Custom Homes & Turnkey Move-In-Ready Builds
Exteriors of Texas (EOT Builders), based in Magnolia, designs and builds custom homes for landowners around our office. That work includes shell-only packages, turnkey move-in-ready homes, and custom homes planned around your land, the way you live, and the budget you set. Our custom homes are usually a mixture of stick framing with metal beams where needed.
A custom home on acreage is not the same project as a house in a platted subdivision. The driveway, drainage, septic or sewer connection, and the way a shop or garage sits on the tract all affect the plan. We start with those conditions, then design the house to fit them.
If you already know you want a barndominium-style house, see our pages on barndominiums and barndominium shell packages. If you want a finished custom home and are still deciding on style, start here.
What’s included
The exact scope is written into your quote and contract. In general, these are the paths we offer.
Turnkey, move-in-ready custom homes. A turnkey build is meant to take you from an approved plan to a house you can move into, with one builder coordinating the work. That typically covers the foundation, the structure, the exterior, and the interior systems and finishes needed for a finished home. Framing is usually a mix of stick framing with metal beams where they are needed.
The $130–$200 per square foot under roof range does not include land clearing, a septic system, a water well, electrical tie-in (the utility connection), or a driveway. Those items are quoted separately.
Custom design. Layouts are drawn around your property and how you use it — a single-level or two-story home, an attached garage, or a shop that shares the site. On barndominium projects we already use layout drawings and 3D renderings so you can adjust the plan before construction. We will tell you what design materials your custom-home package includes when we price the job.
Shell-only packages. If you want the structure closed in first and prefer to finish the interior later, a shell is the more limited scope. Typical shell-only pricing is $50–$80 per square foot. That package typically includes site work for the building pad, underground plumbing, the concrete foundation, stick or metal framing depending on budget, doors, windows, metal roof and siding, and interior framing. The buyer finishes all mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and interior finishes. Land clearing, septic, a water well, electrical tie-in, and a driveway are not included in that per-square-foot price and are quoted separately. A fuller description is on our barndominium shell packages page. We confirm the inclusions for your building in writing.
We will not quote a firm lump sum from square footage alone, or promise a finish level that is not in the agreement.
How a custom-home project typically proceeds
- Request a quote at our contact page with your name, phone, email, project ZIP, project type, approximate size, land status, timeline, and any details you already know.
- Walk the property. We look at access, drainage, existing structures, and where the house and any shop should sit. If deed restrictions or zoning may limit the design, we flag that before you spend money on a full plan.
- Develop the plan and a written scope, including inclusions, exclusions, and a price that matches that scope.
- File the permits that apply. Inside a city, that usually means a building permit and inspections. On unincorporated land, it may mean a county development or building permit, plus septic, driveway or culvert, and floodplain filings when they apply.
- Build the home and keep you informed as the foundation, structure, exterior, and interior work proceed.
- Complete a walkthrough, address remaining items, and hand off warranties, manuals, and close-out documents that apply to the job.
Typical pricing
These are typical ranges, not a guaranteed price. Design, site conditions, and finishes determine where a specific project lands.
- Shell-only packages typically start around $50–$80 per square foot.
- Move-in-ready custom builds typically run $130–$200 per square foot under roof.
“Under roof” is how we describe the finished-home range. On your quote, we will show how area is measured and whether porches, garages, or shop space are in that number.
Neither per-square-foot price includes land clearing, a septic system, a water well, electrical tie-in (the utility connection), or a driveway. Those items are quoted separately, because two houses of the same size can have very different costs for them.
Finish selections move the number inside the range. A simpler layout with mid-range finishes prices differently than a house with more rooms, more plumbing fixtures, or higher-end kitchens and baths.
Typical timeline
These are typical timelines, and they depend on permits, weather, and selections.
- Shell-only packages typically take 2–4 months.
- Turnkey or custom homes typically take 7–10+ months.
We provide a written schedule with the proposal.
FAQ
What is the difference between a shell and a turnkey custom home?
A shell-only package typically includes site work for the building pad, underground plumbing, the concrete foundation, stick or metal framing depending on budget, doors, windows, metal roof and siding, and interior framing. The buyer then finishes all mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and interior finishes. A turnkey custom home is built out as a finished, move-in-ready house under one agreement.
Do you only build barndominiums?
No. We build custom homes and turnkey move-in-ready houses, and that work usually uses a mix of stick framing with metal beams where needed. We also build barndominium-style and metal-building projects. Tell us the look and layout you want, and we will confirm what we can deliver on your tract.
What does “per square foot under roof” include?
It is a typical range for a move-in-ready custom build, not a menu price. The quote will state how square footage is counted and which items are inside or outside that figure. Land clearing, a septic system, a water well, electrical tie-in, and a driveway are not included in the per-square-foot price and are quoted separately.
Do you handle permits?
Permit rules vary by city and county. On a custom-home or turnkey project, we typically prepare the plan set and file the permits that apply to the property. The agreement will say who files what, and which fees are in the price.
How long does a custom home take?
Turnkey or custom homes typically take 7–10+ months. A shell-only package is typically completed in 2–4 months. These are typical timelines and depend on permits, weather, and selections. We provide a written schedule with the proposal.
Get My Free Quote
If you are planning a custom home or a turnkey move-in-ready house on land near Magnolia, Get My Free Quote or call 281-766-3333.
