Building a new home is a major investment and process. It’s important to understand the steps in this process to make informed decisions and avoid any surprises down the road.

The first step is determining what you want to build. Be sure to prioritize your ideas, considering budget, zoning, timeframe, and land constraints.

Designing Your Dream Home

Designing your dream home is a fun and exciting part of the custom building process. It is also one of the most important stages. There are many details to consider, from the architectural style to the location of electrical outlets. Regarding your vision for your new home carefully is crucial to making design decisions you won’t regret later.

Set clear priorities and a realistic budget to ensure your design journey succeeds. Then, immerse yourself in inspiration from a variety of sources. Art, nature, travel, and personal experiences can spark unique ideas to help you create a truly one-of-a-kind home. Incorporate your inspiration into mood boards or digital collages, serving as valuable references as you collaborate with professionals and make design decisions.

Finding a Lot

The location of your custom home will affect the blueprints, specifications, and design decisions you make. It will also influence the cost of your project, as you may encounter unexpected costs if you build on unimproved land.

Find out about local zoning, whether wetlands are on the property, and how close you can build to the road, among other things. Your architect or design/build firm will do all of this research to ensure city codes and requirements are met, but it is important to know these details in advance.

Buyers who purchase raw land without the aid of a professional are often at a disadvantage when it comes to discovering potential pitfalls and obstacles that may result in added expense or delays during construction. Buyers often ask for relatively long “study periods” in their purchase contracts to prevent this.

Creating a Budget

Creating your budget is essential in the custom home building process. Having a clear understanding of what your new home will cost you can help keep your project on track and ensure it stays within budget.

Research current construction costs in your area to get a realistic idea of your home’s cost. Also, be sure to factor in the costs associated with your land, including fees for utilities and any necessary excavation or site work.

Ensure you include allowance line items in your budget to give yourself flexibility and avoid surprises later. These allow for additional expenses such as landscaping, window treatments and paint. Tracking your spending every month can help you stay on track.

Choosing an Architect

An architect is a key team member that brings your custom home to life. Interview potential architects and consider their skills, personality and style. They should listen to you, understand your vision and be able to communicate clearly. Most architects charge hourly, so be clear about your expectations upfront. It’s also important to choose one who can work within your budget.

Review their portfolio and ask for references from previous clients. You want to find an architect who aligns with your design aesthetics and has a track record of turning plans into reality. Once the designs are complete, your architect will help secure a builder and be on hand throughout construction to answer questions and resolve issues.

Choosing a Builder

It’s important to choose your builder carefully, as they are the ones who will be responsible for bringing your dream home to life. They will be with you every step of the way and should be someone you can openly communicate with and trust.

A good custom home builder can provide you with client references (both recent and older), an architectural program, sample contracts and construction schedules. They should also be willing to walk your land with you to help you envision how a home might look.

Finally, avoid builders who rely on misleading advertisements to attract clients. This is a huge red flag and should be a deal-breaker. Choose a builder who is upfront about their pricing and has an honest, transparent reputation.