Custom Homes

Custom Homes

Clients are surprised that so many professions work on a custom home project. From architects to electricians, many people play a role in making a custom home a reality.

Listed below are a few of the most common professionals you will find are involved in a custom home building project.

Architect:  An architect’s role in the custom home building process is very important. Their job to take the client’s needs and wants and transforms it into a design. An architect is involved in the planning and drawing of home design and is usually involved during the construction as well. Architects make sure that the design plans functional and structural, but they also make sure that they are practical and affordable for the client.

Contractor:  There are many types of contractors, but every home building project has a general contractor. A general contractor combines the managing, planning, and designing of the custom home building project.  A contractor will oversee all the construction phases of a project, staying within cost, altering plans as needed, getting building permits, and hiring subcontractors. Contractors work closely with other professionals such as designers, architects, and subcontracts.

Draftsman:  Draftsman and architects often get confused for one another by clients. Draftsman performs a similar task as architects, and often work with them, but they are different. Simply put, an architect designs a home, while a draftsman simply prepares the drawings for the design. Draftsmen are good at their job, but they shouldn’t be relied on to design a custom home as they just don’t have the education or experience for the task.

Designer:  A custom home can benefit from using a number of different types of designers. Interior designers focus on the aesthetic and functionality of a home. They plan furniture layouts, color schemes, fabric types, etc.  They also often recommend people and hire other specially certified designers like a kitchen designer.  A kitchen designer knows the best appliance locations, the ideal number of drawers vs. cabinets, and can focus on the aesthetic of the room. For custom homes with large lots, a landscape designer can also be beneficial.

Project Manager:  A project manager is vital to a successful custom home build.  A project manager is the person that makes sure everything that needs to be getting done is done. The are responsible for making sure deliveries happen on time, workers show up, tasks get completed, and that everything stays within budget. The general contractor often takes the role of a project manager in custom build homes.

Structural Engineer:  A structural engineer has an important role in home building. It’s their job to ensure that the home is structurally sound and that can withstand all of the pressures a building goes through. They’re the ones that do calculations to see if you need a beam in a certain location or if the walls are correct to withstand natural disasters like hurricanes, winds, or earthquakes.

Lawyer:  From initially purchasing the piece of land to drafting service agreements between all of these various professionals and contractors, a lawyer plays a valuable role in your journey to building your custom home. There will be a lot of contracts and legal documents to look over throughout the process, so it’s a good idea to have an experienced and knowledgeable real estate lawyer that can review any binding contracts.

Subcontractors:  A subcontractor is a “specialty” contractor. In other words, they’re hired to complete a specific task on the home, usually one that requires a certain skill set. Subcontractors include plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Many custom homes also require subcontractors for tiling, landscaping, pool installation, and other high-end add-on’s.

Home Page

Designed by ABJ Services