Robert Klob Designs, Inc. - Custom Home Design

Custom Home Design

Custom Home Design. Those simple words seemed out of reach of most people not long ago. The staff of RKD has now brought the concept to just about everyone. Our commitment is to offer quality design solutions and construction guidance for all of our clients. For many, the process of designing a custom home is an intimidating thought. Where do you start, size, materials, cost and many other items must be taken into consideration during the design process. RKD is there to guide you in a manner that meets your schedule. For many of our clients, it is their first time going thru the process; we have done it literally thousands of times. We have seen and done just about any scenario you can imagine.

Do you need to have a million dollars to have a custom home? Absolutely not! While we have done very large custom homes, we have done very small designs too. Our smallest custom home design was 1,289 square feet. It was a simple home for a single lady. The majority of our homes are in the 2,500 to 4,000 s.f. range. Very much average sizing in today’s custom home market.

The current economic situation has put a damper on many people’s dreams of a custom home. However, it has been our experience that those that have the financial ability are able to capitalize on this market. During the building mania of 2005 & 2006, average custom home costs were regularly *$175+ per square foot as a base price. Finishes typically pushed that number much higher. Plus finding a quality contractor that could focus on your project was tough.

Now, 5 years later, one recent luxury home we designed was built for approximately *$90 per square foot and had a general contractor that had a representative on site every day to ensure that quality remained high. That price included finishes such as ICF, Icynene insulation, Jeld-Wen Windows, hardwood flooring, custom cabinetry, granite counters and Kohler plumbing fixtures - plus too many other upgrades to list. This client was able to save on both materials and labor due to the current economic conditions. When the market turns again (and it will), this home could easily be worth 2x what was paid. We regularly see construction costs for some of our smaller home designs in the *$75 p.s.f. range. The old adage of “Buy low, sell high” could never be truer.

You have undoubtedly seen the plan books or the online sites for home plans. RKD has numerous plans that we sell as stock plans too. It may be an avenue for some people, however most find that it really doesn't save the money they thought it would. See our page about Stock plans vs Custom Design for an in-depth view of how they really compare based on our experience. Click HERE.

The following is a simplified breakdown of the design process. For a more in depth overview, click HERE.

SCHEMATIC DESIGN (SD)

Initial design concept. Very rough in nature, typically just boxes with arrows for windows or doors. Rough room sizes and relationships are all that is done here, plus basic positioning on lot. Its quick and easy to modify or start over if needed. Elevations are typically only pictures as reference only at this point.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT (DD)

Once design concept is selected, this step refines that design. Doors, walls, windows are added to floor plan. Refined as required by the client. Once floor plan is approved, Front elevation is drawn and refined with materials. After front elevation is approved, remaining elevations are drawn.

PRELIMINARY BIDDING

Floor plans, site plan and elevations are packaged together for a preliminary bid set. This set is typically emailed to contractors and suppliers. It is not a 100% set but should be close enough so that they can give you a preliminary accurate bid.

PLAN REFINEMENT

Refinement of the plans based on client revisions, budget or contractor recommendations.

RE-BID (If Necessary)

If the adjustments are substantial to meet a clients budget, the plans go back to the DD stage and Re-Bid.

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS (CD)

These are the final plans that your home will be constructed from. A custom home set is typically 20-30 sheets with notes, details and specifications. Any engineering that may be required is completed at this phase.

PLAN REVIEW & PERMITTING

Once the CDs are complete they are submitted to the municipality for their review. They review the plans for code compliance and building safety. Typically they request additional information and “Redline” the plans. These are then returned to us to revise and resubmit. Once the plans meet the criteria of the reviewer(s) they are approved and a permit is granted. The majority of our work is complete at this time.

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION (optional)

During construction it is typical for questions to arise or adjustments requested. Who better to answer those than the people who designed the home. We offer as standard several hours of additional consulting for these situations. RKD can also provide additional services to ensure the construction methods and materials match exactly what you envision or have requested. We can be the liaison between you and the contractor(s).

^{* Represents averages and may
not be the same in all areas. Market
conditions, location, supplies and available labor pool can affect these
numbers. RKD does not guarantee any
construction price for any project as we have no control of the market
conditions or pricing.}

DESIGN TRIANGLE