Custom Home Building

Q. How long have you been in business?
A. We have been in the custom home building business for 37 years.

Q. What type of warranty do you offer?
A. We offer the H.B.A. Certified Warranty packet.

Q. Do you use a building allowance?
A. Yes. This is fairly typical among custom builders. Many items, such as kitchen selections, flooring, and lighting, all touch directly on your personal taste and lifestyle. Your contract provides a dollar amount for each of these items. If your selection goes above the budgeted amount on any item, you pay the difference.

Q. How long have your trades been working for the company?
A. We work with the same trades on every house.

Q. How often do you visit the job site each week?
A. We pride ourselves with being on the jobsite every day, and we encourage our customer to visit their home to see the progress.

Q. Who will I be working with during construction?
A. Joe Ruggiero – owner of the company.

Q. Do you belong to a local trade association?
A. We are members of the Home Builders Association of Cleveland.

Q. Do you have a list of references including other homeowners, suppliers, subcontractors, and consultants architects and engineers?
A. Yes we keep a list of good, reputable tradesmen we’ve used over the years and we can also provide it to you at your request.

Q. Have you had any liens against you?
A. No we pride ourselves on paying all our suppliers and vendors bills on time.

Q. What is the average completion time of construction?
A. It can depend on many factors, but on average, 9 to 12 months.

Q. How much does it cost per square foot to build a home?
A. It is really inaccurate and difficult to determine a homes price solely based on square footage. So we do not price homes in this manner as it would not only be unfair to the buyer, but it would also not be fair to us as the builder. We price each home part individually so that we can determine a fair and accurate price for each home and customer.

Q. We have new home ideas from a magazine or internet, There are several things we like about this plan. Can we use this?
A. First we will design a sketch of your ideas around your budget, once we get a rough draft that your happy with we then use our Draftsman with years of experience designing new homes. We can develop plans and individualize everything necessary to get your home just the way you want it.

Q. Can I build a new home when I have an existing home to sell?
A. Yes our lenders have popular Construction to Permanent Loan programs, which may grant you access to a portion, or even all, of the equity in your current home. This equity can serve as your down payment and possibly reduce or even eliminate your existing home payment. Another key benefit is moving directly from your current home into your new home without being forced to move twice, rent or pay unnecessary storage costs.

Where do you want to live?

Location is the most important aspect of new home buying. Before you purchase a home, I recommended you read more and search a lot and be sure to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood. How far will you have to travel to get to shopping and transportation? Will your new home be in a good school district? Will there be entertainment and recreational facilities nearby? It’s important to take all of these factors into account when deciding where to buy.

Select your Lot

To create the home of your dreams you need to start with the land.  We realize that your homesite is the starting point of the process.  Whether you are looking at one of our exclusive property homesites or a homesite within a community, we want to make sure that you select the homesite that will fit your needs.  You will have the opportunity to walk homesites with a member of the Ruggiero team to discuss your needs and the benefits that different homesites offer. Contact your local estate agents to help you find your ideal lot or property. Afterward, you should consider hiring conveyancing solicitors. They will prepare all the necessary documents for your real estate transaction.

Design your Home

You will need to provide us with a starting point, even if it’s just a sketch on a napkin. We will then take your ideas and guide you through a comprehensive selection of designs to find one that best fits your lifestyle. Your home plan will then be drafted out and customized for a fee to meet your specific needs. There is not always one perfect plan for every buyer. That is why we take the time to listen to your needs and wants and then try to find you a design that best fits your specific family. 

Secure the home with a contract and check

The next step involves signing an agreement and securing your financing with the lender. We will walk you through the agreement to ensure that you understand it. We will also present you with the HBA. Home Warranty Packet, which explains the full home warranty process and maintenance tips.

Make your personal selections

This is when you will have leg work to visit different showrooms and vendors; the selection process can be a little overwhelming. If needed, we can recommend a few interior designers that could help with the selection process, especially when choosing elements like front doors for homes. We want your home to be as distinct and individual as you are. Your selections must be made within a specified time period so there is no delay in construction, and if you need accessibility features, you can add these to your home as well.

Watch your Home become a reality

Once your selections are finalized and changes to your plan have been completed, the construction process begins.  Minor problems and adjustments are handled routinely during the many stages of construction. Excavation services may also be required, depending on the specifics of your project. It’s important to work with trusted and experienced contractors who can provide the reference and ensure that your construction process runs as smoothly as possible. When the building of your home is complete, it will have passed multiple city and banking inspections before it is presented to you.

Move in

Welcome Home!!!

Follow up

Every home will settle, and with this you will have cracks, nail pops and doors sticking; this is inevitable.  We at Ruggiero Custom Homes pride ourselves on our customer service and at your ten month anniversary; we request that you provide us with a list of the touch ups and repairs needed.  We will work with you to ensure your list is completed in a timely manner.