Designing a custom home from scratch can be both exciting and intimidating at the same time. You have free rein over every element of the design process and can truly bring your dream home to life. It also comes with tremendous responsibility, and decision fatigue can limit your ability to make confident choices.
Thankfully, when you work with a custom home builder like Schar Construction, you receive expert guidance and management. Exploring what goes into designing custom homes, from concept to construction, can also help you prepare for potential considerations and obstacles that may arise.
Below, learn the step-by-step process of designing your custom home. Then request a consultation with Schar Construction to get started.
1. Exploring Your Vision and Defining Your Goals
Before you can start any other step of the design process, you should take time to define your vision. Why do you want to build a custom home? How do you want your home to benefit your life? What specific features or qualities do you envision, and what would turn this house into your dream home?
Answering all of these questions is important to narrowing down your vision. The world is your oyster when it comes to building a custom home from scratch, but this can also feel overwhelming without a clear vision. Taking the time to define your goals will give you a home base to return to anytime you feel stuck during the design process. You can think back to your reason for building in the first place and make decisions that align with those initial goals.
Ideally, you should walk away from the vision stage with clarity on each of the following points:
- The general size of home you are building
- The number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Any must-have features, such as a walk-in pantry, home office space, or en suite bathroom
- The architectural style you are going for
- Your ideal location for the home
- Your general budget
Your custom home building team will also be happy to explore these points with you. They can bring up considerations that may shape your final decision and help you narrow down a broader, more abstract vision into a concrete plan.
2. Choosing Your Custom Home Builder
One of the very first steps in the design process is choosing a custom home builder. You may decide to move this step before defining the vision if you do not already have a clear idea of what your home will look like and need help narrowing down details.
Taking the time to find the right custom home builder is crucial, as this is the team that will execute every other step in the process. It doesn’t hurt to meet with a few builders before making your final choice. Evaluate factors like:
- Their level of experience with custom home building
- Whether they handle everything “in-house” or outsource certain services to other contractors
- Whether they are a design-build team, meaning they manage both processes
- Photos from their portfolio, to determine whether they have the skills to execute your vision
- Whether they can adhere to your budget
Builder collaboration is key in any design process. Designing a custom home is a huge undertaking, and you shouldn’t have to handle it yourself. At the same time, you deserve to retain control over the design.
The right team will provide as much or as little support during the design process as you prefer. If you have a general vision for the home but aren’t as concerned about the minor details, choose a team that can handle the design for you while seeking your input at certain stages. You likely aren’t an expert designer, but you should be able to call upon the experts to help you make cohesive decisions that align with your goals for the home.
3. Selecting the Site for the Build
It’s often important to choose your home builder before selecting the building site, as not every builder is flexible in where they will construct new homes. Schar Construction offers a “build on your lot” service, meaning we will design and build your home on any plot of land. But some builders are limited to certain housing developments.
Ideally, you already have an idea of where you will build. You may even have a plot of land to build on. But if you need help choosing the right location or exploring lots for sale, your custom home building company can assist you.
The location of your custom home is integral to determining whether your design is feasible and will achieve your vision. Before purchasing a property, it is important to understand land use planning and zoning requirements, as these regulations can affect what can be built on a particular parcel. Lane County provides resources for researching zoning and land-use requirements for properties throughout the county.
If you’re considering a rural property, you should also determine whether it has access to municipal sewer or will require a septic system. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality recommends evaluating an undeveloped property for septic suitability before purchasing it, since soil conditions, groundwater, setbacks, and other site characteristics can affect whether a property can support a septic system.
Location is the one element you can never change about your home moving forward, so exploring the neighborhood, area, or setting (urban vs. suburban vs. rural) where you want to build ensures that your home will suit your family long-term.
4. Starting the Conceptual Design
With these details nailed down, it’s time to begin the actual design stage of your custom build. The first step is beginning the conceptual design, which your architect will handle based on what they have learned about your vision for the project.
The architect will create initial sketches to explore different layout possibilities. They will then meet with you to determine what you like and dislike about each, then create new drafts based on your feedback. These sketches will include floor plans showing where all the rooms will be located in the home and how you will flow between each space.
5. Refining and Reworking the Design
The design is the foundation of what will become your dream home, so it is important that you love the final design before moving forward. Your architect will be happy to make adjustments to the plan and draft several iterations to ensure that you are completely satisfied with the final product.
This stage also involves creating 3D models to help you better visualize how the design will appear in real life. It’s much easier to edit a design when it is still in this model compared to when your builders have already started construction, so don’t hesitate to tell the architect if you are unsure about any elements. They will help you determine a solution that better matches your goals.
6. Finalizing the Floor Plan Development
Once you are ready, it will be time to finalize the blueprint. Your architect will create detailed drawings that include elevations, construction details, dimensions, and measurements that will be used during the construction phase. Every step of the build will follow these designs, ensuring the final home matches your plans.
The architect and builders will also determine how to incorporate plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems into your plan to ensure that your home operates seamlessly and that necessary fixtures are in convenient locations. You can also consider energy-efficient design strategies during this stage, including insulation, efficient HVAC equipment, windows, and other building components. Energy Trust of Oregon’s EPS™ New Homes program supports builders working toward high-performance, energy-efficient new homes, with incentives available for qualifying projects.
Your project will also need to go through the appropriate permitting and review process before construction can proceed. In Lane County, the Building Program reviews construction plans, issues building and electrical permits, and conducts inspections to ensure residential construction meets applicable codes. Some projects also require land-use or sanitation approvals before a building permit can be issued.
Additionally, your builder will begin sourcing the materials for flooring, cabinetry, roofing, and siding, in alignment with the blueprint and your vision. They will check in with you throughout these decisions to seek your approval for materials not included in the original construction documents.
7. Constructing Your Home From the Architectural Design Plans
Finally, it’s time to begin construction. Your builders will refer back to your architectural design plans and construction documents throughout the building process. They will provide you with a rough timeline at the beginning of the build and update you if the time frame changes due to delays.
You will have the opportunity to check in as frequently as you would like to see progress, and if the builder needs to make any major changes to the original design, they will seek your approval before proceeding.
8. Implementing Interior Design Elements
The last step is one of the most fun aspects of designing your custom home: choosing the finishing touches and interior design elements. These include details such as:
- Furniture
- Lighting fixtures
- Window treatments
- Paint colors
- Custom finishes on cabinetry and trim
Your custom home builders and designers can also help you choose these details to ensure that every aspect of your build meets your specifications.
Start Your Custom Home Design Process Today With Schar Construction
Custom homes offer a unique opportunity to design a space you and your family will thrive in for years to come. But if the design process feels overwhelming, turn to Schar Construction for expert guidance and support through every step.
With over 60 years of combined experience building custom homes, we make the process seamless while ensuring your complete satisfaction at every stage. You don’t need to be a design expert to create a home you love; instead, you can rely on the expertise of our talented designers throughout your build. Get started today by calling 541-255-1624 and requesting a custom home building consultation.
