The most overwhelming part of building a custom home is, hands down, all of the decisions that have to be made. You will be way ahead of the game if you can make clear decisions. This is easier said than done when faced with so many options. And I get it, this is YOUR house. It's YOUR money. And most of all, you want to get it RIGHT. Believe it or not, I do not know all of the answers to every thing that comes to the surface in a custom home project. I am still learning on every project I work through. What I do know is how to find the answer and help my clients make clear decisions. Here is the process I go through. Gather options Consider this like corporate brainstorming. Let your mind be open and use many sources - scan the internet, look at ads in magazines, keep your eyes open as your are going through your day. Check out our new Pinterest boards for some inspiration and advice. Ask professionals Someone in your building circle has probably solved this problem or one very similar to it. Maybe they were successful and maybe they weren't, but it is all useful information to have. Time Materials Budget Answer these three topics. What is the timing for the solution and does it fit into our established timeline for the project? What materials will be used and what is the method to get it installed and who will be doing the work? What is the EXACT price and does it fit into our budget? Not every issue is going to have a nice, tidy solution. This is where the decision has to be made. You might have to decide if you would rather extend the timeline or go over on your budget. You can decide that yes, that extra special granite is worth the extra money, but is it worth holding up the project for 4 weeks because it is not in stock. Any of these choices are appropriate, however, having all of the information is what is critical in making clear decisions. One word of caution: Don't surround yourself with 'yes men' that will tell you what you want to hear. This is only pleasant in the moment. In case you are not sure, it sounds something like this, "Sure I can do that. It will be close to budget. In about a week." Vague and simple answers are not the route you want to take. Surround yourself with professionals that want to supply information to you. Pay no attention to those that want you to make the quick, simple choice. Dig in. Get the facts. You will be proud of your diligence when the project is complete. - Sheri Scott Architecture Owner Sheri Scott, R.A., NCARB, is a residential architect with 20 years experience. Her passion for serving and guiding her clients from the first sketch to the house warming party has resulted in many successful custom home projects ranging from $200,000 to $5 million. She is the author of "Dream, Inspire, Design: What a Residential Architect Wants to Tell You about the Custom Home Process." Sheri transformed a 1920s spring house into her home office. If you don't find her there she's probably trying to keep up with her husband and three teenage sons.
