Frequently Asked Questions
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How to choose the best builder:
Review portfolios, ask for client references and completed-home walk‑throughs.
Check independent reviews (Google), recent project photos, and community involvement.
Verify Oregon contractor/CCB registration and insurance (oregonstatecu.com)
Contact the Home Builders Association of Polk & Marion County to obtain a list of builders who build homes in your area. Home Builders Association members are committed to ethical standards and yearly continuing education
Experience, how long has the builder been in business
Stone Custom Homes & Remodeling has earned a reputation as one of Salem’s trusted custom home builders through more than 20 years of experience, superior craftsmanship, and deep roots in the local community. As a family-owned company actively involved in the Home Builders Association and local Tour of Homes events, we take pride in building dream homes for the members of our community.
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Cost can vary depending on home size, materials, upgrades, lot type, and site development. Every custom home or remodeling project is different and during your initial meeting with us we will discuss costs and budgets. Stone Custom Homes & Remodeling can build a custom home that fits a range of budgets.
At our first meeting, we will discuss your goals to gather the proper information to begin a costing analysis of the specific project. We bid the project based on the specifications that you identify. All of our budgets and costs are an open book.
In Salem, Oregon, custom home construction typically ranges $220–$500 per square foot (excluding land and permits). A 2,000 sq. ft. home often falls between $400,000–$1,000,000 total.
Remodeling projects usually cost less—$150–$350 per square foot depending on scope.
Key factors affecting your Salem project:
• Home size and layout
• Material choices (standard vs. high-end finishes)
• Site development (grading, utilities, septic if needed)
• Local permits and Salem zoning requirements
• Labor and current market conditions in the Willamette Valley
Stone Custom Homes & Remodeling provides transparent, detailed bids with no hidden fees.
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Stone Custom Homes & Remodeling is a preferred builder with many local banks. Construction loans are typically made by most banks. When purchasing land, many of our clients use the “proceeds from a construction loan” to purchase their property. This requires a completed set of plans, budgets and specifications turned in for appraisal in order to close the loan and purchase the property from the seller. This strategy requires a concerted effort of the realtor, lender, builder, designer and client. Stone Custom Homes & Remodeling can help you navigate this process.
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A custom home design can be completed fairly quickly if starting from scratch. Two to four months is a typical time frame for a new home. This process can vary significantly depending on a number of factors such as:
How quickly the customer responds to various drafts during the process
Level of complexity
Once the initial design is complete, then the design goes to engineering which typically adds another three to five weeks to the process. We then can submit for permits, which typically takes three to five weeks
Can I use a stock house plan bought online?
Yes, absolutely! It can potentially speed up the timeline of your build job. Often times you will want to make a few changes to your plan and we will incorporate a designer if necessary to facilitate those changes.
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Throughout Salem and the Willamette Valley your average custom home typically takes about six months to one year to build. A number of factors can affect the building timeline including:
The size of the home
Selection of materials
Complication of the house design
Lot type, site development, difficulty of the building site
Weather
Upgrades
Change Orders
Do You Design House Plans?
Our company works with several of Salem’s best architects and home designers. After discussing a project, we help our customers determine the best fit for their home design ideas. We collaborate with the designer/architect throughout this process to achieve the very best custom home plan.
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There are several important considerations you should take into account before starting any renovation project. While there are hundreds of different factors pertinent to any type of remodeling project, to get you started, we recommend thinking about the following aspects in preparation for your remodel. Whether you want to start a kitchen remodel to revamp an outdated layout, or you want to increase your property’s value with a home addition,
Your goals for home remodeling
Your functionality goals for the space
Your aesthetic preferences
The needs and preferences of those in the space
Your budget for the renovation
Your expectations for returns on investment
The space you have available
Your renovation timeline and time flexibility
How your remodel will affect the rest of your home
Salem zoning & permit timelines
Local material costs
Willamette Valley weather
Stone Custom Homes & Remodeling has experience with high-end remodeling projects and we can help you plan every detail.
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That depends on the scope of the project, and quite frankly, your tolerance for inconveniences. If you live on-site during a renovation, you will be inconvenienced. We typically recommend that people make alternate living arrangements during the main construction, because you will see dust, debris, workers going in and out, you will hear loud noises, and see people ripping apart what is probably your most prized possession. You may also be without certain comforts like bathroom facilities for part of the time. This can be quite disturbing for most people.
Can I leave my belongings in my home during the renovation?
Yes, but we recommend that you remove everything possible. Although we take extreme precautions to protect your belongings, dust flies everywhere during construction. And, much of it is microscopic so no matter what we (or you) do to protect them, your belongings will get dust particles on and in them.
What measures will be taken to protect my home from dust and debris that result from construction?
We cover floors with either rosin paper or Masonite, depending on the circumstances and we block off the areas surrounding the construction area with heavy gauge plastic sheets. We also cover furniture in the surrounding area to protect it as much as possible.
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Stone Custom Homes & Remodeling is a family-owned company serving Salem, Oregon and the Willamette Valley with a focus on superior craftsmanship, clear communication, and personalized service.
With over 20 years of experience, strong customer reviews, and involvement in local Home Builder’s Association Tour of Homes events, we have built a solid reputation in the Salem area. We take great pride in helping our clients create their dream home and building a lasting friendship in the process.