Where Do I Start?

Authorized Sales Representatives for Kuhns Bros Log Homes

With all the information available today about Log Homes on websites, in Log Home Magazines, and with over 400 different log home companies, it’s easy to quickly get overwhelmed. Here are the steps to guide you, and keep you on track.

1. Determine your budget.

I know that most of us do not like to talk about money right up front, but really, this is the first thing you need to do. Our Log homes are NOT inexpensive structures. They DO NOT compare in price with mobile homes (believe it or not, I have actually had someone ask me this question) or with some stick frame structures. In looking at the pictures, do you really think they would? They DO compare favorably in price with very nice frame structures built in the same general areas, with the same general quality throughout. You need to know what you will have available to spend, so we can work together on a design that will fit your budget. Most Kuhns Bros Log Homes start at about $125.00 Per Square Foot and UP. Log Styles and size, roof design, general home design, and many choices will all affect the final price. How much work you plan to do on the home yourself, if any, will also can significantly affect the price. There are also things you can do both choice wise and design wise to save money. We can help guide you in these areas. The cost range of Log Homes, and homes in general is large. There are some “handcrafted” Log Homes that you will see in Log Home Magazines that cost in the $300-$400 per square foot range!!

One more thing here about price. Please be very wary if someone says they can build you a turn-key Log Home for $50-60 per square foot. It might be possible, but it is very unlikely. More than likely, you will get about 1/2 to 2/3rds finished and your $50-60 budget will be blown and you will wind up with a nightmare trying to finish. Either that, or the home will be built with sub-standard materials, or both.

2. Decide on a plan.

Determine a home design and a plan. The earlier you can finalize the plan you want, the more money you will save down the road. This is one area were we can help you right away. Consult with us early in the planning process. We can help you find a plan to fit your budget. We can also show you how some plans are more “cost efficient” than others. If you have a custom plan in mind, consider using our Design Service. Share with us your budget, and we can find a plan to fit. Or, sometimes unfortunately, we can tell you the home you desire just won’t fit your budget right now. One of the biggest dangers in building any home, is starting a home that you can’t afford to finish. Better to know upfront the costs than to find out after your shell is up that you can’t afford the cabinets. Let’s get a plan worked out together, that everyone can live with. We will give you a good faith estimated cost of this plan so you will know if it fits your budget.

3.Pick your Log Home options.

We have several options that you will have to choose from, before even rough pricing your home can be determined.

What type of Log Profile do you like? (D Log, Round, Square Dovetail, etc)

What type of Roof System? (Conventional, Heavy Timber, etc)

Do you want complete wood interior, or maybe some drywall in certain areas?

Do you need a basement, crawlspace, or slab foundation?

Do you like square railings or round?

Standard Shingles, or metal roof.

Do you need a garage?

And more choices

All of these items will have a bearing on the finished price of your Log Home.

4. Place a deposit, get a preliminary plan, get a firm quote, freeze the price for a year.

When you figure out a “rough” plan, and our estimate fits your budget, you are ready to get real serious, and now you have to spend some money. We have a great deposit program, where for just a $3,000-$4500 deposit, you start the beginning process of your dream in motion. Kuhns Bros Engineering Department will take your plan and create a preliminary drawing, with floor plans and all 4 elevations, so you can see for the first time what your new Log Home is going to look like. This deposit will apply to the final cost of your Log Materials Package. We will take this preliminary drawing, sit down together, and work out the final details of your home. Decide you want to move a window…..no problem, this is the time. We “redline” the plan and send it back to Kuhns Bros if changes are necessary. It usually takes about 20 business days for a custom Preliminary Plan. Or you can “fast track” the preliminary plan with a larger deposit.

You will also receive a firm price quote on your Log Package from Kuhns Bros or Country Log Cabins. This deposit will also freeze your pricing for a year. So as long as you take delivery within a year you won’t have to worry about price increases from any number of reasons. I am sure you have heard about price increases because of Hurricanes, droughts, Oil, China, Wars...etc.

5. Find a builder.

If you don’t already have one, and you aren’t planning on building your home by yourself, now is the time to find a builder.

Within certain areas in our territory, we can provide turn key construction services. We have dry in shell construction available everywhere in our region, which would cover the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. If you already have a builder, we will work with them to make sure everything goes smoothly with your project. Within other areas, we can help you find a builder who can complete your home. We can take your preliminary plans and your specifications and complete the bidding process with a General Contractor in your area. Remember, a substandard builder can take even the best Log Home Package and end up with a poor quality result. This is a very important decision. Here, as in most areas, the cheapest is probably not the best choice.

We are always looking for good builders in our area who are interested in working with what we feel is the best log home package on the market. So if you are a good builder in the Central or North Arkansas area, and you are interested, give us a call. Kuhns Bros provides training for builders usually 2-3 times per year at its Pennsylvania facility.

6. Line up your financing.

You have a budget, you have a plan, you’ve picked out all the options, you have an estimate in hand, and you’ve found a builder. Now it’s time to line up financing. Maybe you are independently wealthy or maybe Bill Gates or Warren Buffet is your uncle, so you can skip this part. But if you are like most of us, you will need a little help. Usually it is best to start with your local bank that you have dealt with for years, but if this is not an option, we have contacts in the financing industry who are familiar with Kuhns Bros Log Homes and know the quality, so if you qualify, financing on a Kuhns Bros Log Home, will not be a problem. Most financing sources will require at least a preliminary plan to approve your financing, and you have already completed this step.

UPDATE: We now have a Financing Program available. E-mail Us for more Information.

7. When you are 6-8 weeks away from your start date, place a Pre-cut deposit to start the process.

The timelines are a bit different depending on whether your home is one of our Signature Designs, a Modified Signature Design, or a Custom home, but a 20-25% deposit starts the pre-cutting and delivery process in motion. At this point, you are committed to live in a Kuhns Bros Log Home and it will be yours in 6-10 weeks. Kuhns Bros. generates a “sales agreement” which you will sign, that stipulates all the details of the delivery , the payments and the timeframes. You make all the final choices of items and colors, and your delivery date is set.

8. While Kuhns Bros works on your home, you and your builder prepares the site.

Believe it or not, the 5-10 weeks before the delivery of your new home goes really fast. We will all be very busy during this time. Your site work is completed. Any roads to the site and turnaround areas must be improved for the 18-wheeler trucks that deliver your home. Your basement or foundation gets dug and poured. Maybe your well and septic system will be installed. If you don’t have it, you have to line up electrical power to the site. Approvals and permits if needed must be completed. A forklift must be reserved for the delivery day. Don’t worry, we will be there to help you every step of the way.

9. DELIVERY DAY!!

Your delivery day is finally here. The trucks are usually at the site by 8:AM, but sometimes they are scheduled for 2 hour intervals like at 8:AM, 10:AM and 12:Noon. We have a very detailed packing list of every item that is on each truck, and we inventory with you every pack of material as it is being unloaded. You can rest assured that every item to construct your home is delivered. With our “NO SHOP” Package Guarantee, you will have the materials you need to complete the home. Our packing lists are very detailed, our packs are logically stacked. Each pack is carefully wrapped in plastic for protection. All Log packs are inversely stacked, so you won’t have to dig thru to the bottom of the pack to find the logs you need to start. Your home has arrived, and now the construction begins…….but that is another story.