There are so many benefits to building a custom home instead of buying pre-owned, but if you've never started from scratch you might be wondering: what's the process like? There are certainly a lot of decisions to be made and steps to be followed, but if you partner with a reputable company then the experience can be a breeze.
The experts at Hawkins-Welwood Homes know just how to navigate it all so that you emerge with a home that's impeccably constructed, energy efficient, and exactly to your tastes. Here, they break down the three common phases of putting together your dream home.
Planning stage
A lot of work happens in the four to six months before you even break ground. You'll work with a project manager, designer, architect, and estimator, all of whom are dedicated to ensuring that you get your home exactly as you want it. This dedicated team will concentrate on learning how you live your daily life, then work to incorporate your daily needs into the design of the home.
They'll handle scouting the lot location, plotting the layout, assembling choices for the design details, pulling permits, compiling specifications detailing the finish-out of the home, and budgeting. The goal of this detailed process is to prevent costly surprises during the building process — an unpleasant thing for all.
Design stage
Most people consider this the fun part. The homeowner gets to be directly involved in the design details, but don't worry about becoming overwhelmed. In addition to the big items — tile, light fixtures, hardware, paint colors — there are numerous tiny details that Pinterest and HGTV tend to overlook. You've probably never realized how many different kinds of baseboards there are in the world.
That's where your design team comes in. Having completed dozens of homes before, they are experts at assembling all the details so that everything is harmonious. For many homeowners, designing an entire home is like being faced with an incredible, never-ending salad bar: with so many enticing ingredients, it's tempting to choose everything that looks good. But a salad that's composed of too many delicious, though disparate, ingredients may not taste as good as one that's designed by a seasoned chef. The Hawkins-Welwood design team is your seasoned chef of the building process.
Using constant communication — and always with your style in mind — your design team helps to assemble all the pieces perfectly, and works hand-in-hand with the builder during the next stage.
Breaking ground
The day to start digging arrives, but it doesn't mean the fun is over yet. The building of your new home is the longest step in the process, and it could take anywhere from 10 to 14 months depending on the size of your home and any custom or antique-sourced features you may have chosen.
Once the essentials are done — foundation, installation, windows, etc. — it's thrilling to watch everything you've imagined start to become a reality.
Curious if a custom-built home could be the right choice for you? Get in touch with the team at Hawkins-Welwood Homes by either visiting their website, calling 972-931-1006, emailing Kelly Ongena at Kelly@hwhomes.com, or stopping by their office at 17480 N. Dallas Pkwy., Ste. 217.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to see how limitless your custom home options can be.
Most consider the design stage the fun part — with good reason.
