Three new houses in a row on Grand Avenue in west Raleigh, each with a full daylight basement, nine-foot ceilings on both levels, a tankless water heater, and two HVAC systems. A $1,450,000 new home in north Raleigh. A 4,030-square-foot basement home a few miles from NC State.
That is the record HomeQuest Builders Inc. puts on its own website. Founded in 2006 by Steve Smalto and Brad Greene, HomeQuest builds new custom homes “from renovations and additions to million dollar custom homes,” and much of its published work sits on infill lots inside established Raleigh neighborhoods.
This guide covers what the record shows, how HomeQuest works, and what to verify before you sign.
Who Is HomeQuest Builders?
HomeQuest Builders Inc. is a Raleigh builder and remodeler run by its two founders.
The documented history
The About page says HomeQuest “was founded in 2006 by industry veterans Steve Smalto and Brad Greene,” and that the two have been building “innovative, quality and energy efficient homes” for more than twenty years in Raleigh, Durham and surrounding North Carolina counties. The home page names both as company owners. The company’s tagline is “Better Homes, Better World.”
HomeQuest Builders is listed as a builder member in the 2025 Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County directory. Its office is at 303 Grand Avenue in Raleigh, the same street as three of its new homes. The office phone is 919.859.6208.
Where Does HomeQuest Build?
HomeQuest’s About page says it works in Raleigh, Durham and surrounding counties. Its sold homes are in Raleigh, Cary, and Wake Forest:
- West Raleigh: three new homes at 321, 325 and 329 Grand Avenue in the Westover subdivision, plus 1004 Ravenwood Drive and a custom home at 6302 Linville;
- North Raleigh: 1205 Anna Brook Lane and 108 Cromwell Court (27614);
- Cary: 305 Duxbury Lane, described as in the “Cary/West Raleigh area”;
- Wake Forest: 524 and 528 North Franklin Street.
The website does not show any Durham addresses. If you are building in Durham, ask for an example there.
What Does HomeQuest Build?
HomeQuest builds custom homes, spec homes on infill lots, and renovations and additions. The home page says the company loves “custom home projects of all shapes and sizes. From traditional to modern.”
| Buyer question | What the public record shows |
|---|---|
| State contractor license | L.60572 (HomeQuest Builders Inc): Residential classification, intermediate license limit, active through Dec. 31, 2026 per the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, checked Oct. 14, 2026 |
| Services | New custom homes, spec homes, renovations, additions |
| Styles | “From traditional to modern” |
| Sold prices shown | $222,000 to $1,450,000 (listing pages give no sale dates) |
| Sold sizes shown | 1,479 to 4,030 sq ft |
| Common features (Westover homes) | Full daylight basement, 9-ft ceilings on both levels, tankless water heater, two HVAC systems, Low-E windows, LED lighting |
| Energy | Energy efficiency named in the company’s About page |
| Warranty | Not published |
The sold homes
| Address | Town | Size | Layout | Price shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1205 Anna Brook Ln | Raleigh | 3,798 sq ft | 4 bed, 3.5 bath, 3-car garage | $1,450,000 |
| 6302 Linville | Raleigh | 2,958 sq ft | 4 bed, 3 bath | $950,000 |
| 108 Cromwell Ct | Raleigh | 3,300 sq ft | 4 bed, 2.5 bath | $630,000 |
| 325 Grand Ave (Westover) | Raleigh | 2,483 sq ft | 4 bed, 3.5 bath, basement | $620,000 |
| 321 Grand Ave (Westover) | Raleigh | 2,461 sq ft | 4 bed, 3.5 bath, basement | $615,000 |
| 305 Duxbury Ln | Cary | 4,030 sq ft | 5 bed, 3.5 bath, basement | $599,000 |
| 1004 Ravenwood Dr | Raleigh | 1,749 sq ft | 3 bed, 2.5 bath | $460,000 |
| 528 N Franklin St | Wake Forest | 1,694 sq ft | 3 bed, 2.5 bath | $249,900 |
| 524 N Franklin St | Wake Forest | 1,479 sq ft | 3 bed, 2 bath | $222,000 |
The website shows these as sold without dates. Use them to understand the kind of work HomeQuest does, and ask separately for current pricing.
The Westover homes
The three Grand Avenue listings describe the same package: a designer kitchen, a full daylight basement with a bedroom, full bath, and bonus room, nine-foot ceilings on the main and basement levels, farmhouse accents like shiplap, barn doors, and an apron sink, black exterior window trim, a tankless water heater, two HVAC systems, programmable thermostats, Low-E windows, and LED lighting. Two list an Eze-Breeze sunroom or screen porch.
