Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between drafting and design services?

Drafting is the technical aspect of creating detailed drawings and specifications used for construction. Design involves the creative process, including conceptualizing the space, choosing materials, and planning the functionality to meet your needs and aesthetic preferences.

Does Falcon Alaska customize designs to fit specific budgets or styles? Can I make changes after my project has begun?

Absolutely. Falcon’s design-build process is highly customizable. We work closely with you to understand your budget, style preferences, and functional needs. This allows us to tailor designs that align with your vision while adhering to financial goals.

Changes are a natural part of the construction process. We strive to accommodate changes efficiently and effectively by maintaining open communication and using flexible design methodologies to keep your project on track and within budget.

How do you ensure your designs meet local building codes and regulations?

Our team stays updated with the latest building codes and regulations to ensure compliance. We conduct thorough reviews and coordinate with local authorities during the drafting phase to anticipate potential issues, ensuring our designs are beautiful and fully compliant.

How long does it take to build a custom home?

“How long will it take to build my home?” is one of the most frequent questions our clients ask. The answer is that it depends, with build times varying based on location, home size, and other factors. That said, the entire process takes a year or less for most clients. The design process can take a month or two; once that’s complete, construction typically takes seven to nine months.

What is the process for designing and building a custom home?

Our custom home-building process is designed to ensure the drafting, design, and construction journey for a client’s project is as smooth as possible. We value our clients’ input, which guarantees a successful project that satisfies everyone.

We want your vision to be realized every step of the way. Practically speaking, we use online project management software to keep you up to date from day one. We have architects on staff, offering seamless communication and integrated design and construction processes.

How do you ensure my custom home’s sustainability and energy efficiency?

Falcon prioritizes sustainability and energy efficiency in every custom home we design and build. We use materials that don’t waste energy and know what’s needed to keep a new home well-insulated.

During the planning stage, we consider things like which way the sun hits the house and how to orient it for optimal natural light. Some of our designs include innovative solutions such as solar panels. Ultimately, our clients love doing something good for the planet while saving money down the road.

Where do you build custom homes in Alaska?

We’re based in the MatSu Valley and offer our residential home-building services within an approximate 50-mile radius. This includes Palmer, Wasilla, Butte, Sutton, Houston, Big Lake, Talkeetna, Birchwood, Chugiak, and Eagle River. We do not currently offer our services in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Glennallen, Kenai, or off the road system.

How much does a custom built home cost?

This is, not surprisingly, a common question and one of the most difficult to answer. We don’t build tract homes, which is the process of building the same homes over and over. We design and build “forever” homes, which is a specific home tailored to meet your needs. Home prices vary substantially depending on lot selection, home design, upgrade choices, and financing.

Pricing might range anywhere from $200/sf to $300/sf for the house itself, plus around $75/sf for garages, costs for land, construction financing, and/or other features. The short answer is that it really depends on your situation.

For example, if you already own your building lot free and clear, with a well and driveway already on it, the total costs to build would naturally be less than if you were planning to have Falcon purchase and build on a different parcel of land without these improvements.

We use a five-part template for assembling a preliminary budget for each client at our initial meeting, which is a huge help for understanding hypothetical total package prices on a new build.

How does financing work?

Each client’s financial picture is unique, which means the “best” approach for financing varies. Usually, a long-term lender will advise on the best approach based on a client’s available equity or cash. Most often, a client will obtain their own construction financing for the build, but there are other options too.

We can help navigate this arena, as there are many variables that apply and the pros and cons vary substantially depending on the situation.

Do you purchase the lot, or do we?

Falcon can technically purchase the lot as part of the home-building package. The only drawback to this option is that before this takes place, the final home design, amenities, modifications, and final contract packet need to be finalized and signed, which can take many months to complete.

We have found that when a client finds a lot they love, time is of the essence to secure the lot, so often the best option is for the client to simply purchase the lot themselves via cash or a personal land loan (or other means of financing). Then, after the lot is secured, proceed with finalizing the home package, at which point a contract could be signed, a deposit received, and the construction loan obtained.

What if I already own my lot?

Perfect! If a client already owns their lot, the equity in the land is recognized by Wirtanen and the long-term lender as cash toward the build, so there’s often no additional cash required by Wirtanen at signing, or the lender at closing (depending on how much equity is in the land, of course).

Is the 10% deposit in addition to the money I’m required to have at closing?

No. The cash (or equity) deposit given to Falcon at contract signing is only held by Wirtanen during the construction process, and at closing this money is still yours. Your banker will typically suggest that you apply this deposit toward your purchase price. You may also have the option to use a portion of this deposit toward your closing costs.

What if we build with cash?

When projects are built with cash, there’s no need for either a construction loan or the full 10% deposit, and the deed on the property is not transferred. The deposit is reduced to just 2%, and clients are simply invoiced each month for work completed to date.

How long does it take to build a custom home?

The entire build process, from contract signing to closing, takes six months on average.

This accounts for the time needed to get a “plans appraisal” before starting, and also time to obtain a construction loan to fund the build project. Also expected is a wait period at closing for final paperwork and underwriter review.

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