Steps to Your Journey
So, you’ve decided that building a home on your land is the path you want to take. You’ve done your research, chosen or purchased the perfect property, and you’re ready to begin turning your vision into reality.
At ICI Homes, we believe that an informed homeowner is our best partner. That’s why you can expect clear, consistent communication at every step as your unique design-build journey unfolds. From the first conversation to the final walkthrough, our team is here to guide you, answer your questions, and ensure your new home reflects your imagination, lifestyle, and future. Schedule a complimentary consultation today!
1. Initial Discovery: Your design-build journey begins with a preliminary site visit. One of our sales professionals will walk the property with you to confirm that the land is buildable and ensure the basic prerequisites are in place for a smooth process.
2. Plan Design Appointment: Once you’ve selected a floor plan and the customizations you’d like to explore, your sales professional will arrange a meeting with one of our in-house plan designers. Together, you’ll collaborate on your custom design study, a key step in the design-build process. A Custom Design Agreement is collected at this stage, typically averaging around $10,000 depending on the complexity of your plan.
3. Design Center Preview: To help you start visualizing the details, your sales professional will schedule a preview of our design center. This gives you a chance to explore the wide range of interior finishes included in your home, as well as the optional upgrades you may want to incorporate.
4. Site Assessment: Next, a builder will meet with you on-site to finalize the best placement of your home. At this stage, we’ll also review if additional preparation, such as clearing, fill, or grading, is required for construction, keeping your design-build plan on track.
5. Purchase Agreement: As your vision comes together, your sales professional will continue meeting with you to answer questions and review details until you feel fully confident. When you’re ready, we’ll prepare your purchase agreement, which can also include “allowances” to cover the approximate cost of your chosen design options and upgrades.
1. Purchase Agreement: From the day you sign your purchase agreement, your homebuilding process begins. Your construction drawings are prepared for permit application. Your building superintendent is assigned. Your design center appointment is scheduled.
2. Purchase Options: If financing, you will have 45 days in which to secure your financing. Your sales professional can assist you by referring to one of our preferred lenders who specialize in construction to permanent financing. You will close on your loan prior to construction so the lender can release funds called “draws” after certain milestones are completed and inspected.
3. Design Center Appointment: You will be contacted to schedule your design center appointment within 30 days of your purchase date. Prepare for your appointment by gathering your ideas for color selections, finishings and options important to you in your new home. An additional deposit will be collected upon finalizing your selections.
4. Behind the Scenes: We will incorporate any additions from your design appointment into your plan, finalize your electrical plan, and submit the entire package to the appropriate permitting municipality to obtain your building permit. Although this may take several weeks, we will contact you once your building permit is approved to schedule your pre-construction meeting.
5. Pre-Construction Meeting: You will meet your building superintendent, who will keep your construction on track and be your main line of communication throughout the build process. Together, you will thoroughly review your plan and the schedule. This is the time to ask all your questions and make sure he or she understands exactly what is important to you.
6. Construction: Depending on site conditions, location and the complexity of your home, actual building times can vary between 8-12 months from construction start. Your builder will set up a group text chat and include your sales professional and design consultant, so everyone stays on the same page. Once construction begins, your builder will communicate with you weekly and via group text when appropriate to inform you of your home’s progress, share photos, and answer questions along the way.
1. Homeowner Orientation: You are almost at the finish line. Your builder will schedule your homeowner orientation a week or so before closing. Time is taken to ensure you are completely satisfied with your new home and introduce you to your warranty technician who will take charge of any outstanding warranty items thirty days after closing.
2. Closing: The ICI Homes closing coordinator will contact you approximately 30-45 days prior to the closing to schedule your closing date. You will need to secure the necessary insurance and ready any funds if applicable. The last draw occurs once the certificate of occupancy is issued. Closing day will happen shortly thereafter. We work to deliver your “forever” home completed, clean and ready for you to move in to on closing day. Congratulations!
3. Warranty: To safeguard your largest single investment and protect you against unexpected repair or replacement expenses, ICI Homes will provide you with an HBW 2-10 warranty at closing, one of the most comprehensive home warranties on the market today. Once you’ve moved in and get comfortable, make a list of items that may need our attention and report them using our online warranty request form at ICIHomes.com.
