Before you purchase a house plan you need to develop an accurate home building budget that not only takes into consideration your finances but priorities, needs, and future goals. It's essential that your know how much it will cost to build your new home, as well operational costs once it's built. A mortgage calculator can help you make an accurate estimate of what your monthly payments will be and how much you should finance.

Make sure that you prequalify for a construction advance of purchasing and then we can get your land and house plans. Then if you have any credit issues or unsettled debts you have enough time to resolve them.

Before to start looking for a house plan we should put together a list of essential features you want and need like a one-story or two-story design, square footage, amount of bedrooms and bathrooms, and garage size.

Your personal style and taste will influence your preference for the interior layout. Do you want an open floor plan? Do you want flexible/bonus spaces?

The foundation of your home is a critical element in the building process because it is what holds up the entire structure. It must be done correctly to prevent future problems that can affect your home's safety and efficiency.

After the ground is excavated forms will be built with framing lumber (we can clean and then you reuse it for framing) after that the concrete will be poured into each section.

You'll need to decide what type of foundation you want — basement, slab, or crawlspace. You can discuss all these things with us.

After the foundation has set (approximately a week) and the form boards have removed the framing of the home begins and you will start to see the layout of your new home take shape.

Once the framing is complete our inspector will review the plumbing, electrical, and framework, as well as any other required inspections. After your new home passes inspection you will be allowed to have your first official walkthrough (or pre-drywall walkthrough) where you will see the layout of all your rooms, staircases, and placement of outlets.

Make sure that if you requested certain outlets be added or moved that they are done now before the sheetrock is added.

In this stage, we will enclose your home with drywall and a protective weather barrier (best known as house wrap) to protect your home from unwanted moisture. The roofing system and windows and doors will be installed at this time..

This is an exciting phase because each room is now defined. Make sure that each room is exactly the way you want it to be before we do the insulation and mechanical installation.

This is one of the most important because it is responsible for keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

By selecting the right R-value for each key area of your home — attic, floors and walls, basement/crawlspaces, and ducts — will be creating a comfortable indoor environment while saving on yearly energy costs.

Now your exterior (stone, stucco, brick, vinyl siding, red cedar, polymer shakes, and shingles) and millwork will be installed along with any additional exterior features like porches, columns, and railings.

At this stage of construction, all your mechanical equipment will be installed including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical.

Now it's time that we cover your walls and ceilings with drywall, which is commonly called wallboard, plasterboard, or sheetrock. Drywall has become the standard finishing product for new home construction (as opposed to plastering) because it is easy to install and relatively inexpensive.

We will help you decide the thickness of drywall you will need based on your local building requirements, but the standard is ½ inch thick. Once your wall and ceilings are covered you can start to get really creative with your wall coverings and millwork.

One of the most exciting stages of your new home construction is when you get to design and select all the products that will go into each room. This includes flooring, cabinets, countertops, appliances, lighting fixtures, millwork and trim, interior doors, plumbing products, and much more.

You should have a list of all the products you need and want and then do some research about the pros and cons of each product, read reviews and consumer reports and shop for the best prices before you commit to a particular brand and model.

This is the stage that you want to monitor closely to ensure the interior design of your home turns out exactly the way you want.

The final walk-through is the last critical step before you can move into your new home.

Turn on all your appliances, lights, HVAC system, faucets, and showers. Flush toilets. Check to see that all your cabinets, doors, and windows open and close properly. Also make sure there aren't any major defects like cracks, scratches, and gaps in the floors.