We are currently building homes in Western Massachusetts—most of Franklin and Hampshire counties and mid to southern Berkshires county.

• Net zero ready
• Triple glazed uPVC windows
• Porches are only included in the Craftsman and Plainfield A models, all others are additional
• Mini split heating and cooling system
• High performance ventilation system with fresh air supplied to each bedroom
• Hybrid hot water heater
• Insulated concrete slab
• First floor will be burnished and sealed concrete
• Two story models will have finished oak flooring on the second floor
• Stairs will have oak treads and handrail
• Mid level, quality finishes throughout the home
• Two (in total) neutral, low VOC paint colors
• Kitchen sink and faucet
• Bath sink, vanity (where applicable), faucets, toilets, bath and shower controls, tub or shower/tub combination or shower (where applicable)
• All ceiling heights are 8’2″
• Lever door pulls
• Overhead, closet, and vanity lighting
• Custom kitchen by East Branch Studio, painted slab style doors/drawers

At signing of pre-construction contract, billing will be based on the published hourly rates for customization and all work necessary to adapt a clients house to their lot. This includes design changes, estimating, engineering, site layout, connecting to utilities, permitting, zoning research, Conservation Commission meetings, all communication and meetings with the client, as well as other work specific to your project.

The following items are variables to the project and are not included in square footage pricing:

• Septic System
• Well
• Municipal water/sewer connections
• Driveway
• Land clearing
• Hardscaping/landscaping beyond final grading
• Solar
• Appliances

East Branch Homes and their finishes can be customized with additional costs (hourly design, budget, and management fees). Typical upgrades include changes in fixtures and finishes, addition of standing seam roof instead of architectural asphalt shingles, adding a garage, porch, finished basement or vaulted ceilings.

East Branch Homes are pre-designed for affordability. We are happy to build a custom home for you through our parent company, East Branch Studio (formerly Kent Hicks Construction Co.)

The final contract price will be determined after all finish products are selected and any design changes are made. Changes made after this point become change orders and add to the overall cost of the project and often incur delays.

A high performance building optimizes and integrates the interaction of all systems in a building (energy efficiency, durability, life-cycle performance) and how occupants interact with those systems. It is similar to the term “green” building, but more precise, focusing on energy efficiency in a holistic way. High performance building includes different levels of efficiency – passivhaus, net zero energy buildings, living buildings, and LEED certified buildings

A passivhaus, or passive house, is a standard of construction that has quantifiable energy efficiency. It describes a very comfortable home that includes huge energy savings and greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. These homes keep moisture, sound, and temperature fluctuations outside by using specific building techniques that optimize naturally occurring sunlight, fresh, filtered air, healthy materials, and specific construction strategies.

Circular design refers to design that is intended to be used beyond its original form – what is designed is recycled and reused in a continuous closed loop, instead of disposed of. Our flexible wall systems are a great example of this.

This is a measure of pollutants in the air inside a building. Common contributors to poor air quality include particulate matter from cooking, a fireplace or pellet stove, dirty filters, ductwork, and/or central air equipment, mold, lack of air circulation/fresh air, off gassing from building materials, furniture, and carpets, air fresheners and deodorizers (Febreeze, etc.) and scented products, tobacco smoke.

All the homes we build have high performance ventilation systems that supply continuously filtered fresh air to all rooms.

Building science uses engineering, architecture, chemistry, physics and the life sciences to inform the design of high performance buildings. These sources of knowledge inform the understanding of how a building works at peak performance as a healthy, efficient and durable system. Building science focuses on heat, air, and moisture transfer to prevent common problems, but includes comfort, and indoor air quality.

Cellulose, which is a high R-Value and low embodied carbon material, is used throughout.

Mitsubishi mini splits heat and cool your home.

Operational carbon is the carbon emitted while the building is in use. This includes energy used for heating, cooling, lighting, plug loads and appliances.

Embodied carbon is the measurement of how much greenhouse gas (GHG) is released in the process of extracting, transporting, and manufacturing materials, as well as transporting raw materials to building site, building, the operational life of the final product, and the end of the product’s life.