The Process of Building a Custom Home
It’s exciting to think about building your dream home, but it can also be a little overwhelming! There are so many decisions to make and so many things to think about. Where do you start? We’ll help! We’ve got more than thirty years of experience designing and building homes customized to our clients’ distinct lifestyles.
Homes By Brill is your partner through the entire process of building the home of your dreams—from picking out your lot to picking up your keys.
Getting Ideas
At our first meetings, we’ll get to know you and your family and talk about the first decisions you have to make.
- What you want and need in a home
- How much you want to spend
- Your options for the financing process
- Where to build and how to find a lot
We’ll provide you with the resources and guidance you need to make decisions about home plans, potential locations, and interior fixtures and finishes.
If you’re moving to Des Moines for the first time or wondering which area of the Des Moines metro would be the best fit for you and your family to build your custom home, check out these articles:
- 5 Things to Consider When Looking for Land to Build Your Dream Home
- 5 Reasons You Should Build Your Home in Des Moines
- Why You Should Build Your Custom Home in Ankeny, Iowa
- Why You Should Build Your Custom Home in Waukee
- Build Your Custom Home in Johnston
- Altoona: Small Town, Big Opportunities
Download our free guide to find answers to our most frequently asked questions about building a custom home. Learn why our home building process is different, why you should consider building rather than buying, how to find a lot and land, how long the building process takes, and more. Click below to download our free resource today!
Making Decisions & Preparing the Estimate
Once you’ve made decisions about the style and floor plan for your home, we’ll take a look at it together and talk about customizing it to make sure your new home is just the right size, shape, and price for your family. Then, we will prepare a detailed cost estimate with the specifics of your building plan. This 3–5 page proposal breaks down every aspect of how the home will be built, including a custom-drawn floor plan. All of these collaborative design services are completely complimentary! We’ll provide you with the resources and guidance you need to make decisions about home plans, potential locations, and interior fixtures and finishes.
If you’re not sure which style of home or layout will be the most functional for your family, we’ve written several articles to help.
Making the Commitment and Choosing Options
Once you approve your proposal, we’ll really get rolling!
- We’ll help set you up with a lenderfor both the construction loan and long-term purchase loan.
- We’ll have a full set of detailed blueprintsdrawn up.
- We’ll visit some of our preferred vendorsto make interior selections: cabinetry, flooring, plumbing fixtures, windows, countertops, appliances, and all the rest of the bells and whistles!
We’ll help you stick to your budget through all of these decisions (even though it can be tough). We have a trusted network of suppliers, contractors, and tradespeople to help us turn your dreams into reality. From the day we start drafting the blueprints to the moment we break ground is usually about 45 days.
Take a look at these articles for some timeless tips on customizing your dream home:
- Quality Materials Are the Mark of a Great Home Builder
- How to Incorporate Trends into a Timeless Des Moines Custom Home
- Des Moines Custom Home Trends: Using Reclaimed Wood
- Universal Design for Your Custom Home’s Kitchen
- Factors to Consider When Choosing Flooring for Your Custom Home
- Design an Awesome Garage for Your Des Moines Custom Home
Closing and Construction
We’ll connect you with the right lender for your needs and financial situation and be your advocate every step of the way! We’ll help you make sure the financing is in order and walk you through every step of the closing process. After that’s done, we’ll break ground and begin building! We’ll coordinate all the vendors, builders, and craftspeople to make the home of your dreams come to life. Construction usually takes about four months from the day we turn over the first shovel of dirt to the day you turn your key in the lock.
We’ve helped over 480 homeowners in the Greater Des Moines area build the home of their dreams. See some of their custom homes in our gallery, and then contact us to get started on building your own! Check out these articles for more specific information:
- Building a Custom Home: Interest Rates & Home Mortgages 101
- Custom Homes: The Process of Breaking Ground and Building
Our free custom home building process guide will walk you through our 4-step design-build process in more detail. Download a copy to have on hand so you can quickly refer back to it whenever you need.
