For many people, building a custom home is the ultimate dream. If you can pick out the perfect piece of land, the dream becomes that much better. When you build a fully custom home on your own lot, you can get both the house that you want and the location you desire.
As on your lot builders, we construct custom homes throughout Western Michigan on our clients’ own lots. Whether you know exactly what you want in a house or just have a few ideas, we can guide you through each step of the process to help you design and build a beautiful custom home. With our customer-focused approach, you’ll get both a premium-quality house and exceptional customer service.
At Snowden Builders, we work with clients in Western Michigan to build stunning custom homes. If you want to build a house on your own lot, we will work with you to analyze your site, develop a floor plan and design, and then build your house using the finest craftsmanship and materials. We can even help you find the perfect lot for your new home. If you are considering building a home on your own land, reach out to our team to learn more about our services.
What Does Building On Your Own Lot Mean?
Building on your own lot is exactly what it sounds like: constructing a house on your own land. Your contractor will build a custom home on a property that you already own or that you plan to buy. When you build on your own lot, you get the advantage of choosing both your location and the house that you want.
At Snowden Builders, we have clients who come to us after purchasing land. In some cases, they may have held onto the land for years, waiting for the right time to build. Other clients come to us with a rough idea of where they’d like to build and request our help finding a plot of land. With both construction and real estate experience, our team can help you find a piece of land and analyze it for suitability.
When you buy land in Michigan, the process is a bit different than purchasing an existing home. Typically, homeowners will either have to pay cash or get a special type of financing – a land loan. You will also have to consider factors such as access to roads and utilities and how the property is zoned.
When it comes to purchasing property, you can buy one of three types of land:
- Raw land is untouched land that lacks basic utilities and services. It may not even have road access.
- Unimproved land will usually have road access, but will often not have utility lines.
- Improved land is ready for construction, with access to both roads and utilities. The land may still need to be cleared or graded.
The property that you buy will impact financing, construction costs, and the construction timeline. Broadly speaking, it will cost more time and money to prepare raw or unimproved land for construction compared to improved land. It may also require additional permitting.
Snowden Builders has experience building on all types of land in Kent County, Michigan. We understand that your ideal home location might require some extra work – and will collaborate with you to help make your dreams a reality. We know that where you build your house is incredibly important. We’ll work with you to find a site that is suitable for construction so that you can have both your ideal home and your ideal location.
Our Build On Your Own Lot Process
If you haven’t built a custom home before, then the idea of building on your own lot can be intimidating. There is a lot that goes into building a custom home, with many decisions to make along the way. Our team of experienced builders and real estate professionals will walk you through each phase of the process.
The Initial Consultation
When you contact our firm to discuss building a custom home, the first step will be to schedule a meeting. During this consultation, our goal is to get to know you and what you want in a home. We will focus on things like:
- Your goals for your new custom house: Are you more interested in a large house in a rural area? A sprawling lakeside retreat? A luxury home closer to the city?
- The aspects of your house that are most important to you: Do you want to be able to host large parties and have plenty of room for overnight guests? Would you like the option to have one-floor living? Do you need a home office?
- Site requirements: If you already have a piece of property, we will analyze it and discuss what may need to be done to build your house on it. If you are still searching for a property, we will talk about anything that you might want to look for when you purchase land.
- Process and timeline: We will discuss what to expect with the construction journey and how long it might take from breaking ground to closing.
- Financing: At this stage, we can offer you a rough estimate of proposed costs, which will be refined once the design plans are finalized. You may need to obtain a construction and/or land loan for financing. We can recommend a lender if you don’t have one in mind, although you are under no obligation to use any of our recommendations.
During this initial meeting, we will get a chance to know you – and to understand what you want and need for your custom home build. It will also give you the opportunity to learn more about what building on your own lot will entail before you make a final decision.
Site Assessment
If you decide to work with Snowden Builders, we will start by assessing your lot. This helps us to get a better idea of what needs to happen before we break ground on your new house.
There are a number of factors that we will need to analyze when determining whether a particular plot of land is suitable for new home construction. This includes the availability of utilities, soil quality, whether the land is in a flood zone, road access, zoning and land use restrictions, elevations, and whether any trees, rocks, or other obstructions will need to be cleared. While these factors won’t necessarily prevent us from building on your property, it can increase both the cost of construction and the timeline, so it is important to know these things before you make any final decisions about where to build.
Home Design
The next step in the process is usually pretty fun for our clients: designing your custom home! You can start by looking through some of our work for home design inspiration. Our designs are a great place to start when you are building a custom home.
During the initial meeting, we would have talked more generally about the type of house that you want. In this next step, we will drill down on details so that we know exactly what you want for your house. This allows our team to develop an estimate and start preparing for construction.
Contract
Once we have assessed your site and developed a home design based on your specifications, we can write an estimate and sign a sales agreement. This contract will include details such as the estimated cost, estimated completion date, and material terms.
Over the course of construction, it is possible that something will change. For example, tariffs on lumber may result in increased costs or even construction delays. Throughout construction, we will keep you apprised of any changes to the cost or schedule. If there is a material change to the contract, you will need to approve it.
Once you have a signed contract in hand, you can seek financing if necessary. When your construction and/or land loans are in place, we can finalize your home design before beginning construction.
Final Design Choices
Before we start to build your house, we will need to get certain permits. While we go through that process, we will work with you to finalize the design of your house.
Our team will work with you to decide on every element of your house. This may include everything from paint type and color to lighting fixtures to appliances to tile. You can also make decisions about other aspects of your custom home, such as siding color, outdoor living areas, and landscaping.
Construction
Once your permits are secured, we will meet at the construction site to do a review of your house plan. Your dedicated project manager will ask for your final approval before we break ground.
After the land is cleared (if necessary) and prepared, we will begin by digging and pouring the foundation of your house. We will then frame your house and rough in the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems. Once the rough work is done, you’ll have a chance to tour the building site and review the placement of these systems to make sure that everything is where you want it.
Next, we will continue building your house – putting on the roof, insulating the walls, and installing drywall, trim, doors, and windows. We will then move on to all of the work that makes your house a home – like custom cabinetry, fixtures, and appliances. The final steps will involve the finishing work, such as installing flooring and tile and painting.
At any point during construction, you can ask your project manager to schedule a tour of the property. We know that your new house is a big investment, and we want you to be satisfied with the construction process. We will work with you to make sure that your custom home exceeds your expectations.
The timeline for construction is often 6 to 8 months. However, this number might vary based on the size and complexity of your home design and the work necessary to prepare the lot for construction. We will also communicate with you about any delays in the process and other factors that impact your new home build.
Final Walkthrough and Closing
When construction is complete, we will walk through your new house with you. We will make note of – and complete – any “punch list” items for you. We will also explain certain features of your house to you and how to maintain your house.
Our ultimate goal is for our clients to be over the moon about their new custom home. With a focus on customer service, we are able to achieve this goal. We truly listen to homeowners to ensure that they are getting exactly the house that they want.
The final step in the process is the closing. This is a legal necessity to transfer title. When the closing is complete, you’ll get the keys to your brand-new home.
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Build a Home on Your Western Michigan Lot with Snowden Builders
At Snowden Builders, we build gorgeous, high-end custom homes for clients in Western Michigan. We understand that your new home is an investment in your future – and we take our role in the process very seriously. Contact us to learn more about our build-on-your-lot options or to schedule a consultation with a member of our team.
