FAQs
Here are some common questions about LOYL Construction and our services:
About LOYL & OUR Approach
Design-build is simpler, clearer, and much safer for your budget. Instead of hiring an
architect to draw plans and then sending those plans to three different builders (all making different assumptions), you work with one integrated team from start to finish. We design your home with real costs in mind, talk about pricing as we go, and take full responsibility for both the plans and the build—so you get fewer surprises, less confusion, and a home that actually fits your budget.
We build custom homes throughout West Michigan, with a focus on the greater
Grand Rapids area and the Lakeshore. Our office is located on the north side of Grand Rapids, and from there we typically serve: We regularly build in communities like Canadian Lakes, Big Rapids, Byron Center, Cascade, Ada, and Grand Rapids, and along the lakeshore from Holland up to Onekama. As a general guideline, we build as far south as Middleville, up US-31 along the lakeshore, and up US-131 to Big Rapids. If you’re not sure whether your property is in our service area, just reach out—we’re always happy to take a look at your location and let you know what’s possible.
We do both. LOYL builds new custom homes from the ground up, guiding you through a full design-build process—from early concepts and budgeting to move-in. We design to your lifestyle and investment level, speak to pricing as we go, and use the same trusted trade partners on every home so each part of your project is handled by a true professional, not a jack-of-all-trades. We also take on larger, more Transformative renovations where we can add the most value. For these renovations, we create full 3D drawings of the interior and exterior—showing your existing home and the future version—while bringing the same systems, documentation, and trade professionals we use in our new home builds directly into the remodeling process.
We do both—but every home ends up fully customized to the way you live.
When we first meet, we start with our “Share Your Story” form so we can understand your lifestyle, priorities, and how you want to use your home. From there, we’ll look through our library of existing plans to see if any are a good starting point. Sometimes, a plan in our library is close and we’ll tailor it to you by moving walls, reworking the kitchen, adjusting room sizes, or rethinking how spaces connect. Other times, nothing fits quite right—so we’ll design a new plan from scratch, or even combine elements from multiple plans you like. Whether we start from an existing plan or a blank page, we bring it all to life in full-color 3D, so you can virtually walk through your home and really see how it will feel before we build it. So while we’re not opposed to “stock plans,” in reality our clients always make them their own—far beyond just choosing colors. The end result is a home that’s truly custom to you.
Budget, Pricing & Transparency
How much does it cost to build a custom home in West Michigan?
There isn’t one “standard” price for a custom home, because so much depends on your
location, lot conditions, square footage, design, and level of finishes. That’s exactly why people hire us—to make the numbers clear before they make big decisions. At LOYL, our job is to help you understand the full cost of your home up front, not surprise you with hidden change orders later. We walk you through site costs, utilities, lot improvements, and the home itself, and we keep pricing and design connected the entire way so you always know what you’re saying “yes” to. The best next step is a conversation. Once we know more about your land, goals, and lifestyle, we can put together a realistic budget range and help you see what’s possible—before you ever sign a construction contract.
Yes. At LOYL Construction, we only build under a fixed-price contract. That means your total project price is locked in when you sign the construction contract, not guessed at and “figured out later.” We’re not going to come back halfway through your build and say, “We misquoted the foundation,” or “We couldn’t find a roofer for that price, so you owe more.” That’s not how we operate. Our commitment to transparency means we do the hard work before you sign—scoping, pricing, and refining—so you know exactly what you’re agreeing to. The only time your price changes is if you decide to change something: add a feature, upgrade materials, or alter the scope. When that happens, we’ll clearly explain the cost difference and
get your approval before moving forward.
We prevent budget creep by designing your home and your budget together from
the very beginning. We work toward a specific square footage and investment level, and as you request changes—like making a room larger or adding cabinetry and countertops—we immediately walk through what that does to the overall cost. We’re always open to exploring ideas; we just make sure every upgrade is a conscious choice, not an accidental surprise. Throughout design, we document changes in writing using an options sheet. As the plan evolves, you’ll see exactly where we’ve added square footage, upgraded finishes, or adjusted the layout, and you’ll have the chance to clearly say yes or no to each item before it’s included. When you bring us inspiration photos, we’ll quickly talk through the cost implications of each idea so you can prioritize what matters most. Sometimes that level of honesty has even cost us projects—but we won’t compromise on our core value of transparency. Our role is to
advocate for you, protecting both your design and your budget. We’re also realistic about the emotional side. Building or renovating a home is a big deal. We can’t promise it will always be easy or completely stress-free—there will be tough decisions and honest conversations along the way. What we can promise is that we’ll show up as good people, communicate clearly, stand on the same side of the table as you, and never leave you feeling abandoned in the process.
