Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we can do both. EGStoltzfus builds custom homes on land you already own, on single homesites we have for sale, and in our custom home neighborhoods throughout Lancaster County and south central Pennsylvania. If you own land, our team will assess your property and design a home suited to your site. We work within local zoning and deed restrictions and coordinate permitting with the municipality and our trade partners, so you don’t have to. If you’re still searching, our Where We Build page lists the custom homesites currently available.

Yes. EGStoltzfus custom home neighborhoods combine the freedom of a fully custom design with the setting and amenities of a planned community. Homesites are ready to build on, so you can focus on designing your home. Current custom neighborhoods include Brooklawn in Manheim Township, Laranbo Farm in the Conestoga Valley School District, and Warwick Crossing in the Warwick area.

Absolutely. Our Lookbook shows completed custom homes and remodels, and our Why Choose EGStoltzfus page shares stories from custom home, remodeling and neighborhood clients. EGStoltzfus Custom Homes & Remodeling also earned a 2026 Guildmaster Award, which recognizes builders for exceptional customer service.

You don’t need a plan to get started. EGStoltzfus offers three ways to design your custom home: Start with a Signature Custom Home Plan. These curated floor plans reflect 55+ years of custom home building, and you can personalize them to fit your needs. Bring your own plans. We’re happy to build from plans created by your architect or designer. Design from scratch. Our design-build team will work with you to create a one-of-a-kind home. Whichever path you choose, your design moves from a preliminary sketch to a 3D model, so you can see the flow and function of your home before construction begins.

EGStoltzfus guides every custom home through a five-gate design-build process, with a dedicated team member at each stage: Discovery: Meet with a Design-Build Specialist to share your vision. You’ll get a preliminary sketch and a ballpark feasibility budget. Design & Evaluation: Your sketch becomes a 3D model. You’ll choose fixtures, flooring, cabinets and countertops with our design professionals, then receive a proposal and finished design plan. Agreement: You sign off on plans, specifications and the construction agreement. We submit permits, order materials and schedule resources. Construction: Your Site Manager walks you through key milestones, including pre-construction, pre-mechanical, close-in and pre-finish meetings, with regular updates along the way. Project Completion: After final inspection, you’ll tour your home at a Substantial Completion Review, and our Customer Service Team supports you through your warranty period. To get started, schedule a Discovery meeting.

Routine maintenance is the homeowner’s responsibility. Common examples include:

• Changing furnace and air filters
• Maintaining HVAC and plumbing systems
• Cleaning gutters and downspouts
• Inspecting caulking around windows and doors

Refer to your Homeowner’s Manual for guidance on recommended maintenance schedules. Proper maintenance ensures your home stays in great condition and prevents unnecessary service requests.

If an emergency arises during a weekend, holiday, or outside of normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm), please contact the appropriate trade partner directly. Emergency Service Guidelines:

• For plumbing, electrical, or HVAC emergencies, the trade contractor’s contact numbers are located on the hot water heater, electrical panel, and furnace.
• Evaluate the problem carefully before calling for emergency service to determine if it truly warrants immediate attention.
• The guidelines for emergency service are located in this manual and should assist you in determining whether a given problem warrants an emergency service call.

Important: EGStoltzfus Homes is not responsible for payment to any other person or company and will not reimburse homeowners who employ another party to perform the work.

Customers are typically contacted within a few business days. Appointment availability depends on trade partner schedules, parts availability, and nature of the repair. Some repairs may take longer if parts must be ordered or if multiple trades are involved.

EGStoltzfus Homes offers warranty check-ins at the 30-day and 11-month timeframes, giving homeowners an opportunity to share any concerns that may have arisen since moving in, ensuring timely review and resolution. For time-sensitive issues, you can submit requests via our contact form for warranties. When submitting a request, please include:

• Your name, address, and lot number
• A detailed description of the issue
• Photos or videos, if possible

This ensures our team can respond quickly and efficiently to your concern.

EGStoltzfus homes come with a one-year Limited Warranty. Coverage begins at occupancy or final settlement, whichever comes first. For remodeling clients, it begins at the Substantial Completion Review (SCR). During that year, EGStoltzfus will repair or replace, at our expense, any defective materials or workmanship covered by the Limited Warranty, using substantially similar materials. Items whose materials and workmanship meet standard residential construction industry practices aren’t covered. We check in with you at 30 days and 11 months, and our Customer Service Team will remind you before your warranty expires.

Yes. At your Finalization Appointment, we’ll collect 25% of any additional options you choose to add.

We have lots of tools available to help you be as prepared as possible – including our online video series, the online catalog, and our Open House events. Using these tools along with the General Description of Materials and Specifications will help you understand the included features for your new home and the options that are available through the Design Studio.

