Definitions
Understanding these key terms will help you get the most out of this guide.
Design Studio
The Design Studio is Classic Homes' dedicated showroom where buyers select and document the interior selections for their new home—flooring, cabinets, countertops, tile, paint, lighting, and more—with the guidance of a design specialist. Appointments are scheduled after your contract is approved and are typically held as three in-person sessions of about two hours each, often preceded by a virtual pricing appointment.
The Design Studio is open by appointment only (Monday–Friday, with limited evening hours) and is not available for self-guided browsing, so designers can give each customer full attention and access to samples. It functions as a 'living catalog,' letting you see and compare actual materials rather than choosing from a printed list.
Design Specialist
A design specialist (also called a designer or design coordinator) is the Classic Homes professional who guides you through the selection process at the Design Studio. They are trained to offer suggestions based on your preferred color palettes, style, and goals for each space, review product features and disclosures, calculate any required deposit, and document your final selections.
Your design specialist is your primary point of contact for questions about selections specific to your home and community. Because designers run back-to-back appointments, responses between sessions (by email or voicemail) may take up to 48 hours.
New Home Specialist
The New Home Specialist (also referred to as your sales consultant, sales specialist, or sales team) is the Classic Homes representative at the community sales center. They help you understand included and selected features, review the sales choices sheet, explain pricing and available options, and assist with the elevation and exterior selections made at the time of contract.
Along with your designer, your New Home Specialist can share average Design Studio investment ranges for your floor plan and community to help you budget.
Included Features
Included features are the substantial collection of features and materials that come standard with your floor plan and are already covered by the base price of your home. They are listed on the 'sales choices sheet' (or published Included Features document) available from the sales center and provided at the time of contract.
Reviewing this list carefully helps prevent misunderstandings about which items are included versus which are available as additional options and upgrades. Whether items such as appliances are included depends on your particular collection.
Selected Features
Selected features are a collection of the most popular choices Classic Homes has assembled for the home plans in your community. Unlike included features, these are available as additional options and upgrades rather than being part of the base price.
Pricing and available selected features are updated regularly. The list applicable on the date you sign your purchase agreement is the one that applies to your home.
Base Price
The base price is the cost of your home as built with its standard included features for a given floor plan. Options, upgrades, and additional selections made at the Design Studio are priced on top of the base price.
Reviewing the included features and selected features lists carefully helps you understand what the base price covers and what will add to it.
Options and Upgrades
Options and upgrades are features and finishes available for purchase beyond the included features in your home's base price. Examples include upgraded countertop materials such as quartz or granite, flooring choices, lighting packages, and the Gourmet Kitchen versus the Classic Kitchen.
Pricing for options and upgrades depends on factors such as your floor plan, the surface area or location involved, and the level of selection. Your designer provides pricing during your appointments rather than in advance.
Custom Request
A custom request is a particular feature, outside the builder's standard menu of options and selections, that you ask Classic Homes to consider incorporating into your new home. Custom pricing availability varies by community and home collection, and the builder makes no claim to mention or offer every possible idea.
Because custom requests fall outside the standard process, they carry the largest opportunity for error and usually require detailed drawings. All custom requests are documented in detail on a change request form, and any credits for deleted items are accounted for in the final price of the custom item.
Change Order
A change order is the form Classic Homes uses to describe and document every change you request to your home's specifications and selections. Change orders generally fall into three categories: adding or deleting an item after signing your purchase agreement, changing a selection you previously chose, or personalizing your plans further with a custom request.
All selections and changes must be documented on the appropriate forms so the home is built to meet your written specifications. Change orders, along with your Home Information Summary, are detailed records you should review for accuracy before finalizing.
Change Request
A change request is your request to add, delete, or modify a selection in your home. When you submit one, Classic documents the details and routes it to the construction and purchasing departments for approval, pricing, and schedule review—a process that typically takes three to five business days.
Once reviewed, pricing and any schedule adjustment are returned to you for a final decision. Depending on the nature and extent of the change, fees such as a design deposit, administrative fees, restocking fees, the cost of the change itself, and construction loan interest may apply. All change requests are documented on a change request form.
