If you are wondering how to build a custom home, this guide will take you through the process from start to finish.
Click on one of the links below to skip ahead to a particular section:
1. What to Consider Before Building Your Home
2. The Design Process
3. Working With a Custom Home Builder
4. What To Expect During The Building Process
5. The Final Step: What To Do After The Build is Complete
To learn more about the entire process, continue reading below. Or contact the team at L. Patten to find out about getting your own perfect custom home.
1. What To Consider Before Building Your Custom Home
Deciding to build a custom home is a big decision, and there are a lot of things for homeowners to consider before they begin.
When you choose to build a custom home instead of buying an existing house, there are some important decisions and extra considerations that you will need to think about. It’s important that you are not caught off guard when you begin the process!
What is your budget?
Building a custom home comes with a few more financial decisions than buying a prebuilt house. Considering your budget, and deciding where you can flex and where you cannot will save you from difficult decisions and potential frustrations as you work through the process.
It is always a good idea to set a slightly higher budget than you think you need, to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, or if you decide to make upgrades or different design choices along the way.
There are many things to consider before building your custom home
Who Is On Your Team?
When it comes to building a custom home, you will likely be working with a group of individuals and businesses. Of course, you will need to hire a custom home builder.
When you choose a builder, they may subcontract out a lot of the jobs, including architecture, electrical, plumbing, and more.
However, it is important that you ask your home builders if they do the sub-contracting themselves, or if that is something you will need to look into before starting the home building process.
What permits Do I need?
Unlike buying a pre-existing home, you will need permits. In some cases, you will need numerous amounts of permits, and they vary depending on your location, the type of building you plan to do, and other variables.
Ask your home builder if they take care of the permits for you, or if that is something you need to get before you start building.
What is the timeline?
Quality home builders will try to adhere closely to a timeline, but there are many factors that can impact the exact date your home will be ready to move in.
For example, severe and extreme weather events can cause building delays, and there is no way to predict them so far in advance.
However, you will have a general timeline, so it is important to think about your own lifestyle and if there are any other big changes coming around that time (for example, a new baby, a job change, any financial disruptions, etc.)
Choosing Your Land
The custom home building includes a lot of steps, and one of those steps is to choose and buy the land that your home will be built on. You will need to consider a number of things, such as:
The size of the lot
The utilities available (and if you need to add any)
The grading of the lot
Does the lot have dense trees, streams, ponds, etc?
The neighbourhood and proximity to neighbours
Your actual custom home is important, but so is the property it will be built on. The property could limit design choices or the size of the home, so it is important to really think about what you want before choosing land.
2. How To Build a Custom Home: The Design Process
Once you have assembled your team, considered your budget and timeline, and made preparations for any permits required, it is time to think about the actual design of your home.
Your architect and home builder want to hear your ideas and will do what they can to make them happen. They will also want to know the general type of aesthetic you like - for example, is modern your thing? Or do you prefer traditional or rustic?
For custom homes, you will have a say for every room in your home - which is a huge benefit of custom home building! However, it does mean there is a lot to consider.
Below, we will break down some main rooms you will need to think about when designing your home.
The Kitchen
When they say the kitchen is the heart of the home, they mean it. Homeowners end up spending a lot of time in their kitchen and dining area, whether it is just cooking a family meal or entertaining big holidays or parties.
Some design considerations for the kitchen include:
Eat-in kitchen or separate dining space
Kitchen appliances you want to include
General kitchen layout
Storage space, pantries, cabinetry choices
Flooring
Lighting
Talk to your custom home builder about specific kitchen layouts, as the overall layout of your kitchen will have a big impact on the usability of the space.
Living Spaces
The living room and other living spaces in the home are going to be where you come to after a long day, watch movies with your family, and cozy up to a good book when you just need to relax.
Some design considerations for living spaces include:
The size of the room(s)
Fireplaces or other built-in heating options
Flooring
Built-in bookshelves or cabinets
Windows and window coverings
General layout and the furniture you want to include
Many larger homes have multiple living spaces, so it is a good idea to think about where they are in proximity to the other areas of the home.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are an ever-important room in the house. They also require significant plumbing, so that should always be taken into consideration when you decide on the location of your bathrooms.
Here are some other design considerations for your custom home bathroom(s):
How many full and half bathrooms
What type of shower, bathtubs, and vanities do you want to include
Flooring and backsplash
Additional features: heated floors, venting, humidity control, etc.
