How To Stay Proactive During Your Custom Home’s Pre-Construction Phase

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Building a custom home requires a great deal of planning, preparation and coordination. One of the most important phases of the custom home-building process is the pre-construction phase. During this period, many important decisions must be made, and paperwork must be completed in order to move forward with the construction. 

It is essential that you stay proactive during this period to ensure that everything is ready in time for the actual construction to begin. Here are some tips on how to remain proactive during your custom home’s pre-construction phase so you can have a hassle-free custom home design/build process.

1. Make as many selections as possible

During the pre-construction phase, you will need to make a variety of decisions about the home’s design and features. Your home architect should provide you with a list of materials and design selections they need you to make before breaking ground on your new home construction. If you have the opportunity, make as many selections as possible during this phase to avoid making rushed decisions down the line. 

This list typically includes decisions about flooring, countertops, fixtures, appliances and more. Making these decisions early on can help you ensure that your design is cohesive, and it can also help you stay within your budget, as you will be able to see the cost of each selection before you commit.

 If you’re having trouble making all of the necessary selections, it may be beneficial to work with an interior designer. Your architectural design firm may have some that they recommend and work with regularly, making the process more seamless.

2. Ask for a design/build timeline

One of the most important aspects of staying proactive during the pre-construction phase is understanding the timeline for the entire process. Ask your builder for a design/build timeline that outlines the steps that need to be taken and when they need to be completed. 

This will give you an idea of how long the project will take and when certain decisions need to be made. It will also help keep your home construction companies accountable during the construction process.

Your architectural design firm’s timeline will typically include target deadlines for some of the following:

  • Purchase order submissions
  • Finalized selections
  • Completion of surveys
  • Completion of structural engineering
  • Building permit submissions
  • HOA approval submissions

3. Secure financing early

Another important part of staying proactive during the pre-construction phase is securing financing. Once you have a construction budget from your architectural design firm, you’ll be able to apply for a construction loan if necessary.

Applying for a loan can take some time, so it’s best to do it as early as possible. If you wait until the last minute to secure financing, you may find yourself stuck in a difficult situation where you’re unable to begin the new home construction. By securing financing early, you can ensure that you have the funds in place when you need them.

4. Review a detailed project schedule

Finally, you should review a detailed project schedule with your builder before construction begins. As opposed to the timeline mentioned above, which only gives approximate dates for each project stage’s completion, a detailed project schedule will give you an idea of what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and what tasks are the builder’s responsibility versus the homeowner’s. Having this information up front will help you stay proactive throughout the construction process and make sure that everything is completed on time.

Following the steps above can help you remain stress-free during the construction process and keep everyone involved accountable. Everyone knows that custom homes and new home construction have a reputation for being arduous processes full of headaches and budget-busting surprises. However, at C&C Partners, we strive to defy this stereotype with our transparent 15-step custom home-building process that makes new construction seamless and headache-free. 

During every stage of the custom home design/build process, your vision and budget are kept at the forefront, exemplifying the client-centric approach that has helped us become one of the premier luxury home builders in Southern California. Our level of personalized service is unmatched and unwavering, and we always strive to provide an exceptional and enjoyable custom home renovation experience from start to finish. If you want to experience the C&C Partners difference for yourself, contact us online or give us a call at 310-322-0803 today.

3 Essential Features To Pay Attention to During Your Custom Home Interior Design

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When designing custom homes, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the hundreds of choices that need to be made to bring the project to completion. A luxury architectural design firm can help make the process seamless and hassle-free, but there are still a few key elements of your custom home design that you’ll need to decide on. Here are three of the most essential features to pay attention to during your custom home renovation or new home construction.

1. Flooring

Flooring is an important part of any home’s design. Not only does it serve a functional purpose, but it also helps establish the style of a room, bringing all of the design elements together and grounding them for a cohesive final look. Flooring can be used to add texture, color and character to a room, and it can also help define specific areas. 

There are many different types of flooring to choose from, such as hardwood, tile and sometimes carpet. When selecting flooring, consider the room’s purpose, the amount of foot traffic, and the overall style of your custom home. 

For example, hardwood is a popular option for living rooms, dining rooms and other high-traffic areas, while tile is better suited for damp atmospheres such as kitchens and bathrooms. A low-pile carpet gives a warm and comfortable feeling to any part of the home, making it a popular choice for bedrooms, especially children’s bedrooms!

