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It’s up to you. If you already know the builder you’d like to work with or have been referred to LGA Studios by your builder, that’s great! If we’re the first stop on your home design journey, that’s no problem at all — we even have a list of top-notch builders we’ve worked with that we’re happy to recommend to you!

Anything you’d like! Do you have a list noting a few key must-haves for your future home (like the maximum width and depth of your home, how many bedrooms you need, ranch or two-story, how many car spaces, etc)? That’s perfect. Maybe you have a link to your Pinterest board or a binder of magazine tear-outs? Go ahead and bring those along. But don’t feel pressured to have everything together right away, or even to know everything you want at the first meeting. We’ll have plenty of time for digging into all the details soon enough. If you’d like a few prompts to get started on your wishlist, check out Part 1 of our blog series, What to Expect When Working with a Building Designer. You may also want to take a look at our Levels of Service for some idea of what type of features you might be interested in.

Acting as your own general contractor is a complex and massive undertaking, but it can be done if you have the correct skill set and go in prepared. As the site owner, you will need to provide the same information and reports to the design team, whether you are acting as your own general contractor or have hired a professional.

The big items our design team needs to get started are the geohazard report, the lot survey, and the topography survey (these may depend on your site’s requirements). While the homeowner always needs to provide them, the general contractor is typically the one who coordinates ordering them.

There are also other permits and tasks that the general contractor manages that neither the design team nor the homeowner typically handle. During the design phase, these tasks include, but are not limited to: HOA / ACC coordination / construction permits, bidding, driveway application / permit, utility taps / coordination, septic system sizing / permitting / coordination, well water permitting / coordination, coordinating materials and finishes, paying all building department fees, and obtaining permits.

Prior to and throughout the construction phase, additional tasks handled by the general contractor include, but are not limited to: coordinating subcontractors, getting inspections, coordinating / submitting splices, purchasing materials, managing lead times, managing teams on-site, site cleanliness, coordinating site accessibility for construction equipment and materials, and knowing and understanding local building code and project-specific specifications.

We understand that this may be a daunting list. Acting as your own general contractor has a steep learning curve and involves a lot of time and, unfortunately, stress. It certainly is possible to succeed if you are prepared and have the right mindset, especially if your project is on the smaller, simpler side.

LGA Studios would be happy to refer you to our list of stellar general contractors if you’re looking for recommendations, and these experts can give you advice on how to move forward and fill in any gaps we may have missed here.

If you’re interested in acting as your own general contractor, please let your contact at LGA Studios know, as we may be able to aid you in some areas. This is an important conversation that should happen early in the process.

For the vast majority of clients, an initial consultation at our office is more than sufficient for us to learn enough to get started with a proposal. If you decide you’d like to move forward with our team, we’ll spend ample time researching your site in detail and taking on-site field measurements. However, if you prefer to instead have your initial consultation at your site, it can certainly be arranged, though a small fee may apply based on driving time and distance.

Due to the very custom nature of our work, we unfortunately cannot provide estimates until we know more about your project. This is due to a variety of factors, including specific regional and neighborhood challenges, the Level of Service selected, and the scope of work. That’s why we’re happy to provide our initial consultation for free, allowing us to create a custom proposal for your custom project.

Custom home design can be a time-intensive process, but if you’ve found your way here, you know the end result will be worth it. Because LGA Studios offers full-service design that leads to an approved building permit, the later stages of your project involve our extensive consultation with local experts such as structural engineers and other professionals. The highly technical precision drafting at this stage requires some back-and-forth work and is subject to the schedules of other local firms as well. An approximate timeline will be provided early on in the process of your project, and you can read more about the multiple phases of our process here. We do our very best to ensure that every part of the process is as efficient and streamlined as possible while maintaining the high level of creativity and care every one of our clients deserve.

Our small team of experienced designers and drafters work together to stay on top of the numerous projects handled by our office. Larry or one of our project managers will meet with you and work on concepts and understand your needs. When the design is ready to move on to the computer, your project will be drafted and managed by one of our team members, who will keep you updated throughout the process. The smaller size of our office is an asset to our creative design approach, allowing our entire team to be involved in collaborating, drafting, and supervising — keeping the focus on a cohesive final product for our clients.

We have an option for you! We have an extensive collection of existing concepts and floor plans through Rocky Mountain Plan Company in a variety of square footages and styles. This can be a great place to get started with the design process. We can customize any existing concept to get it just right for you at any Level of Service you need.

Yes it is! We have extensive experience creating concepts and plans for the types of homes that make for beautiful neighborhoods. We can craft floor plan and elevation variations and love this kind of collaborative partnership. Send us an email to let us know more about what you have in mind!

LGA Studios is always interested in getting to know talented, enthusiastic, and environmentally conscious designers. Please forward all inquiries and resumes to us here.