Home Information Summary (HIS)
The Home Information Summary (HIS) is the detailed written record of the selections made for your home. Together with your change orders, it documents exactly how your home will be built, so you should review it for accuracy before finalizing your selections.
Retain your HIS after closing for future reference. It is especially useful for matching paint colors, tile grout, and replacement items if you need to make repairs or updates down the road.
Design Deposit
A design deposit is the amount Classic Homes requires when your design-related selections exceed a predetermined investment level, which may vary by collection. Classic does not require a deposit on the first $40,000 invested in Design Studio selections; a 25% deposit applies to the amount over $40,000 (for example, spending $60,000 results in a deposit of 25% of $20,000).
Your design specialist calculates your required deposit when you finalize your selections. If construction drawings are needed to price a change accurately, additional non-refundable fees may apply, and if you decide not to proceed, Classic retains the appropriate non-refundable fee to cover the work performed.
Administrative Fees
Administrative fees are charges that apply to most change requests, typically taking the form of a draw or engineering fee. They are necessary because previously issued purchase orders must be canceled and reissued when a change is made.
Custom requests, which fall outside the standard process, are especially likely to incur these fees because they require appropriate drawings to document them correctly and reduce the chance of error.
Restocking Fee
A restocking fee is a charge that may apply when you change materials that have already been ordered for your home. The fee is charged to Classic Homes by the supplier and passed on to you.
When you delete a selection that does not require a restocking fee, the cost of the deleted items is credited back to you.
Construction Loan Interest
Construction loan interest is an additional cost that Classic Homes includes in the price of a change request when that change impacts the construction schedule. The charge covers interest for the additional number of days the schedule is extended, as shown on the change request form.
This is one of several potential fees—alongside design deposits, administrative fees, restocking fees, and the cost of the change—that may apply depending on the nature and extent of your request.
Home Start Review Meeting
The Home Start Review Meeting is a milestone that occurs before construction of your home begins. All changes to selections are required to be submitted, reviewed, and accepted prior to this meeting.
Changes requested after this point are considered late changes. If allowed at all, they are subject to late change fees and may delay your home's construction timeline.
Late Change
A late change is a selection change requested after the deadline for submitting changes—the Home Start Review Meeting. Because Classic orders many items well in advance of installation, changes after this point are difficult to accommodate.
Late changes, if allowed at all, are subject to late change fees and may delay the construction timeline of your home. Submitting and finalizing changes early helps you avoid these fees and keep your home on schedule.
Purchase Order
A purchase order is the formal order Classic Homes issues to its suppliers and trades for the materials and labor needed to build your home. Because the builder orders many items well in advance of installation to meet your home's target completion date, changing a selection after an order is placed can be costly.
When you request a change, previously issued purchase orders may have to be canceled and reissued, which is why administrative fees such as a draw or engineering fee typically apply.
Purchasing Department
The Purchasing Department is the Classic Homes team responsible for sourcing materials and coordinating with trades and suppliers. When you request a change, your request is submitted to the construction and purchasing departments for approval, pricing, and schedule review.
The Purchasing Department, working with the affected trade or trades, determines the cost of the materials and labor needed to accomplish a requested change—including any hidden costs when a seemingly minor change affects other elements of the home.
Elevation
An elevation refers to the exterior architectural design or front appearance of your home for a given floor plan. Classic requires you to make your elevation and exterior color scheme selections at the time of contract.
Your choices for elevation may be limited by your homeowner association rules and by the selections neighboring homeowners have made, so selecting early gives you the most options.
Exterior Color Scheme
The exterior color scheme is the coordinated set of colors chosen for the outside of your home. Classic requires these selections at the time of contract, and the sooner you choose, the more options are available.
Your exterior color choices may be limited by your homeowner association and by the colors neighboring homeowners have selected. Because colors look different on a full-size home than on a swatch or screen, viewing existing homes is a recommended way to choose.
Color Swatch
A color swatch is a small physical sample used to represent a paint color or finish material. Swatches help you compare and narrow your choices during the selection process.
Keep in mind that exterior selections in particular look different on a full-size home than they do on a small swatch, a computer screen, a phone, or a tablet—so viewing existing full-size homes is recommended before finalizing exterior colors.