2. Cabinets

Cabinets are another critical element in new home construction. Cabinets can be used to store items and provide a functional storage solution, but they also have the potential to be a significant design feature. 

When selecting cabinets, consider the size and shape of the space, the amount of storage needed and the overall style of the home. For a modern look, consider cabinets with sleek lines and a minimalist design. For a more traditional look, opt for classic wood cabinets with ornate detailing. 

Ask your home designer about innovative functional features such as corner cabinets, soft close hinges and custom organizational built-ins. There are hundreds of options that will suit any home renovation, and your luxury home builders should be able to customize everything for your beautiful new custom home.

3. Paint Colors

Finally, your custom home’s paint colors play an essential role in new home construction and home remodeling. Paint colors can be used to create a certain mood or atmosphere in a room and can also help tie the overall design together. Even their finish makes a huge impact!

When selecting paint colors, consider the other elements in the room, such as furniture and flooring, as well as the overall design scheme. 

For a more subtle look, opt for neutral tones such as whites, grays and beiges. For a more unique look, consider bolder colors such as burgundy, navy or even black. When going this route, a high gloss is always an elegant look! 

Ultimately, custom homes should reflect the owners and their personal style, so ask your home architect for recommendations, but keep in mind that custom homes are just that — customized to your preferences.

There are thousands of design options when creating custom homes from scratch, so the possibilities are endless. At C&C Partners, we understand how overwhelming home renovation and new home construction can be, which is why we work closely alongside you from concept to completion, guaranteeing a seamless process that results in a one-of-a-kind design/build experience. 

Since 1987, we’ve committed to an unwavering standard of excellence and top-tier client satisfaction that has helped us stand above the rest and remain Southern California’s premier luxury architectural design firm. If you want to experience the C&C Partners difference for yourself, contact us online or give us a call at 310-322-0803 today.

C&C Partners: Your Custom Home Concierge

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A successful design build firm can be an elevated one-stop shop for all your custom home building needs. At C&C Partners, we want all our customers to see us as their personal custom home concierge! To give you a better understanding of what we’re all about, let us help you picture what we are trying to explain!

The Concept

You know how when you go to a hotel for a work trip or a family vacation, you typically go to the concierge desk when you need some information on what to do, how to get around, or assistance in making reservations for dinner or an activity? That personalized level of customer service is similar to what a design build company like C&C Partners can provide.

Not only does the hotel concierge know the ins and outs of the resort itself, but they also have insight into what’s beyond the hotel walls as well! They have all the connections and phone numbers to contact for your specific wants and needs.

How We Apply It

This full-service concept is applied to what we offer our clients: a proven and seamless processof guiding you through the entire design and build of your dream home.

Whether you are a first-time home builder or an experienced one, we have the connections and phone numbers to various consultants, applicable cities and numerous subcontractors. It is our job, and our pleasure, to provide you with options and expertise when it comes to your custom home.

At C&C Partners, we take pride in putting you first and applying your needs to your custom home experience. Our all-inclusive design/build firm will ensure the process flows smoothly from concept to final construction. We’ll make your custom home-building experience exceptional. Contact us online today or call us at (310) 322-0803 and tell us how we can service your needs.

 

Five Benefits of Joining a Custom Home Construction Builder Club

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For many years, custom home design and construction companies have fully embraced and now desire to join a builders club. The club typically connects up to 20 builders across the United States. By meeting in person biannually and extending exchanges outside of those meetings throughout the year, these companies are able to recognize and assess their own abilities or weaknesses.

 

C&C Partners is a part of the American Custom Builders Council, and we absolutely love it! Here are the top five benefits we see by being a member for the past 25 years.

Non-Competitive Markets

Given that all the club members are usually from different states, being in the same or adjacent competitive territories would be slim to none. This allows for the most transparent and informative discussions between members to take place.

This unique opportunity explores the systems and operations of another company that is similar in size, with similar goals and objectives in mind, all while not being a local competitor.

Industry Best Practices

Different regions, varying weather patterns, vast exposure to specific manufacturers, being an expert on a particular product or installation, the list goes on – the members of a Builder Club become a resource for each other.

Let’s say a client in California asked us to build them a home in the mountains where it snows. One of the first things we would do is call up a member in Idaho, New York or Boston and ask for the best practices for building a home in the snow, what might be the desired heated driveway application and much more.

