After we have buildable plans, we will build a quick rough budget from where we expect cost to be based on your designs and wants for your home. If you do not have buildable plans that's okay! We are happy to connect you with one of our trusted architects. If the client approves the rough estimate, we will sign a pre-construction contract and obtain a detailed cost estimate from our subcontractors and vendors as well as figure out all required work so that we can build a completely accurate budget. On average, the process to create a complete budget takes about a month and a half. It is common for the first budget to be higher than what you may expect it to be. This is where value engineering may be useful to reach your budget. By selecting more cost efficient materials or fixtures for spaces like laundry rooms or secondary bathrooms, you can save budget for more important spaces. Start your estimate process today at https://www.cmbquality.com/contact

Please watch this video explaining the layout and navigation of Coconstruct, the online software we utilize for making selections, project updates, and communication!

In general, new home construction takes about 12-14 months from creating plans to handing over the keys. There are many factors that determine the final timeline of a custom home so lets cover how we estimate it. We start with site selection which can be a time consuming process. That's why we have in house real estate agents to aid you in your site selection process with both our expertise in the area and home building. After site selection, we can connect you with one of our trusted local architects to help develop build plans for your dream home. If you already have buildable plans developed this will help shorten the timeline of your home being built.  Next it is important to establish a preliminary budget for your home, we recommend consulting your financial institution of choice about a realistic budget for you. After establishing your budget, we must complete the selections process. This is where you get the chance to choose all the unique custom materials and details that will make your home feel tailored to you. If you are struggling, we have trusted local interior designers and our own experience to aid you in your decisions along the way. After the selections phase we must finalize the blueprints, establish and approve the final budget, and get all necessary permits.  There are also aspects of construction that may affect your build timeline including, site preparation, size of the house, level of finish chosen, and any design changes that happen during construction as these affect material lead times and coordinating with our subcontractors. We are here for you throughout the entire process and work to make it as easy as possible from start to finish so that you can focus on enjoying your new home! Chat with us today and we can get started on your build timeline!

A building permit allows the building codes official to maintain a record of your construction project, regarding its completion in compliance with standards of safety, to protect the public by reducing potential hazards of unsafe construction. Who Needs to apply? We will apply for building permits. A soil and erosion permit required for any land change on an acre or more of land or which is within 500 feet of a lake or stream. Who needs to apply? We will apply for soil and erosion permits.  Well and septic permits are for homes not on municipal systems, well and septic permits evaluate the land and review submitted plans to ensure proper installation. Alternatively DPW Permits are for homes on municipal systems, DPW permits evaluate land and submitted plans to ensure proper installation of water and sewage to municipal systems. Who needs to apply? We apply for well and septic as well as DPW permits. Electrical and plumbing permits are provided by licensed electricians and plumbers for their respective work. Permits make sure that the work we are doing follows code and follow up inspections to ensure that code was achieved. Alternatively the Homeowner will occasionally have to apply for other permits such as wetland permits, critical dune permits, approval by local HOA, and even Fire Department or Road Commission waivers.

In Michigan, homes that are being built today have a much larger focus on energy efficiency than they did a decade ago. With energy code updates that were implemented in 2016, the standards of all homes being built have raised significantly. Here are a few more ways you can increase your home's energy efficiency... By creating an effective air barrier through advanced building materials like zip sheathing and sealing up all seams in the home, you can reduce airflow and moisture from your home. This creates a more comfortable living environment and decreases your energy consumption to maintain a constant home temperature. Blower door tests quantify the airtightness of a home and are mandatory under Michigan building code.  Energy efficient insulation is a major way to increase your homes energy efficiency. By increasing your homes insulation, your HVAC system has to run less. Speaking of HVAC, installing high efficiency HVAC systems will lower your energy consumption by including smart features, having more consistent heating and cooling, and improving airflow.  Solar panels are another great way to decrease your long term energy consumption and reduce your carbon footprint, but at a significant upfront cost. This may change as the consumer market for solar panels matures. Solar panels on average save households $1500 a year on electricity, depending on your configuration. We can also install any smart home features you'd like. Whether its a smart thermostat to optimize your heating and cooling, or controlled lighting so you never leave a light on again. Another resource for energy efficiency is in lighting. Utilizing LED bulbs can use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs. Even better including more natural lighting in your design has no recurring cost, and it can greatly improve the feel of your home.  Learn more about our custom home building capabilities on our website!

