17 Steps to Building a House: Checklist and Requirements

Building a house can be an exciting but daunting experience. There are many steps involved, from finding a suitable lot to obtaining the necessary permits and hiring contractors. To help you navigate the process, we’ve put together a checklist of the 17 key steps to building a house.

1. Determine Your Budget

Before you start building, it’s important to figure out how much you can afford to spend on your new home. This will help you make decisions about the size, style, and finishes of your house.

2. Find a Suitable Lot

The next step is to find a piece of land that meets your needs and budget. Consider factors such as location, size, zoning regulations, and accessibility. This is where it’s worth calling in the help of a design-build contractor. They’ll be able to perform a site visit and recommend appropriate consultants such as a land surveyor or soils engineer, if necessary, to determine whether the property is suitable for a new build.

3. Design Your Home

Before gathering any materials and hiring contractors, you’ll need to design your blueprints. This is one of the most essential steps when building a custom home. Think about your wants and needs. Note which rooms and features are most important to you. Rank them in order of priority. Get inspired with images of homes from magazines and on social media websites like Pinterest.

Once you’ve got an idea of what you want to get out of your new home, it’s time to think about the size. Here are some essential questions to ask yourself:

• How many stories will your new home have?
• What are the zoning code and/or neighborhood overlay code limits on size?
• What rooms are a “must-have” in your new home?
• Do you need room for your recreational activities?
• How are all your rooms going to fit together?
• Will you have enough space for future life plans (children, for example)?

Again, you’ll need to hire a professional who can draw design and construction drawings and determine whether your ideas are viable. A design-build contractor can provide the blueprint for your new home and build the home.

4. Choose a Builder

Once you have your plans in place, it’s time to hire a builder to construct your home. Look for a reputable contractor with experience building homes similar to yours.

5. Secure Financing

Unless you’re paying for your new home in cash, you’ll need to secure financing. Shop around for the best mortgage rates and terms.

6. Obtain Permits

Building a house requires various permits from your local government. These may include building permits, zoning permits, and environmental permits.

7. Finalize Plans

Work with your architect and or design-build contractor to finalize the plans for your new home. This will include details such as room sizes, window placement, and finishes.

8. Prepare the Site

Before construction can begin, the site will need to be prepared. This may involve clearing trees, grading the land, and installing utilities.

9. Lay the Foundation

The foundation is the base of your new home. This may be a concrete slab, crawl space, or basement.

10. Frame the House

The framing process involves constructing the walls, roof, and floors of your new home.

11. Install Utilities

Once the framing is complete, utilities such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems can be installed.

12. Install Insulation and Drywall

Insulation and drywall help to make your home energy-efficient and comfortable.

13. Finish Interior and Exterior

The interior and exterior finishes of your home will include painting, flooring, cabinetry, and landscaping.

14. Finishing Touches

One of the last steps to building a house will involve installing fixtures, fittings, countertops, mirrors, and exterior landscaping. The length of time it takes to finish off these final touches largely depends on how intricate your design is. Either way, your house is almost completed, and it won’t be long before you can start moving in your belongings.

15. Final Walkthrough

You’re now ready to see your house in all its glory. This is your chance to inspect each room and spot anything that needs to be touched-up or fixed. If anything needs to be changed, your building team will go back and make changes.

16. Final Inspection

Before you can move into your new home, a final inspection will be conducted to ensure that everything is up to code. A building inspector will visit to issue a certificate of occupancy. This ensures that the construction follows local building codes and is safe for move-in.

17. Move In

Congratulations! Once the final inspections are complete, you can move into your new home.

A Note About Building Inspections

There will be at least five inspections during the construction process. These inspections are designed to ensure that your new home continues to meet the standards of local codes and that all safety measures are being met. In nearly every location in the country, these inspections are mandatory. While they may seem like a hassle, they exist to spot problems before construction has finished.

Building a house requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a lot of hard work. By following this checklist of 17 key steps, you can ensure that your new home is built to your specifications and meets your needs for years to come.

Since 2006, Prospect 30 Eight Construction has been building top-quality custom homes, home additions, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) throughout the Denver Metro Area and the Front Range. If you have any questions, please contact us for a free consultation.