Curious about the homebuilding process? We’ve answered the questions we hear most to help you feel confident every step of the way.
- Q: What are the steps to building a house in Northeast PA?
At RGB, we guide you through every step—from budget planning, lot selection, architectural design, permitting through construction, and then final walkthrough. We make the process clear and easy for every customer.
- Q: How long does it take to build a custom home in Monroe County?
The average build time for a custom home in Monroe County is about 9–12 months, depending on your home’s complexity, permitting, and weather. We keep our customers up to date throughout the process, letting them know what is going on in the construction of their home through the entire process.
- Q: What permits do I need for new construction in the Poconos?
All new homes require building and zoning permits. Depending on the lot, township, community, and state, you could need some other common permits if needed such as well, septic, development, and sewer and water connection permits. Some areas need NPDES or grading permits too depending on the amount of disturbance on the lot for water quality. RGB handles permitting for you and will walk you through every requirement.
- Q: Are there reputable builders in the Poconos with local experience?
Yes! RGB Custom Builders has been building award-winning homes in the Poconos for over 35 years. We have the most industry awards in the region and hundreds of happy customers.
- Q: What’s the difference between a custom home and a portfolio home?
We offer both portfolio and fully custom homes—portfolio homes are predesigned and adjusted plans that work great are ready to go! While custom homes let you personalize every detail. Want to schedule a call or meeting with our Design Consultants to start today?
- Q: Can I build a house on my own land in the Poconos?
That’s a great question! RGB Custom Builders has helped hundreds of customers build on their own land. Also, if you do not have your own land, RGB has its own land and exclusively RGB built communities you can choose from!
- Q: What kind of financing is available for new home construction in Northeast PA?
RGB works with local lenders who offer construction loans and can help you get pre-approved and we can guide you through the financing process.
- Q: What are the hidden costs of building a home in the Poconos?
Potential hidden costs can vary, depending on what the builder tells you upfront. RGB Builders does our best to address any possible costs that come up during construction which are either allowances or change orders. Some hidden or unknown cost can be Water Retention Berms, Land Surveying, Closing Costs, Construction Permits, Weather Related, Fill and Proper Grading, and Selection Upgrades.
- Q: Do I need to clear trees or level land before building in the Poconos?
This all depends on the lot, house design, and the area where the lot is. Certain developments have requirements for keeping a certain amount of trees. Also, depending on the design of the house with local and state ordinances will determine if you need to change the topography of the land.
- Q: How much does it cost to build a new home in the Poconos?
Costs for a new home in the Poconos can vary depending on the size, design, and lot conditions. At RGB Custom Builders, portfolio homes start around $350,000, with custom homes varying based on your selections and finishes. We offer free consultations to go through the building process and what we have to offer.
- Q: How do I pick the right lot or land for my new home?
RGB Builders has helped hundreds of customers pick and choose the perfect lot for their new home! Depending on your circumstances, you can either pick the house and choose a lot that it works with, or you can have the piece a property and choose a house plan that works with the land. RGB can help you figure out what you would like to do there.
- Q: What is the process for selecting finishes and upgrades?
Our process at RGB is once you sign the contract to buld your new home, you will choose all of your selections, finishes, and upgrades with our Design Center Manager in our in office Design Center!
- Q: How do I make sure my new home is energy efficient?
All RGB Homes follow the most up to date codes and standards when it comes to efficiency in the home. You can call us today to discuss the energy efficient ways we build our homes such as using zip board and tape for keeping the house tight and sealed from air leakage.
- Q: What townships in the Poconos are best for building a new house?
This comes down to what is important to you as the customer. RGB has built in all the townships in the Poconos. It comes down to questions such as what school district do you want to live in? Do you want to live near outdoor activities like hiking trails? Do you prefer a gated community or open land? We can help you figure out where your dream location is!
- Q: Are there new developments or communities for single family homes in Monroe, Pike, or Northampton counties?
Yes! RGB can help find you a lot in one of our exclusive RGB built communities! We can also help you locate a property if you would like to build in an area we currently do not have a community in.
- Q: How do I check if a lot has access to water, sewer, and utilities?
Call your local Township or Borough to discuss any utility access questions for a specific piece of land. Working with RGB, we can help you through any questions or needs regarding land and what is required or offered!
- Q: Are there home builders who can help with both land and house in one package?
RGB Custom Builders is the most award-winning builder in the Poconos, with over 35 years of experience and we offer house land packages for all our exclusive lots and communities!
- Q: What do I need to know about septic vs. public sewer in the Poconos?
In the Poconos, some lots have septic’s, some lots have public sewer. It all depends on where you want to build your house, and what is available. Public sewer is when you hook up to the town, city, or developments sewer system. Septic’s are your own personal sewage system. Both septic and public sewer are viable, reliable options.
- Q: What is the timeline for getting permits approved?
Permits vary by township and type of permit. Typically building and zoning permits take around 3-4 weeks in the Poconos to be reviewed and approved. Permits such as NPDES permits can take around 1 year to complete. We handle permitting for you when choosing to build with RGB.
- Q: How do I choose the right floor plan for my family?
Our Design Consultants at RGB Builders can walk you through the process of choosing a house plan that suits your family needs! Discussing with you all aspects of what you are looking for in your dream home from first floor living to an open concept with 9 ft ceilings, RGB will be able to help you find or design a plan for your new home!
- Q: What warranties come with a new home?
At RGB Custom Builders, we offer a 90 day and 1-year RGB Builder warranty where we schedule with you to come back to the house and take care of certain items that you fill out on our RGB Warranty list. We also offer a 12-year third party warranty with every house!
- Q: How customizable are portfolio home designs?
Our portfolio plans are proven and trusted! You can make adjustments to the original portfolio plan as much as you would like. Modifying the plan can cost more money depending on the changes.
- Q: What’s the process for making changes after construction has started?
Before we start construction on your house, we have our customers go over the house plans, plot plan, and all selections to make sure they approve of everything! If something is brought up that you want to change during construction, we will evaluate if it is early enough in construction to make that specific change. If it is early enough, we will write up a change order with the increased cost to make the change and have you the customer sign off on it.
- Q: Are there additional costs for building on a sloped lot?
Cost can vary greatly depending on the lot. If the lot is sloped, there are multiple factors that can come into play that can increase the budget. Some of those costs could be extra block or concrete for a larger foundation, extra fill dirt and stone to make the house livable and have proper drainage, and potential hammering cost to work with rock in the ground to install the foundation.
- Q: How does the selections process work for picking finishes?
Once you are completed with your house plans and close on the contract, our design center manager works with you to go over all selections in the house ranging from wall colors to cabinet hardware to style of trim and everything in between! All of these selections are done in our in office design studio!