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A good design
Once you have selected the site for your custom-built home, the design process can begin. Starting with a fixed idea of how your home should be designed is wise, but be cautious because much of the design will be dictated by the characteristics and constraints of the site you've selected.

The custom design phase involves talking about optional ideas for your home, evaluating your home's floor plan, reviewing preliminary designs and preparing working drawings and specifications, which are the instructions for building your home.

Designing a home that fits your budget is crucial to the projects success. Builders sometimes say the hardest part of the custom-home process is matching buyers' needs and dreams with the realities of their budgets. Designers tend to stretch the size or specifications of the home beyond what is realistic in an effort to please the buyer. Having a builder's assistance will help keep the design within your budget.

Many buyers tend to try and save money in the home design stage, in part because these expenses typically, can't be recouped if the project doesn't go forward for some reason. It's not a wise idea to cut corners at this point because good design is truly the foundation of a well-built home for some following reasons:
bullet   Structural integrity
The basic ingredient for a good design is making sure your new home won't be prone to structural deformities. The location of beams, joists, posts, and supports, the routing of mechanical runs and chases and the engineering of the foundation all affect the home's strength, soundness and livability. Mechanical runs and ducts are hidden in spaces inside the walls and the floors that are needed for plumbing, electrical, gas, heating, air-conditioning and other home systems.
bullet   Aesthetic considerations
A new home's design and floor plan can be very important for the enjoyment of the home and the eventual resale of the home. Floor plans that take the look and feel of the home into consideration can help ensure good design.
bullet   Omitting errors
Design and working drawings will minimize errors resulting from the omission of details needed by the subcontractors, suppliers and supervisors hired. Design errors increase construction costs for you and the builder.
bullet   Change orders
A home plan that is well thought out and closely scrutinized will be subject to fewer costly changes during construction.
A successful home-building project requires a balance of the size, the cost and the quality of the home. No builder can construct a huge home of the highest quality for a cheap price. The quality and size requirements determine cost while budget constraints determine the size and quality. Realistic expectations about the size and quality of the home in proportion to your budget will help you, the builder and the designer with a plan that will suit your needs.