Resources
Articles & Insights for Custom Home Building
The Homeowner’s Role in the Building Process
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
Partnering with your builder for the best results Homebuilding has changed significantly over the last hundred years, especially since the 1950s, when the housing industry boomed after World War II. Building a home in a classic, hands-on way is far from...
The Advantage of a “Single-Source” Builder
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Tested and proven work, products, and materials As a professional builder, we understand the importance of meeting or exceeding the expectations of our homebuyers. We stay current with trends in residential design and construction. We offer choices that fit...
Structure and Processes
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Beware the disorganized builder Investing in the design and construction of a new home is a daunting task—and something most people do just once or maybe twice in a lifetime. The last thing you need is a builder who doesn't have it together. Why does that...
Investing in Quality
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
The least expensive option may not be the best value Choosing a home builder based on the lowest cost per square foot or the lowest sales price may not provide the best value. For an investment so important to your family’s future, the least expensive option...
Francis M. Payne III
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Francis M. Payne III (aka “Mike”, “Big Mike”, “Mike Sr”), who founded Payne & Payne Builders in 1993 alongside his brother, Dave, passed away on the morning of 12-25-24. He leaves behind his wife of 28 years, Annie, four sons, Mike (Gina), Eric (Lia), Dave...
Protect Your Homes From Ice Dams!
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
Many of us enjoy the ambience of the winter season. However, the snow and cold that creates that atmoshpere can have disastrous effects on your home. Ice dams are the result of normal heat loss from your home melting the bottom layers of snow on your roof. Cold air...
Safety First
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
Building Success 101Professional builders do what is needed to keep everyone out of harm’s way There's no getting around it: construction can be a hazardous job. We say "can be" because professional builders respect those hazards and equip and train their workers to...
“Brother” Companies
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Specialization and focus are the keys to being the best. In response to many requests, Payne & Payne began serving clients with renovations and additions in the late 2000’s, complimenting and building upon their well-known custom home brand. Entering the...
How to Check References
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Some tips for getting the most from this important step Most builders are happy to provide a list of people for whom they have recently built homes. They encourage prospective clients to call these references and ask about their experience and level of...
Your Home’s Nerve Center
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
The electrical system is a hidden key to high performance From time to time, people in the building business will compare the parts of a house to a living body. For example, a home’s structural frame may be described as a skeletal system, comparing the home’s...
How Much Will It Cost?
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Home pricing is a complex subject. Here’s how we answer the most common question. One question we get a lot is “What’s the per-square-foot cost of your homes?” Some potential clients come with numbers they found on the internet. Others quote realtors who...
Will Your Custom Home Offer These Benefits?
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Five questions to ask for your future health and comfort Along with great design and quality construction, most homebuyers want their new home to provide a healthy, comfortable environment and lower energy bills. They want a builder who can ensure those...
Can You Finish My Home By…?
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Understanding the variables that impact the schedule Many clients approach a builder with an idea about how long it should take to finish their new home. Some underestimate the time the project will require, and others expect it to take a lot longer. Every...
So Many Regulations
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Builders need to navigate a maze of government regulations, but homeowners can help A successful building process is a predictable one, with no unpleasant surprises. Predictability comes from good planning, as well-planned projects tend to stay on budget and on...
Controlling Allowances
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Strict allowance policies benefit homeowners as much as builders. Why do builders prefer that homeowners choose every item that will go into the house before they break ground? It’s not just for the builder’s convenience. Any later choice may end up being made when...
Solving the Price Puzzle
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Custom home pricing is a complex subject. Here are a way to think about it. How much do cars cost? The obvious answer is that it depends. You'll pay way more for a Tesla Model S than for a Toyota Camry. That's no surprise to anyone. Then why do so many people think a...
Pretty Good Isn’t Excellent
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Companies built for production work aren't built for perfect work On the surface, it’s easy to describe the difference between production and custom builders. The production builder follows the same basic home plans over and over, while the custom builder creates a...
Protect Your Homes From Ice Dams!
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
Many of us enjoy the ambience of the winter season. However, the snow and cold that creates that atmoshpere can have disastrous effects on your home. Ice dams are the result of normal heat loss from your home melting the bottom layers of snow on your roof. Cold air...
The Resilient Home
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Using current knowledge about building science helps to weather storms One benefit of a high-quality new custom home is that it will better handle severe weather events and power outages. These are a fact of life in all parts of the country. From Atlantic hurricanes...
What Drives a Home’s Price?
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Builders need a lot of information to arrive at an accurate number Every now and then a homeowner will call to ask how much our new homes cost per square foot. The answer, of course, depends on a range of variables. Some of these are obvious, and others less so. The...
