Design Homes has built over 19,000 homes in 10 states since 1966. Our unique policy of factory-direct sales makes your new home building process as straight-forward and efficient as possible. Our sales staff located at each of our nine Midwest locations is here to help guide you each step of the way.
Whether you’ve found a special deal in one of our pre-built stock display homes or are looking to construct your own custom plan, Design Homes can provide you with the very best home at the best value possible.
The Process
Customer's Responsibilities
While we do much of the work to build and place your new Design Home, some of the process needs to be completed by the customer. These customer responsibilities largely include securing land, permits, financing, foundation and plumbing, hooking onto utilities, and some other finishing touches. Be sure to read and understand our complete list of Customer Responsibilities.
Complete New Home Guide
Looking for a in-depth walk-through of the process? Read our detailed guide on how to make your new home a reality!
Construction Specifications
Design Homes builds to the same state codes as a home that is built on site, using the same materials, techniques, and suppliers that a carpenter would use. Expect high quality with Design Homes.
See more about our home building standards and suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the common questions we receive about Design Homes and our process for delivering to you a beautiful, high quality home at a lower price than traditional on-site builders. As always, if you have any questions about Design Homes, please reach out to our friendly and helpful sales staff at any of our regional locations.
A Design Home is a custom-designed, factory-built home. It is built in sections to allow it to be transported from the factory to the property where it will be set. Being built indoors in a factory setting allows for a much more efficient process, saving you money! Design Homes allows customers to design their own floorplans at no charge. All homes are built to state codes and feature the same specifications as – or better than – a home that is built on-site.
Simply, we sell direct from the factory. This eliminates the additional mark-up by a “middleman” dealer. This allows Design Homes to pack as much value into your home as possible. Our homes are known for quality construction. Check out our Construction Specifications page for more details!
The length of time to design, build, and place a new home can vary. It can depend on our current production schedule; however, blueprint revisions, backorders, delays in having the property ready, holidays, and other factors can lengthen that timetable.
Design Homes also offers display models and stock models for sale. These homes can be delivered much quicker, provided the property owner has the foundation and any other required conditions ready.
For more information, read our Complete New Home Guide!
Details coming soon.
Generally, if a semi could drive in your driveway and up to your foundation, we can too. Our crane needs at least 35 feet of clear, reasonably flat space on one side of your foundation to lift the house sections into place. As your blueprints come together, you are provided a sheet that gives guidelines about preparing access to your new home’s site.
Yes, sort of. If you purchase one of our already-constructed display models, it is released from production and cannot be modified. However, if you see a particular display model that you like, you can change anything about it as you customize your plans. That new home will be custom built for you! Our display models offer a great way to get ideas and discover floorplans that work for you.
The customer has some responsibilities in the process. This includes things like securing the land and any permits to place the house, arrange to install a foundation/basement, and arrange to connect to any utilities and services, among other things. We have a complete Customer Responsibility Guide available to help you understand your part of the process. And, as always, our sales staff can help point you in the right direction.
Since Design Homes are built to the same code as a site-built home, the financing is handled in the same way. The customer will select a local lender to give them a “construction loan” which is a temporary loan that enables payment to contractors during the project. When all of the contractors are paid, the lender will “roll over”, or change, the loan into a mortgage loan – which is when the customer will begin making monthly payments.
Contact Design Homes
Our friendly and helpful sales staff is available to answer any of your questions. Don’t hesitate to ask!
