Introduction:
Why Families Choose To Build Custom

Designing and building a custom home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. For families, the process can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Questions like Where do I start? Who do I talk to first? How much will it cost? All of those fears can create hesitation.

At FM Design Build, we make the journey approachable by combining architecture and construction under one roof. Instead of juggling multiple contractors, you work with a single team from the first sketch to the final walkthrough. This guide explains how custom home design works, what to expect in each phase, and why we are trusted for unique, durable, and beautifully crafted homes.

The FM Design Build Difference

Unlike many builders who outsource design, we are the architect, the interior designer and the builder. This means:

Immediate Floor Plans: We start designing from day one, so you see your vision on paper right away.  How can you possibly make decisions about what you want in a home, features you “have to have” or would just “like to have”, materials etc… without knowing the cost??  We don’t think you can…. So from our very first meeting we are focused on marrying your goal for the project with your budget to make sure what we are showing you actually works for your budget.  Or, conversely, if what you want doesn’t work with your budget we can show you that too and can talk about alternatives from there. 

Collaborative Pricing: Costs are reviewed during design, minimizing budget surprises.  As we progress through design, the pricing gets more and more specific.  At the conceptual design stage it starts out as a rough estimate to allow us to confidently move forward with more design rather than getting your hopes up only to have to break the bad news much later on once the house is fully designed and the budget is blown.  Once we move on to more detailed design our pricing also gets more detailed and we help evaluate different options, material palettes etc… At the end of the design phase, we are ready to go under contract with a fully detailed, line item budget which you have already seen so there are no surprises!

Guided Selections: Once we are under contract and the project is moving forward, we shift our focus to the interior finishes and place as much care and effort into the design of the floor plan and the exterior of the home as we do the interior spaces.  After all, this is where you will spend the majority of your time at home!  Our in-house designer will help you create a vision board to guide the selection of all materials for the home.  We will also work with a Kitchen/Bath designer to optimize the layouts within the spaces we have created.  We will talk about things like: where do you want the forks and spoons to go?  Do you prefer the dishwasher on the left or right?  Do you like to leave things plugged in but not on the counter creating clutter?  When you are entertaining do you want people to congregate around the island or elsewhere?  So, it is much more than just picking pretty colors (although we do that too!), we will help you envision living in the house and functioning on a day to day basis to be sure you will love the space.  To help with this, we use various forms of 3D renderings, virtual walk throughs and of course physical samples or tours to allow you to really feel confident in your choices.  

During Construction: Because we are also the builder, the architect and interior designer are only a quick text or phone call away when the field team has a question.  This allows us to quickly resolve any issues that may come up rather than putting you in the middle of trying to coordinate between the various trades.  It also means that everyone on our team, whether they are based in the office or the field, is design focused.  We all understand the design intent for the home and take pride in what we are creating so our entire team makes decisions accordingly with design at the forefront, as opposed to doing what is the easiest or quickest.

Step 1: Schematic Design ,Turning Ideas Into Plans

The journey begins with schematic design. Whether you already own land or are searching for the right lot, we explore:

• Zoning restrictions & property requirements
• Lot dimensions & feasibility
• Topography
• Preliminary floor plan sketches
• Early rough pricing

Being able to jump straight into design before ever committing to a project allows our clients to quickly evaluate potential lots in an incredibly competitive real estate market!  We usually try to have even just generic floor plans on paper before we even start to look at properties so that when the right one does pop up we already have an idea that the house will fit, we know what the house costs so we can add in the price of the land for a total budget etc… rather than starting that process after we find a lot and risk losing out.  This phase is focused on big ideas, wish lists, “must haves”, “nice to haves” and “must not haves”.  Once we have some initial input from you on these, leave the rest to us!

Step 2: Design Development, Refining the Details

Once we have identified a property, it is time to really hone in on the details of the design.  This is where we work on:

• Exterior architectural style and materials
• Floor plan adjustments, various options for different configurations
• Site design and planning
• Detailed cost estimates

During this stage, clients see 3D renderings and make early selections that shape the final design.  By the end of this phase we should have a pretty good idea what the house looks like and what it will cost, but may still be evaluating a few different alternatives for parts of the house, different exterior material and color schemes etc.. Because we already have a budget built out it is easy to analyze different options and their impact on the budget

Step 3: Construction Drawings & Contract

Once the options have been narrowed down and the plans are “ final” (more on this later!) we enter into the design-build contract.  This contract will have detailed exhibits showing the plans that have been developed so far, any material or finish selections which have been narrowed down, and detailed Allowances for the interior finishes. Once we are under contract,we start to work on the finish selections, but we are also working in th background on the final set of construction drawings, presentation to the Architectural Review Board (depending on the municipality) and all of the other documentation and work required to secure a Building Permit.