Business Growth and Networking

There are typically two types of people in our membership group: members with a lot of experience in an industry topic and those who want to learn more about it. Luckily, this is the beauty of networking with our members. The topics discussed could range from fiscal operations, employee conducts, clients, contracts or even self-reflection as a leader.

Whatever the topic, members want to see you be successful in both your business and your life, and if one member could offer some form of advice, then the member with the concern has gained new applicable knowledge.

Home Tours

Now this one is just pure fun! In our group, we like to kick off our biannual meetings with a grand tour of the host’s most recently completed homes. It is always a pleasure to see the different architectural styles and varying materials applied and gain some inspiration for our own projects.

There have been many instances where we will be walking around one of the homes, and Patrick will snap a photo of a detail he saw, show the team and suggest ways to implement these details in our next project.

Lifelong Friendships

Our time together is valuable, and we appreciate and respect what everyone has to offer. Through this club, we are fortunate to make new friends and pass those memories and relationships along to new club members, especially those that are second and third-generation!

At C&C Partners, we value our club members’ expertise and apply it to your custom home experience. Our all-inclusive design/build firm will ensure the process flows smoothly from concept to final construction. We’ll make your custom home-building experience exceptional. Contact us online today or call us at (310) 322-0803 and tell us how we can service your needs.

How Can You Prevent Delays in Your New Home Construction?

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The fear of construction delays is a common deterrent to custom home building. Construction slowing to a halt is incredibly frustrating – especially if you’re living in a temporary home during the process.

While these delays are far too common in the industry, preventing them is entirely possible (if there are no more pandemics). With these four tips, you’ll be living in your dream home in no time!

Work With an Interior Designer

The right interior designer makes a world of difference in the new home construction process. An experienced interior designer will provide structural design expertise and selection assistance that makes the selection process run smoothly and efficiently.

Interior designers are also expert problem-solvers. They’ll ensure construction flows efficiently by finding creative solutions to any unexpected issues that may arise during the design/build process. In short, they’ll save you and the construction team a lot of time – and likely some headaches, too.

Choose a Great Architectural Design Firm

Construction delays are often the result of poor planning and communication. By choosing a design/build firm that prioritizes organization, you can expect a much more enjoyable custom home-building process.

At C&C Partners, we take a unique, all-inclusive approach that effectively limits construction delays. By handling everything from design to construction in-house, we ensure excellent communication from start to finish.

We’ll also iron out design and budgeting details in the earliest stages of our process to minimize the issues during construction. Our seamless design/build model has been proven effective time and time again.

Minimize the Number of Selection Changes

Building your dream home is an exciting but sometimes overwhelming experience. The design possibilities and choices are limitless, which can make it challenging to commit to just one layout, style or design.

However, you must complete your final selections before construction to ensure the building process runs efficiently. Changing your mind on significant elements can be costly and frustrating and substantially slow down the build process.

The C&C Partners team will ensure you’re 100 percent comfortable with (and excited about!) the design before we move into construction. We’ll take your vision and ideas and create something extraordinary. 

Meet With Your Custom Home Builders Regularly

You deserve to be as involved as you’d like to be in building your new home. The right architectural design firm will encourage you to have regular meetings with their team to discuss any desired changes or adjustments sooner rather than later. 

Taking site walks during construction is also helpful, as you’ll be able to check and ensure everything is running according to schedule. At C&C Partners, we believe in regular Construction Administration visits with our Project Managers to ensure all design choices and intent is being covered and executed. 

At C&C Partners, we offer an unparalleled level of service. We ensure transparency, timeliness and architectural excellence from initial design through final construction. We’ve built some exquisite luxury homes for the nation’s most established and exclusive neighborhoods, and it would be our privilege to service your needs. Call us at (310) 322-0803 or contact us online to start building your custom home today.

Four Ways to Effectively Prioritize Your Home Renovation Goals

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Building a custom home is one of the best investments you’ll ever make. Unlike spec homes, custom home buildings allow you to create something radically unique. From landscaping to millwork, the pen is in your hands every step of the way.

While exhilarating, new home construction could also be an intimidating process. To effectively prioritize your goals for custom home building, here are four things to keep in mind when working with an architectural design/build firm.

Fine-Tune Your Design/Build Budget

The first step to a successful, seamless new home construction is ironing out your budget. At C&C Partners, we’ll work with you to fine-tune your design/build budget in the earliest stages of our new home construction process.

