What Happens at a Custom Home Consultation?

What Is a Custom Home Consultation?

A custom home consultation is the starting point of the build relationship. It’s where you and Cretin Townsend Homes align on the big decisions that affect everything that follows:

• What you want to build (size, style, must-haves)
• Where you want to build (your land or land you’re considering)
• What budget range you’re targeting (and what priorities matter most)
• How the overall process and timeline will work
• It’s less like a sales pitch and more like a planning session. Your builder should ask smart questions, and you should leave with clarity.

What Happens During the First Meeting

Most consultations follow a similar flow. The order can vary depending on whether you already own land, need help choosing a plan, or want to understand cost drivers first.

1) Meet Your Builder: Goals, Lifestyle, and Priorities

This is the human part of the process—and it matters. Your builder is listening for how you live, not just how you want the house to look.

You’ll talk through:

• Household needs (kids, pets, multi-gen living, work-from-home)
• Layout preferences (open concept vs. defined rooms, split bedrooms)
• Daily-use spaces (kitchen flow, pantry storage, laundry, mudroom)
• Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves

2) Budget Range and Realistic Tradeoffs

A trustworthy consultation includes budget talk early. Not as pressure—just as clarity.

Common cost drivers discussed:

• Square footage and ceiling heights
• Complexity of rooflines and elevations
• Window and door packages
• Cabinetry/countertops and flooring
• Outdoor living (covered patios, outdoor kitchens)
• Sitework (clearing, fill, driveway, drainage)

Gulf Coast note: Site-related costs can vary widely depending on drainage needs, elevation requirements, and utility access.

3) Land Review and Site Visit Planning

If you already own land, the builder will ask for basic details and may schedule a site visit.

Typical site topics:

• Access for trucks and materials
• Utilities (power, water, gas, internet availability)
• Septic vs. sewer (if applicable)
• Drainage patterns and water flow
• Orientation (sun, prevailing winds, views, privacy)
• Setbacks and local requirements (requirements vary by jurisdiction)

4) Floor Plan Direction and the First Design Meeting

Some clients arrive with a plan in mind. Others need options.

Your builder may:

• Recommend starting floor plans to match your goals
• Explain what can be customized (and what impacts cost/timeline)
• Outline what happens in a design meeting (selections, layout refinements, structural options)

Explore options here: Floor Plans

5) Next Steps: Process, Timeline, and What You’ll Need to Provide

A good consultation ends with a simple roadmap.

You should leave knowing:

• What decisions come next (plan, site, selections, financing steps)
• What documents are needed (survey, HOA rules, photos, etc.)
• When a site visit or follow-up meeting will happen
• How communication works during planning and build

Consultation Outcomes at a Glance

Checklist: What to Bring to a Custom Home Consultation

Bring what you have—don’t stress if you don’t have everything. This list simply makes the meeting more efficient.

Quick Prep Checklist

• Lot address (or general area) and whether you own it already
• Survey, if available (or any plat/lot info)
• Photos or a short video of the property (helpful if remote)
• A rough budget range and monthly comfort zone (if financing)
• Must-haves list (top 5) and deal-breakers list (top 3)
• Inspiration images (kitchen, exterior style, bathroom vibe)
• Space needs (bed/bath count, office, garage size, storage goals)
• Timeline goals (ideal start and move-in window)
• HOA/POA guidelines, if applicable

Questions to Ask During the Consultation

If you’re not sure what to ask, use these. They’re practical and reveal how a builder communicates.

Questions to ask about process

• What are the major steps from consultation to move-in?
• How are changes handled once we finalize the plan?
• How do you communicate updates (weekly check-ins, portal, site meetings)

Questions to ask about land and sitework

• What site conditions commonly impact cost here on the Gulf Coast?
• What do you need from me to evaluate the lot?
• When do we schedule a site visit, and what will you look for?

Questions to ask about design and selections

• What’s included vs. an upgrade?
• When is the first design meeting, and what decisions happen then?
• What items have long lead times that could affect the schedule?

What a Site Visit Usually Covers

A site visit isn’t a formal engineering report. It’s a practical look at what it will take to build responsibly on your land.

Expect discussion around:

• Best driveway approach and construction access
• Home placement for drainage and livability
• Where outdoor living works best (sun, shade, breeze)
• Utility tie-ins and feasibility
• High-level prep needs (clearing, fill, grading)

Local rules and permit requirements vary by jurisdiction, so your builder will keep this high-level until official approvals and documentation are in place.

What Happens After the Consultation

Most clients move into one of these next steps:

• Plan selection + customization (choose a starting point, refine layout)
• Site visit (if land is owned or being evaluated)
• Follow-up design meeting (selections direction and structural options)
• Budget refinement (align wish list with a realistic range)
• Formal process kickoff (depending on your stage and readiness)

Want the full roadmap? Our Process

Key Takeaways

• A custom home consultation is a planning meeting that aligns goals, budget range, land realities, and next steps.
• You should expect “meet your builder” conversation plus practical outcomes—plan direction, decision list, and a process roadmap.
• On the Gulf Coast, site considerations like drainage, utilities, and access can affect early planning and cost.
• Bringing basic land info and a clear must-h compactor True, but shall rewrite quickly.