Custom Homebuilding Process

Introduction

Your custom build experience begins with an open discussion. Together, you'll sit down with our construction team to discuss the preliminary details of your new home. These details may include your desired home location, lot choices, home plans, design options, and budget. During this meeting, we'll also be able to address any questions you may have.

Preparation

Some suggestions of how best to prepare for this initial meeting would be to bring along photos or other examples that best represent the vision you have for your home. We also ask that you categorize a list of your wants and needs for your custom home. In addition, we recommend researching a list of products and features you're interested in including in the home - like a security system, zero energy, built-ins, kitchen layout, etc. We also recommend reviewing our portfolio of Watts Group home plans to find which options best fit the vision for your custom build.

Once we’ve gotten a better idea of your perfect home, you’ll work with our design team to create your custom plan. Our experienced team can provide ideas, insight, and the resources to create the home you've always dreamed of.

Home Plan Options

We can help with finding a home layout to fit your needs from our vast catalog of Watts Group plans. Our team can make modifications to these plans to design a home specifically around your needs. If needed, we can also work with you and one of our many draftsmen to design your home from scratch.

Unique Details

In the design phase, we also go over the unique details you are interested in for our home. For the exterior, these might involve stone locations, siding material, composite decking, patio options, landscaping, etc. On the interior, it may include electrical details, HVAC options, wall heights, tile showers, millwork features, flooring options, and more.

For this part of the custom home process, you will make the preliminary selections for the components of your home with a group of trusted vendors. To start this process, we will send an email to coordinate a time for you and our vendors to meet. The goal of these meetings will be to make your selections and develop an accurate estimate of how your home will look and cost once it is built.

Exterior Selections

You will be accompanied by a member or the construction team to meet with designers to help select all exterior items. This can be done in one location, but we can arrange for you to visit with individual vendors if needed. During this meeting, you will select shingles, siding, window color/grill design, exterior doors, garage door, stone, and landscaping materials.

Interior Selections

When deciding interior selections, we suggest meeting with the kitchen designer first to select cabinet layout and design, countertops, and cabinet hardware. This meeting helps set the ground work for the remining interior items to be selected. 

Next, you will select your home's paint color, flooring, plumbing fixtures, trim/doors, stair parts, built-ins, and appliances. If there are items your would like more options on, we can go to individual vendors to review additional choices. Finally, you will select the light fixtures and home automation items you would like to include in your build.

Budgeting

Once you've decided on the selections for your home, we will then work to establish an initial version of your final budget, which will include the allowances for finishes. This part of the process can take two to three weeks to complete. 

Review

After we've finished your initial budget, we'll review these specifications with you in-person. We will send you copies to review before our final pre-construction meeting. We will then schedule this meeting to review any remining questions you have and to discuss scheduling.

Finalize

At this point in the pre-build process, we'll work with you to finalize your home plan, specifications, and budget. Once we have received your seal of approval, we'll then execute a purchase or construction agreement, which will include your home's building specifications and finalized details. 

Once your purchase or construction agreement is signed, the next step will be to secure the financing for your home and conduct a home appraisal. This takes two to four weeks. After this is complete, Watts Group Construction will supply you with a tentative build schedule.

The Watts Group team follows a sound construction process to ensure superior quality for your custom home. During the build, you are always welcome to stop by and see the progress that is being made. Any questions throughout the process will be answered.

Homeowner Orientation

Once we've finished your build, Watts Group will walk you through the property as part of a Homeowner Orientation. In this meeting, we'll review all of the construction details of your newly completed home. We will also discuss the operation of your home's mechanical equipment and various routine maintenance items for your to be aware of.

In addition, a comprehensive Homeowner's Guide Book will be provided at this time. This resource will contain a list of your home's utility providers, contact information for the different companies that worked on your home, and other helpful details.

One Year Warranty Follow-Up

Watts Group stands by each-and-every home that we build and ensures customer satisfaction by offering a free one-year builder's warranty. This warranty covers problems that are found in your home due to defective building materials or issues caused by workmanship. Warranty requests are submitted online using the form on our website.