The infill lot
The 6302 Linville listing began as “a new custom home construction opportunity” on an approximately 50-by-110-foot lot in west Raleigh, with an old garage to be removed. That is the infill model: HomeQuest controls a lot and builds a custom plan on it for a buyer. Our guide to infill real estate explains how that works.
How Does Building With HomeQuest Work?
HomeQuest does not publish a step-by-step process. Its site and listings show three ways in:
- Buy a HomeQuest spec home listed on its Homes for Sale page.
- Build custom on a HomeQuest lot, as with the Linville listing.
- Hire HomeQuest for a renovation or addition on a home you own.
The site invites you to call the office or either owner. Ask for the scope, the schedule, and the price in writing.
What Should You Verify Before Signing With HomeQuest?
Before signing with HomeQuest Builders, verify the license, the current pricing, the lot, and the warranty. Infill building in older Raleigh neighborhoods brings tree rules, stormwater, setbacks, and neighbors. Our guides to finding a Triangle builder and why the builder’s agent works for the builder explain how to keep someone on your side.
Confirm the license and the entity
Look up HomeQuest Builders Inc. with the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors and make sure the same entity is on your contract.
Get current pricing
The prices on HomeQuest’s site have no dates. Ask for current pricing per plan or per square foot, and ask for the most recent sale you can pull from the county records.
Check the infill rules on your lot
If you are building on a small lot in an older Raleigh neighborhood, confirm the zoning, setbacks, tree conservation, and stormwater requirements before you design. Our Raleigh infill lot UDO checklist covers the rules that most often change a plan.
Get the warranty in writing
HomeQuest’s site does not describe a warranty. Ask for the written terms and compare them with our home-builder warranty guide.
How Does HomeQuest Compare With Other Building Options?
HomeQuest is a small, owner-led builder with a long record of infill and custom work in west and north Raleigh.
| Option | Lot | Price visibility | Builder access | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HomeQuest spec home | HomeQuest’s infill lot | Listed price | Direct to owners | Buyers who want new construction close in |
| HomeQuest custom build | HomeQuest lot or yours | Quote | Direct to owners | Buyers who want a custom plan on a small urban lot |
| Production builder | Subdivision lot | Price sheet | Sales office | Buyers who want amenities and a standard process |
| Resale in an older neighborhood | Existing | Listed price | None | Buyers who accept an older house for the location |
Who Is a Strong Fit for HomeQuest Builders?
HomeQuest fits a buyer who wants new construction in an established neighborhood and wants to deal with the owners.
The strongest candidates usually:
- want west Raleigh, north Raleigh, Cary, or Wake Forest;
- like basement plans and practical features like tankless water heaters and zoned HVAC;
- are comfortable with infill tradeoffs: smaller lots, established neighbors, and city review;
- will ask for current pricing and recent references.
It is a weaker fit for buyers who want amenity-rich subdivisions or a large portfolio of recent, dated sales to compare.
Final Thoughts About HomeQuest Builders From Tim Clarke
HomeQuest has done the slow, lot-by-lot work that keeps older Raleigh neighborhoods alive: three new basement homes on one west Raleigh street, a custom home on a 50-foot lot, a $1.45 million build in north Raleigh. Two founders who have been at it since 2006 still answer the phone.
What the website does not give you is current pricing, dated sales, or warranty terms. Get them before you sign.
I have spent 17+ years in Triangle real estate. Our team builds as well as sells, so we know infill: the setbacks, the tree rules, the stormwater, and what a new house on a small lot really appraises for. When a builder’s salesperson or listing agent is part of the deal, that person represents the builder. We represent you.
If a HomeQuest home or lot is on your list, call us at (919) 355-8462. We’ll help you run the numbers and read the contract.
Sources
- https://www.homequestnc.com/
- https://www.homequestnc.com/about/
- https://www.homequestnc.com/homes/
- https://www.homequestnc.com/homes/1205-anna-brook/
- https://www.homequestnc.com/homes/westover-village-homes/ (321 Grand Ave)
- https://www.homequestnc.com/homes/westover-village-homes-2/ (325 Grand Ave)
- https://www.homequestnc.com/homes/west-over-village-homes/ (329 Grand Ave)
- https://www.homequestnc.com/homes/custom-home-lot-opportunity/ (6302 Linville)
- https://www.homequestnc.com/homes/305-duxbury-ln-basement-home/
- 2025 HBA Raleigh-Wake County builder-member directory (print)
- https://portal.nclbgc.org/Public/Search (NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, license L.60572)
