In this era of economic uncertainty, it’s common to wonder when is the best time to buy a home. Should you wait for mortgage rates to drop? Should you pounce on an available property? The question isn’t always a simple yes or no and has many factors to consider. But when it comes to building a custom home, it doesn’t always make sense to wait. Here are a few points to consider when weighing whether you should wait to make the move on building your custom home:   1. The market is unpredictable: Simply put—timing the market is extremely challenging. Even mortgage rates; no one predicted the ..read more

A custom home is exactly how it sounds—custom to your specific tastes, lifestyle, needs, and budget. Unlike a spec home, building a custom home gives you the freedom to choose nearly every product and design element, from the layout and style to the faucet finishes to the addition of an office or hobby room. And the benefit of working with a design-build company like Estes Builders means our in-house team will guide you through the design and selection process toward a house that ticks items on your wish list and accommodates your budget in the most efficient and beautiful ways. A custom home ..read more

As 2024 begins, we couldn’t be more grateful to our customers, our team, and all of our vendors and partners who helped make 2023 rewarding and successful. This past year marked a significant milestone as we proudly celebrated the completion of our 550th home—a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence. Most of the homes we built offered sweeping views—of mountains, water, and even Canada—preserved with thoughtful design and appreciated through expansive windows and doors and comfortable outdoor spaces. And throughout, our design/build process ensured we ticked off the details that ..read more

Picture it: You’ve found the perfect property. Perhaps it has beautiful views or a forest backdrop. Or maybe it’s walking distance into town. Unfortunately, this perfect parcel comes with an imperfect house, one that’s too dated or completely unfit for today’s lifestyles. What do you do? Should you undergo an extensive remodel? Or is it smarter to tear down and rebuild?   The decision whether to buy a home only to tear it down isn’t always easy. There are a number of factors to consider.    When Does It Make Sense to Tear Down and Rebuild? Unfortunately, there’s not always a cu ..read more

Thinking about bringing your dream home to life in 2024? Selecting design elements and products is always a balance of what you like, what’s on trend, and what will stand the test of time.   What’s popular in the Pacific Northwest and the Salish Sea as we transition to a new year? Here’s a look at what we’re seeing in our newest homes and designs.    Dynamic Kitchen Islands Kitchen islands are of course a perennial must-have for home buyers, but they’re also getting more and more interesting in looks and functionality. We’re seeing demand for decorative elements that lend a ..read more

Working with a custom builder is the opportunity to build the home of your dreams—to get nearly every inch of the design, every product decision, ever style choice precisely to your liking. That freedom does come at a cost, however, and wish lists and budgets can balloon quickly. Here are a few tips to help save money when building a custom home.   1. Manage your wish list: This is perhaps the easiest and hardest way to trim your costs. It can be a challenge to part with your vision. But most buyers can’t have every single thing, so smart decisions will be needed. We recommend dividing yo ..read more

Dreamy design. Complex site work. Accurate budget and timeline. Before you start designing and building a custom home, you need a good coach.   Help us welcome “coach” Amy Pinker to the team! The key to a drama free, guaranteed price build relies on helping you start your property and home design on solid footing – this means knowing what’s important, understanding your budget, your timeline, and how your design decisions impact everything.  This beginning stage in the process is so important to our mutual success (getting your dream built) that we start you out with compl ..read more

Outdoor living spaces have been trending for years, amplified in part by the pandemic. And even though the Pacific Northwest is known for its wetter weather and darker winters, we love the outdoors and aren’t willing to sacrifice time in the fresh air. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to create beautiful outdoor living spaces for entertaining or relaxing while still accommodating our area’s unique climate. Consider these ideas for your Pacific Northwest outdoor living space:   1. Maximize Covered Areas The biggest detriment to enjoying time outdoors is rain, so make sure at least part of ..read more

Outdoor living spaces have been trending for years, amplified in part by the pandemic. And even though the Pacific Northwest is known for its wetter weather and darker winters, we love the outdoors and aren’t willing to sacrifice time in the fresh air. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to create beautiful outdoor living spaces for entertaining or relaxing while still accommodating our area’s unique climate. Consider these ideas for your Pacific Northwest outdoor living space:   1. Maximize Covered Areas The biggest detriment to enjoying time outdoors is rain, so make sure at least part of ..read more

Who hasn’t had the thought, “What I could do with just one more day off!” You’ve undoubtedly heard in conversation, experienced directly, or seen references in the news – the pandemic has had a long-tail effect. What has us thinking the most includes: Reflecting on life and what it means to LIVE Labor shortages Terms in the news like “The Great Resignation” and “Quiet Quitting” Pursuing passions Spending quality time with loved ones Liking where you work and not accepting otherwise Work-life balance We’ve been fortunate to maintain a steady workflow in these past years (thank you for choosi ..read more