A 12-Step Breakdown by Cornestone Custom Homes
A custom home build has twelve distinct steps between your first conversation and the day you get your keys, and most of the stress buyers feel during a build comes from not knowing which step they are actually in. Cornerstone documents the entire process for exactly that reason: transparency is not a value you claim, it is a process you can point to.
Steps one through four: before a single stud is cut. The process starts with a pre-approval check, then lot selection, then choosing from fifteen to twenty existing floor plans or bringing your own, followed by a Professional Service Agreement with a deposit. None of this involves construction yet, and that is intentional. Getting these decisions right first prevents expensive changes later.
Steps five through seven: the numbers get locked in. Once selections are made, Cornerstone prices the home to the penny based on those specific choices, not a rough estimate. That pricing moves into the contract phase, and the project is then loaded into Co-Construct, the platform used to track the build in real time.
Step eight: design services, not just floor plan selection. Every client receives ten hours of design services with a design professional, time spent refining decisions before construction begins rather than making them on the fly mid-build.
Step nine: the build itself. A typical custom home takes five to six months to build. Larger homes typically take eight to nine months. This range depends on square footage, complexity, and seasonal factors specific to building in the Fargo region.
Steps ten and eleven: the punch list comes before you do. Cornerstone completes a full punch list before the homeowner walkthrough, not during it. The walkthrough itself is focused on teaching you how to actually operate your new home’s systems, not just admiring the finishes.
Step twelve: close, and the warranty that actually matters after that. Closing includes a one-year warranty, a ten-year structural warranty, and a ten-year HVAC warranty. This is also where “we want to stay friends after the build” stops being a phrase and starts being the actual relationship.
Ready to see where your project would start in this process? Contact Us Now!
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long does it take to build a custom home with Cornerstone? A typical custom home takes five to six months to build. Larger homes typically take eight to nine months, depending on size and complexity.
What happens before construction actually begins? Four steps happen first: a pre-approval check, lot selection, floor plan selection, and a signed Professional Service Agreement with deposit. Pricing to the penny and the formal contract follow after that.
What warranty comes with a Cornerstone custom home? Every Cornerstone home includes a one-year warranty, a ten-year structural warranty, and a ten-year HVAC warranty at closing.
