Building a custom home represents one of the most significant investments you'll make in your lifetime. The process should be exciting and transparent, not filled with hidden costs and unpleasant surprises. At Long View Custom Homes, we've built our reputation on honesty, integrity, and a cost-plus building model that ensures you know exactly where every dollar goes.
Serving Rowan County and the greater Lake Norman region since 2022, we bring over 25 years of residential construction experience to every project. Our transparent approach to custom home building eliminates the guesswork and anxiety that often accompanies major construction projects, allowing you to focus on creating the home of your dreams with complete confidence.
What Is Cost-Plus Construction?
Cost-plus construction, also called cost-plus pricing or open-book building, is a transparent pricing model where you pay the actual cost of materials and labor plus an agreed-upon percentage or fixed fee for our management, expertise, and overhead. This approach stands in stark contrast to traditional fixed-price contracts where builders often include substantial markup buffers to protect against unknowns.
The cost-plus model breaks down into three primary components:
- Direct costs: The actual expenses for materials, labor, subcontractors, and permits
- Indirect costs: Insurance, utilities for the job site, temporary facilities, and administrative expenses
- Builder's fee: Our agreed-upon compensation for project management, expertise, and coordination
This structure means you're not paying for padding or contingencies that may never materialize. You benefit when we negotiate favorable pricing with suppliers or when work proceeds more efficiently than anticipated. The transparency creates a partnership rather than an adversarial relationship where you're wondering if your builder is maximizing profits at your expense.
Why Choose Cost-Plus Over Fixed-Price Contracts?
Traditional fixed-price contracts require builders to estimate all costs upfront and add substantial buffers to protect against potential overruns. These buffers become builder profit even when the anticipated problems never occur. You're essentially paying for risk that may never materialize.
Cost-plus construction offers several distinct advantages:
- Complete transparency: You receive detailed documentation of every expense, from foundation materials to finish hardware
- Quality control: Without pressure to cut corners to maintain profit margins, we can focus on quality workmanship
- Flexibility during construction: Changes and upgrades are straightforward because you're paying actual costs rather than renegotiating a fixed contract
- Fair pricing: You pay for what your home actually costs to build, not what a builder estimated plus contingency padding
- Shared interests: Our success depends on your satisfaction, not on maximizing the gap between our bid and actual costs
This model works particularly well for custom homes where unique designs, personal preferences, and site-specific conditions make accurate fixed-price estimates nearly impossible. Rather than forcing you to commit to every detail before construction begins, cost-plus building allows your home to evolve as you see it taking shape.
Our Cost-Plus Building Process
Initial Consultation and Site Analysis
Your journey begins with a comprehensive consultation where we discuss your vision, requirements, and budget. If you haven't yet selected your lot, we can refer you to trusted real estate professionals who understand the area. Once you've identified your building site, we'll conduct a thorough lot analysis to understand the opportunities and challenges your property presents.
During the site visit, we examine factors like topography, drainage, tree clearing requirements, and access for construction equipment. We'll discuss how your home will sit on the lot, which trees might be preserved, and any site-specific considerations that could impact your project.
Design Development and Budget Planning
Working with your architect or our recommended design partners, we'll refine your plans into a buildable design. As the design develops, we gather detailed pricing information from our network of subcontractors and suppliers. This collaborative process ensures your design aligns with your budget before we finalize plans.
Once preliminary plans are complete, we provide a detailed line-by-line budget breakdown showing estimated costs for every aspect of your project. This comprehensive document becomes your roadmap, showing exactly how your investment translates into the home you're building.
Pre-Construction Planning
With signed plans and an approved budget, we move into pre-construction planning. This phase involves:
- Handling all necessary building permits and coordinating with local building departments
- Confirming schedules with electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, and other trades
- Ordering long-lead materials to prevent delays once construction begins
- Arranging for utilities, establishing construction access, and preparing the site
Construction Phases
Phase 1: Foundation and Site Work
We begin by clearing the lot according to your approved plan, preserving desirable trees and establishing proper site drainage. Foundation work includes excavation, footings, foundation walls, waterproofing, and either basement floors or slab installation. During this phase, you'll select exterior materials including brick, windows, doors, shingles, and siding.
Phase 2: Framing and Exterior Enclosure
The framing phase brings your floor plan to life as walls rise and the structure takes shape. We install the engineered floor system, frame walls and roof structure, install windows and exterior doors, and complete roofing. During framing, you'll conduct walk-throughs with our electrician and plumber to finalize locations for outlets, switches, lighting, and plumbing fixtures.
