Although E.S. Johnson Builders has acquired a great reputation over our twenty years, many don’t know that many of our award winning homes are built outside of our Communities.  E.S. Johnson Builders has been built around building great homes for great families where they want to live.

Building on your own lot takes an experienced builder.  In communities the building lot has been pre approved, septic permit, land engineering complete and utilities are in.  What are the pitfalls your lot may pose?

Points to consider when selecting a Build on your lot Builder.

1. Choose a builder with the experience of building on a customer’s land.  Inside master planned communities the building process is easier because all the infrastructure is in place.  Building on your own lot requires a builder that can navigate his way around the many pitfalls that can happen in the upfront due-diligence.
2. Choose a builder that can provide you the plan you want, not the one he thinks you should have.  Plans can be derived three ways: stock or “portfolio” plan, modify a portfolio plan, or create a custom plan that has what you desire specific to that lot and meets your budget.  A good builder should be able to do all three for you.
3. Choose a builder that can stand by the service of the home.  Has he been building in your area for a long time?  Does he have the reputation of taking care of his customers after the sale?
4. Choose a builder that is large enough to have great buying power so you receive the best prices for all building goods.

Living where you want, on land you may have dreamed about for years, has become an essential part of the American dream. In a culture that values individuality and self-expression, more people are opting to buy their land first, and then building a custom or semi-custom home.

By hiring a builder with a strong build on your lot program, homebuyers can save money as well as the hassle of hiring their own architect and general contractor. Build on your lot builders will assist you with site evaluations, floorplans, permits, coordination, construction, and in some cases, even financing.

Are you ready for the next step?

For a free lot evaluation, call Eric Johnson at E.S. Johnson Builders and he can show you the roadmap to your home building journey.

Here are some pictures from this very special home in Springfield.  Although only approximately only 3200 sq ft this empty nester home gives the owner everything they wanted.  Its design and details were to create a feeling of being on permanent vacation.  It is very reminiscent of homes in the NC highlands.

Designed by Frank Betz

This Frank Betz designed home will be listed by Debbie Williams of Allen Tate Realtors for $1,299,000.  This waterfront lot is located in one of Lake Norman’s long standing great neighborhoods, Lookout Point.  This lot exists for this rare new construction opportunity because a house fire took this home a few years ago.  The result is a large lot that is perfectly flat with a view that goes for miles and a dock.  The trees you see on the lot will all remain.

Heavily wooded lot already cleared with no more trees coming down

Miles of view. North west facing.

The home is to have all that you would expect from an E.S. Johnson Builders Luxury Home.  Exquisite moldings, white painted cabinets, wide plank hardwood floors, polished nickel fixtures, glass door knobs, great outdoor space and well thought out design.

The home is scheduled to have the same outside colors scheme as the home below.  However, we are eager to have you select all the custom colors yourself with the help of our in house design staff.

If interested, please don’t hesitate to call us at 704-987-7950 or contact Debbie Williams with Allen Tate at 704-574-3680.

Thanks for reading…..

Need to Buy a lot?  E.S. Johnson Builders has many partnerships with the realtor community and we can help you find the realtor that specializes in the area you desire.  Call us today and we can help you get there.

Here are some of the key points when selecting a builder for on your lot.

1. As a true custom builder, building on Lake Norman and the Charlotte area since 1989, experience is the driving force to a well executed plan for your lot.  There are over 12 jurisdictions that now oversee the land and permits in the Charlotte area.  You need a seasoned vet that knows how to navigate each individual jurisdictions nuances.
2. Value driven.  Does the builder have your best interests at heart when speaking to you?

Here are some examples of homes we have built outside of our communities.

In an effort for builders to build value into our homes, get them appraised properly and ultimately get them sold we have seen the quality level of materials and craftsmanship really slide in other builders.  As a competitor of many of these people I dont want to speak to the craftsmanship part but to the material component of the new value paradigm.

Custom Homes have always been built by those that could perform changes, expert design analysis, use multitudes of products, use a diverse subcontractor base due to many levels of quality, and implementation with a unique level of customer service.  You knew that regardless of who you picked he would listen, have your back, work hard and do everything he could to back of his product however hard it was.  We are seeing something far different.

New products come about everyday that will change our industry forever.  Some of these have become common place and accepted in almost every custom home because their cost to benefit ratio is so high they become convention.  For example, Advantech OSB floor underlayment, looks like waferboard but is not.  Advantech outperforms its competitor 20 to 1.  Its not even close, but it only costs $825 more.  The benefits are moisture resistance, no delamination, no warping, no cupping, no call backs feels better under foot.  I can nail hardwoods into this, the other you can’t, but yet in one of my neighborhoods I am seeing where three builders are doing just that.  You will splitting, cracking, noisy hardwood floors inside of 9 months in this humid climate

What do we see now?  19/32″ OSB ,,,,, I hear Crickets.  This is the stuff that homes one third its price wouldn’t even let it in.

Some other examples:  These are things you hire a Custom Builder to present to you and discuss and not just put in the cheapest stuff in the world

Windows – Wood With Aluminum Clad exteriors have now moved to hollow vinyl windows.  This was a big blow in quality.  Big win in Price though, about half as much and more maintenance free.  The problems, look cheaper, not as energy effiicent, etc.  My point is that for only $550 a house more you could get a better constructed, longer lasting, better warrantied, easier to operate Pella hollow vinyl window.

Lumber – Custom Builders usually use moderate to good graded lumber material or #1,#2.  We use western studs vs, Eastern studs because they have less moisture and less shrinking while you live in your home resulting in nail pops, drywall corner cracks.  We selfishly used them so we had a happier customer and less call backs.  Price for this $75 a house.  They are now using #3 lumber.  You will notice this the first frost of the year when you look at someones roof and you can see all the bows in it.

The Stanford (King Residence)

This home will be located on Harbor Light Drive which is the road that leads to the Peninsula Yacht Club.  The homes Gambrel roof style spans the full width of the home.  The empty nester home has become the most popular asked for home in recent months.  This home will feature White painted cedar shake, bluestone floors on the porches and a large open plan with 10′ and 12′ ceilings on the main floor.  The second floor will have seasonal views of the water on Lake Norman.

The Peninsula is residential neighborhood started nearly twenty years and has become the choice for Charlotte Luxury Homes and families that desire Lake Community living.  Its private Country Club, The Peninsula Club, is a fantastic waterfront golf course that has water front on eight of its holes.  The club also boasts a very active tennis community as well.  The club is very active with children as they have year round activities at the pool clubhouse and the summer is full of camps.

Here are some of the other homes we have built in the Peninsula.

The Fishers Island

Nantucket Farmhouse

Springmill Plan

The upstairs is setup for the empty nester Lifestyle: just big enough for guests, small enough to clean, and the unfinished bonus room can be finished for resale.

With Sconset’s gated streets you can feel safe and secure. With the extensive landscaped entry of Sconset Village and the main street of The Point, you have the appeal of a luxury community without the price.  The Trump National Golf Club at Charlotte is now open and gives you again all the luxury you could possibly want without the price.

This home is just one of E.S. Johnson Builder’s builder portfolio.

Robert M. Stern – Greatest Residential Architect of this time