Overview of Pippin's New Home Services

Thank you for your interest in our New Home Design Services for the dream home project you are considering.  We specialize in designing fully supportive custom homes, with an eye for maximizing the views of each unique property.   

Creating a NEW HOME DESIGN is a creative and dynamic process.

The following will outline our methods that have lent to numerous award-winning designs over the past 3 decades.
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Initial Consultation and Proposal
We begin each project with an in-studio consultation located at our studio in Statesville, NC for a face-to-face meeting (or Zoom call if you prefer).  Over the years we’ve found that this is the best approach to get to know you, share some of our work with you, and get clear on how to incorporate your specific needs and desires into a home that is as unique as you are.

Every project is as unique as each client.

During this consultation, we focus on what makes you and your property unique.  We listen for ways to enhance your vision with a home that feels fully supportive of your life for years to come.  When considering the support you want from your home, we look at many factors including the life you want to be living, who you plan to share it with, and the memories you look forward to creating.  We consider your land and how your home can be tailor made for your specific lot with the absolute BEST views possible.  Your health and wellness are brought to center stage as we discuss ways your home can enhance your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.  We will also discuss elements of Accessible and Universal Design as ways to bring more ease into your everyday life.  And, of course, we’ll discuss your needs, desires, goals, and budget. 

During this conversation I (Jenny Pippin) take extensive notes and offer possibilities that I envision, to give you a fresh perspective on the potential layout and look for your project.  This initial meeting takes 2 hours and requires a $600 retainer to be paid prior to getting on our calendar.  

Next, I prepare a Design Proposal for our New Home Design Services, based on the specific scope of your project, which becomes part of the Design Agreement when signed.  Design proposals differ greatly due to the nature of each individual project scope, therefore the potential fees for our services vary based on your unique project requirements. The Design Proposal defines our services in three phases. 

Note: Design Proposals do not include drawings.  Much more information is needed before I’m able to begin designing your dream home. 

These 3 phases are outlined below:

PHASE I: Site Assessment & Conceptual Design

This phase is where we identify more pieces of the puzzle and begins with a site visit.  I walk the site with you prior to starting the Design Drawing process, to discuss why you chose that site and, if it is a large tract, we discuss potential locations on the site for the home. We take into consideration the lay of the land, location and direction of best views, the path of the sun across the property, sunny/shady/windy areas, the existing trees to be saved and any special natural features noted.  We discuss the logical entrance for a driveway and requirements for the well, septic tank, drain field and repair areas, if an on-site septic system is required.  

How to know if you need a septic system permit

Setback lines and easements as determined by your survey with topo information, along with eventual landscaping plans are taken into consideration as we put together a masterplan for the entire site including any future expansions such as, guest houses, outbuildings, pools, etc.

Why you need a survey with a topo

These details combined with the in-depth conversation during our Initial Consultation allow me to envision your future new home on-site.  I am literally able to walk the rooms of your new home in my mind as we walk the grounds during  our site visit.

This is where the real MAGIC begins!

The next step is to hand draw sketches of the Preliminary Design Concepts, including sketches of the initial Floor Plans and a Site Plan concept. 

This is an organic and creative discovery process, an exploration of concepts, in which I intuit and interpret potential design solutions for your home. Through this process I develop a personal connection to your project unbound by the confines of a computer program. These sketches also forge the bond for your emotional connection to your future new home. 
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You will review the Floor and Site Plans after each draft.  We allow time in our schedule for one revision of the Floor and Site Plans at this stage.  Additional revisions will be provided as needed during phase II.
 
After feedback is received from the Floor and Site Plans, one Exterior Elevation will also be hand drawn and provided for further review.

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PHASE II: Design Development

In this phase we enter the Preliminary Design Concepts into CAD to create more comprehensive Design Drawings.  These CAD drawings include Floor Plans, Exterior Elevations, a Roof Plan, and a Site Plan.  During this phase we include a review of interior and exterior finish materials, and a few 3D Exterior Elevation Perspective Views.  It’s anticipated that no more than 2 reviews take place during this phase.
 
The designs in this phase depict the overall picture of the project and may be used to obtain preliminary cost estimates from Builders.  However, these are not the final Construction Drawings to build from.

Phase III: Construction Drawings

Based on the final approved Design Development Drawings, we create detailed Construction Drawings that provide coherence amongst your entire build team. Collaboration with your chosen team during this final stage is the most supportive way to fill out all remaining details. These construction drawings are used to obtain structural engineering details from the engineer, builder pricing and permits, and are the drawings used to officially begin building from. 

These drawings contain: the Site Plan (a recent survey is required for this), the Foundation Plan, the Floor Plan(s) with dimensions and notes, minimum of 4 Exterior Elevation drawings with notes as required per the Design, four 3D Exterior Elevation perspective views, the Electrical Plan(s), Typical Wall Section(s) and Building Section(s) as required by the Design, a Window and Door Schedule and any additional information which may be required to complete your project. Additional 3D views of the Interior may be created if requested, for an additional fee, based on the requested number of views. A separate estimate for these additional 3D drawings will be provided, upon request.

Note: Clients may sometimes decide to change the Scope of their project (typically determined in the Initial Consultation) by changing their minds about a Design Concept in a later phase.  Be aware that making Scope changes during the Construction Drawing Phase will be more expensive than making them during the Design Development Phase, as there will be many more elements included in the set of plans that will be impacted at this stage.

​Structural Engineering Drawings are highly recommended.  This is not a service we at Pippin Home Designs provide, however we work together with Structural Engineers as part of your Team and will coordinate getting this service done upon homeowner's approval.  A structural Engineer will provide the Structural Engineering drawings separately and they will provide a separate estimate for their services, based on the Construction Drawings we provide to them. 

The structural Engineer’s fee will be in addition
to our fees and is paid directly to the Engineer.

We offer a host of optional additional services for the more tech-savvy client, such as Color Fly-Arounds, Interior Renderings, and Sun Studies that determine exact sun path across the property including shadows on perspective views of the home. 

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Be sure to visit our Gallery to see many of our completed fully supportive homes.

Thank you for considering our custom new home services for your dream home.  We look forward to learning more about your project!

Our Award-Winning Homes with a View are designed to fully support your life and those you love! Give us a call or email us today!

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