Based on your current income, assets and debts, a qualified lending institution will be able to tell you what you can afford. With this knowledge in hand, I can suggest the size and type of structure that will fit your budget. Most people have a general idea of what they want. If you have pictures from a book or magazine, sketches, or just some ideas, that will help.

Taking a look at your land or lot, if unusual, could also be helpful, up-front. In a nutshell, the basic steps in the process are:

1. Get a handle on your budget.
   
   
2. Gather ideas, needs and wants for your living space or style of home from magazines, books, stock plans, etc.
   
   
3. Make an appointment with me to share this information, and respond to ideas and suggestions I'll make at this time. We should factor 1-2 hours for this stage.
   
   
4. From this initial, in-depth meeting, I'll create a preliminary design on one of several Computer-Aided Design (CAD) programs I use. You'll receive first drafts of floor plans along with possible three-dimensional exterior and/or interior views of the design.
   
   
5. You need to spend some time with these preliminary plans, at your leisure, to determine what you like and may not like. Make a list of your comments, marking-up the plans as you go.
   
   
6. You and I will meet again, if necessary, to evaluate, discuss changes and/or make approvals. Often times, phone calls, faxes and emails can really help to speed up this part of the process.
   
   
7. A complete set of comprehensive plans will then be prepared, after your final approval of all changes.
   
   
8. After your complete set of plans is in hand, I recommend meeting with a qualified general contractor who'll prepare total costs for your project, in the form of a bid including all materials and labor.