It’s the process of building or modifying your home to make it safer and more accessible for people to live in, regardless of their age or physical limitations. The goal is to help people age in place or remain in their homes for as long as possible, independently and safely. A good example of this might be curbless showers or wide hallways and doors. If you’re building your forever home, we encourage you to discuss this with your builder.

A fortified home is built to a set of standards created by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) to help homes withstand natural disasters. The program goes beyond typical building codes to improve performance during sever weather. Check out www.ibhs.org for more information.

Allowances are budgetary amounts used in your estimate to cover items that have not been selected or decided on at the beginning of construction. Examples might include flooring, light fixtures, or appliances.

The short answer is no. Lumber is a commodity, so prices for lumber go up and down. Otherwise, inflation drives the cost of construction. Construction costs typically do not come down. The best time to build is now. Fortunately, the cost of living in South Alabama is relatively low compared to the rest of the country which has helped keep the cost of construction lower than other areas.

Though construction costs appear to have stabilized, they have increased over the last few years faster than the increase in existing home prices. Currently, the upfront cost to build a custom home is typically more than buying an existing home. However, over the long term, a custom home is usually less expensive to own than an existing home since there should be very little maintenance for many years and homes today are significantly more efficient than homes built just 12 years ago.

Many factors determine the length of construction such as the size, location, and level of detail. Typically, a 2,000 square foot home will take about 7-12 months to complete. The more you plan, the better, and quicker the build. Being in a hurry to break ground will drive up the cost and slow the length of construction.

Yes, but it’s not recommended. Internet plans do not include the engineering necessary to meet the building requirements in your municipality. Therefore, they will have to be engineered by a local firm. Additionally, site plans, electrical plans, and other specifics are not included and often required.

We recommend starting with a builder. They can help you find a lot, choose a design, and keep costs in mind from the beginning. Ideally, you’ll want a team of professionals including a builder, designer or architect, engineer, and maybe a even a banker and realtor.

Generally, there are three types of builders: Tract builders build a high volume of houses in their own developments. They are the most affordable option but offer limited floor plans and finishes. Semi-Custom builders typically will build one of their stock floorplans but will do it on your lot and offer some choices in the finishes. Custom builders build one-of-a-kind homes tailored to meet your needs. A custom home is the most expensive option but offers the most flexibility. Bay Building Company is a custom home builder.

This is an opportunity to get the expertise of a builder to help bring together everything necessary to start construction, including getting estimates from other builders. It covers everything from concept to permitting. Typically, the fee for this ranges from ½% to 1% of the rough estimate of your vision.

Find a builder you trust and will be comfortable with. They should be communicative, transparent about costs and timelines, and passionate about building. Interview multiple builders before deciding on one.

While estimates can be helpful, no two estimates are the same. Estimates can vary depending on the builder’s included services or the actual scope of work estimated. It’s more important to find a builder you trust.

Custom homes in our area typically range from $180 to $350 per square foot. Your lot and the necessary engineering can drastically affect the end cost of your home. Give us a call and share your vision with us to get a ballpark idea of what it will cost to get into the home of your dreams.

Thomas Industries, Inc., has been in the roofing and commercial construction business for almost 70 years. In April of 2020, Bay Building Company was created as a part of Thomas Industries to serve the residential construction needs of our service area. Our construction manager has been a licensed home builder for almost 25 years and our team has combined experience of over 150 years in construction.

We don’t have “stock” plans but do have old plans you can browse for inspiration. We can build from your plans, work with your designer/architect, or our construction manager can also draw your plans for you. There are many advantages to using a “design-build” process with respect to quality and costs.

Primarily, we are custom home builders. We are also a great fit for larger remodel projects like additions and remodels that involve coordination of multiple trades. However, please call us for any project you may have; if it’s not a fit, we are happy to help point you in the right direction.

In addition to construction services, we offer pre-construction services, consultation, and our construction manager offers home design services. Let us know what you need, and we’ll see how we can help.

We primarily work in Mobile and Baldwin Counties of Alabama. These include the municipalities of: Mobile, Semmes, Saraland, Satsuma, Grand Bay, Fairhope, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Foley, Silverhill, Robertsdale, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Stockton, Bay Minette, and Summerdale. We are also licensed to build in Florida and Mississippi as well.

Yes, we build all our homes to the gold fortification standards. Getting your home certified requires an added private inspection, but it is worth it from the insurance savings. Check with your insurance agent to see how much you could save by getting certified.

Yes, we maintain a general contractors license, home builders license, and business licenses for all municipalities where we work. Additionally, we carry large amounts of liability and workman’s compensation insurance.

Yes, we provide an express home warranty that covers workmanship and materials for one year from the time of closing. Extended warranties are available.