The process of planning, designing and building your own custom home is an exciting season full of hope and creativity. It can also be daunting to know where to begin and who you need on your team, so we have broken it down to explain three critical roles you will need.
- Architect – An architect’s job is typically to create the MACRO or big picture plan for a new home – they do the site planning, massing, exterior elevations, roof lines and develop a layout or floor plan that works for the homeowners. They also coordinate with a structural engineer and with the builder regarding necessary permits, which is often only a septic permit needed in the Dripping Springs area. The architect is a creative person who must also figure out a plan to make your dream home work within the practical constraints of the environment, the target budget and general building science principles.
Photo credit: Avery Rubeck Photography
- Interior Designer – The interior designer’s job is to create the MICRO plan, or to flesh out all of the detailed decisions that accompany the architect’s plans. Interior designers can do interior elevation drawings, which are detailed drawings showing plumbing, tile, cabinets, etc that fill in the home. The designer also typically leads the material selections – from countertops to paint colors to light fixtures, the designer can help select materials that will fit a homeowner’s budget and style, while also hitting the technical requirements needed for the project. A designer can take the infinite number of selections out there and narrow it down to only a couple of choices to present to a homeowner, giving guidance on what choices would be best for the project and why.
Photo credit: Molly Culver Photography
- Builder – A builder is the professional who executes both the architectural and design plans into reality. It’s their job to provide guidance on the best way to build the dream home and to provide a clear price and timeline for the job. A builder typically has a team of trusted subcontractors who are brought in for each step of the build process and the builder oversees the work of each subcontractor and provides quality control, project management and homeowner touch points along the way.
Photo credit: Avery Rubeck Photography
These three professionals are like the three corners of a triangle with you, the homeowner at the center of the triangle. Each professional should be focused on serving you, listening to you and helping you get the home of your dreams.
In order to have a successful new construction home, it’s important to have all three of these roles filled, but who do you start with? The answer varies by project, but usually the architect is a good place to start since they have to create a macro plan. A builder can also be a good place to start because they can often recommend architects that they have worked with before and they can weigh in on preliminary costs early in the process. It’s best to have an interior designer join the team early, but since they work off the architectural plans, they often come into play after the architect or builder.
Here at HouseMill Design, we love working on new construction home projects and we are happy to work alongside a variety of architects and builders. Please reach out to us if you are looking for a service oriented design team to help craft the home of your dreams!
-HouseMill Design
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Lauren Clark is a top performing local Dripping Springs Realtor who loves sharing more about the community. Looking to list your home or buy in Dripping Springs? Contact her today! 512-569-8480 laurenclark@magnoliarealty.com
