Basics

Doble & Son utilizes dependable, well known resources for most projects to avoid unnecessary delays and sub-standard quality. Through careful and timely coordination with the architect, the geological and structural engineers and other consultants we strive to build your home on schedule and within budget.

Through careful and timely coordination with the architect, the geological and structural engineers and other consultants we strive to build your home on schedule and within budget.

Whether remodeling or building a new home, the Doble & Son objective is to make the process a time of excitement and joyful anticipation. We make every effort to establish an atmosphere of cooperation, trust and mutual benefit while building you the highest quality home within your budget.

SERVICES

Services typically included in Doble & Son project:

Custom home builder and general contractor management services
Prime contractor for home additions, remodeling and renovations
Assistance in selecting the architect
Coordination and consultation with design professionals such as the architect, engineers, interior design and other consultants
Sub-contractor selection, bidding, and negotiation
Supervision and inspection of all sub-contractors’ activity
Site evaluation and master planning
All necessary consultation and planning sessions with architect
Eight hours of design time consultation with a professional interior designer
Construction documents preparation (blueprints and specifications)
Coordination and communication with all parties involved
Documentation of all paperwork necessary to obtain a building permit
Compilation of a detail budget and construction schedule
Preparation of documents for draw-downs of construction loans (if applicable)
Ensuring required inspections by certified inspectors during every major stage
Coordination of payments and release of documents for completed work upon inspection and acceptance
Completion of your project under the guidance of our company principals

Doble & Son utilizes in-house resources for the majority of our work to avoid unnecessary delays and sub-standard quality

FEATURES

Typical Features found in a Doble & Son custom home:

Superior quality materials and excellent craftsmanship throughout
All foundations, slabs and frames designed and inspected by independent engineering firms
Upscale custom cabinetry throughout home
High-end, state of the art appliances
Installation of double pane low-e insulated windows
Pre-wiring and installation of surround sound, home network, central vacuum and burglar alarm systems
Quality lighting fixtures
Distinctive fireplace surrounds
Top of line plumbing fixtures
Programmable thermostats
Dazzling entries and foyers
High quality doors and windows
Upgraded architectural elements (trim, crown moldings, baseboard, columns)
Liberal inclusion of architectural stone throughout the home
“Smart-house” and “Green” technology improvements on request

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few questions and answers that we thought may help you during the process of searching for your new home builder. Please contact us regarding questions that may not be answered here.

What is a custom home builder/general contractor?

Doble & Son Custom Homes Inc. A custom home builder constructs homes on scattered lots, often using designs selected by the homeowners themselves. A general contractor like Doble & Son is responsible for the means and methods to be used in the construction execution of the project in accordance with the contract documents. Said documents usually include the contract agreement, including budget, the general and special conditions, and the plans, with call-outs and specification of the project, which are generally prepared by a design professional such as an architect. Home buyers contract with a general contractor to build what they want, where they want. At Doble & Son, we build most of our homes on land already owned, or soon to be purchased by the homeowner. From time to time, we do offer a number of our own lots. We also assist in locating a piece of property that will fully satisfy your desires and fits your conceptual design. Interested buyers should contact us to determine availability.

Where does Doble & Son build?

We build in the San Francisco Bay/San Jose metropolitan area concentrating in the following communities:

West Bay: Atherton, Hillsborough, Woodside, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto
East Bay: Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Ruby Hill, Golden Eagle, Castlewood, Pleasanton
South Bay: Almaden , Silver Creek, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga

How do I select a custom home builder?

Doble & Son Custom Homes Inc. During the course of construction you will have a series of homework assignments. Selecting a builder is one of your most important tasks. The problem is there is no foolproof way of making the right choice. Ultimately, it comes down to trust. Do not get involved with a home builder you do not trust, regardless of how attractive the price. Trust alone is not enough, but it is the starting point. You also want experience, competence, service, and value for your money. You are turning over a lot of money to someone you may have just met – you should do a good job of vetting that person or organization.

