Process Unpacked: Custom Home Design

Building a custom home is a big milestone. It’s also a process most homeowners only go through once, so the steps can feel unclear at first.

At PSH, we guide you through four main phases so you always know what’s happening, what decisions you need to make, and how each step moves you closer to a build-ready set of plans.

At-a-Glance: The Four Phases

Here’s the simple roadmap we’ll follow together:

• Pre-Design: Gather information, define goals, and confirm what’s realistic for your lot, budget, and timeline.
• Schematic Design (SD): Turn your ideas into concept drawings you can react to and approve.
• Design Development (DD): Refine the approved concept with detailed plans, materials, and preliminary pricing.
• Construction Documents (CD): Produce the full permit and build-ready drawing set your builder and local officials will use.

1. Pre-Design: Laying the Groundwork

Pre-Design is the research and planning step before any lines are drawn. The goal is to understand your site, your priorities, and any rules that will shape the design so there are no major surprises later.

What you can gather

• Recent property survey showing lot boundaries, easements, and existing features.
• Any deed restrictions, covenants, or architectural guidelines from your HOA or neighborhood.
• A simple wish list: spaces you need, must-have features, nice-to-haves, and any inspiration images (such as a Pinterest board).
• A realistic budget range and target timeline for starting construction.

What PSH focuses on

• Reviewing zoning rules, setbacks, height limits, and other local requirements.
• Studying your site for access, views, sun, drainage, and other conditions.
• Flagging when additional reports (such as soils, environmental, or tree surveys) may be needed.
• Helping you align your wish list with what is feasible for your lot and budget.

What you walk away with

• A clear project “program” (what your home needs to include).
• A realistic understanding of size, style, and budget.
• Confidence that the design work will start on solid ground.

• Tip: Bring questions early. It’s much easier—and less expensive—to adjust expectations at this stage than after drawings are underway.

2. Schematic Design (SD): Shaping the Vision

Schematic Design is where your home starts to take shape on paper. The objective is to agree on the overall layout and look before adding technical detail.

What PSH provides

• Concept site plan showing how the home sits on your lot, including driveways and walkways.
• Floor plan sketches that map out room locations and general sizes.
• Exterior concept elevations or simple 3D views that show style and massing.
• Up to three rounds of revisions so you can react, refine, and approve the concept.

Your role in this phase

• Review each round carefully and note what feels right and what doesn’t.
• Be honest about what you like, what concerns you, and what still feels unclear.
• Keep your budget in mind as spaces grow or shrink.

What you walk away with

• An approved concept for your home’s size, layout, and exterior character.
• A shared blueprint for the design team to develop in more detail.

• Tip: It’s normal to feel unsure at first. Focus on how the home will live day-to-day—circulation, light, privacy, and storage—rather than granular details like finishes and fixtures.

3. Design Development (DD): Technical details & Budget Check

With the concept approved, Design Development turns the big idea into a fully thought-through plan. The goal is to finalize major decisions and confirm that the design still works for your budget before we prepare the final drawings.

What PSH develops

• Detailed floor plans with room dimensions, door and window locations, and key built-ins.
• Refined exterior elevations with materials, trim, and roof details.
• Preliminary interior elevations and/or building sections for key areas.
• Updated 3D visuals so you can see how the refined design will actually look.

Budget and pricing checkpoint

• Your builder (or pricing partner) can use DD drawings to prepare a preliminary cost estimate.
• If pricing comes back on target, we move forward into Construction Documents.
• If costs are higher than expected, this is the best time to simplify or adjust the design.

What you walk away with

• A clear, detailed picture of your future home.
• Key decisions made on layout, major materials, and features.
• Early pricing feedback so budget surprises are less likely later.

• Tip: Try to batch your feedback—keep a running list as you review, then discuss it all at once. This keeps revisions efficient and helps the team maintain momentum.

4. Construction Documents (CD): Permit-ready drawings

Construction Documents turn the refined design into a complete, coordinated set of drawings that your builder and local building department can rely on.

What PSH delivers

• Fully dimensioned floor plans, exterior elevations, roof plans, and building sections.
• Construction details that explain how key parts of the home are built.
• Door, window, and finish schedules where needed.
• Integrated engineering drawings for structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. PSH coordinates with external vendors for these components, in collaboration with your builder.

How these documents are used

• You review the set and give final approval.
• Your builder uses the plans to prepare detailed bids and contracts.
• The plans are submitted for building permits and used as the day-to-day reference on site. Your Builder will lead the permit application process.

Why a thorough CD set matters

• Clear documents reduce guesswork and change orders during construction.
• Detailed drawings help protect your interests by making the scope of work explicit to your builder, and reduces the guess-work in the field.
• Everyone—designer, builder, and inspectors—is working from the same clear instructions.

• Tip: Set aside time for a careful final review. Ask your designer to walk you through the drawings so you understand the big picture rather than every technical note.

What to Expect as a First-Time Homeowner

Throughout all four phases, a few themes stay constant:

• Communication is key. Ask questions whenever something feels unclear.
• Decisions build on each other. Earlier phases are about concepts; later phases are about details.
• Budget is a moving target, not a mystery. Use each checkpoint to confirm you’re still on track.
• You are part of the team. Your input shapes the design at every step.

Moving From Idea to Reality

Designing a custom home doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With a clear roadmap and the right guidance, each phase has a simple purpose and a clear outcome. PSH brings 50+ years of experience providing custom home design services, giving you a superior home product with peace of mind through the process.

When you’re ready to explore a custom home design, we’ll walk you through these phases step-by-step so you can make informed decisions with confidence. Custom Home Design Consultation >

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