Everything You Need In Place To Build Your New Home

Having Trouble Knowing Exactly Where to Start?

We have taken the guess work out of it with this complete checklist!

Phase 1: Plan Design

Your vision and understanding your needs are the first step of any good design. Lifestyle and design preferences, family size current and future, budget, etc. During this phase we get all of the mundane details about your future home plotted out such as approximate square footage; one story or two; number of bedrooms and bathrooms; entertainment room preferences; garage size; outdoor amenities such as pools, kitchens, or decks; guest homes; master bedroom suites, etc.

Custom Built Homes rely heavily on the land they are being built upon guiding the direction of their design. This phase includes a site visit so your custom home consultant can take measurements and get acquainted with the land.

Your custom home consultant works with our draftsman to sketch out a preliminary set of ideas. At this point we have considered your vision and budget and have created an initial design.

Initial drawing of your home using CADD Software. These computer drawings show all the desired elements of the home.

Time to discuss! This is a checkpoint for the sketches done in step 3 and 4 so that you can review and make any corrections.

Once we have altered the initial floor plans with the revisions we discussed during step 5 a revised floor plan will be drawn up. If no further changes need to be made, we will move on to the next step.

With the floor plan complete, we create a 3D model of the exterior elevation or façade design. The initial model is created based on your vision and floorplan.

Revised floor plans and elevations combined to make certain everything works together. Your feedback is incorporated until no more revisions are needed.

By now we have gone through multiple revisions and have a solid floor plan and elevation created digitally. With all this information, we can give a ballpark estimate on the project cost.

This is when we discuss details like windows, countertops, fixtures, flooring etc. and determine the allowances for these items.

Last round of updates and revisions before finalization of the plans.

We are almost finished with the design by now and we will be able to give you a more accurate cost projection. 

Final creation of the detailed plans with all the minor details and initial design notes. Now its time to do one last major step in the process before we break ground – Virtual Reality!

A Smooth Design Process

Tips & Tricks from the Pros

Tip

Do you have a binder with magazine cutouts, photos, website addresses, or general design ideas that you love? Bring it!

Trick

Use tape and an area of your current home to measure out the rooms you are looking at on your floorplan to get a better real-life idea of space and size!

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Your dream home is only a phone call away

When you are ready for a builder who understands your family’s dreams and desires, talk to our family at LaFollette Custom Homes. Our team of Custom Home Consultants will guide you through the process from start to finish.

Phase 2: Virtual Walkthrough

For the past 20 years, one of the biggest challenges facing the custom homebuilding industry has been accurately capturing homeowners’ visions and presenting them in a way that allows them to really experience the final product.

By harnessing the power of virtual reality, we’re ushering in the future of custom home building.

1. VR Creation

Our in-house draftsman works with your custom home consultant to create a 3D model of the exterior elevations and base floorplan.

2. VR Refinement

Our team collaborates to refine the plan, giving special attention to your selections, finishes and furnishings.

3. VR Experience

Once the VR walk-through is ready, you’ll come to our office, throw on a VR headset, and take a walk through your custom dream home.

4. VR Revisions

As you walk through your virtual dream home, our team highlights everything from spacing to color and custom features to prompt your feedback in real time.
"Moving back here, our boys were kicking and screaming. They made their friends in California. They wanted nothing to do with looking at the plans. When we came in to do the Virtual Realty, we did it then they wanted to do it. That was the moment they realized what we were building. They had a chance to visually see what was coming, and that is when their hearts started to change."
Brittany Berryman

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Phase 3: Building & Construction

Everything in finalized! You love the plans for your new home so, at this point, you will sign a copy of the construction agreement, specs and the final plans of your home.

Once everything is signed all of the plans will be submitted to your future HOA, local government agencies and possibly the bank for approval.

You close on your construction loan at the bank and we receive all of the approvals sent out in step 2.

Local government must approve the design and provide permits for everything from the zoning and grading, to the septic systems, home construction, electrical work, and plumbing.

After all of the planning and strategizing the time has come. Construction!

Using heavy equipment, the crew clears the home site of rocks, debris and trees. If applicable a building pad is constructed.

Wooden forms are setup to serve as a template for the foundation.

Rough plumbing like drains, sewer system, water taps, and any plumbing that needs to go into the first-floor slab is installed. Then the concrete foundation with reinforced beams is poured.

The floor system, walls, and roof system (collectively known as the shell or skeleton of the house) are completed.

Plywood or oriented strand board sheathing is applied to the exterior walls and roof, and the windows and exterior doors are installed. The sheathing is then covered with a protective barrier known as a house wrap; it prevents water from infiltrating the structure while allowing water vapor to escape.

