Once you have made the decision to build your dream home, it seems that the weeks and months can come to a painfully S-L-O-W crawl.
Understanding the process can not only help to take away the feelings of being overwhelmed but also gives you a realistic expectation of the timeline.
As a result, you might actually be able to enjoy this season of sweet anticipation.
From start to finish it can be a 1-2 year process, so wouldn’t it be best to actually take pleasure in the journey?
Here are the nine phases you can expect to travel through during the creation of your future dream home.
1) Locate Your Lot
The simplest way to shorten your timeline is if you already have the lot you plan to build on. Conversely, if the market or your tastes cause you to take a long time on this step, then be sure to expect a lengthier process.
Enlisting the help of your builder – if you don’t have your lot – can be quite beneficial for several reasons.
First, it’s highly likely that he has contacts which will allow you to see all the options available to you.
In addition, he can help you pick the correct lot for the type of home you desire.
For example, a sprawling ranch-style home will certainly be in need of a wide lot, whereas, a narrow lot will do well with a Craftsman-style home that has a long and tight floorplan.
In either case, it is totally reasonable to contact a builder whether you have this step completed or not.
2) Create a Floorplan
Designing a floor plan is about so much more than just picking one that you like.
A good custom-home builder will take this time to really discover a lot about your family and the lifestyle you love. Asking questions like…
- What is important to your family?
- How do you entertain?
- Do you appreciate a more formal or casual type of environment?
- What are three things you LOVE about your current home?
He will capture the flow and function that your family needs and you will have a dream home that will serve well into the future.
This phase will take anywhere from 2-4 weeks.
3) Architect Draws Out the Plans
As a trusted architect is working his/her magic, you can begin to dream about some of the more specific elements in your home.
Typically it will take an architect and engineer, 4-6 weeks to draw up your plans.
4) Contract Time
Once the floor plan is all drawn out to the precise measurements and scale that you are looking for, it is time to take care of legalities.
Signing the contractual papers to move forward on building your home makes all the “feel good” moments get real.
Usually, this process will take anywhere from 2 weeks to a month.
5) Obtain Financing
“Show me the money!”
This is that time where your builder will need to know more about the specifics of your financial plans.
If you already have an established relationship with a banker or lender then it makes sense to start with them.
However, often, your custom home builder will have great reliable resources for you to consider as well.
6) Go To the City For Permitting
This is one of those areas where you will be so thankful for your builder’s expertise and experience.
It’s very likely that through his years of building custom homes he has made strong and stable relationships with the folks involved in the permitting process. This goes a long way in keeping the whole operation on track and running smoothly.
Approximately, 4-6 weeks will pass during this phase.
7) Personalize and Make It Your Own
Now it’s time to make your home a reflection of your good tastes.
This is one of the more exciting phases because you start to get a real vision for all the specifics. Things like:
- Flooring
- Custom cabinetry
- Fixtures
- Lighting
- Placement of outlets
- Wiring for entertainment devices
There may seem to be endless options and it is a bit of an art to bring all your choices together in a harmonious effort. Most builders will bring a designer in and you can expect it to take anywhere from 2-4 weeks.
Inevitably this phase will continue into the construction phase.
8) Construction Begins
And now for the moment we have all been waiting for… Da, Da, Da.
Ground is broken and construction begins on your future residence.
Your imagination gets to work less, as the visual of your home begins to take shape before your eyes.
Your custom builder will be on your site regularly to direct the progress and catch any oversights before they become mistakes.
This will take approximately six to nine months to complete.
9) Walkthroughs
As the homeowner you will want peace-of-mind, that the quality never wanes. From the first moment you meet with your builder, to the long-anticipated handing-over-of-keys, you want assurance that each step will be performed with excellence.
And let’s be honest – you will expect many, many years of superior value from your home as well.
Builders may vary on the number of times they will perform walkthroughs. However, a builder that stands behind his work will not skimp on them.
Carrying out 3, during the actual construction phase ensures that 100% satisfaction is a priority.
When you have lived in your home for a month it is a perfect time for your builder to come out and follow-up with you to make sure everything is working and in the expected condition.
Finally, if you find a builder that performs a walkthrough on your one-year anniversary, then you know he cares about craftsmanship and happy clients.
Final Thoughts
Building the place that you and your loved ones will be creating new memories should be an exciting and inspiring time.
Jim Rahman of Westmont Custom Homes has over 30 years of experience building dream homes in the Central Florida area. He is dedicated to bringing your vision to life in a home that will serve you for generations.
