FAQ’s
What type of projects do you specialize in?
We specialize in speculative and custom home building. Many of our homes are thoughtfully designed and built without a specific buyer in mind. If you find a home you love during construction, you may have the opportunity to purchase it mid-build and make select, minor customizations.
For clients who already own a lot, or are searching for the perfect one, we also offer custom home building, creating homes with lasting character that reflect your vision and lifestyle.
Do you have a minimum for building new construction homes?
What does custom home building look like with Character Companies?
Inside and out, you’ll choose from our Classic, Signature, or Legacy lines, each offering a range of carefully selected finishes that reflect your taste. These lines are specifically curated to guide your budget. This way, you get the freedom of personalization without the stress of endless decisions and potential overruns.
In short, our version of “custom” is all about giving you a guided, flexible path to a home that’s distinctly yours, with the confidence that we’ve already curated the best options for you—all delivered through a predictable, fixed-price approach that protects you from the uncertainty, overruns, and open-ended costs common with building a custom home.
Why does your process work?
The success of our projects comes down to our design-build model. Unlike traditional methods that separate design and construction into different contracts, design-build brings everything under one roof. This means your designer, project manager, and construction team all work together from day one, with a shared vision and a single contract.
The result is better communication, fewer surprises, and a smoother experience. With design-build, your budget, timeline, and design decisions stay aligned throughout the entire process—saving you time, reducing stress, and ensuring your project turns out exactly as you envisioned.
Do you just do construction, or do you also offer design services?
We offer both design and construction as a full-service design-build company. This integrated approach allows for open communication and seamless coordination between you, our designers, project managers, and tradespeople—ensuring your vision is carried through from concept to completion.
What is my project timeline?
Each project is unique, and timelines can vary based on factors such as whether you already own a
lot, the scope of site work required, and your local permitting process. In general, once your lot is
secured, you can expect approximately:
- 4–7 months for design and planning
- 4–5 months for permitting and approvals
- 5–8 months for construction, from groundbreaking to completion
Overall, most of our semi-custom homes are completed within 12–20 months from start to finish.
Can I make changes to my project?
During Phase I and Phase II Design, you’re welcome to make adjustments as you work with our designer to finalize your plans. Once the design is complete, your pricing is locked in and our ordering schedule begins. If you decide to make changes after this point, that’s still possible—but any modifications will require a formal change order to account for adjustments in cost, timing, or materials.
Will my project be cost fixed or cost plus?
We are a fixed-cost company. This means that from the very beginning, you’ll know exactly what your project will cost. We believe fixed pricing provides greater transparency and peace of mind, eliminating the need for unnecessary back-and-forth or surprise adjustments later that cost plus contracts typically go hand in hand with. Our goal is to make the process as straightforward as possible so you can plan confidently and focus on the results—not the invoices.
How do you handle budgets & pricing?
We begin every project with a clear, mutually agreed-upon budget during the design phase. This creates transparency from the start and ensures that your design, selections, and final pricing all align with your goals and expectations.
The success of every home build comes down to design. Once your customizations and selections are finalized, the design is set—creating a clear roadmap for construction. This clarity allows us to stay on budget, maintain the schedule, and execute with precision. Any changes made after the design has been finalized may require a change order and associated fees, depending on the scope of revisions.
Based on your budget and desired level of finish, your home will fall within one of our three curated finish lines: Classic, Signature, or Legacy. Each has been thoughtfully developed by our design team to create a cohesive, elevated result while allowing flexibility within your investment range.
Do you work with outside architects?
Occasionally, yes—particularly for new construction homes or large scale additions where specialized expertise may be required. However, the majority of our plans are drawn and designed in-house, allowing us to streamline the process, maintain consistency, and ensure that your vision is carried through from start to finish. Ultimately, we’re selective with the architects we choose to collaborate with on the occasions that we do work with them.
Can I bring my own architectural plans?
Absolutely! You’re welcome to bring us your own plans. However, we do not competitively bid outside plans without a retainer. This retainer allows us to dedicate the time needed to carefully review your plans, develop accurate pricing, and ensure everything aligns with your goals.
We like to say that an estimate is usually worth exactly what you paid for it. Since our mission is to provide transparency, detail, and accuracy, creating a thorough estimate requires a significant investment of time and expertise—which is why we charge for estimates.
What license do you hold?
We are a licensed homebuilder in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.
How will we communicate during the project?
We make communication simple and transparent. Design reviews will take place in our showroom, and ongoing communication with your designer and project manager will happen primarily through JobTread, our construction management software. You’ll also have a dedicated project manager who regularly checks on your property during construction and is always available by phone for any urgent needs. You’ll be able to follow along with your projects status and progress through a gantt scheduling chart, daily logs and other innovative communication tools we run each and every one of our projects on.
What are my warranty options?
For our new construction homes, we offer a best in class builder warranty with wall to wall coverage in the first year.
Who should consider working with us? Who might not be the best fit?
Homeowners looking for a streamlined, guided approach to building a home are typically a great fit for us. We are a semi-custom home builder, which means you’ll choose from a variety of thoughtfully designed floor plans rather than starting completely from scratch. From there, you can personalize your home with select modifications such as adding windows, expanding porches, finishing a basement, and more.
Based on your budget, we’ll guide you toward one of our three curated finish selection lines: Classic, Signature, or Legacy. Each has been carefully developed by our design team to create a cohesive, elevated look—without the added cost and overwhelm of hiring a separate interior designer.
Our process is designed to simplify the home-building experience by reducing the number of decisions you have to make while still allowing meaningful personalization along the way. If you value a refined, efficient, and collaborative process, we’re likely a great fit.
On the other hand, homeowners seeking a fully custom home with unlimited design changes, highly specialized selections, or a hands-on DIY management approach may find a different building process better suited to their needs.
How can I finance my project?
We understand that financing is an important part of planning to purchase and/or build a home. To make the process easier, we recommend trusted lending partners who specialize in construction loans, including Alex Norcini at Intercoastal Mortgage and Chris Miller at Atlantic Coast Mortgage. They can guide you through your options and help you find the right financing solution for your project.