Field notes

Building a home, stage by stage

A plain-English guide to building in Montana, from the first idea to the walkthrough. We start at the beginning and work forward.

Stage 1

Planning

Planning your new home: where to start
Before drawings or bids: how you will live in the house, a rough budget, where you stand on land, and what our first call covers.
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Barndominium or conventional custom home: how to choose
Both work. How to weigh shop space, style, budget priorities and financing when deciding between a barndominium and a conventional custom build.
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Stage 2

Land and site

What to know before buying land to build on in Montana
Water, sewer, power and a driveway can matter more than the view. The questions to answer about a lot before you close, from a Montana builder.
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Stage 3

Design and budget

Design and budget: getting a real number before you commit
How a preconstruction agreement turns a plan into a line-item budget, so you know what the house will cost before you sign a build contract.
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Stage 4

Contract and permits

Contracts and permits: fixed price or cost-plus explained
How we contract a custom home: fixed price or cost-plus, what a deposit and payment schedule look like, and why every change goes in writing first.
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Stage 5

Site work and foundation

Site work and foundation: where the house really begins
Clearing, excavation, the driveway, utilities and the foundation: what happens before there is a house to see, and why it sets everything that follows.
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Stage 6

Framing and dry-in

Stage 7

Systems and insulation

Plumbing, electrical, HVAC and insulation: behind the walls
After the house is dried in, the systems go in before the walls close up. What happens in rough-in and insulation, and why selections here vary house to house.
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Stage 8

Finishes

Finishes: drywall, trim, cabinets and flooring
How the inside of a custom home comes together, from drywall to final paint, and how selections are made against your budget as the work goes.
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Stage 9

Walkthrough and warranty

The final walkthrough and your one-year warranty
What happens at the end of a build: the walkthrough, the punch list, how our one-year warranty works, and what happens to manufacturer warranties.
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