Page 19 - What You Need to Know to Find the Right Builder

that your house plan fits your lot or land—it's easier to flip the orientation

of a home on paper!
• Find a few plans or styles that you like. It's a good idea to get started with
a plan or two with features that you like, and then work with a designer or
architect to custom design your home to your specifications. As we
mentioned earlier, a well-drawn plan can save lots of money during
construction and can help to avoid confusion down the road.
• Sketching the plan. A preliminary sketch will give your builder a basis for

“estimating” your home. Remember, an estimate is an estimate or guess,
not a “proposal”! Be sure to work with your builder to make this sketch as
detailed as possible— the more precise your sketch the more precise the
estimate will be. As with most custom design work, big changes or small,
can cause big adjustments to pricing, both up and down.
• Preliminary Plans. Once the sketch and budget process are complete and

approved, your designer or architect can prepare preliminary plans, which
includes a first-floor plan, a loft or second floor plan, all four exterior
elevations or views, and a basement plan if applicable. These plans will help
you to see the design more clearly and may also be used for permitting or
financing in most cases. Many times, after these preliminary plans are
drawn, they will require additional changes or adjustments to meet a
client’s needs or expectations. It’s good to get them as close to complete as
possible before a firm proposal process should begin.

• Approval of Preliminary Plans. Once you're satisfied that the preliminary
plans, included elements, and revisions, your builder can offer a revised
estimate. If this estimate seems fair and close to your budget, then actual
pricing can begin for an accurate/firm proposal.
• Septic system. If you're building in a rural or remote setting, most likely

you'll need to build a private waste disposal system also called a septic
system. Your septic system must be designed by a licensed designer so that
it meets all the necessary environmental codes. It’s good to have this
design completed before a firm proposal begins since the type of system
required can greatly affect the cost of your excavation.

Some items that will be determined during the design are:
1. Capacity. Your septic system will be designed to process the

estimated amount of waste produced. In most areas, this is based on

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