Your home is probably your most expensive life purchase. It is important that you get the best buy for your money and that your home be the best quality you can get. You can avoid many of the problems you have heard about by choosing a well established builder who has good references. We have an excellent reputation and have been building in this area for over a quarter of a century. We have included some of our references, a builder's best advertisement. If you've heard horror stories about having a home built, please call our references to find out how easy we make it.

Unlike many model homes, our model in Coarsegold is not a plan to necessarily duplicate on your lot. It is a display home (with offices) to show the type and quality of construction we do and the items included in our price. Many different features are included to help you decide what you would like in your home. You can eliminate features you don't want and add whatever you want. Most of all, you are not locked into changing a plan here and there, moving a wall here and there, paying for each change, and trying to make the plan work. You start with a clean slate and from your sketch or ideas and we design it from the start to fit you, and you pay only for what you get. Energy efficiency, low maintenance, and styles that fit in the mountains, including beams and lots of wood, are our trademark. The size, number of rooms, and floor plan will be designed to suit your lot and your family needs, all included in our excellent price per sq. ft. We also have hundreds of plans that we have built over the years to give you ideas. Besides the open beams you see in the model, we also build less expensive conventional drywall ceilings, in either 8' high or vaulted. There is no extra cost for two story plans. Many exterior styles are available.

We will sit down with you to find out your likes and dislikes, and just what you want in your home. We don't expect you to choose plan A or B and live with "changes". We have standard items for simplicity and pricing, but we will design your home, just for you, from the ground up, and price it out. Whatever your plan, your home will be built in the same high quality of the model, with 2x6 walls, heavy insulation, dual pane glass, tile counters, and flooring similar to the model from our samples. We will wire and install your purchased ceiling fans with or without lights and your wood stove. We provide kitchen and bath lights and will install your purchased light fixtures in other rooms. It can be one or two stories, concrete or raised floors, beamed ceilings, vaulted white ceilings, or truss roof with dry wall ceilings.

After you have seen free sketches, and the size and floor plan are decided upon, it is priced out and a contract entered into. Once your price is set there will be no additions unless you request a more costly change. Items you are responsible for are listed on your contract. We will provide your custom designed plans, all included in our low price. You pay nothing until the contract is signed and the plans are ready for drafting. At that time your first payment of $6000 is paid. (This is subtracted from your total contract price.) After your plans are developed they will have to pass the State's energy calc program. It is sometimes possible to upgrade the heater and water heater efficiencies to gain more glass area. If that is necessary you will have a choice of reducing glass or paying to upgrade. We submit your plans and other paper work to the bank and county. There is no fee for this if our recommended banks are used. We keep our paper work current with these banks and our clients have been treated well there. The cost of doing paperwork with different banks will cost at least $1500. We do not accept lenders who use the "voucher" payment. Our banks use the 5 or 7 draw system. Many lenders, especially those whose main offices are out of our area, are a nightmare to do business with. The officer you may see is not involved later on, and you will experience delays, lost paper work, and changes in what you were led to believe. Please consider these local banks and save yourself a lot of headaches, wasted time, and hidden fees. We can arrange for your pad, driveway, trenching, septic and road encroachment, but we do not do that work ourselves. Most owners prefer to deal directly with the contractor and pay as they go. You will have to supply the county with a grading permit, meet with the county environmentalist to obtain a septic permit, and your house plans will have to be sent to an engineer. When plans are ready to submit to the county a payment of $1000 is due to pay for the first part of your permit. It has been taking 3 to 6 months to obtain a permit. All permits, fees, and engineering are paid by the owner. If engineering calls for additional cost items, they are to be paid by owner.

Our quality is unmatched, as is our low price. We keep the best quality and time of construction by using our own crew to do almost all the work, instead of using subs. We do the foundation, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, and tile work. Chuck is on the job, working, every day. Included are all appliances, fixtures, and flooring equal to the model, or you may use the allowance to choose your own.

Our prices are very competitive. Garages and decks are priced separately and at a much lower price per sq. ft. than house space. Our model on Hiway 41 in Coarsegold will show you what is included and what the workmanship will be.

Our many happy customers are testimony to our good work. They would be pleased to speak to you, or even show their homes. Let us put you in touch with them. Here are some of the notes we have received:

"In our first meeting together, we gave our wish list of what we wanted and needed in a home. You quickly provided several rough designs for us to pick from. When construction began we were amazed how fast the house went up."
John Masulis

"We have great praise for the Stuhrs and their helpfulness, honesty, and friendly approach to their customers." Dennis Blessing

"I chose Rustic Design because of their reputation for being prompt and
professional. My home was completed prior to the anticipated date, and for the exact amount agreed upon." Elaine Paisley

"The design of the house and the way it is situated on the property complements the feel of the land, and exudes a feeling of natural harmony between that which was made by man and that which was made by nature."
Rick Jacobel

"We love our home for the quality of construction and design you put into it."
Dave Null

Your home will be built on your level pad for the house, garage, with room for lumber and trucks for construction. The driveway must be in and passable for concrete trucks and to suit county regulations. Water, septic, and electric must be available. (Working with generators adds extra costs, per month.)

Septics usually start at $4000. School fees are usually $2.14 sq. ft. County fees will be $2500. Raised foundations add at least $20,500 to a house. Engineering adds about $800. Contact PG&E for hook up or other fees. Madera County requires a very detailed grading permit. Several people in town do them.

Please contact our references for information about our business practices.