Phase 3: Mechanical Systems and Insulation
With the structure enclosed, mechanical trades complete rough-in work for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and any specialty systems. We coordinate fireplace installation, conduct termite pretreatment, and install insulation. You'll finalize selections for stairs, railings, countertops, tile, stone features, and flooring during this phase.
Phase 4: Finishes and Exterior Completion
Drywall installation completes the interior envelope while exterior finishes transform your home's appearance. Cabinet installation marks a major milestone, followed by countertop fabrication and installation. Hardwood floors are installed and finished, tile work is completed, and plumbing fixtures bring bathrooms and kitchens to life.
Phase 5: Final Details and Completion
The final phase focuses on completing every detail to our exacting standards. We install garage doors, complete final painting, lay carpet and remaining flooring, and install shower enclosures, mirrors, and closet systems. Exterior work including driveway paving and landscaping brings the entire property together.
Final Walk-Through and Closing
Before you take possession of your new home, we conduct a comprehensive final walk-through together. During this orientation, we explain the operation of all systems, demonstrate proper maintenance procedures, and address any final items requiring attention.
You'll receive detailed documentation including operation manuals for installed systems, warranty information, and contact details for all major suppliers and tradespeople who worked on your home.
The Long View Custom Homes Difference
Values-Based Partnership
Long View Custom Homes was founded on Biblical principles of honesty, integrity, and respect. These aren't just words on our website—they're the foundation of every interaction we have with clients, subcontractors, and suppliers. We treat your home as if we were building it for our own family, with the same care, attention, and commitment to excellence.
Owner Chad Holloway brings over 25 years of residential construction experience to your project. Having worked in the industry since 1996 and progressing from superintendent to general manager before starting Long View Custom Homes, Chad personally oversees each project to ensure it meets our high standards.
Expert Craftsmanship and Project Management
Our team combines traditional construction expertise with modern techniques and materials to deliver homes that stand the test of time. We maintain relationships with skilled subcontractors who share our commitment to quality workmanship and understand the importance of meeting schedules and budgets.
Comprehensive project management ensures every phase of construction flows smoothly into the next. We coordinate deliveries, schedule inspections, manage subcontractor workflow, and maintain quality control throughout the building process.
Transparent Communication
We believe informed clients make better decisions and enjoy the building process more. Throughout construction, we provide regular updates on progress, upcoming milestones, and any decisions requiring your input. Our selection sheets guide you through material and finish choices systematically, ensuring you make decisions at the right time to keep construction on schedule.
Our cost-plus model means you receive detailed documentation of all expenses. You'll see invoices from subcontractors, receipts for materials, and complete transparency about where your investment goes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the custom home building process take?
Construction timelines vary depending on home complexity and lot conditions, but most projects take between 8-15 months from groundbreaking to completion. Your specific timeline depends on your home's design, material selections, and how quickly you make required decisions during the building process.
How does cost-plus pricing protect me as the homeowner?
Cost-plus pricing protects you by eliminating hidden markups and ensuring you pay actual costs rather than padded estimates. You receive detailed documentation of every expense, and you benefit directly when we negotiate favorable pricing or complete work more efficiently than anticipated.
What happens if we want to make changes during construction?
The cost-plus model makes changes straightforward. Since you're paying actual costs rather than working within a fixed-price contract, modifications are simply documented and priced at their actual cost plus our standard percentage. This flexibility allows your home to evolve as you see it taking shape.
Do you help with lot selection?
While we don't sell real estate, we can refer you to trusted local professionals who understand the area. Once you've identified potential properties, we're happy to conduct site evaluations to help you understand opportunities and challenges each lot presents.
What warranties do you provide?
We stand behind our work with comprehensive warranties outlined in your contract. Specific warranty terms vary by project type and will be clearly documented. We also provide you with warranty information for all materials and systems installed in your home.
Start Your Custom Home Journey
Building a custom home should be an exciting adventure, not a stressful ordeal filled with uncertainty. Our cost-plus building model, combined with over 25 years of construction experience and a values-based approach to client relationships, ensures you'll enjoy the process and love the result.
Ready to discuss your custom home vision? Contact Long View Custom Homes today to schedule your initial consultation. We'll explore your goals, discuss your lot options, and explain exactly how our transparent cost-plus model protects your investment while delivering the quality custom home you deserve.