Most Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

New to the CCH web site? Need quick answers to basic questions? Below is a list of the most common questions and answers about CCH plans, products and services. Links in blue will lead you to more information on the subject within this site. If you don't find your question answered here, feel free to email us or call 1-(800)-413-9111 and we will be glad to assist you.

What does Classic Colonial Homes, Inc. offer its clients?

Classic Colonial Homes, Inc. is a diverse company, providing a wide range of services and products to clients, worldwide. As a residential design firm, we specializes in the production of traditionally styled, early American home plans. CCH offers a large selection of affordably priced standard building plans which is growing continually. In addition, CCH offers custom designing services and colonial consulting for existing new and antique homes. Our products division offers virtually everything a client or builder could need to construct a reproduction style home. CCH offers a pre-constructed weather-tight shell package, erected on site by trained labor force, usually in a week or less. CCH also manufactures and sells unique, specialty colonial millwork, period style windows and related architectural finish products (kitchens, built-ins, flooring, lighting, hardware, & interior finish millwork) for the colonial homes we construct. Finally, CCH is a dealer for numerous companies, including D.R. DIMES Branded Furniture and D.R. DIMES Custom Kitchen Cabinetry.

How long has CCH been in business?

We have been designing and helping to construct homes for over 30 years.

How much does it cost to build a Classic Colonial Home?

Building costs can vary tremendously, depending on your specific situation, building location and level of finish both exterior and interior. Most CCH homes currently being built in greater New England have completed construction costs that range from $150 to $190 / Sq. Ft. for finished living space. This price includes the CCH pre-constructed Weather-Tight Shell Package with custom CCH architectural packages (exterior trim, windows, interior finish) which are necessary to ensure the home meets CCH strict aesthetic standards. This figure does not include land cost, private well, private septic, infrastructure or landscaping costs. This rough pricing is offered only as a guideline and can not be guaranteed. As these figures are approximate and based on general averages, CCH can offer clients a more accurate project estimate once a specific design and level of finish have been chosen.

Please contact the CCH office by phone at 800-413-9111 or email to arrange an appointment and discuss your project in detail. We also recommend that you contact a licensed real estate agent in your local building area to provide you with relevant market information.

I love your home designs. What is the first step?

First, we recommend all of our clients preview the pre-drawn, standard home designs that we offer. There are currently over 30+ different standard plans offered. Individual Study Plans are available for purchase and instant download from our Online Store to give you specific interior layouts and related information about each home currently available. We offer complete building plans for each of these homes and construction packages as well. Pricing and order information is available on our Building Plans page.

Where can I view floor plans of CCH standard designs?

The Study Plans offer floor plan views, historical and design notes & exterior elevations.

I want your complete Design Portfolio. How do I order one?

The complete CCH Book of Designs is a $35.00 bound booklet of 30+ different designs .The book can be ordered by calling the CCH office at 1-800-413-9111 (THESE PLANS WILL BE MAILED TO YOU). Please call the CCH office if you have any questions or problems when ordering.

I have narrowed my design search . What's the next step?

The CCH Standard Design Series was created to give our clients an easy, interesting and affordable way to choose a home plan that suits you and your family. When you have decided on a plan are ready to purchase one, simply call CCH to order and your building plans will be sent to you; usually within a week.

What if I do not like any of the standard designs CCH offers or need modifications made?

CCH standard design portfolio is large and growing, however it is difficult to satisfy everyone's specific needs, even with a diverse collection of plans. CCH offers custom designing services to clients who can not find a suitable existing standard plan. Custom designing commonly involves significant modifications of an existing plan or the creation of a completely new plan to meet the needs of a particular client. We encourage interested clients to call our office for additional information about the custom designing service and lead time for plans. A signed Custom Design Agreement and retainer is necessary to reserve a position in our busy custom design schedule.

How is a Classic Colonial Home different from others being built today?

From a building standpoint, CCH homes are designed for conventional, stick-built framing. When built to our exacting specifications and finished according to our unique design details, CCH homes have centuries-old charm and spirit. By offering our Weather-Tight Shell Package along with Exterior Trim Package and Window Package Kits for each home designed, CCH assists clients in making sure that their home is completed exactly as drawn.

When designing homes, we pay very careful attention to scaling and proportion of the structure, as well as the defining, authentic trim details.  Most home plans available today combine random detailing elements from different architectural styles and periods. The resulting house lacks focus and character consistent with antique New England architecture. We are purists, working with reoccurring traditional colonial forms and details. This attention to detail allows us to create homes that combine traditional exteriors of superior quality and authenticity with tastefully appointed, modern interior layouts, designed for comfortable living.