During your Welcome Call, we’ll also discuss your target investment range. This helps us understand the types of options to explore at your appointment and helps guide you to options that keep you within that comfortable range.

We generally recommend scheduling your Finalization Appointment 1-2 weeks after your Selection Appointment. This gives you ample time to consider your choices.

No stress if you change your mind after your first appointment, it can happen! We can make changes and tweaks to the design of your home through the end of your Finalization Appointment. Once you authorize your Addendum, any modifications are subject to our Late Change Request procedure.

Absolutely! Once you’re under contract with us you’ll have two private, in-person design studio appointments – your Selection Appointment and your Finalization Appointment.

We have a large selection of included and available colors and materials to choose from. We work closely with our trade partners, suppliers, and manufacturers to ensure we’re offering a wide range of the most requested, reputable design elements for your new home – and we’re always researching and introducing new products! For a sample of what we offer, explore our online catalog.

Appointment hours are 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm Monday-Friday. We do not offer weekend appointments.

We’re located at 1549 Manheim Pike, Lancaster PA. There is no overhead building sign but we’re located between Miracle Ear and Lancaster Home Brew. Look for the sign on our front door!

Katie and Stephanie work as a team so you’ll have not one, but TWO great certified design consultants helping you create the home of your dreams! That means double the attention to detail, double the suggestions, and double the amount of expert advice.

For the safety of your pets, visitors, and our team, we cannot accommodate pets. There are many heavy and potentially sharp objects in the studio which could jeopardize your pet and others. Service animals are permitted.

Your children’s safety is our priority. The studio contains many heavy and potentially sharp objects. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the safety of your children and recommend you make childcare arrangements. Further, you’ll be making important decisions at the studio that will affect you and your family for years to come. Think of this as a special day out and come prepared to fully focus and enjoy this unique experience. You’ll be glad you did!

Your Realtor is invited to join you for your Selection Appointment or an Open House event, so together you can enjoy exploring the many included and available personal choices. The Finalization Appointment is strictly reserved for contracted purchasers only. This gives you the opportunity to get advice prior to making decisions, as well as the freedom to make your own decisions without outside interference.

We know you want to share this exciting experience with your friends and family and get their advice and support. Friends/family members are invited to join you for your Selection Appointment or an Open House event, so together you can enjoy exploring the many included and available personal choices. The Finalization Appointment is strictly reserved for contracted purchasers only. This gives you the opportunity to get advice prior to making decisions, as well as the freedom to make your own decisions without outside interference.

You’re in the home stretch now! We start this appointment by addressing any electrical questions or additions based on the consideration list provided at your Selection Appointment. We’ll review each design selection and color and collect a 25% deposit on anything you do choose to add through the Design Studio.

In our opinion, this is the best part! We’ll start by reviewing your Authorization Plans and giving a quick orientation on electrical considerations to work on ahead of your Finalization Appointment. We’ll review the Design Concept we prepared based on discussions from our Welcome Call. You’ll share feedback on your Design Concept and we’ll explore alternate options as needed – making changes in real time based on the direction you take us! You’ll leave this appointment with a very good sense of what your new home will look like, and a list of preliminary selections and corresponding investment levels.

The Welcome Call is an informal conversation and opportunity for us to introduce ourselves and get to know you better! We’ll ask questions about your lifestyle, design style, and personalization goals. Based on your feedback, we’ll create a Design Concept to use as a baseline for your first in-person studio appointment, the Selection Appointment.

Once you’re signed up to build with us, our team will send instructions on how to schedule your appointments using our online booking system. You can choose the length of your Selection Appointment – we offer 1-hour, 2-hour, or 3-hour time slots.

This is a great question and most new home builders don’t issue a settlement until 4 weeks prior! After completing your Design Studio Addendum, we’re able to provide you with a 4-week settlement date range. Settlements always take place on Fridays. You’ll know the exact date around the time of your Mechanical Orientation, which is roughly 6-8 weeks advance notice!

After your Design Studio Experience, there may be a short waiting period…but don’t worry! Our team is hard at work securing permits, scheduling labor, ordering materials, and more. Your Neighborhood Sales Specialist will touch base to schedule your Mechanical Orientation once your home is framed and under roof.

After you sign your Agreement of Sale with your New Home Sales Specialist, you’ll be issued a Home Start Date. Your Selection Appointment will be held 12-16 business days from that date. Prior to that appointment, we’ll connect with you for a 30-minute Welcome Call. Your Finalization Appointment will be held within 12 business days of your Selection Appointment.

Buying a new home is a fun and exciting time, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming! We take a lot of that stress away by creating a personalized Design Concept based on the information we collect about your lifestyle, design taste, personalization goals, and target investment range. This preliminary concept gives us a good jumping off point to discuss color and how items interact with one another. From there, it only gets easier!

