Plan & Prepare for Your Custom Build Project

SEASON SIX, EPISODE FIVE | TRANSCRIPT

This episode is the ultimate roadmap for homeowners preparing to start the custom-building journey. We take you through the eight essential steps to prepare for building your custom home.

Step 1: Define Your Vision and Goals

The first step in any successful home build is defining your vision through what you want to build and how you want to live in it. Start with your lifestyle and long-term goals:

• How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
• Will this be your forever home?
• Are accessibility, multi-generational living, or future-proofing priorities?

These discussions help determine everything from floor plan layout to hallway widths and elevator planning. Even if you don’t have every detail figured out, clarifying what matters most early on will shape every decision that follows.

Step 2: Prioritize Between Needs, Wants & Wishes

To help clients prioritize their design and budget, the Hibbs Homes team uses a Needs, Wants & Wishes Worksheet:

• Needs: Must-have items such as location, bedroom count, or accessibility features.
• Wants: Features you’d like to have if the budget allows, like a prep kitchen or long expanses of windows.
• Wishes: Dream upgrades, like a golf simulator or luxury soaking tub, that can be added if funds remain.

Defining these categories upfront helps builders and designers manage expectations and align the design with your budget.

Step 3: Establish Structural & Design Goals

Before design begins, decide if you want a high-performance home or a conventionally built home. High-performance homes emphasize energy efficiency, comfort, and health, which influences everything from wall assembly and insulation to HVAC and windows.

Design goals, meanwhile, focus on aesthetics and personalization. Collect inspiration—through Pinterest, Houzz, or even TikTok to help articulate your preferred styles. Plan on bringing photos, floor plans, and mood boards to early meetings to guide architects and designers.

Step 4: Set a Realistic Budget

Budgeting is one of the most important parts of the process. And, like buying a pre-owned home: it is best to start with a number that feels comfortable and work backward to fit your goals within it.

Key budgeting tips:

• Talk to your lender before you finalize design decisions.
• Be transparent with your builder about your true budget.
• Plan for the future: your earning potential or lifestyle may grow, so consider what you’ll need 5–10 years from now.
• Include a 5–10% contingency for unexpected costs or upgrades.

Many homeowners intentionally underestimate their budgets, fearing cost overruns. But as Kim notes, a trusted builder can help design a home that truly fits your financial goals.

Step 5: Assemble Your Dream Team

Custom homebuilding is a team sport. Kim describes the builder as the quarterback, coordinating architects, designers, lenders, and real estate partners.

Your dream team should include:

• Builder to manage construction and budget alignment.
• Architect to bring your vision to life.
• Designer to coordinate selections and finishes.
• Lender experienced in construction loans.
• Realtor (if you’re still searching for land).

This integrated approach is a more transparent, collaborative process and is more likely lead to getting what you want within your goals. After two decades in the custom building industry, we have found competitive bidding often leads to disappointment and redesigns because early estimates are not usually complete and rarely match real-world costs.

Step 6: Choose the Right Lot

Location plays a massive role in both design and cost. “Location, location, location” applies just as much to custom homes as real estate listings.

Key lot considerations include:

• HOA and Architectural Guidelines: Some neighborhoods regulate materials, roof pitches, or square footage minimums.
• Site Conditions: Rock, clay, and grading impact excavation and foundation costs.
• Utilities: Ensure access to water, gas, and sewer, or plan for well and septic systems.
• Setbacks & Slopes: These can determine whether a ranch or story-and-a-half plan fits best.
• Sun Exposure: Impacts energy efficiency and comfort... no one wants to eat dinner with the sun in their eyes every evening.

Having your builder evaluate potential lots before purchase can mitigate costly surprises, such as unexpected costs for retaining walls, drainage challenges, or limited access for construction equipment.

Step 7: Understand the Builder’s Process

Every builder works differently, but at Hibbs Homes, the process emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and long-term partnership. From concept through warranty, clients work hand-in-hand with their builder. A typical custom build takes nearly two years, and trust essential.

Key elements of the Hibbs Homes approach include:

• Clear communication at every stage.
• Advocacy for the client during design and selections.
• Integration of high-performance building practices.
• Honest conversations about fit—sometimes referring clients to other builders when it’s not the right match.

Step 8: Research & Referrals

Referrals and local networks are invaluable. Start your builder search with:

• Friends or family who’ve built homes recently.
• Architects can often recommend trusted builders.
• Your local Home Builders Association (HBA) directory, which lists qualified custom builders in your area.

Builders aligned with professional organizations like the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) are typically more committed to evolving best practices and continuing education.

Planning a custom home takes organization, teamwork, and trust. From defining your vision to assembling the right team, each step lays the foundation for a smoother, more rewarding experience.

For more information, visit www.artofcustompodcast.com or find us on Facebook and LinkedIn as The Art of Custom. Be sure to subscribe to get the latest episodes and please rate and review. The Art of Custom is produced by Hug Monster Sound with original music by Adam Frick-Verdine. Thanks for listening.