At the start of ANY new journey, it is typical to be both excited and overwhelmed. And this is undoubtedly true when building a custom dream home.

Although there are many nuances in the process for each family, you CAN expect that there will be many conversations around 4 particular areas. And just to have a little “alliteration fun,” we’ll call these the 4 Ls or 4 Love Languages of custom building:

LAYOUT, LOCATION, LENGTH OF TIME, AND LENDER

LAYOUT

When it comes to the layout of your home, the floorplan is a whole lot more important than a collection of rooms.

There are endless options and possibilities, but which choices will be suitable for your family? What rooms are a must and which ones are more flexible? And understand that there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. Isn’t that the beauty of building a custom home?

As you begin to think about your family and how you interact together, consider the things that are most important to you concerning space and flow:

  • Are there things about your current home that you LOVE and want to incorporate in your new living area?
    Is entertaining a big part of your life, and what does that look like—small intimate gatherings or big blow-out parties?
  • Will you need a separate living area for aging parents or as transitional housing for college grads?
  • Thinking about these kinds of questions will help you and your builder create a space that perfectly fits your family’s needs for the long haul.

LOCATION

Location. Location. Location. It’s a timeless adage but always true when it comes to the value of a property.

Is it a big deal if you haven’t found your perfect location to build on yet? It doesn’t have to be. You can trust that a custom builder will not only often have an inventory of available lots that might fit your family’s needs but also has established relationships with realtors who can provide leads for potential sites.

But understand that the longer the search for the perfect lot takes, the longer the overall process of building will be.

Since this integral part of the process comes at the very beginning it can be a source of stress. But it is not one that you have to tackle on your own. Educate yourself and make some decisions about the factors that are important to your family.

For example,

  • Is there a particular school district that is a must or a specific area of town that you prefer because of proximity to work?
  • What about city locations versus more rural options?
  • Do you enjoy the community feel of a well-connected neighborhood, or do you long for land and trees?

Again, partnering with a builder at this point in the process is an excellent idea because they will be aware of future developments you won’t have access to.

In addition, he will be able to assist you in choosing the correct type of lot that will tick off all the boxes and be the perfect site for the home your family has decided to build.

LENGTH OF TIME TO BUILD

From start to finish, the process of building a custom home can take 1-2 years.

Although that seems like a painfully long time when you are excited to move into your new house, understanding each step sets you up to enjoy the journey.

Here are some of the significant milestones you can expect. Some of them might overlap and can vary greatly in the length of time.

  1. Locate your lot
  2. Create a floorplan (usually takes 2-4 weeks)
  3. An architect draws out the plans (4-6 weeks)
  4. Contract signing (2 weeks—1month)
  5. Obtain financing
  6. Go to the city for permitting (4-6 weeks)
  7. Personalize it and make it your own (choosing cabinetry, flooring, lighting, etc.— 2-4 weeks)
  8. Construction begins (6-9 months)
  9. Walkthroughs

LENDER

“Show me the money!”

Don’t worry; it won’t be quite that dramatic. But this is that point where a builder will need to know more about the specifics of your financial plans.

If you already have a relationship with a lender or banker, that’s a good place to start.

If not, your custom home builder will have reliable resources for you to consider. When securing your loan, be sure to look for an option to lock in your ending interest rate, which can save you thousands of dollars over the 10-month time frame it takes to build your home.

At Westmont…

We love what we do!

If you’ve decided to start the home-building journey, give us a call. You can learn a lot in a conversation.

We’ll listen to your dreams, desires, and your family’s needs, and together we’ll come up with the perfect plan for you.