What to Do Before Your Custom Design Process Begins

The time between when you first dream of your ideal timber home to the day your home is complete can span years. Whether it is determining your needs and wants, the fluctuating economy, or the state of the building industry, there are many factors that will affect when you will actually begin. With all of these factors impacting your dream home process, the design process will not typically start until you are about a year away from your desired construction start date. However, this doesn’t mean that there isn’t some homework to be done in the meantime. Today, we will share with you what can be done in the years prior to the actual start of your design process.

Four or More Years From Starting Your Design Process

If you are more than four years away from building your timber frame home, this is the time to start researching and gathering information and ideas for your designer to use down the road. You will also want to:

• Understand how much it costs to build
• Collect photos, plans, and illustrations that inspire your own design ideas
• Call and email experts with questions to gain a better understanding of your project

Two to Three Years Out

Now that you are two to three years away from construction, you should start to devote your time to reflecting and refining your project expectations and goals. You do this by:

• Talking in depth with your representative about specific project goals via phone and email
• Attending a seminar or visiting the plant of your timber frame home provider
• Purchasing land (if you haven’t already)
• Discussing your budget with a financial consultant

One to Two Years Out

Now that you are getting close to starting the design process, it will be a good idea to review your site location with your client representative. Walking your site is the best way to get a feel for your land and how your home will be oriented on it to best achieve all of your wants and needs. Start by:

• Meeting with your client representative at your build site
• Designating the view corridors on your property
• Gathering topography maps and other documentation about your site
• Scheduling your Initial Design Meeting

Visit our website to learn more about Riverbend’s Total Home Solution™ custom design process, and then contact your Client Representative to learn how to start on your path towards that ideal timber frame home.