Our team works diligently to control costs and unforeseen circumstances, but understanding your threshold gives you a bit of a buffer when you discover a new must-have addition like brick on the whole house or infinity edge pool.

Decide on Your Top Features

Luxury custom home building is an exciting endeavor. From heated floors to extravagant vaulted ceilings, the options are limitless when it comes to your dream home!

As exciting as the possibilities can be  – and trust us, we get excited, too! – narrowing down your top features will help ensure your must-haves are tailored to compliment your wants, the architectural style, and overall budget. 

Everyone has something they’ve always dreamed of having in their home; we’ll bring your ideas to life.

Note Where You’ll Spend the Most Time

If you want to make your dollar count as much as possible, consider where you’ll be spending the most time in your new home. 

Love to show off your cooking skills with elaborate dinner parties? Build the spacious, luxurious kitchen of your dreams, complete with high-end appliances and stunning custom inset cabinetry.

If your family prefers to show their love for one another through some friendly competition, invest in your entertainment spaces! From basketball courts to high-tech gaming rooms, our contractors can tailor your new home to fit you and your crew.

Choose an Architectural Design Firm Early On

Are you excited about your new home construction yet? Now that you’ve got a vision in your head for your dream home, it’s time to decide on an architectural design firm! Choosing the right team early on will help the process flow seamlessly, as you’ll be able to refine the build plan together.

C&C Partners is proud to provide our clients with the finest custom home-building experience imaginable. We offer a level of architectural excellence and personalized service you won’t find anywhere else. To learn more about our unique, all-inclusive approach to new home construction, visit us online or call (310) 322-0803 today!

Ring in 2023 with These Four Emerging Custom Home Interior Design Trends for Your New Home Construction

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As the year comes to a close, residential architects and interior designers are focused on new design trends for 2023. While custom home building enables you to create a home that’s uniquely yours, what’s popular can often point to what people value in today’s world.

We’ve noticed an emphasis on comfort, renewal and functionality in the emerging interior design trends for next year. If you’re beginning new home construction, here are four trends to consider incorporating into your design.

Incorporate Wellness into Your Custom Home Design

Your home is a place to relax, rejuvenate and renew your spirits with friends and family. Custom home building allows you to foster wellness through the design and layout of your home.

From muted, warm color palettes to home gyms and yoga spaces, there are endless ways to encourage wellness through your custom home design. What better way to ring in the new year than by designing your space around health and well-being?

Add Smart, Multi-Functional Design Elements

Building a custom home allows you to tailor every element to your lifestyle and preferences. From smart lighting to speakers, or thermostats and security cameras, you can create a space catered to your custom and personal comfort and convenience.

Try out the Art Deco Trend

Glam is back! Art Deco style is regaining popularity in luxury home design. First seen after World War I, Art Deco design is defined by bright colors, symmetry and geometric patterns.. It can’t be too hard to believe, as this post-pandemic point in time, also happens to be in the ‘20s, mirroring the post-prohibition ‘20s!  

It’s a trending way design/build firms are reintroducing vibrant colors and ornate details into interior design, and it looks incredible when well-executed.

Upgrade Your Home Office

Just when we thought they were going out of date, home offices are making a huge comeback! Working from home is more and more common. Depending on your office-to-wfh split, you’ll want to make sure your workspace is tailored to productivity and comfort. 

Our architectural design firm can create a home office that’s perfect for your needs. Whether you need a high-tech space optimized for connectivity or an artist’s haven to spark your creativity, we’ll bring your dream workspace to life.

At C&C Partners, we take a unique, all-inclusive approach to custom home building and real estate development. We handle everything from initial design to final construction in-house to ensure your distinct needs and vision are kept at the forefront. The result is stunning luxury homes perfectly tailored to each client’s lifestyle. 

We’ve built custom homes for the nation’s most established and exclusive neighborhoods since 1987. Contact us online or call (310) 322-0803 and discover what C&C Partners can do for you.

Five Essential Features That Add Value to Your New Home Construction

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Building a custom home gives you endless opportunities to add value and express your personal style. With the right design architect and interior designer, you can create an extraordinary new home that’s both marketable and distinctly yours!

To start your brainstorming, we’ve compiled a list of five luxury features that can seriously elevate and add value to your new home construction.

An Elevated Kitchen

One of the best parts about new home construction is tailoring your living spaces to your lifestyle, and your kitchen is one of the most exciting, and most popular, places to do just that!

