Lot Selection
Ideally, you should select a lot before designing your home. After all, there are many issues with a particular lot that need to be addressed before a great deal of time is spent on the actual house design. These issues include such factors as the direction of exposures, slope of the land, rural or subdivision locations, just to name a few. Our years of experience will guide you through these issues, ensuring no factor is left unaddressed.

Actual Home Design
Once you've selected your new home site - and most of the questions concerning site selection have been answered - then we can proceed with the actual design of your home. At our first design meeting, we'll ask...

• What are your basic needs? (How many bedrooms? How many bathrooms? Space for a home office? Mother-in-law/guest suite? Special entertaining considerations?)
• What type/style of home do you prefer? (A traditional two-story? A ranch house with an open feel? Do you want a first-floor master bedroom?)
• What is your budget?
  • After needs, style and budget are established, we can move on to creating a set of preliminary design drawings, showing you...
    • Layout of each floor
    • Room sizes
    • Exterior elevations

From this set of drawings we can produce a preliminary estimate to make sure we are in line with your budget. Another meeting is required to review the plans and budget numbers:

• If the budget numbers look good and the changes to the preliminary plan are minimal, we can proceed with the final construction drawings.
• If major changes are needed, we may draw up another set of preliminary plans.

The process will continue until all issues have been worked out and refined on the drawings. We will not be satisfied until your vision for your home has been captured on paper.

Once these final drawings are completed and approved the appropriate permits will be acquired and actual construction will begin.

Building Your Home
Stage 1: Lot and Foundation

• Secure all necessary permits
  • Health Department (Well/ Septic) (By Land Owner)
    Zoning
  • Building (Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing)
• Pay Tap-In fees (if applicable)
  • See Division 1 in your Project Specifications for responsibility.
• Establish temporary power at jobsite
• Clear site for building pad
• Engineering and staking of property

Don’t let stakes fool you, they are a combination of property, home and offset stakes.
WINDOW COLOR MUST BE SELECTED AT THIS TIME, PLEASE NOTIFY THE OFFICE

• Excavate for the foundation
• Form and/or pour concrete footings
• Install sump pit and drainage tile (basement and crawl space only)
• Set and pour concrete basement walls or lay concrete block foundation
• Apply dampproofing to basement and crawlspace foundation exteriors
• First rough-in plumbing installed for slabs and basements

Depending on site condition, water and sewer tap-ins are made at this time.

• Insulate and/or backfill as required for each foundation type
• First rough-in for HVAC for slab foundations only
• Pour concrete for basement floor or first floor and garages. (Foundations tend to look small)

Stage 2: Framing and Major Structures
PLEASE NOTIFY THE OFFICE OF YOUR KITCHEN LAY-OUT, SIDING COLOR AND BRICK

• Frame floors and walls
• Set roof trusses/ rafters

PLEASE NOTIFY THE OFFICE OF YOUR SHINGLE SELECTION

• Sheet and dry-in roof
• Set doors and windows
• Misc. interior framing and blocking
• H V A C and plumbing rough-ins

TUB AND SHOWER UNITS ARE SET AT THIS TIME. PLEASE CHECK IN YOUR PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS TO VERIFY COLOR. CABINETS MUST BE ORDERED AT THIS TIME

• Install fireplace unit
• Electrical walk through and rough-in recessed Can Units are installed
• Specialty wiring installed (if applicable) Smart House, Security System, Speakers

PLEASE NOTIFY THE OFFICE OF YOUR LIGHT FIXTURE SUPPLIER SELECTION

• Install exterior trim
• Install roof vents and shingles
• Exterior finishes

PLACEMENT OF ALL ELECTRICAL ITEMS MUST BE VERIFIED BY YOU PRIOR TO INSULATION SPECIAL ORDER FLOOR COVERINGS NEED TO BE ORDERED AT THIS TIME

• Insulation

PLEASE NOTIFY THE OFFICE OF YOUR INTERIOR WALL COLOR & EXTERIOR FRONT DOOR COLOR FINALIZE ALL FLOOR COVERINGS AT THIS TIME

• Drywall
• Site concrete upon completion of brick

APPLIANCES MUST BE ORDERED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE CALL OFFICE AND LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ORDERED FROM SO THAT WE CAN SET UP FOR DELIVERY.

• Re-grade site

Stage 3: Finishing

• Interior painting
• Exterior paint/ stain and caulking
• Gutter and Downspouts
• Install hard floor surfaces (vinyl, hardwood and ceramic)
• Install cabinets, vanities and countertops
  • Some countertop configurations may have to be field measured before manufacturing and installing
• Install interior doors, trim, mantle and stairway material
• Hang interior and exterior light fixtures
• Hang shelving
• Install final plumbing fixtures
• Set air conditioner unit and final HVAC work
• Install appliances:
  • Range, Spacesaver Microwave (if applicable), and Dishwasher
• Install all exterior and interior door hardware
• Install bathroom vanity mirrors and shower door (if applicable)
• Final electrical items, wire appliances
• Touch up interior paint
• Carpet
• Final Grade (as per Project Specifications)
• Landscaping (if applicable)
• Final cleaning
• Final building inspections

Stage 4: Occupancy

• You can move into your home typically one week following carpet installation
• We provide a personal walkthrough at closing. During this exciting time, you will not only see the finished product for the first time but, you will be briefed on all operational systems (furnace, water, electric, gas, security, etc.).