FAQs

Pre-construction agreements really begin the process of creating your new home. It is an assessment of the construction site, the soils, the survey, and the layout and really prepares us to move into the design phase, where your vision really begins to come alive.

Typically, the design phase lasts between 2-3 months. The permitting and City of Durango review process lasts around a month, and then construction itself runs between 8-12 months, from the first shovel to move-in day.

No, come visit with the Agave team first. All of our homes are truly unique and have been custom designed for each client, our most successful projects are those in which we’re involved in the plan development from the very beginning. We’re able to provide valuable information throughout the design process regarding building costs and constructability. We work with some very talented architects, but it truly pays to have Agave in the room making sure you’re designing a home that can and will be built within your budget.

Agave follows the SW Homebuilders Association guidelines by offering a one-year warranty. But customer satisfaction is our number one goal, and so we will work with customers to make sure they are happy with their home, period. The relationship and trust built during planning and construction serves everyone well. Agave sums up this philosophy by saying, “We treat people the way we want to be treated. We treat people fairly and give value for the dollar.”

Start with Agave, your builder. We take the partnership approach. We love working with clients and strive to translate client dreams and visions into their dream homes–with an outstanding experience along the way. We have decades’ worth of experience, and that means our clients receive our undivided attention, our expertise, and our knowledge of local banks and lenders, suppliers, and designers. Really, it means less stress, more savings, and more satisfaction.

Agave values the Durango community and the world we live in, so we’re dedicated to enhancing and preserving our environment. Agave uses a variety of effective and innovative green home building techniques to create your perfect home. When building custom homes, we use air sealing techniques and foam insulation. “We use state-of-the-art air-sealing techniques, high-efficiency appliances, and premium grade insulation all to ensure maximum energy efficiency. All our homes are tested by an independent third party to verify efficiency.”

Agave takes pride in our communication skills, so you can rest assured that you’ll still be up-to-date with what’s going on at your home whether it’s a kitchen renovation or a new home construction. During COVID we have had weekly ZOOM  meetings with clients and you can expect at least a weekly call from your Project Manager.

This is one of the most important questions that we are often asked. We recommend that new clients tour a home to see different finishes, get comfortable with styles, and see what is possible. We take great pride in the work we do and the lasting relationships we create with clients. In fact, we have several clients who have hired Agave to build them different houses over the years.

Agave has several meetings with clients, refining the home design and budget. You will know the total price of your home before we start construction, based on your custom plans and detailed specifications, and the only way that changes is when we agree on any change orders — so there are no surprises.

Agave has been working with local lenders for over 20 years. We can recommend a few or will work with someone you know.

We do not typically price homes by the square foot, and there is a good reason for that!

We price homes based on specific plans, specifications, and site details. For example, each of the following plan concepts would have very different costs per sqft: 

• Master Suite on 2nd floor with a one-story Great Room
• Master Suite on 2nd floor with a two-story Great Room
• Master Suite on main level
• Ranch

Then we factor in details like garages, lot preparation, specific finishes and features, basements, outdoor entertaining, landscaping, and more. Furthermore, looking only at price per square foot won’t capture the unique features of your home and can be really misleading, especially when supply chains and material costs are temporarily inflated, as they have been during 2021.