Should I competitively bid my project to several builders or negotiate with one builder?

Doble & Son Custom Homes Inc. There is no right way. You should be negotiating with a builder whom you have researched thoroughly and believe to be reputable and trustworthy. Obviously, the danger with this method is that if your judgment is wrong, you could end up paying way too much for your project. Your home builder might be a great craftsman but overpriced. Or, he may be very fair on pricing but incredibly inefficient, which could end up being very costly as well.

In final analysis, the more you do your homework and find out what things should cost, the more likely it is that you will get value for your money. If you find a good builder whom you can trust, and he or she has a reputation for pleasing clients, being efficient and fair on pricing, this is the builder you probably want.

How do I pay for my custom home?

Doble & Son Custom Homes Inc. We would be happy to supply you with a list of reputable lenders who can help you with obtaining a construction mortgage to finance your new home. Your equity position in the building lot can serve as major collateral in securing construction financing. During the course of construction, you will be asked to make "draw payments" at pre-determined stages of completion which we will help coordinate with the lender. Once these payments are received, construction will advance to the next stage. Upon receipt of the final payment and funding of your home mortgage (if applicable) the keys will be turned over to you.

What type of warranty do we provide?

Every Doble & Son home that we build comes with a warranty that the home will be free from material and workmanship defects (as defined in our standard contract) and provides ten full years of structural coverage related to latent defects on all products and services provided by our company.

What is involved in preparing the site for building?

In order to prepare your home site for building, we will need to take care of the following items:

Researching any environmental and building ordinances and codes that may apply
Determining whether or not your lot has any shrink/swell soil conditions
Clearing the home site of trees and other debris
Necessary excavation to satisfy foundation requirements and proper drainage
Septic/sewer design
Installation of a driveway base and culvert(s)

What effect does the weather have on my home's building materials?

Nearly every new home is rained or snowed upon while it's under construction. These weather conditions will not affect the strength or quality of a home.

How long will it take to build my new home?

Building times vary depending on lot conditions, location, home complexity, and many unforeseen factors such as weather. Generally we are able to complete the majority of our homes in a timely manner. On average, it takes 6-9 months to build your new home once the foundation is poured.

Once my home is under construction, can I make changes?

Doble & Son Custom Homes Inc. Changes made during the construction process can have minor or major impacts on the construction of a home and associated costs. Doble & Son strongly encourages you to be very thorough in the initial stages of designing your home. However, change orders will be reviewed and accepted on a case by case basis during home construction. These change orders will include the cost of the change(s) being made plus an additional fee to cover any additional cost of work that the change may bring about.

How do I avoid overruns?

Overruns are the amounts spent building your custom home or renovating your house that go beyond the original budget. This might include changes, additional work, low estimates, or unforeseen conditions. It is always good to start a construction project with a contingency. It is rare that a residential construction project doesn't go over budget. Changes and additional work can be kept to a minimum by fully understanding what you are building and creating a well thought out plan before you start. If you can't read plans, then have the architect or builder explain them to you. Once you have accepted the design then you must remain disciplined to stay within the budget. You can always make the house nicer and nicer; but that costs money.

Unforeseen stuff happens. These are called latent conditions and unless you pay to do exploratory work before the construction begins, neither you nor your builder would know that these conditions exist. That is why you have a contingency amount earmarked. The unforeseen will always show up unexpectedly. So expect it! It sounds simplistic, but the answer is similar to other answers we have given you. Do your homework. This is your house, your money, and regardless of how good your home builder is, the more homework you do, the more you know about the plans, the estimates, the bids, the intended subs, the more you will control the process and reduce the amount of overruns.

How do I get started on the building process?

The process begins when we get together and chat about your needs and whether Doble & Son is a good fit for your project. We will meet with you at a time and place at your convenience. This will help you get to know us and define the project that you desire. Once the scope of the project is defined and we both feel that it would be proper engagement, we’ll create a letter of intent and start the planning process. Click here to contact us.