By Jerry Rouleau

When my wife, Val, and I decided we wanted to build a new home in another state, we knew it would be a daunting project. We had some reservations about the how-to process and where to begin. After seeing a TV show on package homes, we decided to look a little deeper.

We had made a list of what we wanted in our dream home, but we needed some outside expertise on where to start. We connected with Harry Miller, who along with his wife, Charla, operates Executive Cedar Homes in Lafayette. Miller is one of 158 nationwide dealers for Lindal Cedar Homes. Miller immediately helped us develop a seven-point checklist for our dream home.

1. Why custom?

For us, it was simple: We wanted a house that was personalized to fit our lifestyle.

We’d looked at many existing houses but never found one that felt like it could be our home. They were all missing that special something we were looking for.

Miller suggested making a list. Our list started with a large kitchen for entertaining, an office, a reading room/library/music room, a place to get away and relax, a master bedroom with large walk-in closets and bath area, a living room with several windows to capture the view, and a deck or porch to enjoy the outdoors.

2. What look and feel are you after?

Miller suggested we do an imaginary walk-through of our daily routine during the workweek, evenings and weekends, as well as how we liked to relax and entertain, in order to establish the appearance and mood of the home. We were beginning to really “see” our dream home.

3. Does the house fit the property?

We needed to tie our plan in to the property and the surrounding area. Where does the sun come up? What will each room look out to? How do you approach the property? Where will the garage entry be located? How will all of this affect the floor plan?

4. Develop a budget.

Miller explained we could build a home in three different price ranges: economy, standard and luxury. The difference between the standard and luxury cost was based mainly on what we chose for all the hundreds of items that go into a home. The pricier, higher-end items would increase our cost per square foot.

Custom homes can run from $165 a square foot to more than $275 a square foot in certain markets. We were cautioned against the “might as well” syndrome. Miller said many consumers consistently choose better products over standard ones, thinking they “might as well” get the best product - a pattern that surely runs them over budget.

5. Put it all on paper.

At this point, most custom builders will refer you to a designer or architect. This process was simplified for us when we were told Lindal Cedar Homes could design the blueprints for us at their corporate offices in Seattle.

6. Find a builder you trust.

Finding a builder we trusted and were comfortable with could make the difference between a fun project and a nightmare. We knew from past experience, you get what you pay for. Getting the lowest-priced bidder can get you into serious problems. The grade of material and the labor experience will be reflected in the finished product. If the lowest-priced bidder isn’t making money, they may not be in business long enough to service your house if you need help.

7. Order your dream home!

Having successfully navigated the first six points on the checklist, our final step was to place the order for our home and schedule a delivery. Our research showed us that most packaged custom homes make up 25 percent to 30 percent of the total cost of the home. Items such as the foundation, heating, plumbing, electrical, kitchen appliances, fixtures and flooring would be supplied locally, through vendors we found online.

Our dream home is on its way!

For more information logon to www.lindal.com/executive or call (925) 284-6240.