Delaware Build On Your Lot Builders

When you reach out to Carl Deputy and Son Builders about building on your own lot, we will start with a meeting. In our first meeting, we’ll focus on:

• Talking about your goals when it comes to building a house. Do you want a large house in a rural area or a more compact design in a city? 
• Pinpointing the features of your new home that are most important to you, as well as those that are not as critical. Is one-floor living your primary goal? Or do you want to make sure that you have enough space for kids, grandkids, and extended family?
• Explaining building prerequisites, constraints, and requirements for the property that you already own (or property from our inventory).
• If you haven’t purchased the property yet, giving you some basic specifications on what to look for when searching for land.
• Exploring our collection of home design floor plans to find the one that aligns with your needs. If you’d prefer a custom home, we can have a conversation about what that would entail, including the timeline and cost.
• Detailing the construction journey and setting expectations.
• Reviewing your financing options and offering referrals to assist in obtaining suitable construction/permanent financing tailored to your situation. Depending on where you are in the process, you may need to obtain both a land loan and a construction loan. Please note, that you’re not obligated to choose one of our recommended lenders.

This introductory meeting gives us a chance to get to know you and your expectations. It also allows you to learn more about what building on your own lot involves before you take the leap.

The next step of the process involves drilling down on specifics. We will start with a site assessment. If you aren’t building on one of our lots – which have already been evaluated for suitability – then we will need to analyze your site.

We will look at a variety of factors when determining whether your site is appropriate for building a home. This includes things like the quality of the soil for building, whether the lot is in a flood zone, road access, the availability of utilities, zoning, and land use restrictions, elevations, and whether any wooded areas will need to be cleared in order to build. Remember that even if it is possible to build on a plot of land that is less than ideal, it will likely increase costs significantly if you have to put in a septic system, build a road, or level the ground.

If your lot is good to go, then we will start to design the home itself. As experienced home builders, we have a range of home designs and floor plans available. We can also work with a designer to build a completely custom home. 

In the first meeting, the conversation would have been more general – the type of house you want to build and your dreams for your future home. During this meeting, we will get into the details so that we can develop an estimate and start to line up materials and tradespeople for the project.

Once you have selected a home design and we have completed a site assessment, we can proceed to the next step: signing a contract for construction. This contract will contain certain key elements, such as the estimated price, material terms, and an estimated completion date. 

Bear in mind that due to factors outside of our control – such as an unexpected increase in the price of raw materials – the total cost of your project or the completion date may change. We will keep you updated along the way so that you know exactly what is happening and what to expect. All material changes to the agreement will have to be approved by you as the homeowner.

With a signed sales agreement, you can seek out a construction loan (if necessary). If you don’t have a preferred lender, we can recommend some banks that we frequently work with on other projects. Once you obtain financing, then we can move on to the next phase of the process: final design choices and then construction!

With any construction process, certain permits will have to be obtained from local government agencies. While we go through the permitting process, we will work with you on finalizing interior finishes and other selections.

You will visit our Design Center to meet with a member of our design team to finalize things like flooring choices, paint type and color, lighting, fixtures, and tile. You can also make other design choices at this point, such as exterior decorative shutters, the color of siding (if any), the style of your garage door, and other decorative finishes on the exterior of your home. 

After obtaining your permit, you’ll have an on-site meeting with your project manager to conduct a thorough review of your house plans and selections. The construction phase kicks off with the groundwork and laying the foundation. 

At this point, we can do the rough work – including framing, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical. Your project manager will also meet with you for a walk-through after the rough work is done. This gives you a chance to make sure that everything is where you want it before we move to the next phase.

We will continue to build your house, from adding insulation to the walls to installing drywall. Our team will install trim, doors and windows, cabinets, bathroom fixtures, appliances, and other necessary items. The last steps will include painting and installing flooring to prevent damage as we continue to work on your home.

We understand that building a house is a major financial investment – and an emotional one, too! You want your house to be perfect, and we get that. During the build process, you can request other walk-throughs to make sure that the construction meets your vision.

The typical timeframe for construction is around 6 months. However, the timeline for custom home builds may extend, depending on the intricacy of the design. As with other details about the build, we will communicate with you about any delays or other issues that may arise.

Once construction is complete, we will do a final walk-through with a so-called punch list. This list will include any item that must be completed before you get the keys to your new house. It usually includes testing mechanical elements and appliances, installing finishing touches like outlet covers and hardware, fixing any damage that may have occurred during construction, and cleaning and removing things like trash and equipment.

​​When your new home is complete, you will:

• Meet with your project manager for an orientation on your new home.
• Learn about your home’s features, systems, maintenance requirements, and warranties

Our ultimate goal is for our customers to be absolutely thrilled with their new homes. We maintain an open line of communication with homeowners at every stage of planning and construction so that we can hear and address any concerns that you might have. The end result should be the home of your dreams that is both beautiful and built to last.
For many people, renovating their current home simply makes more sense than building or buying a new home. Perhaps you love your neighborhood, don’t want your kids to switch schools, or simply adore your house…if only it was slightly bigger or had another bathroom! A home renovation project can add tremendous value to your home while also making it more spacious, comfortable, and even luxurious for you.