Custom Home Building Process: What To Expect

2021 July 1

The decision to build a custom home from scratch is an exciting opportunity for you to create a one-of-a-kind dream home, whether it’s the house you plan to start your family in, or the place you want to continue making memories with your already growing family. 

As exciting of an opportunity as it may be, the custom home building process can also be a daunting one, especially if you have never gone through it before.

There is a lot that goes into bringing a house from an idea to life. If you want this new house to be a place that is loved and called home for generations to come, it is a process that you want to make sure is done the right way. You need a building team you can trust, who has your best interests in mind, and can help you every step of the way.

Knowing the steps to build a house before you ever contact a builder will help you gain a better understanding of what the process entails, what to expect, and what you’ll need to make the process go as smoothly as possible. That is why we have put together this list of everything you should know about the custom home building process!

Custom Home Building Process

Pre-Construction Planning

Before ground is broken or the first blueprint is drawn up, there is important work and planning that needs to happen between you and your builder. Your first meeting with your builder is crucial for kicking off the relationship and laying the foundation for your project. 

This time should be used to establish expectations, talk about custom floor plans, and ideas for features you want or need for your new home, and make sure your builder has everything they need to provide you with an accurate proposal and estimate for the project. Come prepared with your wish list of home features!

If you are satisfied with the proposal and you are ready to sign the contracts, you can then begin the process of securing financing for your project. Finding the right construction loan lender can be a stressful part of the process, as are most situations dealing with money. However, doing your homework will help you make sure you put yourself and your family in the best financial situation.

Design Process

While pre-construction planning and dealing with home construction loans may be one of the more stressful parts of the custom home building process, what comes next is really the fun part!

While the construction plans are getting drawn up, this is your time to decide all the little details and features that are going to help make your home truly yours. 

We are talking about picking out doors, paint colors, countertops, backsplashes, flooring, sinks, exterior accessories, kitchen appliances, and all the other perfect features for your home. Once decisions on colors and aesthetics are being finalized, it becomes much easier to start visualizing your dream home, making you even more excited for what is to come.

This is also the time where you and your builder should start having conversations about construction permits and reinforcing the expectations set at the very beginning. This is, after all, your home and your project. It is important to regularly check in with your project manager to make sure everything is going to plan.

Home Construction Time

Now comes the time to start the “dirty” work: breaking ground, digging, and laying the foundation that your home will be set on. But before all that, it is important to have one last meeting with your project manager to do a final pre-construction review of the plans, details, and expectations. 

During the custom home building process, there is no such thing as “too much communication.” Open and regular conversation between you and the project manager will help avoid any errors, confusion, or misunderstandings that could potentially derail or delay your project.

Once the digging begins and the foundation is laid, the shell of your home begins to really take shape, making this another very exciting landmark for your custom home building project. At this stage, you can really just start imagining the roof, where the stairs will be, the kitchen where you’ll share countless meals and memories with your family, and all the other custom features of your home.

This feeling will only become stronger as more and more is done to progress construction. After the foundation comes the sub-floor, followed by the stairs, exterior sheathing, trusses, and then roof sheathing leaving you with a bonafide shell of a home with only the interior left to finish.

During this time, make sure your project manager and builders are taking the necessary steps to protect your home by setting up and building a protective wrap around your house. This is crucial to preventing damage from weather and any kind of setbacks as a result.

Electrical, Appliance and Design Details

Once the exterior of your home has been built, the focus shifts to the interior, particularly getting your electrical, gas, plumbing, and other appliances set up as well as putting up drywall and laying the flooring. Your project manager will give you a rundown beforehand of the location of all the lights, plugs, and switch locations as well as plumbing and HVAC behind your drywall for your reference.

Once everything is set up, all the appliances you selected during the design process can be delivered and installed. Installing appliances prior to your actual move-in gives you a chance to test everything to make sure it is working properly. If something is not working, you’ll have a little leeway to have it returned or fixed prior to the big moving day. 

Once everything has been put in place and installed, you and your project manager get to finish one final walkthrough in the home and make sure that everything is up to your standards. This is also your best opportunity to ask any lingering questions about your home, and make sure that you know how everything in your home works and where everything is.

Then comes the part you’ve been waiting for… 

Time to Move In!

You’ve been through months of prepping, designing, organizing, building, and waiting for this moment and it is finally here. At last, you can get the keys and start moving into your brand new home! Once you get in, start moving in furniture, and start decorating your space, the house will immediately begin to look and feel like your own.

However, even once you are moved in and settled,  your builder’s job isn’t quite done yet. Your project manager should make themselves available to schedule follow-up visits over the course of the next few months to make sure that everything is working properly and efficiently. This also gives you an opportunity to bring up any issues you might have that your custom home builder might be able to address.

Building With Eagle Creek Custom Homes

Your dream custom home requires a lot of planning and finding the right partner to guide you through the process. At Eagle Creek Homes, we understand how important your custom home building project is for you and your family. That is why we pride ourselves as a true partner and work hand-in-hand with our customers, guiding them through our excellent, transparent custom home building process.

When you work with Eagle Creek Homes, you will never be out of the loop. Your project manager will give you updates every step of the way so you’ll know exactly what to expect at every stage of the process. You’ll see photo and video updates on the status of your home and you get calendar reminders for every important meeting. 

If you are ready to start bringing your dream home to life and want to learn more about our process and customization options, request a consultation today!