FAQs
How much does a custom home cost to build in Humboldt County in 2025?
The square foot price is a common metric in the custom home buyer's journey, representing the cost per square foot of finished living space in a custom home. While convenient, it can be misleading as it often excludes outdoor spaces, garage footage, and peripheral site work on large lots. While suitable for comparing subdivision homes on flat lots, for custom projects, it only reveals half of the story.
With that caveat, a good rule of thumb for Humboldt County residential projects is $400 to $600 per square foot for a well-appointed custom home.
What does a remodel cost in 2025?
Humboldt County remodels can cost from $350 to $625 per square foot for a detailed remodel project. While this range may be useful for planning purposes, the actual square foot cost of your remodel project can vary a lot depending on which areas of your home are involved. Remodeling a living room or bedroom that remains within the existing footprint of the home can be very low cost, while the most expensive part of the home is often the kitchen or bathroom. Any changes to the home's footprint or structure have a large impact on the final cost of the project.
The best way to get a price for your Humboldt County remodel is to call us. We can discuss your project and provide rough estimates which can help your planning and decision-making. Call us at 707-768-8001
How long does the planning/designing and permitting process take and how difficult is it?
As you might guess, planning and permitting times and difficulty vary based on many factors including jurisdiction, scope of work, and the size of the project. In Humboldt County, some projects are in areas that require more careful planning because of the California Coastal Commission, or other sensitive habitat related regulations. We are well-equipped and familiar with all of the hoops to jump through and red tape to deal with in order to give your project the best chance of moving forward. We prefer to deal with the permitting ourselves, minimizing your required participation and stress. The planning and design process is a more enjoyable experience, and the pace does often depend on how decisive you are when it comes to picking the many components and styles that are required for a well thought out custom home.
With all of that said, a custom home can be planned and started in as little as 3-4 months, or take as long as one year or longer if the project is located within the California Coastal Commission zone.
What does the process look like to begin planning for my custom home, ADU, or Tiny Home on Wheels?
We always begin the process by first understanding who you are and what your needs and desires are for your project. We want to make sure that we are offering the best solution and most efficient path forward. From there, we need to build an understanding of what opportunities or restrictions your property may hold. Then begins the planning process behind the scenes, while beginning the detailed design process to make sure we cover every last detail that goes into building your dream project.
What is the difference between an ADU or a Tiny Home on Wheels?
ADU’s are accessory dwelling units that are permanent secondary structures on your property, whether it is a detached building or a converted garage. They are often built for allowing a private dwelling for family members or guests, allowing elders to age in place more safely, bring in rental income, or create private office or creative space. You can build a music or ceramics studio, custom podcast set, or just about anything else you can dream of.
Tiny Homes are similar to ADU’s but are built on a fully mobile trailer frame. They are bound by far less restrictions, and are often purchased for unique properties that cannot be built on. They can have on-board potable water as well as black water, allowing them to be completely self-sufficient and pumped out by a local port-a-potty company instead of needing a full septic system installed on your property. They have many of the same overlapping uses as an ADU and can absolutely be used as a permanent dwelling.
Can I be on site while my home is being built? How involved can we be?
Yes! We love our homeowners being involved and expect you to always feel welcomed and comfortable on your own property as your dream is being constructed. We will do our best to keep a clean, safe job site, and make any hazards obvious and very visible. We will also inform you if there are any particular days where being on site may not be advised. We are honored by your desire to be involved, and enjoy the relationships that are made along the way with all of the employees, subcontractors and homeowners.