Investing in Quality
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
The least expensive option may not be the best value Choosing a home builder based on the lowest cost per square foot or the lowest sales price may not provide the best value. For an investment so important to your family’s future, the least expensive option...
How Much Will It Cost?
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Home pricing is a complex subject. Here’s how we answer the most common question. One question we get a lot is “What’s the per-square-foot cost of your homes?” Some potential clients come with numbers they found on the internet. Others quote realtors who...
Will Your Custom Home Offer These Benefits?
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Five questions to ask for your future health and comfort Along with great design and quality construction, most homebuyers want their new home to provide a healthy, comfortable environment and lower energy bills. They want a builder who can ensure those...
Solving the Price Puzzle
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Custom home pricing is a complex subject. Here are a way to think about it. How much do cars cost? The obvious answer is that it depends. You'll pay way more for a Tesla Model S than for a Toyota Camry. That's no surprise to anyone. Then why do so many people think a...
Pretty Good Isn’t Excellent
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Companies built for production work aren't built for perfect work On the surface, it’s easy to describe the difference between production and custom builders. The production builder follows the same basic home plans over and over, while the custom builder creates a...
What Drives a Home’s Price?
Mar 24, 2026 | Cost & Value
Builders need a lot of information to arrive at an accurate number Every now and then a homeowner will call to ask how much our new homes cost per square foot. The answer, of course, depends on a range of variables. Some of these are obvious, and others less so. The...
The Homeowner’s Role in the Building Process
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
Partnering with your builder for the best results Homebuilding has changed significantly over the last hundred years, especially since the 1950s, when the housing industry boomed after World War II. Building a home in a classic, hands-on way is far from...
Protect Your Homes From Ice Dams!
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
Many of us enjoy the ambience of the winter season. However, the snow and cold that creates that atmoshpere can have disastrous effects on your home. Ice dams are the result of normal heat loss from your home melting the bottom layers of snow on your roof. Cold air...
Safety First
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
Building Success 101Professional builders do what is needed to keep everyone out of harm’s way There's no getting around it: construction can be a hazardous job. We say "can be" because professional builders respect those hazards and equip and train their workers to...
Your Home’s Nerve Center
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
The electrical system is a hidden key to high performance From time to time, people in the building business will compare the parts of a house to a living body. For example, a home’s structural frame may be described as a skeletal system, comparing the home’s...
Protect Your Homes From Ice Dams!
Mar 24, 2026 | The Home
Many of us enjoy the ambience of the winter season. However, the snow and cold that creates that atmoshpere can have disastrous effects on your home. Ice dams are the result of normal heat loss from your home melting the bottom layers of snow on your roof. Cold air...
The Advantage of a “Single-Source” Builder
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Tested and proven work, products, and materials As a professional builder, we understand the importance of meeting or exceeding the expectations of our homebuyers. We stay current with trends in residential design and construction. We offer choices that fit...
Structure and Processes
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Beware the disorganized builder Investing in the design and construction of a new home is a daunting task—and something most people do just once or maybe twice in a lifetime. The last thing you need is a builder who doesn't have it together. Why does that...
Francis M. Payne III
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Francis M. Payne III (aka “Mike”, “Big Mike”, “Mike Sr”), who founded Payne & Payne Builders in 1993 alongside his brother, Dave, passed away on the morning of 12-25-24. He leaves behind his wife of 28 years, Annie, four sons, Mike (Gina), Eric (Lia), Dave...
“Brother” Companies
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Specialization and focus are the keys to being the best. In response to many requests, Payne & Payne began serving clients with renovations and additions in the late 2000’s, complimenting and building upon their well-known custom home brand. Entering the...
How to Check References
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Some tips for getting the most from this important step Most builders are happy to provide a list of people for whom they have recently built homes. They encourage prospective clients to call these references and ask about their experience and level of...
Can You Finish My Home By…?
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Understanding the variables that impact the schedule Many clients approach a builder with an idea about how long it should take to finish their new home. Some underestimate the time the project will require, and others expect it to take a lot longer. Every...
So Many Regulations
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Builders need to navigate a maze of government regulations, but homeowners can help A successful building process is a predictable one, with no unpleasant surprises. Predictability comes from good planning, as well-planned projects tend to stay on budget and on...
Controlling Allowances
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Strict allowance policies benefit homeowners as much as builders. Why do builders prefer that homeowners choose every item that will go into the house before they break ground? It’s not just for the builder’s convenience. Any later choice may end up being made when...
The Resilient Home
Mar 24, 2026 | The Building Process
Using current knowledge about building science helps to weather storms One benefit of a high-quality new custom home is that it will better handle severe weather events and power outages. These are a fact of life in all parts of the country. From Atlantic hurricanes...