Our Process
Our 7-Step Design Process
1 | Planning & Lot Selection
The process begins with securing a suitable lot, typically ranging from $50,000 to $350,000. It’s important to engage with your builder and architect early on to align on your vision, budget, and priorities. A good starting point is to partner with a realtor, begin viewing properties, and narrow your choices to three preferred lots. Before making a purchase, meet your builder on-site to evaluate each option and confirm suitability for your intended home design.
2 | Design & Permitting
Once the lot is secured, the design and permitting phase begins. You'll choose a style that reflects your taste—such as Traditional, Modern, Cabin, Farmhouse, or Boho—and start crafting a functional floor plan that may include features like an open concept, a split layout, varying ceiling heights, decks or patios, and one to three stories. This phase involves gathering key documents including soils reports, engineering plans, heating calculations, surveys, and HOA approvals. Permitting can take 6 to 12 months and requires careful coordination with your builder to review submittals, respond to corrections, and resubmit as needed.
3 | Financing, Contracts & Scheduling
With design underway, you’ll finalize pricing and allowances with your builder, sign the construction contract, and either secure financing or prepare for a cash payment. Once funding is confirmed, you’ll receive the building permit, which allows you to begin construction. At this point, a detailed construction schedule is created, and appointments are set with vendors to ensure materials and services are lined up for each phase.
4 | Site Prep & Foundation
Construction begins with preparing the site. This includes surveying the lot, making the initial excavation cut, and digging footings. After passing inspection, concrete footings are poured, stem walls are built, and the area is back-filled and compacted. Compaction tests are conducted to ensure soil stability. During this phase, you’ll also finalize and order critical packages such as framing materials, trusses, and windows to stay ahead of upcoming construction needs.
5 | Framing, Utilities & Dry-In
The subfloor is constructed, insulated, and prepped with plumbing and plywood sheathing. Wall and roof framing follow, including laying out and setting walls, installing holddowns, framing decks, and rolling trusses into place. Once framing is complete and the structure passes inspection, the home is dried in with roofing materials, house wrap, and the installation of windows and exterior doors. Staining of raw wood surfaces such as fascia and eaves is completed during this time to protect materials from the elements.
6 | Rough-In to Exterior Finishes
Rough trades begin with the layout and installation of electrical wiring, plumbing lines, HVAC duct work, and necessary vents. This stage includes inspections and ordering finishes like cabinets, doors, flooring, tile, and fixtures. Insulation is installed next, using spray foam in ceilings and walls and batt insulation in the garage. Once the home is sealed, roofing is finalized, and siding is either installed immediately or after inspection. The drywall phase includes hanging, taping, texturing, sanding, and priming, followed by the application of stucco and exterior stone finishes. Final exterior paint is also completed during this step.
7 | Interior Finishes & Final Touches
Interior finishing brings the home to life with the installation of cabinets, trim, flooring, tile, interior stone, and custom carpentry details. Paint and stain are applied to doors, trim, walls, and ceilings, while surfaces are carefully masked to protect prior finishes. The final push includes setting plumbing and lighting fixtures, installing garage doors, HVAC systems, gutters, counter tops, barn doors, shower glass, and hardware. After the final inspection, the home undergoes a deep clean—windows are washed, tools and trash are removed, and final paint touch-ups are completed—preparing the home for move-in.