Design and engineering typically run several months and are largely paced by owner decisions. Permitting adds roughly six to twelve weeks in Miami-Dade, somewhat less in Broward or Palm Beach. Construction itself usually runs twelve to eighteen months. Total project timelines of eighteen months to two-plus years from first design meeting to move-in are common for a true custom home.

No. Some owners come to us with an architect already selected, and we coordinate with them. Others want us to bring in an architect we've worked with before. Either way, we prefer getting involved during schematic design rather than after plans are finished, since roofline and structural choices made early have real cost and permitting consequences.

Florida's shallow water table makes basements impractical and expensive across nearly the entire state, and slab-on-grade construction — poured over termite-treated, compacted fill — resists both moisture intrusion and termite entry better than crawl-space designs. It's the standard for a reason, not just tradition.

It depends on the specific flood zone designation. In lower-risk zones, a slab foundation with additional fill to reach the required elevation may work. In higher-risk zones common along Miami-Dade's coast and low-lying areas, ground-level construction generally isn't allowed, and the home must be elevated on pilings or stem walls above the Base Flood Elevation, plus required freeboard.

Custom homes in the tri-county area typically run in the $250 to $450 per square foot range for construction alone, excluding land, with hurricane-resistant construction, impact glazing, and HVHZ-compliant materials built in as the standard rather than an upgrade. Complex rooflines, larger openings, and premium finishes push that range higher.

Yes, but the cost and schedule impact grows the later a change happens. A layout change during design costs almost nothing to implement; the same change after framing is complete can mean demolition, re-engineering, and a real schedule delay. We flag this trade-off honestly at each phase rather than just approving whatever's requested.

A custom home is designed for a specific owner on a specific lot before construction starts, with the owner making decisions throughout. A spec home is designed and built by the builder without a locked-in buyer, using plans and finishes chosen to appeal to the broader market rather than one family's preferences.

We do. As the licensed general contractor, Elbaz holds the permit, contracts and schedules every subcontractor, and is legally responsible for the work meeting code. That single point of accountability is the point of hiring a GC rather than acting as your own contractor.