Building a home can be one of the most exciting events in someone's life, and it can also be one of the most intimidating. Building a home can be a very complex process, but with the assistance of one of our sales consultants and an understanding of the process itself, it is certainly nothing to be intimidated by.

Your Lot

The first step in the construction of any new home is finding the lot you plan to build it upon. The location of the lot and proximity to work and friends and the setting of the lot itself are both important considerations, but there are also a number of other things to consider when selecting a lot that some people are not aware of. The size, shape and slope of the lot, the availability of utilities, and many environmental and topographical issues all play a large part the cost of constructing your house and how quickly it the project can be completed.

To help determine if the lot you've selected would be suitable for construction, you can ask your realtor to include a "feasibility study period" in your offer, which will allow you the opportunity to research building permit, zoning, and environmental requirements. Some lots will already have been tested for well water suitability or have pre-existing septic systems or designs.

Your Plan

Selecting the right floor plan is obviously integral to the enjoyment of your new home. The right home fits your lot, your budget, and your lifestyle. Fox Homes offers almost forty house plans to choose from and the ability to customize them to your individual needs. We also have access to thousands of other plans from designers across the country and architects who can draw custom plans for your one-of-a-kind dream home. Once you've selected a floor plan and discussed modifications with one of our sales consultants, we'll prepare a proposal just for your project, with costs and a list of options for you to review.

Your Bank

Most customers choose to take out a construction loan in order to finance the construction of their new home, and sometimes the purchase of the lot as well. A construction loan differs somewhat from a conventional real estate loan, and you'll want to find a bank that is both familiar with the construction process and offers a competitive interest rate and fee package. Fox Homes is a pre-approved builder with most major lending institutions in Washington State, and can recommend lenders for you to speak with. Once you've found the right lender for your situation, your loan officer can help you complete the steps necessary for them to issue you a letter of commitment for an amount sufficient to cover the cost of your new home and, if appropriate, your lot as well.

Your Specifications

Having selected a house plan and worked with a sales consultant to develop the modifications and features that suit you and your family, you'll then be ready to review the contract documents and specifications for your project. These documents detail every aspect of your new home, from the type of wood that will be used to frame your walls to the kind of faucets that will be used in your master bathroom. After the contract signing, we will provide copies of the contract, plans and specifications to your lender, who will perform an appraisal of the property. Your loan approval should follow shortly thereafter.

Your Building Permit

Also immediately after the contract signing, we will begin preparing documents to submit your project to the appropriate city or county agency for building permit. The building department of your city or county will then review all the documentation and calculations and issue your building permit. At this point, we will schedule a pre-construction meeting where you will sit down with your sales agent and a member of the construction department and review all the details of your project, including your choices of items such as paint color and cabinet finish.

Your Construction

Once your building permit has been issued and your bank has funded your construction loan, ground will be broken on the construction of your new home. First, the site work will begin and the foundation will be dug out and then poured. Next the framing crew arrives to assemble the structure of your home and install the roof trusses. Windows and doors are then installed outside the house, along with the window trim, fascia board and gutters. Sheathing is then applied to the sides and roof so that the siding and roofing material can be installed. Meanwhile the plumber roughs in the piping and our heating contractor installs the ductwork for the furnace. The electrician installs the service panel and runs wiring throughout the house. The structure is then insulated, allowing the sheetrock, tape and texture to be applied. At this point, the house will really have begun to take shape, and you will be able to walk around and easily envision the finished product.

The house is now ready to be painted, and inside our finish carpenters install the interior doors, millwork and cabinets. Finally, flooring is installed, along with the countertops and any tile work. The plumber and electrician return to install fixtures and trim. The appliances are installed and the house is cleaned and ready for your inspection.

Final Inspection and Walk-Thru

Once construction of your new home has been completed, the building inspector will return one final time to perform a complete evaluation of the structure and issue a certificate of final occupancy. After this has occurred, Fox Homes will also perform a final inspection of the property with you to ensure that the house is completed to your satisfaction. You can review and sign off on the closing documents at this time, which will be submitted and processed by your bank. After that, you'll be able to move into your new home.