Are you planning to build a custom home? The idea of living in a home that’s exactly what you want is appealing, but the thought of building a home from scratch can feel overwhelming before you even get started.
Whether building a custom home is something you’ve always dreamed of doing or you’re just starting to investigate the process, you’ve come to the right place.
At Hamilton Homes, we’ve been designing and building custom homes in the Indianapolis area since 1987. We’re committed to making the design-build process simple and enjoyable for our clients, to give them forever homes they love.
Here’s the process that our clients follow when building their custom homes:
1. Decide that you want to build a custom home
The first step of building a custom home is deciding that you want to do it! Going custom means you get a unique home that’s designed just for your family, but it’s a big project and it’s not a decision that should be taken lightly.
Here are a few things to consider when you’re deciding if building a custom home is right for you:
- General budget
- Time frame
- Where you want to build
- General home size and number of stories
- Types of rooms
Maybe you have a piece of land that you’ve always dreamed of making your home. Or maybe you want to create the perfect space to raise your family. Whatever your reasons, choosing to build a custom home is the first step to achieving those goals.
2. Collect inspiration for your dream home
Now that you’re starting the process of building a custom home, you need to decide what your dream home actually looks like. You can find inspiration on home design websites, in magazines, and even around nearby neighborhoods.
Collect ideas that you like and start creating a vision board to narrow down your preferred styles. Think about exterior styles, as well as interior styles and finishes.
You probably won’t have every decision made when you start the design-build process and you don’t need to! The next step is finding a custom home builder to help you make your dreams into reality.
3. Partner with a custom home builder
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when you build a custom home is choosing the builder you work with. A custom home builder like Hamilton Homes has the experience and knowledge to streamline the entire process and help you end up with a home you love.
We work with clients to determine their needs, wants, and wishes when it comes to their custom home project. With our fixed fee pricing model, you can be confident that we’ll help you maximize your budget.
Plus, we have a long history building in the Indianapolis area and we have established relationships with local contractors and suppliers.
4. Design your home
Next, our design team works with you and your family to design your custom home. We review your vision board, design preferences, needs, and wants. We can recommend designs and floor plans that are functional and meet your goals.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to designing your custom home. But when the options are limitless, you have a lot of decisions to make. In fact, it’s estimated that homeowners need to make more than 1,000 decisions when building their custom homes.
The good news is that you don’t have to think of every little thing yourself. Our design team guides you through the process, and we even include 40 hours of time with an interior designer to help you make decisions large and small.
5. Track your home’s construction
When you work with Hamilton Homes, we streamline all the stages of construction for you, from clearing the lot to move-in day. We ask you how much involvement you want to have, then touch base with you regularly.
In general, construction includes:
- Site preparation
- Building foundation
- Framing and roof
- Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC
- Insulation
- Drywall
- Flooring
- Exterior finishes
- Interior fixtures and finishes
- Inspection
- Final walkthrough
Our team keeps you informed throughout construction, bringing you in as needed. Periodic walkthroughs with our builders give you the opportunity to see your home at key points during construction.
6. Make changes along the way (if you need to)
Custom homes are complex projects. While we like to nail down as much as we can at the beginning, we know that plans and preferences can change.
Your walkthroughs are a perfect time to make sure your custom home is coming together like you envisioned. If you’re second-guessing anything from the layout of a room to a material or finish you’ve selected, let us know as soon as possible.
We can tell you if there’s still time to change it and brainstorm new solutions to achieve your vision. As an experienced design-build group, we have a change order system in place to manage decisions that are made during the build process — and we don’t charge extra fees for change orders, either.
7. Enjoy your new custom home
Once construction is complete, we facilitate any necessary inspections and take you on your final walkthrough. Then, you close on your new home and start moving in!
Even though the design-build process is over, our relationship with you isn’t. We hope you continue enjoying your custom home for years to come, and we love working with past clients on new projects too.
If you’re considering building a custom home, it’s never too early to involve your builder. Contact our team at Hamilton Homes to schedule a free consultation — we can’t wait to hear about your vision.