Substitution
A substitution is a replacement material or item provided when a selection you made is discontinued or becomes unavailable before your home is built. Classic cannot predict when a manufacturer or supplier may discontinue an item.
If this happens, Classic contacts you and asks you to make a different selection within five business days; any substitution will be of equal or better value. Note that materials readily available when your home is built may also become unavailable years later if replacements are needed.
Product Disclosures
Product disclosures (also called product information disclosures) are explanations of the features, benefits, and characteristics of the materials and products you select for your home. Your design specialist reviews these during your appointments to help you understand what you are choosing. See Product Information for these material expectations collected by category.
It is important to review all product information disclosures and selections for accuracy before finalizing, because your home will be built according to the documents you approve.
Living Catalog
A 'living catalog' is how Classic Homes describes its model homes: they are furnished and finished so you can see many of the actual items, selections, and color combinations in place rather than choosing solely from a printed list.
Model homes display both included features and a variety of selected features for your consideration, curated by construction and design professionals, making them a useful source of ideas before and during your selection process.
Floor Plan
A floor plan is the specific layout and design of a home model offered in your community. Each floor plan includes its own set of standard features, and pricing for options and upgrades depends heavily on the floor plan's surface area and room locations.
Specifications can vary from community to community even for the same floor plan, so it's important to study the specifications for the exact plan and community where your home will be built.
Collection
A collection is a grouping or product tier of Classic Homes home plans. Many details vary by collection, including which items are listed as included features, the investment level that triggers a design deposit, and whether custom pricing is available.
Documents such as the published Included Features are specific to your particular collection, so it's important to refer to the version that applies to your home.
Low Volt
Low volt (low-voltage) refers to the home technology wiring and systems in your new home, including home security systems, central vacuum, surround sound, home theater systems, and phone, internet, and cable locations. These run on low-voltage wiring separate from standard household electrical.
Classic Homes partners with HomeRun Electronics for low-volt selections. The low-volt session is a separate one-hour appointment, and your low-volt selections should be completed before your second Design Studio appointment so they can be coordinated with your interior selections.
HomeRun Electronics
HomeRun Electronics is Classic Homes' low-volt (low-voltage) partner for home technology options. Their technology consultants work with you and your designer to ensure the systems you choose—such as security, central vacuum, surround sound, home theater, and network locations—are incorporated into your interior selections.
The low-volt appointment with HomeRun is a separate one-hour session, and rescheduling is handled by calling HomeRun directly. Your low-volt selections should be completed before your second Design Studio appointment.
Virtual Appointment
A virtual appointment is the first of your Design Studio sessions, conducted online (via the GoTo Meeting platform). It provides pricing on any options you're interested in and gives a general overview of interior selections that are not yet specific to color preferences.
Classic has found that hosting the first appointment virtually is efficient and convenient. Your second and third (in-person) appointments are when color and texture selections come into play.
Target Investment
Target investment refers to the budget you set for your Design Studio selections. Investment ranges vary widely based on your style, preferences, and the selections most important to you, so there is no single answer for how much to budget.
Your New Home Specialist and your designer can share average Design Studio investment ranges for your floor plan and community. Discussing target investment goals is part of your virtual appointment, and selections that exceed a predetermined investment level trigger a design deposit.
Flooring Break
A flooring break is the transition line where one type of flooring meets another—for example, where luxury vinyl plank (LVP) gives way to carpet or tile. Deciding where these breaks fall is part of planning your flooring layout.
Flooring breaks are among the topics covered during your Design Studio appointments, including breaks in LVP, carpet, and tile.
LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank)
LVP stands for luxury vinyl plank, a durable hard-surface flooring that mimics the look of wood. It is one of the flooring options you can select for your home, alongside carpet and tile.
LVP color options are available in advance through the Design Studio Prep link, though final pricing depends on the area covered and the level of selection. Where LVP meets other flooring is determined by your flooring breaks.
Classic Kitchen vs. Gourmet Kitchen
The Classic Kitchen and the Gourmet Kitchen are two kitchen configuration levels Classic Homes offers. The Gourmet Kitchen is an upgraded option, and the price difference between the two depends on your specific kitchen finish selections and varies by floor plan.
