As I watch the days get shorter and feel the brisk air I reflect on the projects I completed this year. I think about the fun my customers had in their new homes this past summer and I begin to daydream about the homes I will build next year. So when should you contact a custom builder if you want a custom home?
The majority of people don’t start thinking about their new home until spring turns to summer, which can be fine, but then move-in won’t be in the summer which a lot of families prefer. A truly one-of-a-kind, custom home requires considerable planning. Planning that I love.
In fact, I love the variety, details, and creativity of almost every step of the six-to-nine-month process.
Yes. It’s a process. And yes, it takes several months to do it well. And if you’re building custom you want to do it well…very well.
So, I suggest the ball starts rolling sooner than later. Don’t wait until the snow thaws to think about moving in before the end of summer. It is difficult to wait once you’re excited.
If you’d like to relax in your favorite chair in your new home in time for football season, calling in May won’t be a touchdown. If you’d like to spend the summer in your sparkling new home in gorgeous Colorado then let’s talk before you trim your Christmas tree.
The process—which I think you will enjoy—takes some time. Here is an overview of that process:
1. Select your builder.
Your custom home builder should be someone you can trust. A good listener who hears your wishes and discusses ideas to make those dreams a reality. Your builder should have a lot of experience with all aspects of the home building process. There is an enormous variety of details when building a home and all of them are important to get everything exactly right.
Another thing to consider when selecting a builder is his or her reputation. Their reputation in the area affects their ability to get high-quality tradespeople. Many of my subs have been with me for several decades. They prioritize my projects and do a great job for me.
To select a reliable builder, ask for references. Talk to those people about the design and build process. Are they pleased with the end result in addition to the transparency and professionalism of the process?
2. Locate your property.
Once you have your builder, it’s time to select your location. Rely on your builder’s experience and familiarity with the area to select the perfect spot to build your home. Topography, neighborhoods, views, trees, sunshine, slope, unlisted lots, covenants (or lack of) are all important when selecting where you will live.
An engaged builder is knowledgeable and happy to help you select the perfect location for your dream home.
Herebic Homes is a featured builder for the new neighborhood in Monument, Grandwood Ranch. Forty-eight custom homes on 2.5 acre lots with 14 acres of green space with trees or views or both. Home sites are going quickly, but let me know if you’re interested in knowing more about this special location on the Front Range.
3. Begin design.
You may have been thinking about building for many years. And now the time is finally here!
Now begins the process to make your dreams become a reality. The design stage will likely take two to four months. There are a lot of big dreams and little details to cover. Both are critically important to building your custom home.
We will discuss many things including house size, lifestyle, design, features, rooms, layout, and any special needs. Now is the time to dream big and depend on experienced counsel on how to best realize those dreams.
Often times it is helpful to prioritize your list of needs, wants, and dreams. A “don’t want” list is helpful too. You might enjoy brainstorming a list of items important to you in each room of the house. Consider things you’d love to have plus “standard” features that you may not notice regularly, i.e. ceiling height, hallways, stairways, windows, etc.
An experienced builder is able to discuss your hopes and dreams in light of your budget and help you prioritize and plan for your new home.
4. Next is the bid, contract, and permitting stage.
This stage sounds pretty boring to most, but it is a very important phase of your custom home build. The time spent negotiating bids and contracts directly affects your bottom line. Your builder’s reputation in the area and experience with the trades helps greatly in this stage. This stage takes about two months.
I keep a binder for every home project that contains all bids and contracts. Each client receives a replica of this binder. You see every bid and every contract amount. Complete transparency is important to me and greatly helps you understand the financial details of your home. This is your home. You deserve to know.
5. Time to build!
The next phase is to make your dream a reality that you can actually see.
It’s time to build your dream home!
From pouring the foundation to screwing in the final lightbulb this stage takes six to nine months. There are lots of projects, often going on simultaneously, that come together to create your custom home. I am onsite and communicating with you to ensure your vision is coming to life on time and on budget.
Weather may sometimes affect this phase, but not often. Colorado is blessed with over 300 days of sunshine so we take advantage of every single day to move your project to completion. And much of the detail happens after the home is dried in so we are able work, work, work all year long.
I know I am a bit biased because I love what I do, but I think you will enjoy the design and build process too.
A custom home is an investment in your day-to-day life and your future. You will enjoy years and years of memory-making in your new custom home and in Colorado. The Colorado Springs area continues to top most every list they can dream up: most educated workforce, best place to retire, and in 2018 U.S. News & World Report selected Colorado Springs as the #1 place to live in the entire nation. We aren’t surprised. It’s amazing here!
I would love to talk with you if you are dreaming of building a custom home. It’s never too soon to contact a custom builder. I am happy to answer any questions you have and share a few things I’ve learned building homes for over 35 years.
Thanks. Happy building.
Bill Herebic is a 4th-generation custom homebuilder in Colorado. Bill’s decades of hard work and honesty mean clients and tradesmen love to work with him resulting in every home being done on time or early for 35 years and counting.