Buying a lot is just the first step in a custom home building journey that, in many cases, can take three years or more from purchase to move-in. Finding the right homesite at the right price can be a daunting challenge in and of itself. Key considerations include location and proximity to essential amenities such as shopping, schools, recreational outlets, medical facilities, cultural venues, highways, and even nearby family members.
Additionally, zoning of both the subject and surrounding parcels, availability of infrastructure, and topographic, geologic, and hydrologic constraints all factor into the decision-making process. And perhaps most important is the subjective feel of the parcel—an emotional response shaped by the natural beauty of the desert, sweeping views, privacy, and other intangible qualities that often become the tipping point in the decision to buy or pass on a lot.
More Than Land Sales—A Long-Term Relationship
In addition to helping clients purchase the right piece of land, our business model includes guiding buyers through the many intricacies of building a custom home. Often, clients are not ready to start building immediately. They typically plan to begin the process a year or more after purchasing their lot. In these cases, we offer an overview of the building journey—discussing custom builders, architects, general costs, and timelines—and encourage them to reconnect when they’re ready to move forward.
A Unique Opportunity to Dive Deeper
This past September, however, we encountered a different situation. A professional couple came to us for help after purchasing a beautiful $675,000 lot in a gated Foothills community years earlier. They were ready to build but felt overwhelmed by the number of decisions, professional interviews, and details they needed to navigate. Prior to meeting us, they had consulted with two architects and received positive feedback that their dream home was indeed possible on their lot—but beyond that, they felt stuck.
Becoming Home Building Consultants
They asked if they could hire us as home-building consultants to guide them through the process, step by step. Over the following six months, we made recommendations, coordinated and attended meetings with various professionals, processed all the information together, and served as a sounding board to help them make informed decisions. It was a gratifying experience for everyone involved—and we recently learned that they have now completed this “beginning stage” of the building process. They’ve selected their custom builder, architect, and lender, and are preparing to sign a design contract to bring their vision to life.
We’re excited to share, over the next several blog posts, the step-by-step journey we took together through the custom home building process.