Your designer helps you understand the features, benefits, and price comparison between the two kitchen levels during your appointments.
Drop Zone
A drop zone is a designated built-in area, often near a garage entry or laundry room, intended as a landing spot for keys, bags, mail, and everyday items as you come and go.
During your Design Studio appointments you select finishes for the drop zone, including its flooring, cabinets, and plumbing. You may also choose different countertops for the drop zone than for other areas of the home.
Wet Bar
A wet bar is a compact bar area that includes a sink and plumbing, typically used for entertaining. It is one of the spaces you personalize during your selections.
At the Design Studio you choose the wet bar's countertops and flooring, and you may select different countertops for the wet bar than for the kitchen or bathrooms.
Powder Room
A powder room is a small half-bathroom containing a toilet and sink but no shower or tub, usually positioned for guests' convenience. It is one of the rooms covered in your Design Studio selections.
Finishes for the powder room—such as flooring, cabinets, and plumbing—are chosen alongside those for the laundry and drop zone areas during your appointments.
Picket
Pickets, also known as balusters, are the vertical posts that run between a stair railing and the steps. Their style and design are part of the stair options you personalize for your home.
Stair selections covered at the Design Studio include picket style as well as carpet wraps for the stairs.
Carpet Wrap
A carpet wrap refers to carpet that covers and wraps around the treads and edges of a staircase, as opposed to leaving the stairs in a hard-surface finish. It is one of the stair finishing options offered.
Stair options selected at the Design Studio include both pickets and carpet wraps, allowing you to coordinate the look of your staircase with the rest of your home.
Wall Texture
Wall texture is the applied surface finish on your interior walls, which affects how the walls look and feel. Texture and corner options are among the wall finish choices you make during your appointments.
These selections are discussed during your virtual and in-person appointments as part of finalizing the overall look of each room.
Stain Color
Stain color refers to the tone of wood stain applied to stained features in your home, such as cabinetry, trim, or stair components. It is distinct from paint color and is selected among your wall, trim, and finish choices.
Stain color is one of the items your designer guides you through during your Design Studio appointments to coordinate with your overall interior style.
Cabinet Hardware
Cabinet hardware refers to the knobs and pulls installed on your cabinetry, and more broadly to the interior door hardware in your home. These functional details also contribute to the overall style of a space.
Cabinet hardware and interior door hardware are among the items you select during your Design Studio appointments, coordinated with your cabinets, doors, and trim.
Shower Pan
A shower pan is the waterproof base or floor of a shower that collects water and directs it to the drain. Shower pan and tub options are among the bathroom choices you make during your selections.
Bathroom selections at the Design Studio also include cabinets, countertops, tile, plumbing, toilets, and shower doors.
Backsplash
A backsplash is the wall surface—often tile—installed behind a kitchen counter, sink, or stove to protect the wall and add a decorative accent. It is one of the kitchen finishes you choose during your selections.
Backsplash selection is covered alongside kitchen style, cabinets, countertops, plumbing, and appliances during your Design Studio appointments.
Lighting Package
A lighting package is a coordinated grouping of light fixtures that Classic Homes offers for your home. Classic's Design Studio and model homes showcase a variety of lighting packages and fixtures to help guide your choices, and the fixtures come equipped with LED bulbs.
While you can choose from Classic's packages and fixtures, the builder cannot install customer-supplied lighting; if you wish to install your own fixtures, that work must take place after closing.
Predetermined Lighting Locations
Predetermined lighting locations are the standard, planned positions for light fixtures and electrical boxes in each room of your floor plan. Understanding where these are located helps you evaluate how each room will be lit.
Knowing the predetermined lighting locations helps you make good decisions about whether to add additional lighting, which is one of the electrical considerations discussed during your appointments.
Ratified Contract
A ratified contract is a purchase contract that has been formally accepted and finalized by all parties. Ratification (along with approval of your purchase agreement) is the trigger that starts the design selection process.
Once your contract is accepted and ratified, a Design Studio team member reaches out—typically within 48 business hours—to begin scheduling your design appointments.