Designing and building your custom home should be an exciting journey, not a stressful one.
At Alden Homes, we’ve refined our process over 20 years to ensure transparency, collaboration, and peace of mind at every stage. From your initial design consultation to the day you receive your keys, our experienced team is by your side—keeping you informed, addressing your concerns, and bringing your vision to life with precision and care.
Watch Bill explain our design and sales process.
1 Consultation & Design
Our process begins with a no-strings-attached in-person consultation where we listen to your vision and learn about your lifestyle needs. Bring along your inspiration—photos, floor plans, Pinterest boards, or any ideas you’re hoping to incorporate into your dream home.
During this meeting, we’ll share our construction expertise, explore design possibilities, answer your questions, and provide transparent pricing information. It’s also a chance for us to get to know each other and ensure we’re the right partner for your project.
Within a day or two, we’ll be back in touch with an itemized pricing estimate.
2 Project Contract
To take the next step, we’ll provide you with a contract for your building project. Just sign it and provide a down payment.
One of our distinctions is that the down payment is fully refundable until you approve the final plans. We understand the process of building a home can feel complex, so Alden Homes offers this no-pressure contingency to eliminate unnecessary stress.
3 Review Plans & Kitchen Design
We’ll review your floor plan in detail and discuss any revisions you’d like to make.
Since the kitchen serves as the heart of the home, we dedicate special attention to this space. You’ll meet with our Kitchen Designer to ensure every element reflects your style and functionality needs—so bring any inspiration photos you’ve collected.
If any modifications impact your budget, we’ll communicate those costs upfront so you can make informed decisions about what to include in your final design.
4 Selections
Now comes the exciting part – selecting the materials and elements that will bring your home to life. You’ll work closely with our Designer to choose cabinetry, flooring, paint colors and finishes, and smart home elements that reflect your personal style.
Our Designer will guide you through each decision, making the process enjoyable and stress-free while ensuring every detail aligns with your vision.
5 Construction & Communication
As we move forward together, transparency and communication are our priorities. You’ll receive access to our online portal where you can monitor the build schedule, view progress photos, and submit requests—all in one place. The portal also keeps you informed about project expenses and payment schedules.
Have any questions or concerns during the project? Easily reach out through the portal and our team will respond promptly.
6 Finishing Up & Warranty
As your home nears completion, we’ll schedule a comprehensive pre-closing walk-through together. This gives you the opportunity to see every detail of your finished home and ask any final questions.
We’ll also review our warranty coverage to ensure you’re fully protected should any issues arise down the road.
Then it’s time for the best part—moving into your dream home and starting the next chapter.
What Homeowners Have to Say
Watch Al and Charlotte’s Story to learn more about the Alden Homes experience.
Financing
Need financing for your new home? Alden Homes works with trusted lenders who understand our building process, timelines, and documentation requirements. We’re happy to connect you with experienced professionals who can help you secure the right financing for your project.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are common questions and answers about our design/build process. Please contact us if you have additional questions.
Absolutely. Our floor plans are starting points, not fixed blueprints. Most clients make at least some modifications — whether that’s adjusting room sizes, adding a bedroom, reconfiguring the layout, or making structural changes. During your initial consultation and plan review, our designer will work through any revisions with you. If modifications affect your budget, we’ll communicate those costs upfront so you can make informed decisions before anything is finalized.
Yes. In addition to our own communities, we build on customer-owned lots throughout the area. Factors like lot size, shape, topography, and local zoning all play a role in determining which floor plans are the best fit. Bring your lot information to your initial consultation and we’ll help you find a plan that works — or modify one that gets you where you want to be.
The timeline depends on the complexity of your design, your selection process, permitting requirements, and site conditions. The design and selection process can be short as several weeks, and the build itself typically runs several more months from groundbreaking to closing. We’ll give you a realistic timeline estimate during your consultation and keep you updated throughout the project via our online portal.
Yes. Several of our communities are HOA-governed, which helps protect property values and maintain consistent neighborhood standards. HOA guidelines may influence certain design choices — such as exterior finishes, roof styles, or lot coverage — and we’ll walk you through any applicable requirements as part of the planning process so there are no surprises.
Yes, we do have some move-in ready or nearly-completed homes available. Availability changes, so the best way to find out what’s currently on the market is to reach out directly or check with Alden Realty. If you’re open to the custom process but concerned about timeline, we’re happy to talk through options that might work for your situation.
We stand behind our work. Alden Homes provides warranty coverage on your new home to protect you after closing — covering workmanship, materials, and major structural components according to Pennsylvania’s new home warranty standards. We review warranty specifics with you during your pre-closing walk-through so you know exactly what’s covered and how to reach us if anything comes up.
Take the Next Step Today
Schedule your no strings attached pricing meeting to sit down with our designer. We’d love to hear about what is on your wish list for your dream home, and within a day or two, you’ll have an itemized pricing estimate for building your new home.