Custom Home FAQ's

1. What makes JayMarc different from other home builders in the area?

There are a lot of things that make JayMarc stand out amongst other builders. Most importantly, we are a full-service builder. This means we are there from start to finish to help guide you through your home building process. Our Care Through Service video offers an introduction; we have a dedicated, experienced team who knows how to make this process easy and seamless for you. Heather Caravia and Lauren Bates, our project managers, are there with you through the entire process. They help with every detail from securing a loan, to submitting permits, to selecting a floor plan, to ensuring that your home is finished on time. This is extremely helpful, especially for individuals who haven't stepped into the homebuilding arena before and don't know where to start. At JayMarc, we go above and beyond to ensure that your experience is flawless from day one.

2. Where do I start?

It is important to start by deciding what kind of home building experience you are looking for. JayMarc Homes builds beautiful luxury homes, and we help you with every step along the way to ensure you have a great experience from start to finish. Visit our Photo Gallery and Virtual Tours page to explore different design styles and floor plan layouts. Also, stop by one of our JayMarc model homes so you can get a feel for the level of our quality finishes and the JayMarc aesthetic. It is important to know that our styles match what you seek in a custom home. Here are some additional tips from our CEO, Marc Rousso.

3. What kind of financing do I need to build a custom home?

When considering custom home construction, it is also very important to consider your financial situation beforehand. We recommend working with a lender on getting prequalified for a custom construction loan early on, so you can identify your actual budget. Construction loans are meant to provide temporary financing during the build process. Mortgage financing will come along after your home has been completed, and it will be used to pay off the construction loan. JayMarc Homes has preferred lenders available to you, and we can help you learn about the different kinds of construction loans.

4. Do I have to use a JayMarc floor plan?

Custom clients are not required to use a JayMarc floor plan. However, many of our customers do base their custom home designs on an existing JayMarc design, and make modifications from there. If you want something truly customized, we will work with your chosen architect to build a unique floor plan that suits your individual needs.

5. How long does it take to build a custom home?

From the time you acquire property, it takes about two years before you are actually moving into your new home. To break it down further, it takes 5-6 months (depending on jurisdiction) to permit the plans, 4-6 months to design and ready the plans for permitting, and around 12 months to build your home. Numerous factors can also affect build time, such as permitting, environmental factors, or difficulty of the lot.

6. Do you have lots available?

Yes, we do. We buy land all the time, and we have many properties that we are building as finished move-in ready homes (also known as spec homes). We often find land opportunities for our custom clients. If we know what you are looking for, we may be able to find a match for your needs; however, it is also important that you continue to look for land on your own because there is not much inventory on the market right now.

7. How much does it cost to build a custom home?

Because we build 30+ luxury homes a year, we are able to look up budget estimates of similar projects in real time to help guide you and keep you connected with your budget. We have three important budget checkpoints:

• The first occurs once you have a schematic design. This is a rough estimate and is meant to serve as a steering tool to make sure you feel comfortable before you pay for any additional service.
• The second checkpoint occurs after your project has gone through civil and structural engineering. In order to provide you with this estimate, we take your project through a "Top 10 Vendor" exercise where we show your plans to our top vendors to get a clearer picture of your budget. We look at value engineering key elements to save you money at this time.
• The final piece provides you with a budget that is actually FIXED. You receive this bid once everything has been selected so that when you sign a construction agreement with JayMarc, you know exactly what your house is going to cost - before we start building.

8. What is included in your price?

Our pricing includes everything from start to finish – from demolition through our fees, land feasibility, and all materials.

9. What is your Warranty on your homes?

We offer a very favorable warranty program, which includes a 60-day and one-year warranty, plus a structural warranty offered through Centricity. Please visit our Customer Care page for more detailed information on the warranties that we offer.

10. Will you build in my desired area?

JayMarc Homes has built homes all over Mercer Island, Bellevue, Seattle, Kirkland, Renton, and Redmond. We have a great deal of experience with permitting and regulations on the Eastside. Our custom home program expands outside of the cities listed above.

11. Can you build a custom home on a lot that I already own?

Absolutely. If you own a lot and would like us to build a custom home on it, we can get started right away. If you are interested in building one of our custom homes on your land and would like more information, give us a call so we can start the process! You can reach out to letsbuild@jaymarchomes.com for more information.

12. Can we provide our own materials or use a friend/relative for certain parts of our build?

The warranty that we currently offer does not legally allow for this. In addition, JayMarc Homes has worked to find a team of trusted, efficient and reliable subcontractors. Part of the process of building a new home on schedule is using our known, proven team. In order to provide the best and most efficient service to you, we do not allow our clients to provide their own materials or assist in the building of their home.

13. I have a lot that I’d like to sell/sub-divide. Are you interested?

Absolutely. If you have land that you would like to sell or subdivide, please contact Jay Mezistrano at Jay@jaymarchomes.com or Bev Miller at Bev@jaymarchomes.com. They would be happy to assist you. JayMarc's We Buy Land page has more information.

14. How can you help me visualize what my home will look like?

JayMarc's model homes are a great example of our luxurious, signature level finishes. Our Available Homes page lists open homes for viewing. There, you can also see our homes that are under construction and available for pre-sale, and our recently sold houses. To schedule a viewing of any of our homes under construction, please contact Amanda, our New Home Specialist, at amanda@jaymarchomes.com.

15. Where do I start with selecting design options?

In the world of home building, there are literally thousands of options for light fixtures, doorknobs, plumbing and more. JayMarc's in-house designer tracks the latest in design trends and finishes so that you don't have to. Diana Jerome, our Custom Home Interior Designer, will guide you through the selection process to ensure a cohesively designed home that reveals your own personal flair.

16. Why should we consider building a custom home rather than buying one that is already built?

If you have spent a lot of time searching for the perfect home but have not been able to find one that is just right, a custom home can help you reach your goals. With a custom home, you can include personalized touches that give the home a distinctive "you" feeling!

For more information on Custom Homes, please contact 425.902.7938 or letsbuild@jaymarchomes.com.