Having built fine custom homes for the last 26 years, we have found that potential homeowners tend to ask the same kinds of questions:

" What do I need to do first?
" How long will the building process take?
" Who can I go to for advice in home design?
" What does the building process entail?
" What does your price per square foot not include?

What do I need to do first?
The first thing needed to build a house of any description is land. This is necessary before anything else so that when the blueprints begin, we will have a specific site from which to work, and so that we will be able to lay down the house so as to catch the best views from your particular parcel.
Golden Star Properties has a trained staff of real estate agents who know the Southern Arizona area, know where the best values are, and the direction of Tucson's progression. These real estate agents specialize in buying land that is optimal for building custom homes, and our Builder, Joseph Smith, will come and walk your potential lot personally to ensure that the terrain will be readily buildable.
Once the land is found, walked, tested and purchased, our talented and knowledgeable in house design team will meet with you and using their expertise, you will be able to design your home just the way you want it. We will also submit your plans to the appropriate government body depending on the location of your land, see that it passes each inspection and get you ready to build your new home!

How long will the building process take?
Because each custom home is very different, there is no way to tell exactly how long a home will take to build. However, we keep it as a general rule that a house usually takes 8-12 months.
We try to have you pick out all of your plumbing, lighting, paint, flooring, etc as early as possible. Waiting until the last minute may be tempting, but it almost always slows the building process. Also, when we discuss your contract with you, it is always best to include as many of the upgraded options as possible in the contract itself. This helps you know the actual cost of the house beforehand and also keeps the building process running smoothly.

Who can I go to for advice in home design?
You can of course consult with any interior designer to help you select the color scheme and feel of your new home. We also have a designer work with us who not only excels in the field of art and design, but is also familiar with structure and the building process.
Just as our subsidiary Axiom Drafting can help you in the architectural design of your home, our selections expert can easily help you find the perfect tile, paint, cabinets - in short, everything in your new home. We can usually help a homeowner choose everything in their new house in 2 or 3 meetings.

What does the building process entail?
Foundation strength and details
The foundation and concrete are the most important part of the home. We take it as a personal pride to provide the greatest strength and endurance in every home we build. If post tension is needed, we will do it at no extra cost. Not all homes need it and several are best served without. Our standard foundation and slab has much more steel than required and we add rebar every two feet until we make a giant grid to cover all the living space. Porches and sidewalks have rebar and wire mesh with deep toe down, which are also not required by inspectors or engineers, but which we include to prevent excessive cracking for years to come.
Exterior walls
All the exterior walls in each house are 2x6, even in the garage and storage areas. Our bearing walls of 2x6 every 16 inches exceed the 2x4 requirements. We believe the structural phase needs more detail than even the final cosmetics. Our team of draftsperson/designer, lead framer, and roof engineer works hand in hand with the builder to decide the most effective way of ensuring the structure is functional and attractive.
Roofs and Plumbing
We are very aware of mold issues and take special care in inspecting our roofs before we schedule the drywall. After a detailed roof and plumbing inspection, our superintendent hoses the roof for at least 40 minutes and then inspects the home's interior to check for any possible leaks. We also extensively inspect our stucco, drywall, and paint as needed.
Intermediates and Final Detail
Besides rigorous inspections and testing, the most important thing our company does to ensure electrical, mechanical, and plumbing excellence in each home is to contract with the best and most experienced subcontractors in town. After almost 25 years of building fine homes in Tucson, we know who they are, and we use them. In each and every completed Golden Star project, the home can speak for itself!

Items not Included in the Price Per Square Foot

Golden Star Properties has a reputation for integrity and honesty in building. Part of this comes from our showing you exactly what is and is not included in the price per square foot. After meeting you at your lot, we can give you a fairly exact price on the entire cost of your home from initial blueprint design to the final cleaning before moving in.

LAND
We have a talented staff of real estate agents who can help you to find the perfect land for you and your home anywhere in Southern Arizona.

BLUEPRINTS
We would be happy to draft your Golden Star Home for $1.00 per square foot of living space, garage, and patios. You may either use our existing prints as a model for your home, or come up with your unique design at no extra charge!

ENGINEERING
Some rather difficult land parcels require extra engineering in order to build. Our land expert and team of engineers can help you get your land ready for building. Changes vary according to terrain.

PERMITS
The city or county in which you build will require the purchase of several permits in order to build. Because these charges vary according to location and the home itself, we cannot include it exactly in the overall price.

UTILITIES
We include 50 feet of utility, which usually will suffice for most subdivision lots. However, depending on the size and type of the lot, utilities may need to be brought a great distance.

SEPTIC SYSTEM
Your lot may require a septic instead of sewer connection. The septic system is designed case by case in order to best serve the needs of each home and terrain, and thus a definite price cannot be included in the overall price.

LANDSCAPING
We will of course include final grading to meet city or county codes, and will reseed any areas that were damaged by construction. We also offer custom design landscaping services as an upgrade.