Emily H.
Home Office Remodel
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Ground-up new home construction, tear-down and rebuild projects, and full custom builds across Seattle, King County, and Snohomish County. Design, permitting, and construction under one contractor.
Building new in the Seattle area means working with sloped lots, sensitive drainage, mature tree canopy, and the full weight of King County and Snohomish County permitting. We've been through the process. We design new homes around the realities of the site, the climate, and the way you actually want to live.
Whether you're building on a vacant lot, replacing an aging home, or breaking ground on a custom design from architecture you already have, we manage the project end to end with one team accountable for every phase.
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From a vacant lot to move-in day, we handle the full scope of new construction. Each project is planned around the site, your design priorities, and the permitting workflow for your jurisdiction.
Ground-up builds on vacant lots, designed around how you live and the site you're building on. We coordinate architecture, engineering, permitting, and construction so you're working with one team from concept through final inspection.
When an existing home isn't worth renovating, replacing it with new construction often makes more sense than another round of repairs. We manage demolition, site preparation, foundation work, and the full new build on the lot you already own.
Before you commit to a design, we evaluate the lot for slope, drainage, tree retention, setbacks, and utility access. The site shapes the design. Knowing what you have before you put pen to paper saves money and avoids surprises later.
One general contractor for the whole project: design coordination, permitting, foundation, framing, systems, and finish. No handoffs that fall through the cracks.
New construction pricing varies enormously based on lot conditions, square footage, design complexity, and finish level. As a general guide for the Seattle area:
Site conditions are a major variable: sloped lots, poor drainage, tree retention requirements, and utility extensions all add cost. Seattle projects typically price toward the upper end due to labor costs and more involved permitting. We provide detailed, transparent estimates after a site walk and discussion of your design priorities.
Most custom builds run 12 to 18 months from permit approval to move-in, with another 3 to 6 months on the front end for design and permitting. Total project timeline is usually 18 to 24 months from first consultation to keys. Site complexity, design changes, and weather can extend that. We build a realistic schedule into your project plan and update it as the build progresses.
Either path works. We have working relationships with local architects and designers we coordinate with regularly, or we can work from drawings you bring. For a fully integrated experience, we collaborate with the design team from day one so the design is buildable, on-budget, and accounts for site realities before plans are locked in.
Custom new construction generally runs $400 to $800+ per square foot in the Greater Seattle area, depending on finish level, lot conditions, and design complexity. A 2,500 sq ft mid-range custom home often lands in the $1M to $1.4M range for the build alone, before land, soft costs, and design fees. Tear-down adds $20K to $60K+. We provide detailed estimates after walking the site.
Seattle SDCI plan review for a new single-family home typically runs 6 to 16 weeks depending on complexity, design review triggers, environmental review, and tree code review. King County and Snohomish County have their own workflows. We prepare submittals, respond to plan reviewer comments, and coordinate the inspection schedule throughout construction.
Yes. Many of the most desirable lots in the Seattle area come with slope, drainage, or geotechnical challenges. We assess the site early, coordinate with structural and geotech engineers as needed, and design foundations and drainage systems that work with the site rather than against it. The right approach upfront prevents the expensive surprises that come with shortcuts on tough lots.
A custom new build is ground-up construction on a buildable lot, whether that's vacant land or a lot you've recently acquired. A tear-down rebuild starts with an existing home you're removing to make way for new construction. The build process is similar once the lot is clear. The difference is the demolition phase, environmental considerations for the existing structure, and any utility relocations. We handle either path end to end.
Let's talk through your lot, your goals, and what's realistic. We'll give you an honest read before you commit to anything.
Schedule Your ConsultationWe deliver on the IDEAL Promise: Integrity, Delivery on timeline and budget, Excellence in every detail, Alignment with your vision, and Listening to what you actually want. Members of the Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties and AIA affiliates, we know the local permitting, the inspectors, and the subs that consistently show up.
New construction is the longest, most complex residential project most homeowners ever take on. Working with a single accountable general contractor from site evaluation through final walkthrough is the difference between a project that goes well and one that loses six months and $100,000 to handoffs and miscommunication.
Serving homeowners in Seattle, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Everett, Mukilteo, Snohomish, and Lake Stevens.
New construction in the Pacific Northwest is a long sequence of decisions, each compounding on the last. Foundation, framing, building envelope, mechanical systems, and finishes. Every phase has to land right.
Soil evaluation, drainage planning, foundation type matched to the site (slab, stem wall, pier-and-beam), and proper depth below frost line. Foundations that handle Seattle hillsides and PNW moisture.
Engineered framing for Pacific Northwest snow loads and seismic requirements. Properly sized headers, beams, and shear walls. Built straight, square, and to spec from sill plate to ridge.
The exterior shell: flashing, weather-resistive barriers, insulation, and properly detailed window and door openings. The PNW climate is unforgiving of envelope shortcuts. We don't take them.
Heat pumps for heating and cooling, modern ducting, proper ventilation, and insulation specs that meet or exceed Washington State and Seattle Energy Codes. The home runs efficiently from day one.
Modern PEX plumbing throughout, 200-amp electrical service with EV charger circuits, GFCI safety outlets, and lighting plans that work for how the home will actually be lived in.
Cabinets installed level and plumb. Trim that fits clean against drywall and door jambs. Tile lines that run straight. The hundreds of small details that separate a home that feels finished from one that feels almost there.
We meet at the lot (or proposed lot if you haven't bought yet), discuss your goals, evaluate site conditions, and have an honest conversation about budget and timeline. We tell you what's realistic before you commit.
We coordinate with your architect or one we recommend, refine the design for the site and the build budget, and lock down the scope. Pre-construction is where the project either gets set up to succeed or gets set up for problems.
We submit to the appropriate jurisdiction (Seattle SDCI, King County, or Snohomish County), respond to plan review comments, and shepherd the project through any design review or environmental review that applies. Typically 6 to 16 weeks for new construction.
Demolition (if applicable), grading, drainage, and foundation work. The least visible part of the project but the part everything else stands on.
Framing the structure, installing the exterior envelope, and bringing in plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. We pass each inspection and document everything before the next phase covers up the previous one.
Cabinetry, tile, flooring, trim, paint, fixtures, and the dozens of small finish details. We walk through with you, build a punch list, address it, and hand over keys to a finished home with documentation, warranties, and someone to call if questions come up later.
New home construction often pairs with DADU and ADU construction on the same lot, or with decking and outdoor living additions. Coordinating through one general contractor simplifies logistics and keeps the project on a single timeline.