Timeline & Process
For most of our clients, the full custom home journey—from your first call with us to move-in day—typically takes about 12 to 18 months. The exact timeline depends on a few key factors: the size and complexity of your home, your lot and location, the time of year we’re building (West Michigan weather can slow certain phases), and how quickly decisions are made along the way. One thing many people don’t realize is how much their own responsiveness impacts the schedule. When selections, approvals, or changes take longer, the overall timeline naturally stretches—even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment. Our role is to keep you informed about what’s needed next, what decisions are coming up, and how timing affects your move-in date, so there are no surprises. We do build year-round, and throughout the process we’ll keep you updated on progress, next steps, and realistic timing so you always know where things stand.
We break your custom home journey into four clear milestones so you always know where you are
and what’s coming next:
Design & Pricing (First 60 Days)
After our first call, we spend roughly 60 days on design and pricing. During this phase we evaluate your lot, refine your floor plan, discuss budget, and work toward a fixed-price contract so you know exactly what you’re saying yes to.
Pre-Construction (Next 60 Days)
Once the contract is signed, we move into a focused pre-construction phase, usually another 60 days. Here we handle permitting, gather and confirm your selections, issue purchase orders, and stake the lot. This is where we do the heavy lifting behind the scenes to set your build up for success. everything come out of the ground and take shape. We’ll guide you through key walkthroughs and updates so you’re always clear on progress and next steps.
Construction
With plans, permits, and selections in place, we begin construction. This is where you see Design & Pricing (First 60 Days) After our first call, we spend roughly 60 days on design and pricing. During this phase we evaluate your lot, refine your floor plan, discuss budget, and work toward a fixed-price contract so you know exactly what you’re saying yes to.
Post-Construction & Warranty
After move-in, we don’t disappear. You enter our post-construction and warranty phase, where we address any issues that arise, stand behind our work, and make sure your new home continues to perform the way it should.
We’re going to update you on what just happened last
week on your job and what will happen next week on your job. Sure we call, text, email, etc. but you will receive a weekly written update throughout the project. We know that our clients have a high level of experience of communication and we take that very seriously and
deliver on this expectation.
The most common cause of delays is change—changing the design, materials, finishes, or scope once the plan is already in motion. We encourage clients to speak up when
something doesn’t feel right; this is your home, and your voice matters. At the same time, every change usually comes with a ripple effect: it can impact pricing, trade schedules, lead times, and sometimes even permitting—so it often adds time to the project. To reduce delays, we work hard to make the early phases of the project really thorough. During design and pre-construction, we help you make as many decisions as possible up front and document them clearly. When you do request a change later, we use a structured change-order process: we price it, explain the impact on both budget and schedule, and get your written approval before proceeding. That way, you always understand the trade-off between “I want this” and “Here’s what it means for timing.” There are also things no builder can fully control—like weather, trade availability, or supply chain issues—but we can control how we respond. We focus on clear communication, realistic timelines, and proactive planning so that if something does slow the project down, you’re informed quickly, you understand why, and you know exactly what we’re doing to keep things moving forward.
Yes, we can absolutely begin designing before you officially own land—and in many cases, that’s the smartest move. Because we design to the property, we often come alongside clients while they’re still deciding between lots. We’ll look at the options with you, create
preliminary site concepts, and even sketch an early home design to show how each property could really live. That might include things like where the driveway and garage would go, how the home would sit on the land, and how views, sun, and privacy could be maximized. We’ve helped many clients this way—walking through multiple lot assessments and casting a clear vision for what’s possible before they commit. It’s one of our favorite parts of the process, because it helps make sure the land you buy actually supports the kind of home and lifestyle
you value.
