Phase Zero: How Do You Initiate The Custom Home Architectural Process?
This past month, we’ve talked about our entire design-build custom home process from beginning to end—specifically, what it looks like financially, what we expect of our clients, how much time is invested in each phase and more.
Generally speaking, the architectural process includes five phases, but this doesn’t include what we call phase zero. In a nutshell, this is the moment we decide to work together, which is certainly not one-sided. We’ll be the first to admit we’re not the architect firm for everyone—and we don’t want to design every single home.
So, let’s dive in a little deeper to see how phase zero begins, and when it’s time to move on to phase one.
Where can I learn about Springhouse?
So, how do you even begin phase zero? Well, you need to know where to look for us! You can find us on our beautiful website, which includes our full portfolio, as well as our helpful custom home blog posts. On occasion, you’ll see us hosting or attending community events (psst…subscribe to our newsletter to find out where we’ll be next!). We also have our free Facebook group—think of this as a space to share your custom home-building journey.
When should I reach out to start the custom home process?
Oftentimes, people wait until they have all their ducks in a row before they come to us or ask questions, but that’s not necessarily the best time. Instead, reach out to Springhouse when you’re just beginning to think about creating a home you love.
How should I reach out to start the custom home process?
This is a great question! You can either email questions directly to me, call our phone number, fill out this form on our website, message me on Facebook and Instagram, or you can schedule a free 15-minute consultation with our superhero office manager, Jenn. During this call, Jenn assesses if the relationship is going to work on both ends and she can answer any questions you have about what services you are looking for.
This is also an opportunity to discuss what you, the client, are thinking of doing. Is this a full custom home project? A build? A renovation? We don’t need to know any nitty gritty details. If we seem like a good fit, Jenn will schedule a meeting with me, where we’ll talk about the project in general—the budget, the scope, the program, etc. We're not looking to design right away, just an understanding of the services you need, and what we can provide for you.
What should I prepare for our initial meeting together?
If it feels like a good fit on both sides, you’ll come in for our first meeting together. No need to commit to us at this time! This is just an hour-long follow-up to your consultation to discuss your thoughts, wants, needs and timeline.
Be prepared to know your budget for the project. Is it $500,000 or $5 million? It doesn't matter to us what you can afford—we just need to know which of our services you need and how in-depth they’ll be. This budget doesn’t need to be exact, as long as you can provide a basic range.
We also talk about your expectations around square footage during this meeting, as well as the details of the building lot, if you have one. Is it steep? Super flat? What kind of home do you want on that block? These are very high-level details, but they give us a good idea of what we’re heading into!
Lastly, you’ll want to bring any inspirational photos you’ve collected for your custom home. I’ve had clients bring one photo and others who literally bring 200 photos. It boils down to whatever it takes for you to communicate your vision to our team. You don’t need to know the exact design, by any means, but we’ll need to know what you love—what excites you. A picture is worth a thousand words! Here’s a helpful post to get you started on collecting.
What’s next?
Once the first meeting is complete, we’ll send you a formal proposal. For this, we’ll need your legal name, mailing address, email, and phone numbers. If everything looks good, we get to work! This is when payment begins, as well as phase one of our process.
Have any questions?
Although we covered a lot in this post, you may still have some other questions about phase zero of our design-build architectural process. Whether you’re involved in the custom home process now, or even just considering it, join our free Facebook group—we’ll help you answer any questions you might have! Also, feel free to invite anyone that you think would benefit from this collaborative. You’ll not only get advice from me, but from other people who have been through this, too.
Start the process.
When it comes to designing and building a custom home, nothing beats having a trusted, experienced team of architects on your side. Let’s set up a call to meet, discuss your goals, answer your questions, and settle your fears. We can’t wait to meet you!