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Logistical FAQs |
1. When Should I Talk to the People at FirstDay? Right away. We are a support team. We can give you advice about buying land. We'll teach you about wells, septic systems and driveways. We're happy to look at any sketches or plans you have, because it's the quickest way for us to become familiar with what you want. We will then respond by sending you a sketch of our own, which will take your ideas and adapt them to FirstDay. Talking with us is the best way to determine if FirstDay is right for you. Start with us in the beginning and you'll find a personal contact who will work with you from beginning to end.
2. How do I Visit the FirstDay Company? If you want to visit us, we encourage it. We have several FirstDays very close to us and are shortly beginning construction on a FirstDay for our new office. We live and work in a charming New England Village in southwest New Hampshire. Come and visit and spend some time talking about FirstDay. We have models, photographs, house plans, and sample materials. We will talk about design. We'll take you to see a house. But make sure you call first. We're not always all here. We are two hours from Boston, four hours from New York City and are only one and a half hours North of Bradley International Airport in Hartford.
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. Can I Visit a FirstDay Cottage Near Where I Live? We can arrange for you to visit a FirstDay if there is one in your area. Give us a call, and we will contact the people who will be your hosts. We insist that you take your hosts a nice present, because in most cases your hosts will be spending half a day with you. Bring something special such as a really good bottle of wine or a nice book. You will find that most FirstDay owners are extremely hospitable and are excited to share their story. Respect their effort and share their pride.4
. How Do I Finance FirstDay? Most people finance FirstDay through local conventional means. Those that encounter resistance will get help from us. We can help guide you to various banks or co-ops. We can also talk to the bank and send them information to help them believe in the project. When you go to banks or lending institutions, they always have a lot of questions, and we've answered them all. Remember that bankers and other lenders are in competition with each other. Visit lots of them and make them compete for your business. If needed, we will also give you advice on how to hire an "associate contractor." Some banks like to have a licensed professional involved on the job.5
. How Much Will It Cost? As a rough quote, we tell people the basic kits cost roughly $30 a square foot. Since every house is different this number changes from design to design. The kit for single story additions or structures cost roughly $35 -$50 a square foot. These numbers are rough, but should help you with budgeting. Here are sample costs for a completed FirstDay (remember all estimates are rough averages and will vary up to 75% if you are not careful):* Heating & A/C varies according to the system and the size of the house from $1,000 - $5,000. The $2,000 figure is a rough average.
Basic FirstDay Kit 16' X 30' $26,900 Excavation & Fill $3,000 Foundation $5,000 Plumbing $4,000 Wiring $3,500 Heat & A/C $2,500* TOTAL $44,900
Extra doors, windows, cabinets and foam insulation (to meet local codes) can also be added to the kit for extra cost. To get a current quote and costs for your area, give us a call.
6. What are Shipping Costs? We will give you a quote on shipping. Shipping is free within 100 miles of Walpole, New Hampshire. Beyond 100 miles, shipping is charged at cost by 3rd party carrier. Current shipping costs are roughly $2.25-$2.50 per mile from Walpole, NH. A whole kit is typically shipped on a 40' trailer. For local deliveries, we often ship in a few stages on smaller trucks. During the months of December, January and February we offer up to $500 off of shipping for kits shipped on the full 40' trailer.
7. How Do I Order a FirstDay? When you decide to order, send us a $1000 deposit, and we'll give you a contract for our kit and begin working with you on your final design. After the design is done, you can expect a final quote on your kit. We then need three weeks final notice to package and ship the kit. Another $1000 is due one week before delivery. The balance, in the form of a certified check, is due before the kit leaves our yard.
FAQs - The House
FAQs - Building