Working with family is one of the biggest joys of LOYL Construction. Years ago, after hearing Bill Gates say that his favorite thing about his company was creating a place
where his friends and family could work, Kurt thought, “I want that.” Today, that’s our reality. You’ll see that in the way we interact—with Kurt, his sons, his wife, and even his dad having been part of the business. It creates a culture of trust, legacy, and accountability that you can feel. When your name is on the line as a family, you care a little deeper, listen a little harder, and stay a lot more invested in the outcome. For our clients, that means you’re not just another project—we treat your home like something our own family is going to walk into, and
we stand behind it that way.
Choosing the best builder isn’t just about price, Portfolio, or how pretty the photos look—it’s about trust. You want a builder you believe will still be there when something goes wrong (because in construction, something always comes up), and who will handle it the right way. The “best” builder for you is the one you’re confident will be honest with you, communicate clearly, own their mistakes, and stand beside you from the first meeting to well after you move in. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to at LOYL: when challenges show up, we don’t disappear—we show up and work through them with you.
Land, Lots & Feasibility
es—but the right first step is a lot feasibility study. We evaluate utilities (water, sewer, septic), natural gas vs. propane, electric access, setbacks, zoning, building height limits, and whether a survey exists or needs to be completed. We also review waterfront rules, HOA
requirements, and municipal regulations. Our goal is to help you clearly understand what can be built on your property before design begins.
Yes. We regularly help clients evaluate multiple properties, including lots they’re considering purchasing. An initial lot walk is typically done at no cost. If deeper evaluation is needed, we move into a design and pre-construction services agreement that includes feasibility, site evaluation, and early design work. This allows us to help clients confidently choose the right
property before committing to a full build.
We look at how the home will sit on the land—elevation, slope, driveway access, septic placement, and how Neighboring homes affect positioning. We focus heavily on views, walkout potential, daylight basements, and how the home will actually feel from inside. Sometimes that means standing in a truck bed or on a ladder to help visualize sightlines from places like the kitchen sink, sunroom, or home office. We solve these questions
on the land so the design doesn’t have to be reworked later.
Yes—always. In fact, projects tend to go worse when we don’t. We coordinate surveys, soil and septic testing, utilities, and excavation planning as part of our normal process. We buildfor our clients, not with them, because having one team manage these details saves time,
money, and frustration.
You don’t need to know them—that’s our job. We regularly work with EGLE, municipalities, and local authorities on soil erosion permits, wetlands, coastal setbacks, and environmental regulations. We respect the process, ask smart questions, and work collaboratively with
regulators to achieve the best outcome while staying within the rules.
These are considered lot improvements, not house cost. We separate them clearly from the home’s cost per square foot. Long driveways, tree clearing, grading, and excavation can range from $10,000 to over $100,000 depending on the property. We break these costs out during pre-construction so clients understand the
total investment upfront—before signing a build
contract.
Design, Style & Selections
Our work often falls into craftsman, modern Transitional, prairie, coastal, and contemporary
styles—but we’re not limited to a single look. We design based on how clients live, what they’re drawn to visually, and what fits the site. Many clients don’t know the “style
name”—they just know what they like, and we translate that into a cohesive design.
Absolutely. Many homes start from an existing plan and evolve through customization. We regularly adjust layouts, symmetry, proportions, and details based on how a client lives and what matters to them. Each iteration improves functionality and fit until the home truly feels
like theirs.
Selections are structured early through a detailed specification process that defines everything—down to cabinet hardware—before showroom visits begin. This allows vendors and designers to guide clients toward options that fit the budget. Internally, selections are
reviewed, confirmed, and visualized multiple times to prevent mistakes and reduce stress.
Yes. We offer interior design support and coordinate showroom visits for flooring, tile, countertops, cabinetry, and plumbing fixtures. The level of support is tailored—some clients want hands-on guidance, others prefer approvals digitally. Our interior designer customizes the process to each client’s comfort level.
Yes. Lifestyle needs are discussed from the very beginning. We design for work-from-home spaces, outdoor living, aging in place, multi-generational needs, and accessibility—including full wheelchair Accommodations when required. How you live drives the design.
Design begins with the land. We determine elevation, orientation, and sightlines early so views, daylight, and privacy are maximized. By solving these details before construction, the finished home matches what the client envisioned—often down to standing exactly where they imagined and seeing exactly what they hoped to see.