Imagine designing your dream home. Finding that perfect lot with a view, customizing every detail from the layout, all the fixtures, surfaces, down to the paint colors. Once it’s completed, finally walking through the front door to that new home smell. It can all seem a bit daunting at first, especially when you don’t know where to start. But with the right builder and the right process, building a home on your own land is easier than you might think.
Step 1: Planning and Design
Defining Your Vision
Regardless of who you are, everyone has unique lifestyles, needs, and preferences. Building your own home offers a unique opportunity to curate every aspect of your living space to perfectly fit your lifestyle. Take the time to consider exactly what you need and want in your home. Need some help? Try researching different architectural styles and designs. You can also visit a design center, such as McAdam Floor and Design in Vancouver, for inspiration.
Budgeting
It may sound obvious, but with so much involved in building a home, there is a lot to consider when planning your budget. Start by getting pre-approved for a construction loan. That will set the stage for exactly what you can afford. You can get pre-approved by one of our Preferred Lenders to get started.
Hiring Professionals and Creating a Plan
You’re most likely not a professional architect, and you might have a keen eye for design, but no idea where to start. Hiring professionals takes the guesswork out of building your home, even when you know exactly what you want, and opens the door to new possibilities that you might not have thought of. When you schedule an appointment with our New Home Consultants, we’ll take the time to learn about how your family lives and the vision of your dream home. From there, our professional design partners will work with you to bring that vision to life.
With the right help, you’re ready to create the perfect plan. Whether you’re looking for a multi-generational layout, open concept floor plan, or daylight basement, this is where your new home really starts to take shape. And if you need some extra inspiration, we’ll let you choose from one of our many floor plans, combine elements from any of our homes, or build a custom home unique to you.
Remember, this is your home, and you should have the ability to customize what you need and pick the team to do it.
Step 2: Evaluate Your Land and Prep Your Lot
Land Assessment
Now that you’ve designed that dream home, it’s time to take a look at your land. Our complimentary site evaluation helps you understand exactly what you’re getting into with your land, key factors to consider like soil quality, topography, and access to utilities, and the positioning of your home. The budget can vary greatly depending on the site and positioning of the home on the property. This visit will also help you understand what to expect in the months to come and what steps need to be taken to bring your dream to life.
Zoning and Site Preparation
Once you understand your land, it’s time to get into the weeds of actually building your home. What regulations should I be aware of? What permits do I need? How do I clear and grade my lot to ensure drainage and erosion control? How do I set up utilities? Clark County has a variety of resources available to help answer these questions, and the City of Vancouver does require that a homeowner apply for their own permits. But, as this can vary from county to county, be sure to check with your local zoning committee first.
Luckily, Generation Homes Northwest will assign you a Construction Manager and Permitting Specialist to guide you through the process and answer each of these questions for you. We’ll help you understand the process and costs involved to prep your lot.
Step 3: Building Your Dream Home
Construction Phases
The last step is the most fun – watching it all come together. During construction, you’ll see all of the distinct phases of your build. Foundation, framing, roofing, sheetrock, cabinets, and finishes. It’s important that a professional monitor the progress of each. Along the way, we anticipate regular site visits to ensure quality and adherence to those plans that you worked so hard on. With Generation Homes Northwest, we’ll keep you updated on each stage with a comprehensive schedule and set up regular visits with you and our team to let you know how things are going and to hear your feedback.
The Final Touches
Now, after all your hard work, your home is standing, and you can practically see the memories you’ll make. What next? Before it’s all said and done, you’ll need to conduct a few final inspections, like the quality walk-through, home orientation, and final inspection. You’ll likely have picked out all your finishes, fixtures, and materials during step 1, but now’s your chance to make sure it’s all looking exactly how you imagined.
Remember, this is your home, and you’ve worked hard for this, so make sure those details are just right.
Build Your Dream with Generation Homes Northwest: Why it’s Worth It.
Building a home takes significant planning, patience, and flexibility, and without the right steps, it can be a stressful process. But it can be easier than you think.
Generation Homes Northwest is here to guide you through each step and provide a home-building journey that is simple, informative, and downright pleasant! We’ll walk you through your options, discuss your vision, and create a home that will last for Generations.
Ready to get started? Contact our team or browse some of our latest custom projects to get a feeling for what your dream home might look like!