Once the shell is finished, siding and roofing can be installed. At the same time, the electrical and plumbing contractors start running pipes and wires through the interior walls, ceilings, and floors. Sewer lines and vents, as well as water supply lines for each fixture, are installed. Bathtubs and one-piece shower/tub units are put in place at this point because there’s more room to maneuver large, heavy objects.

After the roofing goes on, the house is considered “dried in.” An electrician then installs receptacles for outlets, lights, and switches, and runs wires from the breaker panel to each receptacle. Wiring for telephones, cable TV, and music systems is included in this work.

Rough framing, plumbing, and electrical and mechanical systems are inspected for compliance with building codes.

Insulation plays a key role in creating a more comfortable and consistent indoor climate while significantly improving a home’s energy efficiency. One of the most important qualities of insulation is its thermal performance or R-value, which indicates how well the material resists heat transfer. Most homes are insulated in all exterior walls, as well as the attic and any floors that are located above unfinished basements or crawl spaces.

Drywall is hung on the interior walls and taped so the seams between the boards aren’t visible, and drywall texturing (if applicable) is completed. 

Contractors begin installing exterior finishes such as brick, stucco, stone, and siding.

Interior doors, baseboards, door casings, windowsills, moldings, stair balusters, and other decorative trim are installed. 

Cabinets, vanities and fireplace mantels are installed.

The walls get a full paint treatment or are wallpapered where applicable. All trim work is painted after installation.

All floor and bath tiles are installed as well as countertops.

Light fixtures, outlets and switches are installed, and the electrical panel is completed.

HVAC equipment is installed and registers completed.

Bathroom fixtures like sinks, toilets and faucets are put in place.

Breakable bathroom fixtures like mirrors and shower doors are installed.

Carpeting or wood floors are also installed and final cleanup takes place.

Trees, shrubs and grass are planted and other exterior landscaping is completed.

Your superintendent will walk you through your new home to acquaint you with its features and the operation of various systems and components and explain your responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep, as well as warranty coverage and procedures.

It’s also an opportunity to spot items that need to be corrected or adjusted!

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Your dream home is only a phone call away

When you are ready for a builder who understands your family’s dreams and desires, talk to our family at LaFollette Custom Homes. Our team of Custom Home Consultants will guide you through the process from start to finish.

Phase 4: Interior Design

From Dream to Reality

Our in-house interior designer works closely with each homeowner to create a home that reflects their own personal style. Each room will be decorated perfectly according to your preferences. Upon completion, you have unique spaces to call your own. 

If you’re feeling creative and adventurous about your home interior design, go ahead and get artsy! An interior designer will make sure that whatever styles and concepts you visualize will be laid out. And they’ll take care of whatever idea or suggestion you might have that you’re unsure how to apply—just communicate your thoughts with them, and they’ll make it happen.

1. Initial Meeting

Getting to know you and exploring your tastes: learning what you like, what inspires you, both for who you are now, and whom you want your environment to support you in becoming.

2. Planning

During this phase, we show you options. We arrange one (or several) meeting(s) and present you with different sets of ideas for your new home.

3. Selections

Visit show rooms of vendors, shop online catalogs, all to find the perfect mix of the perfect things for your new home.

4. Final Fit & Finish

Ready, set, install! The final step in design is to combine it all during the construction process for a seamless finish.

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Your dream home is only a phone call away

When you are ready for a builder who understands your family’s dreams and desires, talk to our family at LaFollette Custom Homes. Our team of Custom Home Consultants will guide you through the process from start to finish.

Phase 5: After Move-In

120 Day Walk Through

Miss something during the final walkthrough? Don't stress. Your superintendent does one more walk-through after you've moved in to ensure everything is covered 100%.

1 Year Craftmanship Follow-up

Another follow-up from your superintendent to say congrats! and check to see if any issues have arisen or if everything is running smoothly.

2 Year Systems Followup

Final follow-up from your superintendent to check the primary home systems - electrical, septic, HVAC, plumbing, etc.

Our LaFollette Custom Homes team believes in building long-lasting relationships with our clients, it’s one of our five core company values! The relationship that we build with our homeowners does not end once the home is completed, our team will stay in contact you throughout the years to make sure that your home performs exactly as it was designed and constructed. Our team offers this reassurance to our homeowners by doing follow-up walk throughs 120 days after you move in and right before the one year and two year anniversaries of move-in.

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Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

Complete the form below to download your PDF floorplan!

 

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Interested in learning more about LaFollette Custom Homes? Complete the form below and one of our custom home consultants will be in touch! For immediate assistance, please give us a call at (979) 589-8343.