Custom Home Design: A Step-by-Step Guide
Our homes are often the biggest investment that most of us will ever make. That’s why it’s so important to work with great builders and designers. Custom home plans ensure you get the most out of your new home, from square footage to the perfect bathroom in which to relax. Here’s a step-by-step overview of the custom home design process.
The brief
The first thing you should consider is why you’d rather build your own home instead of simply buying new construction or a pre-existing home. This will help you get a clear picture of what should set your home apart, and how your design team can make it happen.
To get started, you’ll create a brief, which sets out all the must-have requirements for your project. You might include your desired square footage, how many rooms, layout and more. Typically, your brief will be an evolving document throughout the design and build process. It will help describe what you need, and will ensure you get accurate estimates from your team.
Be realistic about your needs and design. If you need help with your brief, your design team will be happy to assist.
Supplemental information
Next, you’ll provide your design team with some supplemental information, such as sketches, floor plans, Pinterest boards or even physical models. This helps your designers get a better sense of what you’re looking for. They’ll also be able to provide information about which designs and features will work with your general vision, versus which need to be adjusted before the building process commences.
Hire the right team
The custom home planning process doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Here are just a few of the people or teams you’ll need to work with:
- Financial: Your financial advisors can help you determine exactly how much money you’ll need to finance the project, the best interest rates and more.
- Surveyors: Hiring surveyors at the outset is a smart idea—it will ensure a potential plot of land is not only worth the cost, but able to support your new home.
- Architect: Next, you’ll need a good architect to help you design and execute your vision. They may need additional assistants, especially if you plan on using renewable energy and other specialized assets.
- Engineer: Finally, you’ll need an engineer. They’ll help your design and build teams assess the suitability of the land, from soil tests to structural consulting.
Planning and building
Once your designs and other preliminary work are complete, your team will start planning the project. This includes getting the appropriate building permits from the planning department, completing an initial project timeline, updating designs and plans as necessary and getting builder quotes.
Once you have the groundwork in place, the actual building can begin. The better you plan your initial project, the easier it will be to stay on schedule and budget throughout the building process. The last thing you want is to find out that your project has been held up because there was no topographical survey, or someone forgot a key step in the permit process.
When you’re ready to design and build your own dream home, call Perry House Plans today to begin putting your custom home plans together.
Categorised in: Custom Floor Plans, Home Design