CUSTOM HOMES
Where Your Journey Begins
Are you dreaming of a new home but not sure how to get started? At McNamara Contracting, we make the process simple and stress-free. From the first conversation to the final walk-through, we guide you through every step of designing and building your dream home.
We believe building a home should be an exciting journey, not an overwhelming one. That’s why our process is clear, organized, and centered around your goals.
Step 1: Is a Custom Home Right for You?
The first step is to understand your needs, lifestyle, and budget. We’ll talk about:
✅ Your ideal layout and square footage
✅ Desired features (kitchen, bedrooms, outdoor space, energy efficiency goals)
✅ The lot or land where the home will be built
If you don’t yet own land, we can help you evaluate lots to make sure the property is a good fit for your home plans.
Step 2: Can It Be Built Within Budget?
During our first call, we’ll collect key details about your vision and the site conditions. These often include:
Utilities and services (well, septic, sewer, water, electrical)
Soil and foundation requirements
Any zoning or permitting factors unique to your location
Within the first 30–45 minutes, we can usually determine whether your new home plans are financially feasible and help set realistic expectations for the project budget.
Step 3: Site Visit
Once we’ve generally agreed on a budget range, the next step is an in-person site visit. This is where we:
Walk the land and review its topography, access, and conditions
Gather more details about utilities, drainage, and building requirements
Make a personal connection — because choosing the right home builder is as much about trust as it is about construction
After the site visit, we provide an on-paper estimate. This estimate uses general per-square-foot numbers and allowances based on your descriptions. It gives a realistic picture of costs while still keeping flexibility in mind.
If the budget aligns and we feel like the right fit as your contractor, the project moves into pre-construction — where final plans, permits, and contracts take shape.
Step 4: It's on to Pre-construction! See more below!
Pre-Construction Services
Why We Don’t Do “Free Estimates”
Many contractors advertise a free estimate after an initial meeting. In reality, these numbers are vague, based on countless unknowns, and nearly impossible to compare meaningfully against other estimates. Like anything quick and dirty, they’re ineffective—especially when you’re making one of the largest investments of your life.
You might think that’s what plans are for, right? Wrong.
The Problem with Free Estimates only.
Building a new home isn’t just about numbers on a page—it’s about the countless decisions and details that shape the way you’ll live for decades. Relying on a free estimate without a Pre-Construction Agreement often leads to missed details, hidden costs, and a stressful experience. If “quick and dirty” is what you’re after, the spec home market might be a better fit.
The Value of Pre-Construction Services
Our Pre-Construction Services go far beyond a generic estimate. They provide an in-depth exploration of your project through:
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Multiple meetings (in person or virtual).
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Ongoing communication via phone and email.
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Collaboration with our trusted subcontractors and design professionals.
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Thorough review of your goals, design preferences, and material selections.
This process takes months of blending your vision, our knowledge of pricing and construction practices, and the designer’s expertise to create a plan that delivers on time, on budget, and to the highest standards.
What You’ll Receive at the End of Pre-Construction
When pre-construction is complete, you’ll have everything you need to move forward with confidence:
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Full permit-ready plan sets, built to Massachusetts IRC code
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Detailed project specifications, outlining materials and building practices in text form—not just plans
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Job-specific pricing, tailored to your design
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Allowances for unselected finish materials
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Exterior elevation views
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Interior 3D renderings of kitchens and bathrooms
Start Your Plan for Success
A new home deserves more than a guess. With a Pre-Construction Agreement, you get clarity, confidence, and a clear path to success.
HOME BUILDING INSIGHTS
