How long does the custom home building process take at Northwest Custom Homes?

Total elapsed time from first call to move-in is typically 12 to 20 months, depending on size, complexity, and lot conditions. Construction itself runs 9 to 14 months; design and pre-construction add 3 to 6 months on the front end.

Why does Northwest Custom Homes use a design-build process?

In a design-build model, architecture and construction are handled by the same team — so design decisions respect the construction budget from day one rather than being re-priced and value-engineered after the fact. This eliminates the finger-pointing phase most owners encounter late in a separate-architect-and-builder project.

Do I need to be at every stage of the build?

Three scheduled walkthroughs are required — pre-drywall, pre-finish, and final. Many clients visit more often. Weekly written updates keep you in the loop between walkthroughs, and Eric is directly available if a decision needs to be made on site.

Who do I communicate with during construction?

Eric Fendich directly. Northwest Custom Homes does not use a project-manager layer between homeowners and the builder. If a decision needs to be made, Eric is making it and communicating it to you.

How do I start building a custom home in North Idaho?

The best first step is a free consultation with our team. We'll discuss your vision, lifestyle needs, timeline, and property to create a personalized plan. Every custom home is unique, so we tailor every detail to you. Contact Northwest Custom Homes at (208) 660-2896 to schedule your consultation.

How long does it take to build a custom home?

Most custom homes take 10-14 months from groundbreaking to move-in. The complete design-build process including planning, design, and permits typically spans 14-18 months total. We recommend starting the conversation at least 6 months before you want to break ground.

What is the design-build process?

Design-build means one company handles both the architectural design and construction of your home. At Northwest Custom Homes, this streamlines communication, prevents miscommunication, and typically results in a faster, smoother build compared to hiring separate architects and builders.

Do you build on our land?

Yes! We offer a Build on Your Land program throughout North Idaho. We provide free site analysis, help assess utilities and access, and can even help you find the perfect lot if you haven't purchased land yet. We build in Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Post Falls, Sandpoint, Rathdrum, and Priest Lake.

What is Modern Vintage design?

Modern Vintage is our signature design philosophy that blends timeless architectural elements - natural stone, exposed timber beams, elegant arches, and dark exterior siding - with contemporary open floor plans, white cabinetry, and luxury finishes. The result is a home that feels both classic and current.

Where do you build in North Idaho?

We build custom homes throughout North Idaho including Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Post Falls, Sandpoint, Rathdrum, and Priest Lake. Each area offers unique lifestyle benefits from lakefront living to mountain retreats, and our team has deep local knowledge of building conditions, lot availability, and neighborhood character.

What makes a custom home different from a production home?

A custom home is designed and built specifically for you, on your lot, with your choice of materials, layout, and finishes. Unlike production builders who repeat the same plans, every Northwest Custom Homes project is one-of-a-kind. Our design-build process gives you a single team from concept through move-in, with full control over every detail.

Do I need an architect or can you handle design?

You don't need a separate architect. Northwest Custom Homes offers full in-house design services as part of our design-build process. Our team creates custom floor plans tailored to your lifestyle, or you can start with one of our signature plans (Oakhaven, Stonebridge House, Belmont Manor) and customize from there.

Can I modify an existing floor plan?

Absolutely. Every one of our floor plans is fully customizable. You can modify the layout, adjust square footage, change exterior materials, reconfigure rooms, add features, or use our plans as a starting point for an entirely new design.

Can we build lakefront or waterfront in North Idaho?

Yes, we specialize in waterfront construction on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake, Lake Pend Oreille (Sandpoint), and Priest Lake. Waterfront builds require additional considerations including setback requirements, erosion control, dock permits, and foundation engineering for lakeside conditions. Our team has extensive experience navigating these requirements.

Our Custom Home Building Process — From First Call to Move-In

Tyann Bjorkman
Apr 17
4 min read

From the first phone call to the one-year warranty walkthrough — exactly what it looks like to build a custom home with Northwest Custom Homes in North Idaho. Six phases, typically 12 to 20 months end-to-end.

The quick version

Phase 1 — Discovery (1–2 weeks): Pre-construction consultation, lot walk, budget conversation
Phase 2 — Design (2–4 months): Architectural drawings, interior design, itemized bid, signed agreement
Phase 3 — Pre-construction (1–3 months): Permits, engineering, finalized selections, site prep
Phase 4 — Construction (9–14 months): Foundation through final finish, with scheduled client walk-throughs
Phase 5 — Completion (2–3 weeks): Final walkthrough, punch list, certificate of occupancy, move-in
Phase 6 — Warranty (12 months+): One-year walk, ongoing workmanship warranty, continued support

Total elapsed time from first call to move-in: 12 to 20 months, depending on size, complexity, and lot.