What makes a Classic Colonial Home different than a historic colonial home?

Period Designs for Modern Living ... Classic Colonial Homes, Inc. combines classic exteriors utilizing custom trim with open interior spaces to better suit our modern lifestyles. Our designs offer authentically detailed exteriors using many of the same materials that were used centuries ago to create the homes of our forefathers. Our primary goal is to recreate the simple architectural beauty that exists in early American architecture. We accomplish this by using refined lines and proportioned details with molded trim and hand-crafted components that make our homes unique and authentic. Without applying our custom made architectural products, the home will not finish correctly.

Although most of our homes have modern, open interiors, with kitchens flowing into gathering rooms, cathedral ceilings and informal eating areas, they can be finish decorated and detailed traditionally. CCH offers an impressive selection of fine interior millwork and products including old growth wide plank flooring, antique beams, raised panel walls, fireplace surrounds, period lighting, wrought iron hardware and cooking beehive oven fireplaces to warm the spirit. CCH Interior Trim offerings can assist you in completing the spaces with historic style, giving them an instant warmth with antique look and feel.

Do you offer site visits and what do they cost?

Arrangements can be made to have your site visited by the design team. The fee for this service is based on distance to be traveled and time spent. During a site visit, with a walk of the property, the best possible location and positioning of the new home can usually be determined. CCH, Inc. can also provide a site plan, including landscaping details to carefully adapt your unique surroundings to work with the home to be constructed. Please call our office to discuss your ideas and to schedule a appointment. To view a sample plot plan, click here.

I am a builder/developer interested in constructing a CCH subdivision? Where do it start?

Classic Colonial Homes, Inc. has been assisting builders and developers for over a decade to plan and complete residential housing developments of distinction. We fondly refer to these exclusive CCH developments as "SETTLEMENTS" TM. Settlers can take advantage of the many benefits that this unique development program offers, including listing of the project on our SETTLEMENTS PAGE, additional marketing assistance, pre-planning and project consulting and in most cases, higher average market values for their completed Classic Colonial Homes. We have many success stories to share. Feel free to contact Lance Abbott Kirley, CCH company President for additional information about applying for acceptance into the CCH Settler's Program.

Where are your homes being built? Can I see a model home in my area?

Classic Colonial Homes are popping up all across America. Although we see a heavier concentration in and around New England, there are many built or under construction in more remote locations. CCH knows of completed homes in the following states: MA, CT, ME, NH, VT, NY, PA, OH, IN, OK, MI, NC, GA TX and WA. We would be happy to offer you an exterior drive-by viewing of completed Classic Colonial Homes, but in an effort to respect our client's privacy and paying mind to issues of liability, interior tours are only available in certain areas under certain circumstances.

Do you offer building services to your clients?

We are happy to assist clients from concept through completion of their new home. CCH, Inc. offers building services through a carefully chosen network of experienced contracting companies located throughout New England. We call this our Preferred Builders Program. These special construction firms have built life-long relationships with CCH, having demonstrated their superior building abilities to us and our clients for years and years. For construction of our weather-tight shell packages, CCH provides a specially trained framing crew, skilled in the methods of panelization building and installation of CCH custom crafted exterior and interior detailing packages. Visit our Weather-Tight Shell Package page for more information about this time and cost efficient system of construction.

Are references available?

Yes, we can provide references upon request.

What if I live far away from your office? Can we still work together?

We work with clients from all across the country and even abroad. We are experienced in long-distance client relationships. With a combination of E-mail, fax, and phone we are very efficient in communicating ideas back and forth with clients. Custom Building plans can be completed without ever meeting in person.

With regard to construction, we have an extensive builders network that extends far south from New England and into the midwest. In cases where a project is outside our building range, we encourage clients to hire their own general contractor to construct the home. We are available to answer contractor's questions and are willing to provide assistance whenever possible to ensure the home finishes correctly.

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Classic Colonial Homes offers complete colonial home plans and custom millwork products that capture the charm and character embodied in reproduction style houses. Each one of our traditionally designed houseplans is supported by our very own interior and exterior trim packages, custom millwork products and colonial windows. Our residential architecture services also help by providing a large selection of stellar energy-efficient designs with divided light windows which add the crowning touch to any of our authentic colonial homes.

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