The High Country is the kind of place that makes you want to put down roots. Maybe it’s the views or the pace of life, or the fact that living here is unlike living anywhere else. If you’ve been thinking about building a custom home here, you can probably picture it clearly already: a covered porch overlooking a mountain ridge, or a kitchen customized for the way you cook.
We’ve outlined the steps to building a house in the NC High Country to help take you from those dreams to a set of keys.
Dreaming of a custom home in the NC High Country? Schedule a design-build consultation with VPC Builders to start planning.
Stage 1: Where Do You Begin When Building a Custom Home?
When you start a conversation about building a custom home with us, we want to get to know more about who you are and why you’ve decided to build a custom home. We’ll also want to get answers to a few basic questions, such as
- Do you already own land, or are you still searching for a lot?
- Do you have financing in place?
- Do you know your budget range?
These answers help us start planning your custom property. The more we understand about your vision, the better we can help you make it a reality.
Stage 2: What Happens After You Find Land?
The custom home process in Banner Elk and other areas of the High Country comes with a unique challenge: the land. Land in the High Country is stunning. It can also be complicated. A lot with perfect views might bring building challenges like steep grades, limited road access, or distant utility hookups.
Before you finalize a land purchase, it’s worth asking
- Will this lot support the home I want to build?
- Are there any restrictions on how and where I can build?
- What will site preparation cost?
It’s easy to fall in love with a piece of land only to discover it’s going to limit your design or add costs. Getting these answers early saves money and frustration. Talk to experienced home builders in Boone, NC, to help get the answers you need before committing to a land purchase.
Stage 3: What Does the Design Process Involve?
Once you’ve secured land, the design phase begins. This is often the most exciting part of the process, but it’s also where decision fatigue can kick in.
You’ll need to make design choices about floor plans, materials, fixtures, and more. The list of decisions will feel longer every day, and there can be a big gap between what looks good on a mood board and what works with your budget.
This is why VPC Builders uses a design-build approach. Instead of the frustrations that come from managing an architect separately from a builder (and hoping they stay aligned), one team handles both parts of the process. That means fewer surprises and someone who can tell you honestly when a design decision is going to push you past your established budget.
This is where decades of experience really shine. We help you set a budget and stick to it, recommending materials and managing potential pitfalls so you don’t have to. The plan we set is the one we can deliver.
Stage 4: What Does the Beginning of Construction Look Like?
There is a moment during every custom build when the whole thing starts to feel real. The footprint is laid out, the frame is going up, and you can start to talk through what was once a set of plans on paper.
It’s hard not to have a smile on your face when you visit the site.
The VPC Builders team will welcome you for regular site visits, and you’ll have a dedicated project manager who will keep you up-to-date on the progress. They can also answer any questions you have and manage any potential roadblocks to keep your build moving forward.
Stage 5: What Happens at the End of Construction?
The end of construction can feel like the longest phase. Along with the excitement of move-in day looming nearby, this is the phase where we focus on a lot of little details.
The finishing phases of construction are when all the pieces come together, like the cabinetry, tile, trim, fixtures, and paint. The choices you made months ago in our Design Studio are now in place.
Once your project is nearly done, you’ll have a walkthrough with our team to ensure every detail of the home is perfect.
Welcome to Your New Home in the High Country
There is nothing quite like walking into a home you designed. Every detail is a decision you made. It’s a feeling that only a custom home can deliver.
If you’re in the early stages of planning a custom home in Boone, Banner Elk, or anywhere in the High Country, we’d love to talk. Reach out to VPC Builders to get started on building your custom home.