How To Build Your Dream Home [In 7 Easy Steps]

2022 January 24

Customizing a new home can be a fulfilling experience. You get to style it to your tastes, select every feature throughout, and cater it to your personal lifestyle. It really is an opportunity to build the home of your dreams.

You must be wondering though: what does building the perfect custom home entail? What things are there to consider, and what decisions will you need to make?

We’re here to answer your questions and walk you through the process. In this article, we provide 7 steps to get you on the path of building your dream home!

1 – Getting your finances in order

Before anything else, it’s important to understand your financial situation. There are a few things you should consider before even thinking about signing that dotted line.

First of all, be aware of what potential lenders will be looking for. At the end of the day, they’ll be looking for proof that you’ll be able to pay them back. They will take a look at your credit score, income, list of assets, and more. Ensuring that all of these are in good standing is a great first step towards preparing to buy a house.

Next, take stock of your credit scores and credit reports. When you have an exemplary credit score, you’re more likely to receive a loan with lower interest and more flexible terms. It’s important to always pay your bills on time, use less of your available credit, and hold off on opening new credit accounts to optimize your chances of receiving a loan.

Of course, when you’re buying a house, you’ll have to put down an initial payment. When that time comes, you’ll want to have as much money saved as possible. The greater the amount of your down payment, the lower your interest rate is likely to be. By getting ahead and saving your money from the get-go, you’ll end up spending less money in the long run.

To learn about financing for buying a house in greater detail, check out this article that was posted by Credit Karma.

2 – Budget Appropriately

Now that your finances are all in order, you can begin to consider the budget for your dream home. You should start by doing some research on  estimating custom home pricing. 

When you have a clear idea of how much certain aspects of your home might cost, you can get the ball rolling with more specific decisions: Where will you build your home? What permits do you need? How will it be designed? Each of these questions, when answered, can greatly affect the overall budget for the project. To learn more about these individual choices and how to financially prepare for them, take a look at our previous blog on setting the right budget for your custom home.

3 – Find the right plot of land

Now you get to start making the fun decisions of building a home! Deciding where to build your home is a big decision, as this location will impact the overall experience of living there. If you haven’t already read our blog on finding the perfect plot of land to build your dream house, then we’ll touch on the key points:

Define your dream location. It might seem obvious, but have you considered what things you’re looking for in a location for your home? Do you want to live in a rural or urban setting? Do you want to live by the water? Where do you see yourself in 10-20 years? Entertaining these questions will help you to narrow in on the perfect spot for your new house.

Do your research. There are many resources out there that can help you to pick a plot of land! You can start by discussing your project with qualified builders, checking out their planning departments, and by being aware of certain building restrictions that might impact the vision you have for your home.

4 – Get familiar with the building process

The next thing you can do is familiarize yourself with the custom home building process. When you work with Eagle Creek Homes, we’ll guide you through the whole process – but it still doesn’t hurt to know the steps yourself!

First, we enter the pre-construction planning phase. Before any actual work is done, we want to sit down with you to discuss your specific vision for a home. Be sure to come with a list of features that you’d like to include!

Next, we move into the design process. This is where we start to dig into the nitty-gritty details. We’ll help you to pick out doors, cabinetry, floors, paint colors, and more.

Then, the construction officially begins. When we have the complete plan laid out for your custom home, our team will get to work making sure everything is built with the utmost respect for your vision. Construction is followed by the installation of appliances and fixtures – then viola! It’s time to move in.

5 – Determine your floor plan

There are many floor plan options to choose from. You can hire an architect to design a completely new floor plan if you like, but beware: while one-of-a-kind designer floor plans are appealing, you may find yourself regretting layout decisions down the road. On paper, it may appear beautiful, but the real-life experience may prove it to be impractical. 

Eagle Creek is proud to offer an incredibly wide array of time-tested floor plans that you are sure to love. These plans offer many unique features, but without the risk of living in a layout that just doesn’t make sense.

Browse our custom floor plans.

6 – Permits and Planning Permissions

A blueprint is a crucial part of your building essentials – but aside from that, there are a variety of other things to prepare, which depend on the area you’re building in. At the very least, you will need to have a consent to build document, planning permission, and other permits. Of course, you’ll also want to make sure that your contract with the building contractor is all set.

Again, this is all taken care of for you when you work with Eagle Creek!

7 – Begin Construction

Now it’s finally 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.

Conclusion

Now that you’re familiar with the steps it takes to build a custom home with Eagle Creek, you can officially start daydreaming about that perfect home!

There are many options to consider and it can seem overwhelming, but it’s also a fun process that we’re glad to guide you through with our expertise and years of industry experience.

If you’re ready to start bringing your dream home to life and want to discuss our process and customization options, request a new custom home build consultation today!