How to Find the Perfect Custom Home Builder: A Step-by-Step Guide

It’s hard to remember when the dream of building a home started. But you’ve been scouring Realtor.com, wandering through local open houses, and can’t find the right new home for your family. The existing homes you’ve lived in have been about compromise and resigning yourself to the design choices others have made before you.

Initially, there were minor issues. A cramped and inconvenient closet that made it difficult to retrieve or store items. A bedroom with an unbalanced feng shui, no matter how the furniture was arranged, it never felt quite perfect. The kitchen cabinets could use a little extra width to accommodate all the baking equipment in one place or a closed-off floor plan that just doesn’t allow you to keep an eye on your small children as you cook.

Building a new custom home is not for everyone. The home-building process can take a year, two, or more. From picking out the land, getting it ready to build on, deciding on a plan and all the fine details, and securing all the permits along the way to finally getting the keys in hand - this can be a daunting journey. So, finding the right partner in this process who will coach and guide you every step of the way is essential.

When you work with a custom home builder, you build a relationship as you build the home. A custom home project means finding a partner who will quickly become a trusted guide, especially if you want to build your forever home. Your considerations might be a growing family, creating a new home for lower maintenance, or a house where you can age in place. Whatever your ultimate goals are, a custom-built house allows you to create a home that is the right match for you now and well into the future.

If you have land in the family or are scouting out land to purchase without a builder’s input, that’s fine. But understand that there are risks and uncertainties in acquiring the wrong parcel of land to build on. Is there public sewer and water, or will you have to dig a well and have a septic system designed? How will stormwater be managed? Is the land flat, or does it slope significantly?

Finding suitable land on your own can be difficult. Ideally, you want to work with a custom home builder to verify that the land you are considering will fit your ideals regarding home style, size, and infrastructure requirements - before purchasing. Land in the Seattle area is scarce for a reason, and you want a partner who knows the area well and will be able to advise you on the buildability of your chosen parcel.

When potential custom home buyers start this process, they are often surprised at the cost of custom home building. Why do they generally cost more, on a price-per-square-foot basis, than existing homes? Price per square foot is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Custom homes cost more due to the level of craftsmanship, the quality of materials, and the fact that it is one-of-a-kind and not a mass-produced home. You also have “hidden” costs like land prep, digging new
sewer connections and hefty foundation pour - all considerations that many homeowners forget to factor into the cost of the house since it doesn’t come to mind when you think about “building.”

You may see a spec house in your ideal neighborhood. Should you consider that as an option? Consider it, but be aware that a spec home is not truly a custom home; even if you opt to move forward with a spec house before the home construction has begun, you are still limited by the number of standard home plans the company offers and customization choices. In a completely custom home, you are only limited by your budget (and land restrictions) on what you can build.
Because this home is unique to you, you should expect the home-building experience to have high customer care and high-quality customer focus. The value of custom home building is getting the home exactly as you want it in a process that, while filled with a lot of decision-making, should be streamlined and enjoyable from start to finish.

The Design-Build Difference

Building a home is always a blend of the aesthetic and the functional. You need both. When looking for a custom home building partner, you can freelance several aspects of the process - like architecture, design, and construction. But if you work with a design-build firm, they will have all these functions in one straightforward process. Hiring an architect can lead to remarkable results, although their designs may not be practical to build and may not align with your desired budget.

When you work with a design-build firm, you also gain the advantage of a more streamlined process and more accountability. When you work with different companies, you become the project manager, managing all the moving pieces (which is time-consuming and allows for more
error). If you collaborate with a design-build firm, one general contractor will oversee the entire design, permitting, and construction process. This contractor assumes more accountability for the project’s outcome and is deeply committed to achieving a top-notch result. When collaborating with a design-build firm, you can find peace of mind because they are fully responsible for each project. This eliminates any potential finger-pointing between multiple subcontractors since one
company oversees everything. By working with one company that understands your needs, wishes, and budget from the start, you will save time and money piecing together your custom home project.

We’ve all heard the stories about homeowners getting abandoned during a project. Or final pricing that doesn’t resemble the original agreement. Working with a well-established design-build company with a clear and transparent pricing policy can help you avoid these horror stories.

Online resources are, of course, helpful in learning about the reputation of a given design-build partner. Pay attention to who else is building in your town or neighborhood. Find out who friends have worked with. What is their experience?

By properly vetting your potential building partner, you can avoid getting left in the lurch with a partially built home or having cost overruns that come out of nowhere and that you never, to your knowledge, approved. The design-build firm should be able to walk you through the agreement and show you precisely what you are paying for and what is involved in requesting changes at any given project stage.

New construction commonly uses financing that is different from a standard mortgage. The instrument is called a construction-to-permanent loan, in which money is paid out to the builder at each stage of the construction process. When the builder hands over the keys, and you assume ownership, the loan converts to a conventional mortgage.

Bankers who have experience with custom homes are the best place to start. It’s essential to ask about financing as early as possible. A good design-build firm will offer coaching and guidance on selecting an experienced and trustworthy financial partner.

You are embarking on a project involving much of your time and money. To get the desired results, look for a home builder who will value both. What does that look like?

Schedule interviews with potential custom home builders to discuss your project’s scope, timeline, and budget. Ask about their experience with similar projects, read past testimonials, and request references from past clients. Choosing a builder with whom you communicate well and feel comfortable working closely throughout the construction process is crucial. A quality home builder will give you a realistic timeline and price for the job you want to accomplish.

The price you agree on in the contract should be the price you pay unless you ask for modifications or upgrades along the way. Look for a custom home builder who will take the time upfront to expertly price the project, explain their pricing, and write a contract based on your budget that includes all the costs.

A well-defined construction timeline is essential to keep your project on track. Your building partner should guide you through decisions that will keep the building process running smoothly. As part of excellent communication, your builder should regularly provide formal progress updates. This is evidence of good project management, which you should expect from your design-build firm.

You may come to the table with an idea about achieving your goals, like a first-floor primary suite. A great custom home-building partner can help shape your ideas and
shed light on different options to accomplish your goals. They have the experience to propose the best solutions or multiple solutions to choose from to get the results you are looking for.

Expect to build a home not just for today but for the future. A custom home is often a “forever home.” Work with a company that will help you plan for long-term use. Think about your needs now and 20 years from now. Working with someone with experience guiding homeowners through this process will help you proactively anticipate future needs and ensure those needs are met.

The process of building your dream home should be enjoyable. Look for a partner who will listen to your needs and is committed to building a positive, honest, and collaborative relationship. Trust goes both ways, and when you have it, bringing your dream to reality will be a positive experience.