How to build a home?

You may be wondering about the general process of building a home, especially in urban infill projects like the ones we specialize in. Unlike large-scale tract home developments from raw land, where everything may be more standardized, urban infill projects require a more tailored approach. From selecting the right materials to considering the neighborhood aesthetics, every aspect demands attention to detail.

1. Finding a site. Locating a suitable building site is much more than just browsing for vacant land or tear down home listings. Once you identify the plot of land you are interested in, you would want to perform a feasibility study to see if the site would work for your intended project and any roadblocks there may be along the way.
2. Feasibility. For most projects, you would want to obtain a survey, an arborist report, and a soil infiltration test. Depending on the site, additional requirements may include a geotechnical/soil report and the services of a civil engineer for the design of utilities and infrastructure, encompassing plumbing systems.
3. Architecture. Working with an architect, you would define the requirements and design the home. Deciding what is right for a particular home build can be exceptionally difficult, especially when it comes to choosing windows. There are vinyl windows, steel-framed windows, clad wood, composite, aluminum, and fiberglass windows. A lot of choices; a lot of pros and cons to weigh and consider. In contemporary architecture, designers often prioritize both aesthetics and functionality when selecting materials and finishes.
4. Structural engineering. The structural engineer will do the calculations and specify the lumber and hardware needed to build the home.
5. Submittal/intake. This is when your architect or permitting consultant submits your full plan set to the city. The city will review and may come back with corrections requested. Once everything is approved, you would get your permit.
6. Permits issued. Once you get permits, you can apply for a construction loan.
7. Building. Ready to start building.

8. To be continued… we will elaborate more on the building process in a subsequent post.

ABOUT ADRIAN

Adrian Chu is a full-service real estate professional based in Seattle and San Francisco. Adrian is the Founder & Principal of Specialty Design + Build (an urban infill residential development company) and Specialty Real Estate Group (a full-service residential and commercial real estate services company). Adrian is a Managing Broker in WA, Broker in CA, Principal Broker in OR, Broker in AZ, as well as a Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO-920749) in WA, CA, OR, ID, TX, and FL. Adrian is a proud Husky with a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington.  In his previous life, Adrian held various technical lead and program management roles with several FORTUNE 100 technology companies.

Adrian can be reached by phone or text at (206) 407-5452 and by email at [email protected].