There are many reasons to build your own custom home – from choosing a location you love, to designing the perfect floorplan and selecting your colors.
Building a custom home is a dream of many people who move to the Sarasota area, whether for retirement or to build a second home.
But unlike searching for a completed new construction or resale home, building a custom home requires some vision and a lot of patience. There are several necessary steps before construction even begins – but if having a Longboat Key custom home is your dream, it is worth the process!
Quick Fact: There are many necessary steps prior to beginning the actual build process, and these variables will impact your total timeline significantly. Once construction has begun, it will take 6-12 months to complete construction on your custom home.
Steps to a Custom Home
- Estimate the Size of Your Home: Work with your builder to outline basic floorplan and square footage required. This will help you to choose a lot that is likely to accommodate the home which you wish to build.
- Find the perfect lot: Whether you are purchasing your home in a planned community, or looking for a pristine piece of waterfront property, you’ll first need to find an appropriate buildable lot. Your builder may have potential lots available for you to choose from, or you may need to find through a real estate professional. Use the basic parameters provided by the builder in your search.
- Research the Lot: Your builder can help you to determine if the lot is the right size, and is zoned correctly for the property you wish to construct. Once you procure the lot, you can begin to plan the details of the home. The size and shape of the lot may necessitate a change of home plans. For instance, it may be advantageous to change the angle of the lanai to best view the water, or perhaps have a side entry garage rather than a traditional front-facing garage.
- Obtain Permits: Construction cannot begin until the proper paperwork is in place. Your builder will handle all the necessary legalities on your behalf.
- Prepare the Property: If you need to level the lot or remove some trees, the property itself will need to be properly prepared for construction.
- Construct the Home: The first process in the actual construction of the home includes the digging, pouring and laying the foundation, the laying the floor’s underlayment, and the framing of the home. That is followed by roofing, sheeting, and siding work, sheetrock, flooring, and cabinetry. Once those are in place, we will add in the plumbing and electrical.
- Finishing the Home: Paint, fixtures and finishing touches are added, and your home is almost ready! Your builder will have to pass inspections and receive a certificate of occupancy before they can officially close on the home and hand you the keys.
As stated, the actual construction of the home generally takes 6-12 months. The other variables, listed above, will greatly impact the total time it will take to make your dream home a reality.
Sarasota Weather: Rainy season in South Florida may affect your timeline during the laying of the foundation and the framing process. Your custom home builder can advise you as to the best time to implement these steps.
The professionals at Lindahl Construction are happy to help you with every phase of planning, designing, and building your Sarasota dream home. Give us a call to discuss how to best get started, and how we can assist.