Most homeowners want their bathrooms to be located in convenient spaces (e.g. ensuite bathrooms and powder rooms). Chat with your home builder about the best places to put your bathrooms that will still provide a bit of privacy.
Bedrooms
The bedroom is where everyone retreats to after a long day - whether good or bad! When you build a custom home, you have the opportunity to create the perfect retreat space for you and your family members.
Here are some things to consider when designing your bedrooms:
How many bedrooms and the spaces between them
What floor(s) are the bedrooms located on
Windows and window coverings
Ensuite(s)
Types and sizes of closets (e.g walk-in)
If irregular shaped, where will furniture go
If you want, this is a good area to involve some other family members in the design process, as you may want them to have a bit of say in their own bedroom look and feel.
3. Getting Started: Working With a Custom Home Builder
Once the design process is complete and you have confirmed the plans with your architect, it is time for your home builder to get to work!
For this part of the process, you won’t have much to do aside from sitting back, relaxing, and waiting for your home to be built!
Your custom home builder will work hard to give you the best and most beautiful home!
There may be times when your builder needs to consult you about design choices, or if an unexpected challenge occurs. However, overall, you can relax and daydream about what your new home will look like while your builders do the hard work.
Your home builders may periodically invite you to visit the home and provide feedback. Most custom home builders are very happy to work closely with you - it is your custom home after all.
Both the homeowner and the home builder want to know that everything is going as planned, so builders will keep homeowners in the loop.
4. What To Expect During The Building Process
As mentioned above, during the building process, there is not a whole lot that the homeowner will have to do. However, as the building begins and continues, you can expect:
Communication from your builder: Be sure to get back to your builder quickly if they call you. They may want to confirm something with you or check in about a potential issue before they move forward and will need to chat with you before making a decision.
Periodic inspections: There will likely be some inspections that take place during the building process to ensure that everything is up to code.
Ongoing payments: It will depend on your contract with your particular builder, but in many cases, payments go through periodically throughout the building process.
It can be difficult waiting for your new home to be built! During the building process, talk to your home builders.
They may be able to provide you with picture updates and will be happy to answer any questions you may have as the process goes on.
5. The Final Steps: After The Build is Complete
Finally, after all your hard work, preparation, and waiting your home is built. It is so exciting when you finally get to see your brand new home!
However, there are a two main things to consider after your home is built and before moving in.
Who Cleans Up?
Immediately after everything is done, who is responsible for cleaning up, and how thoroughly? You will need to chat with your builder to determine exactly who cleans up what and how thorough the clean-up is.
For example, they may be responsible for cleaning up dust, debris, and dirty floors from boots and work done in the home, but you may be left cleaning the rest yourself. Every builder is different and every contract is different, so this is an important question to ask.
Before you move in all your furniture, it is a good idea to check out the house and see what you want to clean ahead of time. It is a lot easier to clean a home before the furniture gets in the way!
Who Landscapes the property?
Have your custom home builders landscaped the property or hired someone to do that? Was it part of your contract and plans, or do you need to hire landscapers yourself?
Custom home projects are beautiful, often luxury homes - so you will want to ensure that your property is equally as beautiful! Landscaping is also practical because it allows you to make the most of your outdoor space.
If you need to hire landscapers, consider the timeline. Is it easier for you to get them to work before you move in, or would you rather be home while they work for you?
After those two items have been discussed and figured out, you should feel like everything is now good to go! Hire your movers, and get ready to enjoy your dream house.
Wondering How To Build a Custom Home? Trust L. Patten & Sons
Not sure how to build a custom home, but are interested in learning more? You can rely on the experts at L. Patten & Sons to help you from start to finish. We help homeowners get the dream house they have always wanted - whether it is a contemporary house on the lake or a cozy cottage in the woods.
At L. Patten & Sons, we bring custom-built home designs to life, with over fifty years of custom home building experience. We take pride in building custom homes that are as beautiful to look at as they are comfortable to live in.
We make it our goal to help all our clients realize their dreams. Quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and complete customer satisfaction are what sets L. Patten and Sons apart in the Collingwood, Clearview, and the Blue Mountains home building community.
Our homeowners can rest assured that their new home will be a source of pride and satisfaction for many years to come. Fill out our contact form today to get started.