When starting the journey of building your dream home, securing financing is an important initial step. While we do not handle the financing process, we are here to guide you through it. If you are not self funding your new home, customers will work directly with the banks to attain a home construction loan. We recommend working with your chosen bank to navigate the finances. While we are not involved in the process of financing new homes, we do have a list of preferred vendors for customers to choose from. These financial professionals have expertise in handling home construction finances, and come highly recommended by our clients. Before seeking loan approval, it's crucial to engage in a detailed conversation with your chosen bank. They will be able to provide valuable insights into what kind of budget is realistic for your envisioned project. To make sure you are prepared for the loan approval process,  it's important to know the bank will require a few key documents: a comprehensive budget, detailed plans, specifications outlining the project scope, a sworn statement affirming the accuracy of provided information, and an executed contract. Rest assured, our team is here to support you every step of the way, ensuring you have the necessary resources to move forward confidently. Building your dream home should be an exciting and rewarding experience, and we're dedicated to making that vision a reality. For any further questions or assistance, feel free to reach out to us at CMBquality.com

The estimate process takes about a month and a half. We have to procure detailed quotes from all of our subcontractors, vendors and our CMB team to put together an accurate detailed cost estimate.

We have a list of architects that we have used in the past that our clients enjoyed working with that we would be happy to provide. We can also do in-house designing for the right projects

Yes, you get to choose all of these items and fixtures in your home. We have a selections manager that will work with you and our vendors to give you options and quotes for various materials.

Yes absolutely, we are a fully custom home builder, we can accommodate any and all special requests.

Ultimately, you will have the freedom to choose everything that you can see, feel, and touch. This includes flooring, tiling, cabinets, countertops, etc. The full scope of your selections will be defined in the proposal. We have a selections manager on staff who will help you stay ahead of all selection deadlines, facilitate all quotes and materials from our vendor partners, and in general make your life easier. We encourage you to take this opportunity to make your home truly yours. This is your dream home, and we are here to make your vision a reality. If you are struggling to make your selections, we can aid you in bringing in an interior designer, or give our own insight! Start your dream home journey today at https://www.cmbquality.com/contact

2023 was a year of being bold, especially in interior design, here are some popular trends we saw for custom homes... Earth tones and neutral colors are trumping the ever popular white walls. We are seeing people less afraid of color, especially in bathrooms we are seeing a lot of saturated colors like blues. Continuing the trend of bold colors, colorful accent walls, wallpapers, and colorful furniture are becoming more popular as people have become less afraid of adding vibrant colors. Relaxation rooms are incredibly popular whether it be a room for meditation, a study or library for reading, or even a sauna or steam room. The pandemic has left people wanting a space to unwind and enjoy themselves.  The raw beauty of natural stone slabs and live edge wood are extremely popular options to add to your home. People are also making a lot of sustainable and environmentally friendly design choices in their build from reclaimed wood to increased natural lighting. Statement piece countertops, tables, tiling, and backsplashes have also been popular among home builders, whether its unique stone material or graining.  Lastly, in 2023 we saw a rise in minimalist and modern design and with that we have seen popularity in raw or polished concrete floors. Lets talk about your design choices today!

Constructing your dream home is a significant investment, and you should protect yourself. Here are a few types of insurance to consider to ensure that you are properly covered! We have a builder's risk insurance policy to cover property owners and ourselves from loss due to property damage on their construction project. This includes vandalism, theft, and natural disaster. To protect your investment, your builder may, and should, have builder's risk insurance themselves. It is important to start a conversation with them to see what types of coverage they have.  You will also want general liability insurance to protect yourself from any injuries that occur on the property, we recommend opening your own policy to protect yourself from any injuries that may occur on the property that isn't construction related. General liability insurance will also protect you in the event of someone trespassing and becoming injured on your property. Once your build is completed and has received the Certificate of Occupancy your Builder's Risk policy will no longer cover damage that occurs to your home. You will want to open a Homeowner's Policy as soon as possible to continue covering your new home. Ultimately we recommend consulting your insurance agent over making sure you are properly covered when building your brand new dream home!

Yes we can! With the popularity of working from home, we have seen an increase of interest from our clients in including home offices in their builds. We have plenty of examples of beautiful studies and workspaces that we have created for our clients. whether it's a simple home office or an entire workshop, we can build it for you. So let's start building a home optimized for you today!

Absolutely, we are well versed and commonly build on challenging terrain. In Northern Michigan we have a lot of desirable waterfront that our clients often choose to build on. As well as more remote locations, commonly in the woods. On every project, we put in tremendous effort to deliver the same quality on all of our builds no matter the difficulty of terrain and we will work with the architect if any concerns are present. Houses on unique terrain can make some of the most creative and beautiful homes.

How can I ensure my custom home is energy efficient?