CUSTOM HOMES

Here at Seven Hills Construction, custom home building is our bread and butter, and we’ve built homes of all shapes and sizes all across the Flathead Valley. There really is nothing quite like looking out at the end of a project and seeing the idea of a house transformed into someone’s dream home.

There’s so much to get through before that moment, though, that it can be a bit overwhelming. So here’s a quick overview of our process, and what you can expect with a Seven Hills home.

The Design phase

By far the thing that will have the largest impact on your project is the very first step: design work. The actual building process may take much longer and cost much more, but the design process is critical in deciding just what you want to build, and how it will get done.

At Seven Hills, we do offer custom design work as a service (which you can learn more about by clicking here), and often find that a design-build is one of the best ways to get a home you will fall in love with, at a price you can afford.

Regardless of who does your design work, however, make sure that you are patient and thorough during this process, and that you find a designer who will really listen to what you want and knows how to incorporate the unique details that you will love. It’s worth taking this part slow, and making sure you’re really happy before you continue, because once the house is built, there’s not much room for going back and changing things.

Budgets and Bidding 

Although you should have a pretty good idea of what you can afford before you even begin (and a good designer will design towards that budget), you won’t know the exact amount until you get to the final design and building proposal. This is one early phase where a good contractor can really shine over a fly-by-night builder, as there is nothing worse than starting a project with an unrealistic budget or lack of clarity on exactly what you’re paying for.

One of the most important things to look for in a bid is not the final dollar amount, but also how detailed and inclusive the bid is. No surprises is the goal! All the details in a proper building proposal can be overwhelming at first, but there is nothing worse than going with the lowest bidder, and then not only getting a sub-par product, but also ending up with a bunch of surprises and hidden costs. Most professional contractors, including us, will give you a fixed bid with “allowances”, which are certain budget items that are under your control, and before you begin you should be very clear on what that bid includes. For new house projects, we recommend staying away from non-fixed a.k.a. “time and material” quotes unless there is an unusual reason why the exact costs cannot be determined.

Building the Backbone

Once all the prep work is done and you’re finally ready to put a shovel into the ground, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief, because this is where your contractor takes over. The bones of a building are no easy task to put together; there’s concrete crews, framing crews, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and more, and it all needs to come together just right. Here at Seven Hills we have been developing our in-house skills and subcontractor relationships for years, and take advantage of the fact that we can bring considerable hand-picked resources to your building project. We strive to be organized, efficient, forward thinking, and relentless about planning out the details during the construction of your home.

Materials and Finishes

One of the last phases of the project is putting in all of the finishes, and the amount of decisions that need to be made can be daunting for a first-time client. We work with our clients to make these decisions throughout the process of the build, rather than waiting until the last minute which is where things go wrong. Between all of the different tiles, stones, woods, paint & stain colors, and even appliances and fixtures, deciding on these things can take quite some time! We’ll be right there with you every step of the way, and will make recommends and guide you through the selection process. Can’t decide between engineered wood or hardwood floors? How do we design a beautiful tiled shower exactly? Well, that’s why we’re here.

The Final Touches

Possibly one of the most important things about your project happens at the very end: those custom touches that make your house really yours. Whether it’s a fireplace with built-in cabinets, a shoe station in the entryway, or a beautiful master closet, these are some of the last pieces of the jigsaw puzzle, without which the whole house feels incomplete.

All that may seem like a lot, but remember that a good contractor will be with you every step of the way, and when you finally finish moving in to a house built just for you, you’ll really come to appreciate the meaning of “home is where the heart is.”

And of course, contact us anytime with questions, consultation requests, or to get started on your very own home build!