Building a new home is a multi-step process. After you’ve finalized the floor plan and made all of your selections for your new home, your work is done, but ours is just beginning! Terri Sharrer, Customer Care Specialist with Joyner Homes, manages this process and has outlined it here. 

You’ve done the hard part and you’re excited to see progress at your new home. We know it can be a tough few weeks waiting to see something actually happening at your home site! Before we move the first piece of dirt, many things take place behind the scenes! Here are a few things we do to get your new home to the point where we can actually break ground…

After your home plan is complete, our engineering firm prepares a preliminary plot plan showing placement of your home on your lot based on a few things…

The engineer must also be mindful of all building set back requirements and easements which are different for each neighborhood. Also, methods of erosion control must be shown on the final plot plan.

Are you on city water and sewer? If so, they will locate the sewer lateral and water pit to be sure the driveway is not over the top of either of those.

Are you on a septic system? If so, soil borings will be completed. This is a technique used to survey soil by taking several shallow cores out of the sediment. It is used to find permeability of the soil to determine whether it will percolate sufficiently for an on-site septic system. Before they test to see where the best placement for the septic to be located, be sure to let us know things like:

1. Are you going to want a pool at some point?
2. Will there be a patio directly behind or on the side of your home?
3. Are you aware of any drain tile on the property in case a perimeter drain is required?

After the septic system is designed and approved, we can then get your septic permit.

Finally, the engineer will stake your lot to show where the house will be located. This is usually the first evidence of activity on your homesite!

This is an example of what a final plot plan looks like:

Depending on weather and scheduling, you may see the silt fence go up as part of the erosion control during this time!

While the plot plan is complete, we order engineered truss drawings which are usually required for a permit. We also request an energy design for your home. This is also required for permits as well as just good energy efficiency practice!

Sometimes, a driveway permit may be required before you can apply for a building permit. If it is required, we apply for a bond and mark the location of the driveway. Once the driveway location is marked, the inspector will check to make sure it meets the requirements of the local ordinances.

After we have the final plans, truss drawings, the energy report, the septic and driveway permits, and completed permit applications, we can then apply for the building permit – YEAH!!  This can take up anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks, depending on where your home site is located.

Once the permit is received, we begin to schedule everything to get started. We meet with our contractors, cross our fingers for nice and dry weather, and then start moving dirt at the site of your new home!

Whew!….Aren’t you glad we do all that for you??!!

Any questions about building a new home in with us? We’re happy to help! Contact LISA or BECCA if you have any questions!