What to Expect When Building a Custom Home
Building the home of your dreams is a big deal! While a custom build may not be the simplest solution, it’s a way to get everything you want in a home without compromising on design, details, or location.
It is, however, a big project requiring significant investment. You need to do it right.
Before you begin, the most critical decision you’ll make, bar none, is in choosing the right builder. You need a great team on your side to manage and execute the process, as it’s the only way to ensure your money is spent on the right things while minimizing headaches along the way.
So, if you’re considering building a custom home, you might be wondering about the process, timelines, and whether you should tear down and rebuild on your existing lot or start fresh on a new one. We invite you to use this article as a guide to inform each step and reveal what you can expect when working with Character Companies as your design-build firm.
Teardown and Rebuild vs. Build on a New Lot
First things first. Many people assume that building a custom home requires purchasing a building lot, but a teardown and rebuild might be a better option for some. Let’s weigh the pros and cons.
On the plus side, a teardown/rebuild means you won’t have to leave the neighborhood you love. You’ll have the same neighbors, school district, commute, and lifestyle upgrades you want.
Additionally, a custom teardown/rebuild often offers a better return on investment (ROI) and, with all costs considered, may even save you time and money. You won’t have to deal with time and energy-consuming property searches, and because the utility infrastructure is already there, your budget and timelines will be more predictable.
Building on a new lot has its advantages, though, too. Your land costs may be lower compared to the cost of demolition on your existing property, and you’ll have complete control over the size and design of the home. Lastly, you’ll still have your existing home to live in while the project is being completed.
On the downside, establishing utilities on raw land can be costly, depending on the location. The project will take longer due to infrastructure development and permitting for both the land and the house itself.
Zoning and planning may also be more complex and time-consuming on a new lot. As we outlined in our recent Teardown and Rebuild article, zoning restrictions can be challenging – but they are certainly not insurmountable. If your heart is set on a new locale, Character Companies can help you navigate the complexities and ensure you’re well-informed every step of the way.
And while building on an existing lot may help you finish the project faster, you may be limited by the lot’s size and shape, as well as other zoning factors. Plus, you’ll definitely need to relocate during the build and will have to factor those costs into the budget.
In either case, the result will be a beautiful custom home with all the features you want.
Building on a new lot requires higher infrastructure costs. Teardown/rebuilds require demolition, which can also be costly, and you’ll need to factor in alternative living arrangements. Once it’s all said and done, the costs are typically similar, but each case is different. Our team will walk you through all the variables to ensure you know what to expect at every stage.
Building With Character: What to Expect Before, During, and After Your Custom Build
The process of building a custom home will vary slightly depending on whether you’re doing a teardown/rebuild or building on a new lot. Let’s break it down.
Phase 1: Lot identification and initial planning
If you’re planning on building your custom home on a new lot, enlist a trusted realtor to help you find a suitable building lot. Ideally, you’ll want to work with a realtor who is experienced with building lots, as they will be able to narrow your search and, hopefully, help you find a property that ticks all your boxes.
Work with a reputable builder who understands the area and has a track record of completing custom home projects with high customer satisfaction. Character Companies is a design-build firm, which means all work is performed under a single contract. Design-build is the preferred strategy for large-scale building projects as it streamlines and simplifies the process from end to end.
Confirm your builder early in the process, as they can consult on feasibility, zoning, and potential challenges you may face. Expertise in these areas will minimize delays and disappointments as you’ll know what to expect.
Your builder will provide you with preliminary budget guidance to align your choices with your goals.
Phase 2: Designing your custom home
At our core, we believe a custom home should feel like it’s uniquely yours, but without the overwhelming guesswork. Our definition of “custom” means offering you a thoughtfully curated set of choices that put you in control. You’ll start with a beautiful, adaptable floor plan as your foundation—then make it truly your own by adding the features that matter most to you, like an extra garage or a cozy screened-in porch. At Character Companies, we take the time to get to know you so we can advise on design layouts and features to enhance the functionality and enjoyment of your new custom home.
Once the architectural design is completed to your specifications, you’ll meet with an interior designer to refine your vision, choose finishes, fixtures, and other details to bring the design into focus.
Following each update and revision, you are invited to review pricing and further refine the design until it meets your budget and expectations. Once you have signed off on the finish selections, we’ll move on to permitting.
Phase 3: Obtain permits
One of the advantages of working with a design-build firm is that we handle all aspects of permitting for the build, from applications to approvals. We oversee zoning, land surveys, engineering, and HOA requirements, if needed.
Once all permits are secured, we will provide you with an updated construction schedule and timeline.
If we are doing a teardown/rebuild, you will ideally have secured alternate living arrangements and can start planning your move. Our team will help you organize moving and storage, if needed. We aim to make the process as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Phase 4: Construction
Before construction commences, you will be introduced to your project manager. They will be your “point person” throughout the project, ensuring you have a single point of contact for any questions or concerns. They will be responsible for keeping you updated on progress, letting you know about any issues or delays, and guiding you through the build from start to finish.
You will be invited to walk through the build during framing and drywalling—and any other phases you are interested in. It’s exciting to see everything come together!
Many inspections will be conducted before the final stages can be completed. Once the inspectors have signed off on electrical, plumbing, insulation, foundations, and HVAC, we can start the finishing process: paint and trim, floor finishing, fixtures, architectural details, and other decorative elements bring your vision into sharp focus.
Phase 5: Closing and move-in
The final stage is a punch-out walkthrough to ensure every detail meets your expectations. If there are any adjustments to be made, we’ll take care of them to your satisfaction. Once you’ve signed off on the build, we hand you the keys, and it’s time to move in.
Our team will hand off our warranty plan, providing you with ultimate peace of mind. Each custom home build project we complete comes with a standard one-year warranty for coverage of workmanship and a two-year warranty for protection of all mechanical systems. The structure of your home will fall under a ten-year warranty plan backed by our partners at 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.
Custom Home Timelines: What to Expect
While it’s challenging to precisely quote timelines for custom projects (every build is different), we generally estimate the time for phases 1 and 2 at 90-150 days.
Of course, if you are building on a new lot, this timeline does not include the time it takes to find a suitable property. Once the design is finalized and approved, we will provide you with a reasonably accurate timeline for the remainder of the project.
Typical timelines for custom home builds range from 12 to 24 months. What your project entails will depend on many factors, including its scope and complexity. Permitting alone often takes several months. Our team will always keep you apprised of these details to keep things within your budget guidelines and timeline expectations.
First Steps: Let’s Talk About Your Custom Home Build
Building a custom home is an exciting prospect, but it can also be overwhelming. There are many points to consider and much work to do, even before you break ground.
If you are dreaming of a custom home and don’t know where to start, book a consultation with Character Companies today. We’ll take the time to understand your goals and vision, and work with you to bring your vision to life.