The program for a home starts with the client's "wish list", size and style of of home you want, number of bedrooms, etc.
- gather zoning information and visit the site
- draw sections of the home's location based on topographic information
- sketch ideas and present two or three alternatives
- preliminary plans
- interior design
- working drawings
A lot of work goes into the preliminary design stage. This where the plan is really solidified.
Interior design is very important at this stage. This incorporates a furniture plan and any artwork the client would like to display.
The last step is preparing construction ready working drawings. This is a very intense stage for the draftsman and principal designer as it involves final engineering, correspondence with the builder, roof truss company, and the window supplier, etc.
All the requirements for the building permits are also included in this final stage.
My last words of advice are: get a tight budget done before starting the build, and have fun with the process of building your dream home.