Homeowners commonly finance a design-build renovation through a cash-out refinance, a construction renovation loan or a home equity loan. The right fit depends on your home’s equity, your project budget and your financial goals. EGStoltzfus’ preferred lending partners can help you compare options.

Before you begin your homebuilding journey, we highly recommend contacting one of our preferred lending partners to start the pre-qualification process. Get started here.

No. EGStoltzfus does not require a construction loan. You’ll need a mortgage or end loan that’s paid at settlement. Our preferred lending partners can explain your options and help you get pre-qualified.

Our preferred financing partners are LMC Home Loans and Ephrata National Bank, both offering competitive rates and local service. Premier Home Settlements is our preferred partner for title insurance and settlement. Using our preferred partners may qualify you for additional savings. For custom homes, we recommend contacting a lending partner for pre-qualification once you have your estimate and design plans from the Design & Evaluation stage.

We typically complete construction 6 or 7 months after the home start date on your agreement of sale. Your New Home Sales Specialist will be able to verify your home start date once you’ve indicated that you’re ready to sign up to build.

This is completely normal during the framing and roofing stages, before your home is fully enclosed. The lumber, engineered wood, and subfloor materials used in your EGS home are built to handle temporary moisture exposure without affecting structural integrity. Once your home is “dried in” — meaning the roof, windows, and exterior barriers are in place — we inspect all installed materials and clear any remaining moisture before interior work begins. By the time insulation and drywall go in, your home is dry, secure, and ready for the next phase.

Most interior and exterior walls are built with 2x4s. Our exterior wall system uses 16” on center 2×4 with a 1” foam insulation sheathing, creating a continuous thermal break for a highly energy efficient and structurally sound wall. However, for below-ground structures, we use custom-manufactured, pre-insulated, precast foundations made by Weaver Superior Walls. They’re delivered by truck to your home site, and they’re the top choice for durability and energy efficiency.

We do! There are 9-foot ceilings included on the first floor of our townhomes and carriage homes, and they are optional for first floors on our single-family homes.

Depending on the community, the base price includes Mohawk polyester-fiber carpet and sheet vinyl. Some communities also have engineered hardwood in the foyer. Additional flooring options include ceramic tile, Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP).

Yes! Many of our home plans allow inclusion of a second-floor laundry. If you’re interested in this feature, check out the Glen Mary, Danbury, Essington, Edison, Hartman, Cambridge, Lawrenceville, and the Rockford. Take a virtual tour of these home plans.

While we do offer the option to finish your basement, we don’t include a finished basement in our base price, since there are many different potential uses that can vary widely in cost. Plus, many new owners prefer to live in their home for a few years before deciding how they’d like to use the space, so they choose to defer a basement project until later.

Finished rooms over garages (FROGs) are available in certain floor plans including the Cambridge, Rockford, and Magnolia. Take a virtual tour of these home plans.

Yes. All our communities have Homeowners Associations, or HOAs, that address community concerns. HOA dues vary by community and included amenities are also dependent on the neighborhood. Dues are set by the organizations but are generally minimal. Consult your New Home Sales Specialist for more information.

Most new home builders don’t issue a settlement until only 4 weeks prior! At the time of your contract signing, we’re able to provide a 4-week window for your expected settlement date! You’ll find out the exact day around the time of your mechanical orientation which is roughly 6-weeks to 8-weeks advance notice.

Start by requesting a consultation through our contact form or by calling 717-537-6968. Our Custom Homes & Remodeling Operations and Selections Manager will reach out to learn about your remodeling project and talk through next steps. From there, your project begins with Discovery, the first step of our design-build process. You’ll share your goals and receive a preliminary sketch and ballpark budget.

Remodeling clients often tell us they felt heard. Justin and Kaylee Miller said EGStoltzfus “listened to our needs throughout the entire process,” and Todd and Shetal Wolf said our team “doesn’t think of things that we say as a problem.” You can read more client stories on our Why Choose EGStoltzfus and Remodeling & Renovations pages.

Our Lookbook features before-and-after photos of recent EGStoltzfus remodels, including kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms and whole-home renovations. It’s a good way to see what our design-build team can do and gather ideas for your own project.

EGStoltzfus remodels follow the same five-gate design-build process as our custom homes: Discovery, Design & Evaluation, Agreement, Construction and Project Completion. One team manages your project from concept to completion, including design, selections, permits, trade partners and construction. You’ll always know your project status, upcoming milestones and expected completion date. Your warranty coverage begins at your Substantial Completion Review.

EGStoltzfus has built homes in central Pennsylvania for over 55 years, and our design-build team has completed more than 2,000 renovation projects of every scope and budget. Many clients come back to us for project after project. Founded by Elam G. Stoltzfus, we’re a family-owned company now in our second and third generations. We live and work in the communities we serve. See why people choose EGStoltzfus.