Building a custom home is an exciting and rewarding journey, but it can also be overwhelming if you don't know where to start. Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the seven essential steps to prepare for your custom homebuilding adventure.
Determine Your Budget and Location
The first and most crucial step in the custom homebuilding process is to determine your budget and location. Take a close look at your finances and figure out how much you can comfortably spend on your new home. Research the local market conditions to understand current home and land values in your desired area. This will help you set a realistic budget and avoid any financial surprises along the way.
Harrison Custom Home | Photo by Lauren Carnes
Next, consider building costs, including property development, permitting, architectural plans, design specifications, material, and labor costs. At Harrison Homes, we handle every aspect of the custom homebuilding process, providing you with an all-inclusive price per square foot. Our team is currently building custom homes starting in the low $200s price per sq. ft.
Get Prequalified
Now that you have an idea of your budget, it's time to get prequalified with your lender. This step will reaffirm your budget and help you understand your financing options. At Harrison Homes, we recommend shopping around for the most competitive interest rates to maximize your budget.
Traditionally, most homeowners apply for a Construction to Perm Loan (CP loan) to finance their custom home. This type of loan combines financing and mortgage financing into one, simplifying the process. The CP loan acts like a line of credit, allowing you to draw funds throughout the various stages of construction and only pay interest on the amount used. The draws go to the homebuilder to cover the construction costs, and the loan rolls into a traditional mortgage once the home is completed.
Connect with Harrison Homes
You're prequalified and ready to take the next step! Reach out to Harrison Homes to start a conversation about your custom home. We recommend chatting with us before purchasing a lot, if possible. Our team will ask you some initial questions about your new home, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you desire, whether you want a basement or pool, and your design style preferences. Sharing exterior elevation inspiration photos with us is also helpful in understanding your vision.
The purpose of this consultation is for us to get to know you and your custom home vision better. We will answer your questions, provide guidance, and schedule a more in-depth meeting with our Custom Home team.
Find the Lot
Finding the perfect property is a crucial step in building your dream home. By connecting with us early in the process, we can guide you and help you understand critical factors to consider. Our team is well-versed in land and development processes, allowing us to quickly identify potential issues or deal-breakers.
We will evaluate aspects such as property size, zoning requirements, soil quality, water runoff, tree removal, setbacks, and more. Once you find a property that meets your custom home requirements, we will assist you in securing the purchase. If you already own the property, we will schedule a time to walk the lot with you and request a survey if you haven't obtained one yet.
Sample Page of a Harrison Homes Design Presentation
Retain Harrison Homes
To begin planning, designing, and building your custom home, the next step is to retain Harrison Homes' services. Our initial fee covers the costs associated with permitting, architectural plans, surveys, and more, bringing the project to the final contract stage. This is when the bank can close with the CP loan. The time spent collaborating with you and managing the pre-construction process is critical to the success of your build. Our team ensures your vision of a dream home becomes a reality.
Start a Home Vision Board
At Harrison Homes, we have an in-house designer who will work with you to bring your vision to life. To aid our designer, we recommend starting a home vision board. Gather images of home exteriors, interior features, and design elements that speak to you. Pinterest is a fantastic platform to create your custom home inspiration board. Whether you're into modern, traditional, farmhouse, or any other style, let us understand your preferences, and we'll incorporate them into your custom home.
Custom Home - Client Inspiration Photo
Harrison Homes Design Rendering of Client’s Vision
Sit Back and Enjoy the Build!
Once you've completed all the necessary preparations, it's time to sit back and enjoy the build! You can count on Harrison Homes to drive the process, communicate progress, and guide you every step of the way. Our well-organized homebuilding process ensures that most homes are completed within 6-8 months. We handle everything, from scheduling meetings to making decisions for your new home. Our dedicated team of builders and designers will support you throughout the entire process, making sure your custom home is a true reflection of your vision.
To get started on your custom homebuilding journey, contact Harrison Homes. We can't wait to get to know you, your family, and learn all about your dream home!
Learn more about our Custom Home team here.