Phase 1 — Discovery

What happens: you call 208-660-2896 or email Fendich.eric@gmail.com, we schedule a 45-minute pre-construction consultation, and Eric walks your lot (or reviews lots with you). We talk through your floor plan ideas, timeline, and target budget.

What you walk away with: an honest read on whether the project is feasible at your target budget, what your lot will cost to build on, and whether NW Custom Homes is the right team for your build. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you — no high-pressure pitch.

Cost: free. No deposit required to talk.

Phase 2 — Design

What happens: if you're moving forward, we start architectural design in-house — either customizing one of our existing plans (Oakhaven, Stonebridge, Belmont Manor, and more) or creating a new plan from scratch. Luba begins interior design in parallel so exterior and interior develop together, not in sequence. Structural engineering gets scheduled. You review and refine drawings until the house is right on paper.

What you'll see: preliminary floor plans, exterior elevations, interior mood boards, material samples, and a full itemized bid — line by line by category — so you can see exactly what you're spending on framing vs. cabinets vs. roofing vs. landscape.

What you'll sign: a construction agreement with a detailed scope, a written timeline, and the itemized bid as an exhibit. You won't be surprised by what's in or out of scope later.

Phase 3 — Pre-construction

What happens: we pull permits, finalize engineering, lock in finish selections (you'll walk our trusted vendors for cabinets, flooring, tile, lighting, and plumbing), schedule subcontractors, and prepare the site. If you're buying or clearing a lot, this is when we work with the surveyor and excavator to get it ready.

Selection appointments: typically three to five visits to showrooms and vendors, always accompanied by Luba so the selections hang together as one design. No "here's a binder, pick something" — this is a guided process.

What you'll see: a final schedule, permit approvals, a finalized selections sheet, and a groundbreaking date on the calendar.

Phase 4 — Construction

What happens: we break ground. Construction runs in phases — foundation, framing, dried-in, rough mechanicals, insulation and drywall, interior finish, exterior finish — each with its own quality checkpoints.

Your involvement: three scheduled walk-throughs minimum — pre-drywall (you can see every stud, pipe, and wire), pre-finish (when cabinets are going in), and final. You can visit more often if you want; many clients do. Weekly written updates keep you in the loop between walk-throughs.

Who you talk to: Eric, directly. You are not routed to a project manager. If a decision needs to be made on site, Eric is the one making it and communicating it to you.

Typical duration: 9 to 14 months, depending on size and complexity.

Phase 5 — Completion

What happens: final inspection, certificate of occupancy, final walkthrough with you, and a detailed punch list. We don't hand you the keys until every punch-list item is closed.

What you'll get: a binder (or digital equivalent) with warranty documentation, appliance manuals, paint codes, material spec sheets, subcontractor contacts, and a written warranty certificate. Utilities transferred, smoke detectors tested, garage codes set — ready to live in.

Move-in: on the date written in your agreement, or we communicate any variance in writing well ahead of time.

Phase 6 — Warranty and ongoing support

What happens: every home comes with a written warranty covering workmanship and materials. We schedule a one-year walk-through to address any normal settling issues (drywall seams, door alignment, caulk lines) — this is a standard part of the build, not an ask.

If something goes wrong: you call us. Not a warranty claim center. Eric answers.

Structural coverage: structural elements (foundation, framing) are covered for longer terms than finish items — exact terms are in your construction agreement.

A few things worth knowing before you start

Why design-build beats "find an architect, then find a builder"

When architecture and construction are separated, design decisions get made without construction cost context — and then the builder re-prices the whole house in month two, and you spend month three value-engineering. With design-build, the architect and the builder are the same team; the design respects the budget from day one. That's why NW Custom Homes keeps both in-house.

Why we push back on some requests

If a client wants a detail that will fail in five years (a flat roof in a snow climate, a stone veneer without proper weep detailing, a finish that won't survive ski boots and dogs), we'll tell you. Third-generation builder experience means we've seen what fails. You'll never hear "sure, we can do that" when the honest answer is "yes, but you'll regret it in year three."

Why we don't remodel or add on

We only build new construction — no remodels, additions, second stories, or ADU add-ons. Our craft is at its best starting with a blank slate. If you're looking for remodel work, we're happy to refer you to North Idaho specialists.

Ready to start Phase 1?

Call 208-660-2896 or email Fendich.eric@gmail.com to schedule your pre-construction consultation. Free, 45 minutes, no pressure, no deposit.

Also helpful: Build-on-Your-Land program if you already own the lot · Overview of building in Coeur d'Alene · Full custom home FAQ