Frequently Asked Questions
WHERE DO YOU BUILD?
With an office centrally located in Raleigh, we can build homes anywhere within a reasonable drive of this office. This usually means a 1 hour distance from the office. Currently we have projects under construction in Chatham County and inside the beltline with projects pending in Durham County, North Wake and Franklin Counties. If you’re unsure about whether we can build in your location, please contact us.
HOW MUCH ARE YOUR HOMES?
We get this question a lot and it is always a difficult one to answer because we are a custom builder and each home is tailored to a specific customers needs. We have built smaller homes that start around $250,000 (without the lot) and can go up over 1 million in certain areas. The key is that with our background in design and construction, we pride ourselves on building the most home for the money for you. We spend an extensive amount of time meeting with you prior to the contract to make sure we understand exactly what you want and need in your new home and then providing you with a price that is the greatest value to you.
CAN I MAKE CHANGES TO THE PLAN I HAVE?
Many customers come to us with a plan picked out but it has several areas that they want to change. This is where we think we shine as a custom builder. We spend a lot of time getting an understanding of what you want and the best way to design and build it for you. So, the answer is … Yes … we certainly can make changes!
ARE YOU A LICENSED CONTRACTOR?
Yes, MorningStar Homes has an “unlimited” General Contractors license with the state of North Carolina.
I DON’T HAVE A PLAN THAT I LIKE, CAN YOU DESIGN ONE FOR ME?
Yes, we offer a design build service using a one of two local architects that we have found to be extremely competent and practical. However, we have found that with our affiliation with Frank Betz and Associates (www. Frankbetz.com) and as a member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program (www.southernliving.com), many of our customers find a plan at one of these two sites that we can modify at a reduced cost to you.
I DON’T HAVE A LOT, CAN YOU HELP ME FIND ONE?
We have several realtors around the area that we can call on to help you with finding a lot or parcel of land. We will also be happy to meet with you prior to your contracting for the land to view it and share our thoughts on the purchase.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE T O BUILD A HOME?
Most home take 9 months from the time that we dig the footing our pour the basement. There are instances where it can take longer, especially if it is an extremely large home with many custom features. One very important thing to keep in mind is that the time prior to the start of construction needs to be factored into your plans. It can take as long as 3 months to finalize your design, get it drawn and engineered and obtain a building permit. So, if you need to be in by a certain time, remember to add this “forward planning” time to the overall schedule.
DO YOU FINANCE YOUR HOMES?
This is another question that we get quite frequently and the answer is … if you want us to, we can. However, there is a cost associated with this and it is almost always in your best interests financially for you to obtain a construction loan. We work with several lending institutions that have competitive rates and flexible programs and will be happy to refer you to them.
WILL I NEED TO MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT??
A down payment is required in almost all instances in order for us to gaurantee our commitment to you and a start date. Amounts can vary.
DO YOU DO “COST PLUS” CONTRACTS?
We can do a cost plus contract but generally try to discourage it. Why? Many builders do cost plus and in the long run we have found that it may cost you more to build your home. Additionally, many of our customers want to know exactly what their home will cost from day one with no surprises along the way. At MorningStar Homes we will estimate your home and give you a “fixed price” contract. The only way the price will change after the start of construction is if you want to add something to the home in the form of a change order.
HOW MUCH EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE?
The simple answer to this questions is …. We have a lot of experience. The two owners of MorningStar have many years experience in homebuilding (combined around 70 years) in many different facets of homebuilding and land development. For a more complete answer as well as a biography of the two owners, please visit our website page titled “OUR STORY”.
CAN I MAKE CHANGES AFTER THE HOME IS STARTED?
As a rule yes. If the change you desire is something that is affecting by the current stage of construction, it may be difficult or costly. For example. You discover that you want to change your cabinet colors along the way. If the cabinets have not been ordered yet, then there is generally no problem. If they have been ordered, there may be an additional cost associated with this change. We spend a lot of time working with each customer and communicating with them on the progress of their home and checking to make sure that all changes or selections have been made and that there are no potential changes that may be affected by the stage of construction.
I HAVE AN ELDERLY PARENT MOVING IN WITH ME. DO YOU DO HANDICAP CONSTRUCTION?
Absolutely! Working in partnership with Design Right, an ASID certified interior design firm, we can design for handicaps as well as your “aging in place” needs.
DO YOU ONLY BUILD YOUR CRAFTSMAN HOMES INSIDE THE BELTLINE?
We can build our craftsman homes anywhere that you wish.
HOW MANY HOMES DO YOU BUILD?
Currently, we only build as many as each of the two owners can personally oversee and manage. This generally means that we have 4-6 homes under construction at any one time and we will complete 8-10 a year. Both owners have family members interested in learning and joining the business and as they come on board and become more experienced, we will consider building more homes.
MY CHILD HAS ALLERGIES. CAN YOU HELP ME BUILD A HOME THAT DOESN’T AGGRAVATE THEIR CONDITION?
Yes. Working with our interior design firm, Design Right, we will spend the time up front to understand your needs and then find the best solution for you. There are many new products on the market (and more coming out each day) that are more “green” or environmentally friendly. These products are generally more effective at providing a healthy living environment for those with special medical needs.
DO YOU HAVE COMPLETED HOMES AVAILABLE?
Since we are a custom builder, most of our homes are what is known as a “pre-sale” and sold prior to the start of construction. We do occasionally have homes that are not pre-sold and built on speculation. It is best to contact us to see what is available.
WHAT IS YOUR AFFILIATION WITH SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE?
Southern Living magazine has an invitation only program for custom home builders that is called the Southern Living Custom Builder Program. We are very proud to be the only member of this program representing the greater Raleigh market. For more information on this, we suggest you visit www.southernliving.com.
CAN I USE MY OWN SUBCONTRACTORS?
This is a tricky question for us. The answer is almost always no. So, you’re wondering why, especially since one of the subcontractors that you want to use is almost always a relative, family friend, co-worker, etc, and you trust them. For us to deliver a quality product to you and one that we can stand behind, we use a trade base that we have many years experience with. Using a subcontractor that we have no experience with means that we cannot be certain that they will do the type of work that we require thus, insuring a quality product for you. Additionally, since they are almost always related to the customer, when there is a question of work quality or they are behind schedule, it introduces negative into a relationship that we work hard to establish with our customers. We won’t completely rule it out, but the answer is almost always no.
CAN I DO MY OWN WORK ON THE HOME?
We occasionally get customers who want to do some of their own work in an attempt at building some sweat equity in the home. As a rule, they generally take much longer to do the same task that one of our experienced trades can do in much less time. Much of the time, the perceived savings from doing their own work is offset by the increased interest cost resulting from the delay in construction. Additionally, it makes it difficult for us to stand behind our product if the work that you do, has a potential impact on the rest of the homes work. So, the answer is, if you are a qualified, licensed and properly insured tradesperson, we will consider using you for your qualified work component. In all other cases, we have to respectfully decline.
DO YOU BUILD DETACHED GARAGES OR WORKSHOPS?
We will build detached garages and workshops as part of a new home construction project. We don’t build these as a stand alone project.
DO YOU DO REMODELING?
At this time we do not do remodeling. That is not to say that if the right project came along (especially inside the beltline) that we would not consider it. We have a love of historic architecture and would consider the right opportunity to remodel a home of this nature inside the beltline.
DO YOU HAVE ANY HOMES THAT I CAN SEE?
As a rule, we generally have homes in various stages of construction that we are more then happy to show to you. Additionally, many of our completed customers are happy to let you view their home with enough notice. Contact us for more information regarding this.