Many people have the dream of not just owning their own home, but owning a brand new house. It can be stressful and nerve-racking, but designing a contemporary house plan and building a custom home means you can get exactly what you want. A new home can be a true oasis, with every modern feature and accommodation that you’ve ever dreamed of. In this day and age it is quite common to have modern home features that include an accessory dwelling unit or a casita, an office, a pool or weight room.

Despite how nervous it might make you, or how it might seem like a pie-in-the-sky goal, it’s not as hard as you might expect. The key is to choose the right home designer and a reputable local home builder that specializes in custom homes, and that will work with you to get exactly what you are looking for. Here is a quick guide to building a custom home so that you know exactly what you can expect during the process.

Know What You Want in Your New Home

You are probably looking to build a dream home, so don’t hold back! Think of everything you’ve ever wanted in a home, and put it on a list. Don’t just think of features of the home. Set out what kind of timeline you want until it’s built. Figure out what location would be perfect for you. This could be somewhere close to schools or even your work. Along with this, you also do need a budget. Even if it might seem that all of your goals will be too expensive, having a budget will help the home designer & builders when they start planning things out.

Finding the Right Home Builder

Perhaps the most important step is choosing the right home builder for your project. You want a general contractor you can work with since you will certainly have many conversations with them throughout the process. If you have a few potential options, then look at their portfolios of the homes they’ve built, or even visit in person any homes they’ve completed to get a sense for how they look. Some general contractors or home builders may not be big enough to handle the size of the job you want done, or they do not have the right specialties. Of course, if you choose a home builder from a large company, you might not get the personalized service that you should expect when you are having a home built for you.

(Salishan House Plan #MB-2491)

Location, Location, Location

We all know that location is the most important aspect of real estate. You might not be buying a home in the traditional sense, but you still want to get a home in an ideal location for you. This is the start of attaining your dream. There are many factors to consider. For instance, does your ideal area have empty lots on which to build? Would you demolish an existing home to build yours, which would add costs to the project? You may also want to factor in which direction the home would face, and what other homes in the neighborhood look like.

(Pictured Above: Bountiful House Plan #MM-2967)

Start Designing Your House Plan

Designing your new home is the most fun part of the entire project. This is when you start to visualize what your dream house plan will look like. Your chosen builder will help by taking everything you want, and creating a schematic that incorporates it all. You will then make decisions about colors and styles, and possibly about changing up some room and feature placements. During this process, you might find that some of the things you want aren’t possible due to budget or some sort of building complication. You may have to prioritize, but you will still end up with a home you will love.

(The finished product… This modern house plan is aptly named Bountiful, one of our most popular home designs. Details and more photos of this house plan here.)

Start Building Your New Home

Once the house plans are finished, it’s time to start construction on your new home. You’ve no doubt chosen a home builder you can trust, but you should also monitor things. In the end, you will be the one held responsible for having the right permits, insurance coverage, and house inspections. Ask questions if you don’t understand something. Your home builder should be happy to answer them and help you understand the process. Of course, if you aren’t interested in the building aspect, you can stay away from the build, and enjoy the finished product when it’s ready.

Inspect…and Then Enjoy!

When the building has finished, then it’s time for you to enjoy your new home. First do a walk through with the home builder so they can explain anything you need to know, and talk about some of the features they’ve installed. You may have to do some landscaping and cleaning up, but otherwise it should be complete. Now it’s time to have your loved ones over to celebrate, and start the next chapter of your life.

If you are interested in building a custom home, have questions about any of our house plans, or what is included in a set of working drawings, call or email us today. We will talk with you about the process and work together to help you build your dream home.