What you should expect from the Design/Build phases of construction
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WORKING DRAWINGS & SPECIFICATIONS

At this time, your construction plans will be ready along with the specifications outline that includes all of the building materials, features, amenities, as well as the final estimated cost of building the home. Plans will consist of necessary drawings and details to communicate the accurate construction of your home. Final documents are ready for permitting and construction. They consist of foundation plans, floor plans, exterior elevations and cross sections. Other information includes site plan, electrical plans, wall sections, construction details and optional interior elevations (explained in detail, below).

A complete set of drawings will include these universal elements:

Site Plan. This bird's eye view of your site shows the lot boundaries, the structures on the lot, any existing features, and the compass direction. It should also indicate any required setbacks and topography contours.
Foundation Plan. This drawing shows layout and dimensions of slab-on-grade, basement or crawlspace walls, depending on what best fits your site plan. It indicates how the underpinning structure of your house is supported by the earth below it.
Floor Plan. This drawing shows the room layout of your home. It's the most user-friendly page of the drawings because it indicates room use, doors, windows, fixtures, cabinets and built-ins. Most of the construction details originate from the room layout of your home.
Framing Plan. This drawing is an oversimplified floor plan showing just the walls. Besides that, the joists, trusses and beams are usually depicted so the structural aspect of the building is revealed.
Roof Plan. This drawing is a top view of the entire roof system, including ridges, hips, valleys, rakes and eaves. It may also indicate where gutters and downspouts are located.
Mechanical Plan. This drawing is an oversimplified floor plan showing the location of electrical, plumbing and HVAC details. If the house is complicated, a different sheet is dedicated to each trade specialty separately.
Elevations. This drawing shows the front, side and rear exteriors of the house. This drawing of the house provides a flat, straight-on view so you can see the siding, windows, doors, and the entire outside of the building from ground floor to roof ridge.
Cross-sections. This drawing shows all the hidden details of the house by cutting an imaginary line through the middle of the structure so the interior of the walls, floors, ceilings and roof can be examined. This view shows all the major elements of your house's construction.
Details. This drawing highlights specific areas of construction where details need to be shown in order for the building crew to join together the structure. Specific areas, such as foundation connections, door assemblies, and window installations, are presented in greater detail.
Schedule. This chart appears on the drawings, listing doors, windows, fixtures, and hardware. Under each category, there's an indication as to where each item is located within the building, accompanied by the manufacturer's make, model, and size.
We will take great care to make sure we have gone over every detail of the drawings with you, make any final revisions and go though The Permitting Process and represent your project to Planning, Design and Building committees. It’s a procedure that requires special skills, knowledge and experience. Our experience working with planning and design committees spans over 33 years. We cover all of the steps, and do all of the research that should be done to satisfy local rules and regulations.

CONSTRUCTION APPROVAL

At this time, you will review Plans, Specifications and updates from the previous meetings to make sure that everything is exactly as specified. The final working drawings will also be ready for your approval. Before we can proceed further, these documents will need your signature of approval. Then, as soon as possible, you will need to schedule a meeting with your lender to complete your new home construction loan.

THE HOME LOAN PROCESS

After the construction contract and specification forms are signed, you will be able to complete your new home loan process. Most likely, you have already been pre-approval for the anticipated amount of the loan. To finalize the loan, your lender will need a copy of the final Budget Agreement, Building Plans and the Specification Documents. The lender will then order an appraisal for the proposed new home and your loan application will be processed.
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