LLC

 *Eileen Schreiber is not referring or recommending any specific business, service, or material supplier.

• Did the contractor finish the build according to schedule? If not, what were the circumstances that created delays?
•  Was the projected budget realistic?  How much were overages? 
• Did the contractor communicate closely with the owner during the build regarding decisions and potential delays?
• Has the contractor maintained a positive and helpful relationship with the owner for at least two years after the build is finished? 
• Has the contractor effortlessly honored warranties?
• Is the owner satisfied with the quality of their home?

 A "no" to any one of these questions is cause for concern!