Step-by-Step Guide To Building A Home

Building a new home is one of the most exciting journeys you can embark on. However, it’s a complex process, and it can become pretty overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect. To make things a less daunting, we’ve put together step-by-step guide to building a home.

STEP 1: Defining Your Needs

The first step is to think about the type of house you want to build and form a project brief based on your requirements. This includes the type of property, the style of house, the location and your budget. All of these need to tie together, so do your research to see what’s viable.

When thinking about your ideal home, a great tactic is to list out the previous properties you’ve lived in and what you liked and disliked about them. Space required, planning your future, practicalities and neighborhood suitability will all come into play here. You’ll also need to think about where you want to live and the style of home that will respond well to that environment.

STEP 2: Financing Your Project

Costs of building a new home can be a complex area when you start thinking about all the elements to consider. This includes all the experts that’ll need to be involved, labor, materials, appliances, permits, etc. Create an itemized budget to work out accurate and realistic costings.

You’ll also need to consider how to finance your new project. If you have savings, this makes things easier, but you still need to think about your expenses and stick to your budget as much as possible. If you need finance for your project, explore your options such as a Construction Mortgage, and seek financial advice before you move on.

You can also start looking for potential lots to build on. If you’re choosing a custom floor plan, this will make your choices easier. Remember that almost every home will be subject to covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) so if you find the perfect lot, stick to ideas which come within the realms of these to avoid setbacks later on.

STEP 3: Finding a Floor Plan & Home Designer

Choosing the right floor plan or finding a home designer depends on what you need. Look for a company that has worked on projects like yours and provides the types of design you need. Experienced designers will usually have a collection of stock floor plans as well as the ability to offer custom home design services. It’s also important to have a look at their portfolio and check out their references, so you know you’ll be in the hands of experts.

Once you know what you want, a good designer will go through all the big questions about your home, outline pricing for you and will often meet you at your lot if you have one. They’ll create a sketch of the first draft of your home and then go through this process several times until you are satisfied.

It’s also important to find the right builder for your project who’ll communicate well, has the experience and qualifications to undertake your project and has a good reputation. Your designer will want to include them early on in the process, so they should be someone who can work well with you preferred home designer. Your designer may even be able to recommend a builder suitable for your project.

STEP 4: Planning

Now comes the fun part! This is the time to get everything right in the planning stages and create your ideal home. Your home designer and builder will guide you through this process.

This includes:

• Finalizing all the small details of your new home
• Estimated costs, full costs and payment plans
• Scaled plans, floor plans and front elevations
• All modifications and CAD (computer-aided designs)
• Involvement of engineers and subcontractors required
• Decisions about materials, finishes, fixtures and fittings
• Warranty discussions
• Creating the final construction document
• Ensuring everything is in place for your build to start including surveys, contracts, permits and permissions required
• A final construction schedule in place

Now you’ve planned the perfect build, your dream home can start becoming a reality.

STEP 5: Building Your Dream Home

Your construction team will have a schedule in place and have a process they’ll follow to construct your new home. This includes foundations, framing, plumbing, electrics, interiors. etc.

You’ll also receive walk-throughs at certain points during the construction which will be your opportunity to tour your new home to see the progress made and to get your approval leading into the final stages of the build.

Once your build has finished, the construction company will conduct a quality control inspection before you’re given your first orientation of your new home. You’ll also have a payment schedule to follow, and once this has been completed, you’ll have your move-in date!

Here at Elite Design Group, we make the process as easy as possible for you and make it as enjoyable as possible! You can see our own step-by-step guide to the design process here. We’ve built long-term relationships with dozens of local builders who will be part of the process early on. Our extensive experience working on high end renovations and our quality floor plan designs ensures we’re trusted by builders and clients alike, making the process as smooth as possible from start to finish.