To design and build a custom home is a very personal decision, as every person has his or her own idea of what a dream home really is. For one family, a dream home might be a two-story mansion with columns and marble, while another family in the same town might dream of living in a one-story ranch-style home with breathtaking views. Whatever a homeowner’s dream may be, it is the contractor’s job to turn it into a reality, according to Paul Beaudoin. Beaudoin is a general contractor in Raleigh, and the owner of Lifestyle Building & Remodeling Co. Inc. “My company is a design and build company, so we can take almost any print or building plan and turn it into reality,” he says.
Because building a custom home from scratch can be a time consuming and costly project, Beaudoin says that anyone hoping to undertake a project of this magnitude needs to be sure he knows what he is getting himself into before plunging in headfirst.
Getting Organized
Before anything else, Beaudoin says the first step that anyone building a custom home needs to take is to get organized. This means making appointments with architects, surveyors, and general contractors in the Raleigh area, and making sure everyone is on the same page in terms of the home’s design and the area of land where it is going to be built. “Before you can move forward with building a home, you have to get the land where it’s going to be built surveyed by a professional,” he says.
Around the same period of time, Beaudoin recommends putting together some ideas of the size, style, and layout you are thinking about for the home. “At the very least, you are going to want to have a general idea of the layout you like and the approximate square footage you need before going in to meet with an architect,” he says. Because Lifestyle Building & Remodeling Co. Inc. is a “design and build company,” Beaudoin says that he can work off of the plans drawn up by a local architect or purchased through an online service. “We have the experience to be able to take a print or generic building plan that was bought online and pull it apart a bit as we go through it with the client,” he says. “So basically, we can break down that generic plan and figure out exactly what the client wants to have done and what things he or she might not really like as much.”
Setting Timelines
Timelines are important in any construction project, but even more so when dealing with major projects that involve total home construction. When working with a general contractor in Raleigh, it is important to find out how much time he has in his schedule and how long he thinks it’s going to take to build the home you want. Beaudoin says that most homes being built in North Carolina take anywhere from 90 days to 240 days from start to finish, depending largely on the square footage and size of the home. “Most homes can be turned around within three to five months,” he says. “But people should definitely check with their contractors to see what their own timelines are, depending on the size of the house, the area, and the season.”
Custom Home Trends
Among the new homes being built near Raleigh, Beaudoin says the latest trend has been to design what are known as “low country homes.” These homes are known to be particularly popular in the South, and often feature an elevated porch that spans the length of the house to allow homeowners to enjoy as much time as possible outside.
When it comes to the interiors of these new homes, kitchen designs have become the biggest focus for many of Beaudoin’s clients. “We generally try to modify the kitchen designs to better suit the individual or family who is building the home,” he says. One of the hottest topics being brought up by clients in the past year is the home’s energy value, specifically in areas like the kitchen and washroom. “When we are putting together a new house, we will often try to increase the energy values by installing energy-efficient windows and appliances in the kitchen,” he says.
Because energy-efficient appliances can sometimes be cost prohibitive, Beaudoin says he has developed a way to save money by cutting back on some non-essential items—such as high-end moldings, for example—and put the saved money toward energy- saving appliances like new HVAC systems. “We will try to take the money that was saved by putting in cheaper moldings and use it on upgraded windows or siding,” he says.
