What Custom Means to Us
To us, “custom” means a guided, thoughtful process that puts you in control while eliminating unnecessary guesswork.
A Smarter Way to Build a Custom Home
Every home begins with a carefully designed, adaptable floor plan. This plan serves as the foundation for your custom home, allowing you to personalize it with features that support how you live — such as an expanded garage, a screened-in porch, or other functional enhancements.
Rather than starting from a blank slate, you build from a proven plan that balances design, efficiency, and livability.
Curated Design Choices That Protect Your Budget
Personalization continues through our three interior and exterior finish lines: Classic, Signature, and Legacy. Each line offers a curated selection of high-quality finishes that reflect different styles and investment levels. These collections are intentionally designed to guide your budget, helping you understand pricing early and avoid costly surprises.
This approach delivers the freedom of customization while streamlining decisions — so you can focus on what matters most without endless choices.
| Service Type | Character Classic Foundational craftsmanship at an approachable price. |
Character Signature Elevated comfort and refined finishes. |
Character Legacy Luxury design and timeless architecture. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior | “James Hardie” Smooth Statement Collection, architectural 30-year shingles | “James Hardie” Cedar Statement Collection with Shake Accent | “James Hardie” Primed to Paint (Cedar or Smooth) with Shake Accent |
| Windows & Doors | MI Vinyl windows, 36″ Fiberglass front door with window | SDL Andersen 200 Series windows, 36″ Fiberglass front door with 12″ sidelights | SDL Andersen 400 Series windows, solid wood front door |
| Ceilings | 9’ ceilings on main level | 9’ ceilings throughout | 10’ ceilings on main level, 9’ on upper level |
| Flooring | Carpet in bedrooms and on stairs, plank flooring on main level | Engineered hardwood in main-level living areas, 2nd-floor hall, and primary suite, carpet in secondary bedrooms | 5”+ stained and finished hardwood throughout first and second floor |
| Trim | 4 ¼” baseboard and 3 ¼” casement trim, hollow-core interior doors | 7″ baseboard and 3 ½” casement trim, Stile & Rail interior doors | 9″ baseboard and 4 ½” casement trim, enhanced height solid-core doors |
| Kitchen | Fabuwood shaker-style cabinetry, 18” backsplash, Level I quartz countertops, GE appliances | Semi-custom Fabuwood cabinets, upgraded 18” backsplash, Level II quartz countertops, GE Profile appliances | Crystal Cabinetry (fully customized), full-height backsplash (marble included), premium quartz or natural stone countertops, stainless or panel-ready KitchenAid or Café appliances |
| Bathrooms | Fabuwood shaker-style vanities with Level I quartz top, porcelain and ceramic tile in basic pattern, glass shower enclosure in primary suite | Fabuwood shaker-style vanities with Level II quartz top, porcelain and ceramic tile patterns, marble tile accents in primary, one additional shower with glass enclosure | Custom vanities with quartz or marble tops, premium designer tile with niche and accent details, freestanding tub in primary suite, glass shower enclosures in all bathrooms |
| Lighting | Standard vanity lights throughout bathrooms, flush mount lights in all bedrooms, kitchen pendants. | Chandelier in foyer and primary bedroom, sconces in primary bathroom and powder room, kitchen pendants. | Custom light design – including exterior lanterns |
| Paint | Sherwin-Williams | Sherwin-Williams | Benjamin Moore |
| Warranty | 1-2-10 Warranty | 1-2-10 Warranty | 1-2-10 Warranty |
Custom Homes with Predictable Pricing
Our definition of custom home building prioritizes transparency. By offering curated options and a fixed-price approach, we provide cost certainty and protection from the open-ended expenses common in many custom home projects.
You get a home that feels distinctly yours — backed by a clear process, trusted design guidance, and predictable pricing.
Pricing and Exclusions
House prices listed for each Character Companies model home are based on standard features for building on your lot. Final pricing is subject to evaluation based on your specific lot conditions and local permit requirements.
Excluded costs include: optional features (such as finished basements or screened-in porches); legal services; reports and submissions; building permit fees; lot grading and site engineering; soil testing; site work; architectural customization fees; foundation modifications due to lot conditions; tree preservation or planting ordinances; deed covenants or proffers; Chesapeake Bay ordinance requirements; stormwater management engineering and mitigation; driveway entrance construction; construction and land acquisition financing; settlement fees; construction loan interest; Builders Risk Insurance; utility service and availability fees; and demolition of existing structures.
Prices are subject to change without prior written or published notice.