Building a luxury custom home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your lifetime. While there will always be unexpected things that pop up during your building, taking the time to plan can go a long way toward helping your project go smoothly. We’ve put together this in-depth guide on preparing to build a luxury home so you have a better idea of the steps to take leading up to breaking ground on your build. 

If you have any questions while preparing for your luxury custom build, we are happy to be a resource for you. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 919-460-8550 or contact us online. 

Set Your Budget

Before you do anything else, take some time to think about how much you want to spend on your luxury custom home. One of the many benefits of building a custom home is that you can control even the tiniest details, but that means the process is more expensive than choosing from an existing house. With the area continuing to grow, there's a reason why so many homes are being valued over $2 million in the Triangle right now.

To help ensure that you’re satisfied with the result, you need to make sure your new home will fit within your budget range. Let’s take a closer look at the different factors that have the biggest impact on the cost of your build. 

Location

Where you decide to build your home will have the most effect on the total cost of the project. The Triangle area is growing rapidly, making it harder to find available land or lots in the Raleigh metro area. Of course, the more desirable the location, the more expensive the land will be, which will ultimately impact your budget and what is remaining to spend on the house detailing in it.

Additionally, features like a gate entry, golf course, or waterfront location can impact the total cost of your project, so keep that in mind when setting your budget. Other things to consider for the location or lot might include something like septic system and well or city water and sewer. Larger lots generally have additional costs- e.g. more to landscape, longer driveway, and more clearing.

Design

Another thing to consider when planning your budget is what kind of design you want for your future home. Generally speaking, the more intricate the design, the more expensive it will be to build. 

Of course, choosing to work with an architect  on the design will also increase the total cost you pay, but it is worth it to ensure you get the perfect design to meet your family’s needs. 

Materials and Finishes

One of the most exciting parts about building a luxury custom home is getting to choose the exact materials you want for the different areas of the house. The different materials and finishes you choose for your floors, cabinets, hardware, showers, etc. will all impact the total cost of your project. 

Exterior Details

When planning your custom home budget, don’t forget to account for the exterior of your future house. The materials you choose for the exterior along with your landscaping, pool, and hardscaping details will all affect your budget. 

Find the Right Location

Once you’ve set a budget, you can start to think more about where to build. In some cases, a lot will belong to a certain home builder, so keep this in mind if you’ve already decided which builder you want for your project. 

If you’re not sure where to build, we recommend making your decision based on the following factors: 

• The neighborhood: Think about the features you want in a neighborhood. Do you prefer a suburban setting or does something more rural appeal to you? Think about the areas you already love and search for available lots or land that could fit your needs. Are homes in the area valued where you want to be budget wise to make sure your investment is protected? Do you want a neighborhood or several acres?
• Accessibility: You’ll also want to consider how close you need the location to be to important places in your life. Make sure the location you choose has easy access to highways, your work, your children’s schools, your church, etc. 
• Amenities: Don’t forget to consider proximity to convenient amenities like shopping, parks, and more when choosing where to build your custom home. 
• Views: If you ask us, nothing quite beats sitting out on your back porch soaking in the view. Make sure you choose land that offers your preferred view whether that’s a golf course, water, endless trees, or anything in between. 

Assemble Your Team

The next step is to choose your team which will help you bring your dream home to life. In most cases, we recommend working with a luxury custom home builder, architectural designer, and interior designer to help bring all of your ideas to reality. 

Choosing the Right Luxury Custom Home Builder

Perhaps the most important decision you’ll make during the preparation process is which builder to hire. To help ensure that you make the best choice for you, we recommend doing the following: 

• Browse their portfolio: To get a sense of the type of work a builder does, take a look through their portfolio of past projects. This will give you a sense of the quality of work a builder does to help you make your decision. 
• Read customer reviews: It’s also a good idea to read testimonials from past customers so you can see an unbiased look at what it’s like to work with a particular builder. 
• Ask questions: Before deciding which builder to hire, it’s not uncommon to meet with a few different ones. When you do, take the time to ask them questions about the process, how they’ll bring your ideas to life, and more. 

After following these steps, we hope you’ll agree that Rufty Homes is the best choice for your upcoming luxury custom build. 

Why You Should Work With an Architectural Designer and Interior Designer Too

Once you choose your builder, it’s a good idea to hire an architect and interior designer as well. Architects can create a well-thought-out design based on your ideas. They’ll then work with your builder to help facilitate a smooth process from start to finish. 

Hiring an interior designer can help you determine your decorating style and tie together your overarching design in a cohesive, timeless way. Your designer will also work closely with your builder so that even the smallest detail is considered during the build process.  

Think About Which Features to Include

Another important part of preparing for your custom build is to carefully consider which features are most important to have in your new home. We recommend creating a list of features that you divide into “needs” and “wants.” 

Here are some of the features you might want to consider for your new home: 

• A well-planned mudroom to help contain shoes, backpacks, coats, sporting equipment, and more all in one convenient location
• A resort-style swimming pool with a built-in spa for relaxation
• A laundry room on each floor for added convenience
• An area dedicated to your hobbies such as a golf simulator or music studio
• An outdoor kitchen and lounge area that’s perfect for entertaining guests
• A wine cellar so your favorite bottle is always at the ready
• An at-home gym stocked with all of your favorite equipment
• Eco-friendly features like a vegetable garden or green roof

When you choose Rufty Homes for your luxury custom build, we’ll take the time to talk with you about the different features that you want and need, helping you decide how to incorporate them in a way that makes the most sense for your family. 

Understand the Average Timeline

The final step in preparing for your luxury custom home build is to have a realistic idea of how long it will take to complete your project. Every project varies and your project manager will help give you a more accurate timeline based on the specifics of your build. However, as a good rule of thumb, you can expect your build to take upwards of 18-24 months from when you start with Rufty Homes until your move-in date. 

Finalize Plans and Permits: 4-6 Months

This part of the process starts with introduction meetings, design plans, and the acquisition of necessary permits. A lot of this timeline is driven by client decisions and how quickly a design is chosen to fit their needs.

Building Process: 12 - 18 Months

The actual building of your home is likely to take between 12 - 18 months based on the scope of the project.

Let Rufty Homes Help When Preparing to Build a Luxury Home in the Triangle Area

Now that you know more about the steps to take when preparing to build a luxury home, you can turn to Rufty Homes to bring your ideas to life. To set up a time to talk with us, please call 919-460-8550 or contact us online today.