Step 4: Construction, Bringing Your Home to Life

Once we have all of the finishes selected, pricing finalized and a Permit in hand, it is time to dig!  During construction, our project manager provides:

• Access to a client portal thru BuilderTrend specific to your home.  On this app you will be able to acces:weekly progress updates with photos, all of the selections you made for the home organized by category with QR codes posted on the jobsite, a rough schedule for construction which is updated weekly, closing information for warranties, utility transfers etc…
• Formal walkthroughs at various stages of the build, highlighted by the electrical walk through once the house is framed. At this time we go room by room to discuss the plan for lighting, switches, outlets, TV locations, networking requirements or any other custom need you may have which goes behind the drywall!
• Final walk through and home orientation at the end of construction to give you the tools to live in and maintain your family’s investment!  This is also the formal handoff from construction to the Customer Service/Warranty period

Step 5: Warranty & Aftercare

Your relationship with FM Design Build doesn’t end at move-in!  We provide:

• A one-year workmanship warranty which includes formal walk throughs (usually around the 2 and 10 month post move in time period) to make sure things are still working well, adjusted as the house finishes settling in, and answer any questions you may have
• A 10-year, insured warranty via Maverick which covers any of the structural components of the home

And most importantly, long-term support.  Regardless of whether you are on day 10 or year 10 in your home, we are always there for our clients.  Many clients call us years later for questions and advice or sometimes even to come back to add on or finish a Basement or other project.  The thing that makes us more proud than anything, is having multiple homeowners who have build a second home with us down the road.  We believe the long term relationship is key in homebuilding, so you are stuck with us 🙂

FAQs About Custom Home Design-Build

Q1: How long does the design and build process take?

The design process usually takes 1–2 months.  Depending on the municipality, permitting can take anywhere from 2–6 months, and then depending on the size and complexity of the home, construction is usually around 10–14 months.

Q2: Do I need to own land before starting the process?

No!  We can help you evaluate and secure lots that fit your home design prior to ever putting in an offer.  We will advocate for you and also help you confirm that the lot is buildable, utilities are available, there are no adverse conditions that may not be disclosed etc…

Q3: Do you design modern, traditional, or luxury homes?

Yes, yes and yes!  We pride ourselves on not having one specific style…Each home is truly tailored to each family.

Q4: How do you help clients avoid budget overruns?

This is always one of our clients biggest fears, and we get it.  Frankly, in construction, surprises can and will happen and we always advise our clients to have some sort of contingency when they provide a budget for a project. However, we believe that the collaborative pricing early on during design ensures costs and expectations are clear well before construction begins and we can really eliminate many of those areas that lead to surprises later.

Q5: What if I want eco-friendly or energy-efficient features?

As a full custom home builder, we don’t have a “base model” necessarily, but no matter the price point or the locations we believe in at a minimum creating a thermally tight and efficient home which can be achieved without breaking the bank.  Our baseline includes things like high efficiency furnaces, energy star appliances, Zip system sheathing as a water and air barrier, ERVs at the furnace etc… Then from there if our clients want to pursue elements such as solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling etc  we have plenty of experience and connections to help with that as well.

Q6: Do you offer renovations as well as new builds?

We do, however, we usually only take on renovations when it is a very significant scope or work, as opposed to a small addition or one room renovation.

Q7: How do I get started?

Schedule a design consultation!  We’ll literally start sketching floor plans for you within days and guide you from the very first step.  There is no commitment to start the conversation, that is what we are here for!

About the Author

FM Design Build is a custom home builder and architectural design firm in St. Louis. With in-house architects and builders, FM specializes in custom homes, luxury construction, and large-scale renovations. Known for honesty, transparency, collaboration, and unique homes, FM Design Build delivers projects tailored to every family’s vision across a wide range of budgets, locations, and styles.

Learn more about FM Design Build