"Panelized Homes"
Local: 586-777-6633
Toll-free: 877-77-KOPKE (56753)
Kopke Homes
is an Independent
Engineered Building Systems
Dealer
Frequently Asked Questions
These frequently asked questions may help your decision making process. If you don't find your answer, please call us at 1-877-77KOPKE.
Q. Is there a charge for a cost estimate?
A. No. We will provide you with a cost estimate free of charge. We only need to clarify exactly what you want and expect in your new home. We will price any plan that you have, any plan that we have or any plan that you find in a book, or on-line. Just give us what you have so far, and we'll take it from there.
Q. What type and size homes does Engineered Building Systems supply?
A. We design and supply all sizes, types and styles of homes: traditional, contemporary, colonial, secondary, vacation, etc. We will custom design the exterior and interior to suit your personal preferences.
Q. Does Engineered Business Systems supply "pre-fab" or "modular" homes?
A. Absolutely not! We design and supply only custom precision-designed, open panel homes. Our exterior walls are 2x6, while our roof trusses are 2x4, 2x6, or larger, and we design both to exact specifications. A panelized home is an upgrade to a standard subdivision home that a developer would build.
Q. Do we have to purchase one of the homes in your catalog?
A. No. We have designed our catalogs to feature many design alternatives which we can alter at your request. We acknowledge that it is virtually impossible for us to have designed the perfect layout for you right down to the smallest of details. We will design and supply from your plans and/or ideas, or we'll design and draw the plans for you.
Q. What about the quality of construction in your homes?
A. We take great pride in our unique standard specifications and suggest that you familiarize yourself with them. We're sure you'll agree that most of our standards are normally optional upgrades and perhaps not available with other suppliers or builders.
Q. What if we do not own a lot to build on?
A. We have access to available lots in our marketing areas and would be happy to assist you in your search. We recommend that your "Dream Home" be designed before or during the land aquisition stage, so that you can consider how the home's footprint will sit on the land, and which direction it will face. Do you want the sun to shine into your bedroom window in the morning? If you already own the land/lot, then you are that much closer to building your dream home. A Kopke representative will be glad to meet you at your building site, to offer advice about the designs that would fit best.
Q. What is the price range of your homes?
A. In the past, prices, excluding land, have ranged from approx. $150,000 to $1,500,000 (and up), depending on size, style, design and amenities (that you decide to add to the basic package). Kopke Homes will make every effort to design a home within your preferred budget. However you figure it, the EBS process will save you thousands of dollars, compared to traditional custom home building.
Q. Is there financing available for my building lot and EBS home?
A. Yes, please refer to the financing link for more information. If you qualify, Prime Equity Access will fund as much or as little as you like. In some cases, they fund the home, land, closing costs, and interest expenses, resulting in little or no out of pocket expenses during the building process. Many people choose to pay the interest charges during the construction process, to cap the loan amount. It is very helpfull if you have an existing home that is paid off, or has a large amount of equity, that once sold, will be used to pay down the construction loan. This kind of creative financing is common at Prime Equity Access, because they are familiar with the EBS process, and fully understands that you new home will have built in equity, thus reducing the risk of funding it.
Q. What does it cost per square foot to build an EBS home?
A. This commonly asked question has no one answer for custom homes and is not recommended when shopping for price. Specifications and style vary too widely and design can impact the actual cost too much to provide a fair competitive analysis. We price all of our home packages on an individual basis, which insures a more accurate price quote. But, if you just need a guide to help you decide if building a new home is something that you can consider, then use $100-$170 per square foot as a guide. Some have been done for $80 psf, but with a lot of sweat equity required to get it done at that price. Some have been built at $300 psf, because of expensive materials being selected, and expensive labor needed for custom milwork, etc. The best thing to do is to sit down with someone at Kopke Homes, either at our office/showroom, or at your home, and discuss the possibilities. Information is free, so take advantage, and call Kopke and ask questions. In many cases the home of your dreams can be built for about the same price as a home that you would see at a new subdivision. Just remember that most new homes in subs have an average of $40,000-$80,000 in upgrades added after you decide to buy. At Kopke the price doesn't change after you say yes.
Q. Can we just hire you to design a home for us?
A. Unfortunately, no. We only offer this service to prospective clients who are seriously considering us as their designer/supplier of the materials package.
Q. What is the normal course to follow in our making a buying decision?
A. There are three phases we go through prior to expecting any type of decision from you. The first phase is an informal meeting with us to exchange information and discuss specific goals and objectives. The second phase is more design oriented to insure that the home we are discussing is within your preferred budget guidelines. The third phase, which involves a contract with us, is a final clarification of the design, finishing amenities and on-site costs. Regardless of how much time is needed to get through each planning phase, we want you to be well-informed and completely comfortable with your decisions.
Q. How long does the building process take?
A. It normally takes three to nine months from start of construction to finish. It may take longer depending on complexity of home and the availability of sub–contractor trades in your area. You can better determine construction milestones upon finalization of the design. We like to see the home completed in four to six months. Most financing agreements require the home to be complete in a maximum of nine or twelve months.
Q. What if we would like to do some of the work ourselves?
A. Great! Kopke is willing to build your home on a completed basis, but there are four optional price/service levels available. A) Package Only - With this option you will be your own general contractor, and Kopke just provides all of the materials for your home, delivered in stages, according to your schedule. B) Job Coordination - With this option Kopke will provide the materials package and coordination services during the project. We will coordinate the trades, deliveries, etc. to help you be your own general contractor. C) Job Management - With this option Kopke will directly manage the project from start to finish. You will still pay the subcontractors and suppliers directly (at our pre-negotiated builder prices), saving thousands of dollars on the building of your home. D) Turn Key - With this option Kopke will build your house with full building services, and you will make all payments to Kopke Homes during the building of your home. When we discuss the 4 price/service levels, together we can determine what best suits your needs and budget.
Q. What does it take to get started?
A. When the pre-design and pre-price are acceptable, we require a minimal deposit with the design agreement, which is usually $1,000 to $1,500 depending on the size of the home. All design deposits are credited as payment towards the materials package, when purchased from EBS/Kopke.
Q. What happens if I go through the design/pricing process, and decide not to move ahead and build after all?
A. Nothing! You can sit on the plans as long as you want to, but over time you should expect the price to go up. Due to the fluctuation in building materials prices, EBS pricing is updated quarterly. Kopke will update the pricing of your dream home at any time. With your designs completed, if the opportunity presents itself again, you will be ready. Some people have waited 10 years (we hope you don't have to) for their circumstances to change to the point where they could afford to move ahead. We sincerely hope that today is the time for you to build your dream home, but your personal situation will dictate if you can now move forward.
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