--- title: "FAQs" date: 2023-12-08 author: "shawn" url: https://foleyconstruction.net/faqs/ description: "First time building or remodeling? Foley Construction answers the most common questions about timelines, costs, permits, and what to expect during your." --- # FAQs ![Main Logo](https://foleyconstruction.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Main-Logo.webp) ## Frequently Asked Questions ## Quick Answers to Common Questions ### How much does a custom home cost? That depends on your answers to the following: - How big a home do you need to meet your wants/needs? - What materials do you want to use? - How difficult is your lot to develop? Once we have our initial meeting with you, we can give you a ballpark idea of what your home will cost. As we refine your selections and the home plans, we also refine your costs. Before a contract is signed, you will be provided with plans and specifications that describe the project and the materials to be used. Our custom homes have ranged in price from $400,000 to over $3,000,000. Cost per sq. ft. for a truly custom home in Northern Virginia typically ranges from $270/sq. ft. to $350/sq. ft. The swings in cost are normally driven by size of home, complexity of construction, and level of finishing. Be careful when using costs per sq. ft. to compare builders or plan a budget. True cost per sq. ft. should be based on the finished top two floors only (a finished basement should not be included in this cost). Remember that land purchase and land development are not included in the standard cost per sq. ft. analysis. ### Who is your typical client? Our typical client is a first-time custom home client who has a busy schedule and comes to us with no idea of how to make their dream into a reality. They are willing to pay a reasonable price for good quality and want to be treated fairly and kept abreast of what is going on with their home. ### What types of homes do you build? If you can dream it, we can build it! Our expertise extends to crafting homes ranging from 1,300 sq. ft. to 20,000 sq. ft. Whether you desire contemporary designs or traditional center hall colonials on estate lots, we have the skills to bring your dream home to life. Our experience covers a spectrum, from building on 6,000 sq. ft. in-fill lots to 18-acre estate lots. Clients often choose us for our commitment to tailoring homes to their needs rather than following market trends. ### Do you handle demolition and site preparation? We can handle all the paperwork, obtain the approvals, and remove the existing home. Many older homes have hazardous materials in the structure, and federal, state, and local laws may require that these substances be identified and removed in a prescribed manner by licensed experts. We have those crews and can do it all. If an existing well or septic field needs to be abandoned, we can take care of that as well. Sometimes the old utilities can be reused, depending on age, location, and size. We research all this and report back to you so you can decide what to do. ### Do you provide design services? We design, or oversee the design of, most of what we build. Our years of experience have taught us how to skillfully interview clients, listening to their answers to develop a plan that will meet their design needs. We design with your budget in mind and look for ways to build efficiently to keep costs in line. We have a number of in-house home plans that we created, which often serve as a wonderful starting point for creating the perfect new plan for you. We are custom homebuilders, so we expect unique requests and have the willingness and skill to meet even the most unusual requests. ### How will we communicate during construction? Communication is crucial during home construction. Our field staff is accessible via email, even in the field. Additionally, you’ll have direct access to the email addresses and personal phone numbers of the company principals. We strive to respond to any questions within 24 hours whenever possible. You’ll also have your superintendent’s number and a 24-hour emergency contact for added peace of mind. ### Do you build environmentally responsible homes? We are totally committed to being environmentally responsible in all our projects. Visit our “Green Building” section to learn more. ### How long does it take to build a custom home? That depends again on how you answer the following questions: - How big is the home? - What materials do you want to use? - How difficult is the lot to develop? - What time of the year will it be starting and finishing? - Are you going to make your selections on time? In general, the following schedule would apply: - Once the contract is signed, our average time to modify a plan so it is ready to submit for building permit approval is 3 weeks, provided all civil engineering is complete. - Permit approval ranges between 1 and 3 months. - From permit issue, we will start in 2 to 3 weeks. - Once we start actual construction, it usually takes 1.2 to 1.5 months per 1,000 finished sq. ft. on the top 2 floors. ### Where do you build? We are not locked into any particular lots or area, and we have traveled, but our core market is Northern Virginia, focusing on Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. Most of our clients in the last two decades have been in McLean, Vienna, Falls Church, Great Falls, Ashburn, and from Leesburg to Bluemont. ### What services do you provide from start to finish? We do it all from the beginning to the end, including finding a lot, evaluating the lot, designing the home (or working with your designer), specifying the materials, pricing the project, obtaining the building permit, and building the home. We can provide assistance through the entire process. ### Will we be guided through the process? Most of our customers have never built a home before, so we know how to simplify a complicated process and guide you every step of the way. Once our customers move in, they consistently tell us that everything was a lot more fun and a lot simpler than they had anticipated. Once you tell us your tastes, we will suggest materials for everything in the home, but you make the final decision. ### Who oversees the project? Each step of the construction process is handled by an expert in that particular area. From designing the home and picking out your finishing materials to the construction of your home, someone will be there to guide you along the way. Your entire experience will be overseen by the principal partner, Shawn Foley, who is always a phone call away if you need him. ### How do change orders work? Change orders are not a bad thing. In fact, they are a good thing, because they allow you, the homeowner, to change your mind about a material, design, system, etc. while construction is ongoing. - Our contract will include a price to build the home as drawn and specified so that you understand what you are getting for the price. - If you don’t surprise us with a drastic deviation from your original decisions, you will stay within your budget. - We give you a guaranteed price for your home, and we will deliver for that price unless you choose to change it or an unforeseen condition is discovered, such as bad ground. - When you choose to make a change once construction starts (a change order), we contractually guarantee that you will be charged the same rate that you paid for the rest of the home. - We do not discourage or penalize clients for making changes in a timely fashion. - Our customers have an average of 20 to 30 change orders. - Most of our customers (even with 20 to 30 changes) stay within 2% to 3% of the initial contract price. ### Can we speak with your previous clients? Call our references! Our best spokespeople are our previous clients. We can supply you with an extensive list of references for custom home construction or remodeling going back decades. Our previous clients have already been through what you are contemplating and have proven very generous with their time in answering questions. So, ask them anything. ### What factors affect the cost of a remodel? The overall cost depends on several factors. Some costs are “fixed,” meaning they cannot be changed, while other costs are decision-driven and can fluctuate based on the client’s wishes. - What is the level of finishing detail (hardwood vs. carpet, and tile vs. marble)? - Are there any hazardous materials or presence of mold in the home (an example of a fixed cost)? Once we have our initial meeting with you, we can give you a ballpark idea of what your home will cost. There is no way to give a reliable cost per square foot for a remodeling project because every job is unique. However, if the scope of work is mainly adding space, it will be less expensive than interior remodeling. The more existing structural elements, such as windows, doors, and stairs, we are able to keep in the new plan, the less expensive it will be. In the past few years, our remodeling projects have ranged from $80,000 for a simple kitchen to over $2 million for the remodel of an entire home. ### Can we stay in the home during a remodel? Yes and no. The final answer depends on the size and scope of the project and the temperament of our clients. If the job is properly designed and staged, disruption can be minimized. Still, there may be times when it is best not to be in the home due to noise, fumes, access to power, heat, etc. When additions are constructed, we do everything we can to complete as much of the addition as possible before we break through to the home. Some projects are too massive to safely or economically keep the family in the home. In other cases, the family may be able to stay in the home until certain phases are so invasive that we will need access to the entire home to get the job done efficiently. We are skilled at separating the remodeled portion of the home from the occupied area to keep dust and disruption to a minimum. This is an important aspect of the project for some clients, and we can discuss what and when certain things will be done and whether the family should stay in the home. ### How do you simplify the remodeling process? Many of our clients have never done either a small or large remodeling project before, so we know how to simplify a complicated process by going step by step. Once we finish the project, our customers consistently tell us that everything was a lot more fun, went more efficiently, and the whole process was a lot simpler than they had anticipated. Once you tell us what you want to accomplish with the existing home, we will suggest different ways to achieve your goals, as well as finishes that might be appropriate for your tastes, the neighborhood, and your budget. ### How do change orders work during a remodel? Change orders are not a bad thing. In fact, they are a good thing, because they allow you, the homeowner, to change your mind about a material, design, system, etc. while construction is ongoing. - Our contract will include a price to build the home as drawn and specified so that you understand what you are getting for the price. - If you don’t surprise us with a drastic deviation from your original decisions, you will stay within your budget. - We give you a guaranteed price for your home, and we will deliver for that price unless you choose to change it or an unforeseen condition is discovered, such as bad ground. - When you choose to make a change once construction starts (a change order), we contractually guarantee that you will be charged the same rate that you paid for the rest of the home. - We do not discourage or penalize clients for making changes in a timely fashion. - Our customers have an average of 20 to 30 change orders. - Most of our customers (even with 20 to 30 changes) stay within 2% to 3% of the initial contract price. ### What affects the timeline of a remodel? - How big is the project? - What is the level of finishing detail? - How much do we have to tear out before we start, and how much do we have to replace? - Do you plan on staying in the home for all or part of the remodeling? - What is our access to the remodeling area? - Are you going to make your selections on time? **General Timing:** If Foley Construction is designing the project, we can typically complete the design and costing work in under 3 months. Simpler projects can take only a couple of weeks, while more complex projects will take longer. If civil engineering (land development) is needed, this can add time to the overall design process. If you are using a designer or architect for your project, we recommend getting a written commitment as to how long it will take to perform the aforementioned tasks. If the start date is important to you, the design time should be resolved up front to ensure your project’s success. Permit times vary depending on the state, county, and overall scope of work. Simple projects can get a permit in as little as 1 day, while more complex projects that require grading plans can take 2 to 3 months. The length of the remodel depends entirely on the scope of work. We have completed some projects in a matter of weeks, while others take a year. Our most typical remodel projects (ranging in cost from $250k to $500k) take between 3 and 6 months. ### Who is your typical remodeling client? Our typical client is a first-time remodeling client or a client who has experienced a remodel that went badly because they selected a less experienced company the first time. Most of our remodeling clients have busy schedules and come to us with a general idea of what they want but no idea how to make it happen. They are willing to pay a reasonable price for good quality and want to be treated fairly and kept abreast of what is going on with their home. ### What types of remodeling projects do you take on? For remodeling enthusiasts, we specialize in extensive renovation projects that breathe new life into your spaces. Whether you’re looking to transform existing areas or add new elements, we excel at making your home uniquely yours. Our remodeling projects span a diverse range, from contemporary updates to traditional transformations. Regardless of the scale, from minor renovations to complete overhauls, our services are tailored to suit your needs. Clients choose our remodeling expertise because we prioritize your preferences over market trends, ensuring your home is a perfect reflection of your style and requirements. ### How will we communicate during a remodel? Effective communication is key during remodeling projects. Our field staff remains reachable by email, even in the field. You’ll also have direct access to the email addresses and personal phone numbers of the company principals. We commit to addressing any questions within 24 hours whenever feasible. Additionally, you’ll be provided with your superintendent’s number and a 24-hour emergency contact for any urgent concerns. ### Are your remodeling projects environmentally responsible? We are totally committed to being environmentally responsible in all our projects, and we are Green Certified builders. Please visit the “Green” section of our website for more information.