Custom Building Your Perfect House.

“It’s most important initially to sit down with thehomeowner and get an understanding of the concept and find out style, finances,and timelines.”

-Arthur “Art” Allison, CEO of Copperleaf Property Group.

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(SUMMER 2008) - In today’s quest for getting precisely what you want in yourhome surroundings, many homeowners opt to custom-build a new dream home, either ready to finish or from the ground up. If it’s indeed a “dream home” exact toall your specifications and personal style, then custom building is the way to go.

If this is the route you decide to take, your set of decisions are likely to bemore involved and obviously costlier than remodeling. Nonetheless, starting theprocess with good information at hand is certainly advantageous.

Up-front communication is key. “It’s most important initially to sit down with the homeowner and get an understanding of the concept and find out style, finances, and timelines,” says Arthur “Art” Allison, president and CEO of Copperleaf Property Group. “We make sure everyone has the same understanding.”

Interior Designer Stephanie Villavicencio, ASID, of Bella Villa Design Studio agrees.“Everyone should be clear and know about all changes and their impacts,” she says. “Many times, a team that has worked together in the past is good atcollaboration.”

Allison tells homeowners to find an interior designer because one adds valuable expertise in ensuring cabinet heights and positions, door swings, and other home features are at maximum functionality.

So, if you make the decision to build from scratch, where do you begin?

It’s imperative for prospective homeowners to be educated ona myriad of topics relevant to the process. From gaining a reality of what isrequired to comprehending how these components dovetail together, the journeyto a custom home – though intricate – is certainly worth getting exactly whatyou want. It goes without saying, but we will emphasize, that embarking on theroad to a custom home requires mental preparedness and research. To fullyexperience the joy and satisfaction of creating your new living space, you mustfirst understand the required time, money and effort needed to complete theproject.

Ask yourself why you are building a new home. What are your present and future goals for the house? What is it you must have to make this home the one of your dreams? Understanding the motivational factors behind your decision to build is key in setting reasonable objectives.

Do your homework, literally

Your first responsibility is to learn as much as possibleabout the custom home building process. Research-worthy items are locationoptions, including

 neighborhood, schools, and proximity to work andentertainment; builder reputations; and desired amenities. You may find ithelpful to compile a comprehensive bid document – specifically outliningexpectations – to show prospective builders who are bidding for your work. Thisgives you more control over where your money is going.

Keller Williams Real Estate Broker Dee Shultz recommends finding a good builder first. “When choosing a lot, a reputable builder can assess the capability of the land to accommodate the type of home you want to build,” she says.

Choosing your home’s team members

Assemble a “dream team” of professionals who will turn yourideas and file of desirable styles and layouts from magazines into awell-planned design implemented with professionalism and the highestcraftsmanship. This team generally comprises an architect or house designer, abuilder or general contractor, a real estate agent or broker, and an interiordesigner. Selecting the team members upfront facilitates a cohesiveness of thedesign process from day one since everyone embarks on your goals at the sametime.

“An architect can serve as the orchestra leader, bringing the other disciplines,such as interior design and landscape design, together for style consistency,”says Bob Wetmore, AIA, of CGA Partners. “An architect’s job is not to create apiece of art but to listen to your goals, draw out the team’s creativity, andmake the dream a reality.”

Choose a registered interior designer, as he or she takes into account the health,safety, and welfare of the homeowners using the house, advises Villavicencio.She ensures the finished product is perfect by documenting all specificationsin writing and posting them at the job site.

Developing comfortable communication with and among all team members is key. Most homeprojects, from start to finish, require 12 to 18 months; this often includesmany weeknight and weekend hours. You will be spending a good deal of time withthese professionals, and they will become very familiar with each other, soit’s important to make sure personalities and work styles mesh seamlesslyduring your project.

Decisions, decisions, decisions

You will certainly be giving your decision-making skills athorough workout. A new home has hundreds of materials, which could ultimatelylead to hundreds of decisions. If you don’t think you have the time andpatience to handle this aspect, you may be better off working with anarchitect, a house designer or selecting a builder who will customize an existingmodel. This is one of the first places where an architect, house designer orprofessional interior designer easily earns their fees, for obvious reasons.

Depending upon the role you choose to play in the process, the project size and availableresources, building a home will consume a large amount of your time in the nextmonths or even years. Most home projects from start to finish require 12 to 18months, including many weeknight and weekend hours. “You will have a closeassociation with your builder over the next months, so trust your realtor torefer you to a builder who is reputable and then interview them to ensure yourpersonalities mesh,” says Shultz.

Temporary double mortgages are a possibility

The ideal scenario is to sell your current home just in timeto move into your newly finished custom home. This rarely happens; be preparedto support two mortgages, at least temporarily. Your goal is to avoidadditional expenses related to finding alternate housing if your current homesells quickly, along with the associated costs of moving twice and possiblestorage needs. Also, as tempting as it is to make last-minute changes to plans,tread cautiously as these can add thousands to an existing mortgage.

Despite the recent economic downturn, Allison says Hill Country desirability is stillhigh. The area has not experienced the artificial value inflation seenelsewhere in the country, and the Austin market has remained consistent, if alittle slow, in home sales.

There may be surprises

Expect things to arise that weren’t planned, but that iswhat the team is for. Get the best out of all aspects of building your dream.If the best-laid plans hit a snag be prepared

 to cope – calmly andoptimistically. Realize that even the most reasonably set terms are not etchedin stone. The best way to handle a kink? Stay involved and rest assured yourstellar team of professionals was hired because they excel at what they do andknow how to quickly handle any issues to get back on track.

If you have taken the proper steps to adequately prepare yourself before enteringthe elite custom home owner arena, chances are you will be nothing short ofthrilled when seeing your “dream home” completed. It’s worth every second ofplanning!

 “An architect can serve as the orchestra leader, bringingthe other disciplines, such as interior design and landscape design, togetherfor style consistency,” says Bob Wetmore, AIA, of CGA Partners. 

Interior Designer Stephanie Villavicencio, ASID, of BellaVilla Design Studio offers, “Everyone on the Dream Team should be clear and know aboutall changes and their impacts.”

Assembling the “Dream Team”

When putting together the perfect custom home building groupof professionals, look for the following characteristics in each member:

• Longevity
• Solid reputation for product quality
• Good chemistry – with you and the other team members
• Constant communication
• Reputation of integrity among current clients

Above all, the best way to size up a professional’s work isto visit current and recently completed projects and talk with homeowners.

The Allstars

• Copperleaf Property Group, 512-402-0900
• Cornerstone Group Architects, 512-329-0007
• Bella Villa Design , 512-443-3200
• Dee Shultz, Keller Williams Realty, 512-330-1031