Alder & Stone notes
Alder & Stone notes
Jul 27, 2026
Most custom homes take 12 to 24 months to build in 2026, with 18 months as a reliable planning baseline. Here's a phase-by-phase breakdown of what drives—and delays—your schedule.
Jul 26, 2026
Not every energy-efficient upgrade earns back its premium price. This guide breaks down the five home features — from air-sealed insulation to heat pump HVAC — that consistently cut bills, boost resale value, and qualify for federal tax credits.
Jul 26, 2026
The costliest new home building mistakes happen before construction even begins. Learn which errors to avoid — from budget blind spots to choosing the wrong builder — so your build stays on track.
Jul 25, 2026
Walking into a builder meeting unprepared means someone else controls the conversation. Learn exactly what to include on your new home wish list — from lot orientation to structural upgrades — before you sit down.
Jul 25, 2026
A custom home offers full design control but costs 20–50% more per square foot than a production build. This guide breaks down real 2026 pricing, key trade-offs, and how to decide which path fits your budget and timeline.
May 25, 2026
Most clients who break ground in October are in by July. Here's the month-by-month timeline we built our process around, and the two phases that always take longer than people expect.
May 24, 2026
How a custom home builder website portfolio CMS — and the right custom home builder website designer — closes 7-figure mountain modern builds from the gallery.
May 14, 2026
Water rights, HOA review, soils report, septic feasibility, view easements — the local list.
May 8, 2026
Eight checks we run on every lot before signing a build contract — drainage, percolation, easement creep, and the soil cores most realtors don't run.
Tell us about your project
Sixty minutes with our principal architect. Walk your lot, frame the program, leave with a real budget range and a realistic move-in month. No deck, no upsell, no design fee until you sign.
