Live Well Custom Homes

The Building Process

Our 8-Step Process to Building a New Custom Home on Your Own Lot

There are many variables to consider when choosing a trustworthy homebuilder, and this choice becomes even more important when building on your own lot. Building a dream living space on your own land is a rewarding experience but can seem daunting at first. Fortunately, Live Well Custom Homes is here for all your Metro Detroit building needs. In 2006 and 2008, we completed two of the ultimate build on your own projects in conjunction with ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover. Our team is here to support you and your family through each step of designing and building a new home on your own lot. Do not own a lot? We can help you find one.

This is a chance to have your dream home built exactly the way you want in a location you love. Our team will work with your family to assess your needs and design a new plan from scratch. Alternatively, you can choose from our inventory of over 40 base plans. These plans can be customized according to your needs. Whether you choose to design your own or an existing plan,we are committed to ensuring the project adheres to your budget and timeline.

Step 1: Construction Loan Financing

While not always the most comfortable conversation, sharing your budget up front helps us help you make the right decisions for your home. Soon after choosing to build on your own land, you should contact a qualified lender. If you do not have one, we are happy to refer you to people we have worked with in the past so you can compare rates.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Home Site

The size of the lot and the local city requirements play a large part in the design and building process. Working with an experienced builder to identify basic considerations will help you avoid unforeseen project additions and legal hassles. For example:

Will you connect to natural gas or to propane?
How far away is the electrical service?
Will the home connect to city water and sewer, or will it need a well and septic?
How will the parcel characteristics affect the cost of connecting to utility service?
Where will the driveway go?
Will trees need to be removed?
What are the other homes in the area like?
What are the soil conditions?
Are there any topographical concerns?

Step 3: Pricing and Purchase Agreement

Once you have chosen and evaluated the site, our team will guide you into the home selection and pricing process. Our team will work with you to pick out the plan and features that will fit your family’s custom home needs. After the initial selection process, we will provide you with a list of estimated costs. After you agree to the pricing provided, you will meet with our team to enter into a purchase agreement.

Step 4: Designing Your Dream Home

Once you have completed a purchase agreement, we can start the design process. This process will occur over three simple and focused meetings.

The first meeting is all about the exterior of the home. We will concentrate on structural items such as windows, doors, siding, roofing, the patio, and the driveway(s).
The second meeting is about interior of your home. This includes electrical, heating, plumbing, and smart home features.
The third meeting is perhaps the most exciting and includes interior finishes such as countertops, tile, paint, and flooring.

Designing a custom home can seem overwhelming. Our 3-step process is meant to keep you saneand focused on decisions that may be overlooked.

Step 5: Closing the Loan

At this point, your purchase agreement has been finalized, you have selected your new home’s features and finishes, and our team will be ready to break ground. But before we can begin, your lender will require us to close on the loan. Our team of experienced construction experts will work with your lender to close the loan and start construction.

Please note that we can only draw on work that has been completed and paid for by Live Well Custom Homes. That is to ensure that, at no time in the building process, you or your lender are exposed to any risk.

Step 6: Building Permit and Pre-Construction Meeting

We are committed to building your custom home right the first time. Our team will handle acquiring a building permit and help you to close on your loan. At the same time, we will invite you to a pre-construction meeting to go over all the details once more to ensure you are completely happy with the chosen building plan.

Step 7: Pre-Drywall Walk

Building a new home is exciting but can feel very abstract. That is why we like to meet and walkyou through the house prior to drywall installation to make sure everything is to your satisfaction.

Step 8: Final Walkthrough

At this point, we have completed construction on your new home and will present our work for your final review. When you accept, we will give the keys to your new home and request final payment from your lender.

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