Frequently Asked Questions

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1. WHERE DO I START?

The first step is picking a home plan that meets your needs and hits your budget. Thankfully, Garrette has more than 50 floor plans from 1,800 to 4,100 sq. ft. – thoughtfully designed to appeal to a number of different lifestyles and living situations.

The second step is finding the right piece of property. Maybe it’s one of dozens of home sites that Garrette Custom Homes owns throughout SW Washington or Portland, OR. Perhaps you already own the property you want to build on. Or, like most of our customers, you need to work with one of the Garrette New Homes Sales Consultants to find that perfect property to build your dream home.

2. DO I NEED TO OWN MY LAND BEFORE BUILDING A HOME?

No. You have a few options. We are able to build on land that you currently own or our Garrette Custom Homes New Homes Sales Consultants can help you find land to build your dream home on, whether it is our property or property that we find with you.

3. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A NEW HOME?

The length of time to build a new home is based on many variables. The process begins when we receive the Purchase Agreement, obtain loan approval, go to the Design Studio, and continues through construction. However, Garrette Custom Homes’ building cycle, from when we begin the framing of your new home to completion, is approximately 120-160 days depending on the county you are building in.

4. WHEN MEETING WITH A NEW HOME SALES CONSULTANT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?

Before you meet with a New Home Sales Consultant and visit one of our amazing model centers in Portland, Vancouver, or the Puget Sound area, it’s a great idea to put together a “wish list” of things you want in your new home; including many things you don’t have in your current home.

Another thing that can really help is a pre-approval from one of our preferred lender teams. It’s always a good idea to have a lender to do a loan pre-qualification so you know how much you can spend before you fall in love with your dream home.

5. DO I NEED GREAT CREDIT TO BUY A HOME?

Obtaining a loan for a new home has many variables. While having a good credit score helps with what your interest rate will be on your home, there are loan programs for all kinds of buyers with varying credit scores and income levels.

6. WHAT IS A CONSTRUCTION LOAN?

The type of loan program we normally work with are what we call construction-perm loans. With a construction loan, the buyer puts a down payment of 5-20 percent and closes on the loan and the land together. During construction, the loan carries a small percentage of the actual loan amount, and only interest payments are required. After the home is completed, the loan converts to a permanent loan at a low interest rate with a longer term of 15-30 years.

7. WHAT IS A ‘QUICK MOVE IN’ HOME?

A ‘quick move in’ home or what is sometimes called a “spec” home, is a home we will build and offer for sale with all the colors, selections and options already chosen. These homes are excellent for those customers who prefer a quick move in home versus building a home from scratch, as a completed quick move in home can typically close in 30 days.

8. CAN I PERSONALIZE MY NEW HOME?

Absolutely! We offer many structural options ranging from bonus rooms to fireplaces to build the home to your specifications. We also have a 5,000 SF Design Studio and we offer up to two design studio appointments where you have the opportunity to personalize your home to fit your tastes. From cabinets to countertops, flooring to appliances; this is our one stop shop to personalize your new home to perfection.

9. CAN I BUILD A NEW HOME WHILE I STILL OWN MY CURRENT HOME?

Sometimes your lender can do a bridge loan to pull some equity out of your current home, until it sells, and that is applied to your purchase of the new home. Ask your lender for more details.

10. WHAT KIND OF WARRANTY DOES GARRETTE CUSTOM HOMES OFFER?

Garrette Custom Homes is a proud member of the 2-10 warranty program. Under this program, Garrette Custom Homes offers a one-year Builder Warranty against workmanship and defects, a 2-year warranty on plumbing and electrical systems, and a 10-year structural warranty.

11. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION?

Some communities have an HOA (Homeowner’s Association). These are created to ensure homes are of similar style and appearance to blend into the community where they are located. They may also have design requirements, such as a roof style, square footage limitations, etc. They may also require a certain standard of owner’s upkeep and maintenance. This ensures that one home in the community doesn’t bring down the home value of others in the community. While in feasibility, the GCH team will review HOA requirements to make sure your GCH home meets the community HOA standards.