Preconstruction Planning for Custom Homes

This unit introduces the foundational knowledge and skills needed to prepare for a custom home build, including site selection, documentation, team roles, and preconstruction financial planning. Students will learn to interpret plans and surveys, evaluate financing options, and create the organizational and regulatory roadmaps required to move a project into construction.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze site, lot, and zoning constraints (including survey and site-preparation data) to determine build feasibility and required permit interactions
• Apply financial planning skills to compare construction loan and self-funding scenarios and produce a preliminary project budget and cash-flow projection
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and select design and construction professionals by producing a vendor-selection rubric and a communication/documentation plan for working with architects, contractors, and building departments
• Evaluate pre-construction sequencing and regulatory compliance by creating a written pre-construction checklist and timeline that covers permitting, surveys, framing milestones, exterior finishing, landscaping, and maintenance planning