If you love to cook, don’t miss the opportunity to upgrade your kitchen with professional name-brand appliances and an instant boiling water tap. Prefer to order in or cater those gatherings you love to host? You can still create an elevated entertaining space with a large island, built-in wine fridge or even glass cabinet doors to display your beautiful dishes to name a few!

Heated Floors

Heated floors are an often-overlooked feature that makes a home feel extra luxurious. The pipework can be installed whether your floors are wood, tile, stone or carpet. They can be hydronic or electric – and let us tell you, once you have them, you can’t go back to never having them again!

Not only do heated floors keep you comfortable all year long, but they also free up wall space by eliminating the need for radiators. Without bulky radiators taking up valuable wall real estate, you’ll have more surface area to design and decorate your home with curated bath accessories and art.

Upgraded Landscaping

The importance of curb appeal can’t be overstated. Custom home building provides endless opportunities to create stunning, creative landscaping.

Keep it simple and classic or go high-end and regal – your imagination is the only limit when building your dream home. Whether you keep it pared down with a few flower beds and trees or install custom pathways and stone benches, landscaping design will elevate your new home tremendously. Trade secret? Don’t underestimate the power of landscape lighting! Total game changer.

A Luxurious Bathroom

Bathrooms might be the smallest rooms in your new home, but they’re the most important when it comes to property value. 

Working with a design/build firm allows you to create the custom luxury bath areas you’ve always envisioned. Turn your bathroom into an at-home spa with a waterfall shower head, a steam room and marble countertops – you’ll love having an elevated space to refresh and unwind. Do we dare restate adding heated floors?

Custom Millwork

Millwork, in a traditional-style home, makes a world of difference in custom home design. Elegant crown molding, cabinets and fireplace mantels are the details that take a home from run-of-the-mill to uniquely sophisticated. 

Even if your home is more on the modern, contemporary side, something as simple as a custom built-in buffet table, or slatted wall makes all the difference in a space. 

At C&C Partners, we’ve designed and built luxury custom homes in every style imaginable. We’ll work with you to bring your dream home to life, keeping your unique vision and budget at the forefront throughout our entire new home construction process. 

Don’t settle for less than the best when it comes to new home construction. Call us today at (310) 322-0803 or contact us online to let us know how we can service your needs.

Four Custom Home Architecture Styles That are Sure to Turn Heads

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When beginning the custom home design process, researching and narrowing down architectural styles is a great place to start. 

If you’re driving by a row of different houses, you’ll notice that some stand out to you more than others. Maybe there’s a particular design or aesthetic that feels like “you,” but you’re not sure what the exact term for it is. 

Below are four popular home architecture styles commonly referenced during custom home construction.

Contemporary Design

Contemporary homes have a simple, clean design. These homes have abundant natural light and are often made with large doors and windows. They tend to have open-concept floor plans centered around the kitchen or living area, feature natural materials and aren’t overly colorful.

The terms “modern” and “contemporary” are sometimes used interchangeably when referring to custom home styles. However, modern homes are actually those built from the 1950s to the 1970s. While they have a similarly sleek style, contemporary homes are built more recently and are more reflective of current innovations and design trends.

Traditional Design 

Traditional refers to a typical home style that originated in the 40s. Traditional homes feel welcoming and warm, often featuring details like arched doorways and built-in shelves. Traditional designs have more formal, compartmentalized layouts and richer colors than contemporary homes. 

Transitional Design

These homes are the perfect mix of contemporary and traditional design, and safe to assume the most popular style from 2020 to now. Transitional homes have the clean, simple lines of more contemporary homes with the warmth and symmetry of traditional styles. They typically have neutral color palettes, creating a welcoming feel that suits a range of different preferences. As designers, we find it incredibly fun blending the many details of both styles to achieve the look and feel of a transitional home. 

Mediterranean Design

Mediterranean-style home design pulls inspiration from older Greek and Italian architecture. Popular in California, Mediterranean homes have tile roofs, stucco walls and elaborate features. They tend to be centered around an extravagant courtyard or garden with a U-shaped layout and feature saturated colors and dramatic details. It can easily gravitate toward Spanish as well, given the correct details. Nevertheless, both Mediterranean and Spanish style homes are proven time and time again to be a timeless design. 

The beauty of custom home building is that you can pull elements from whatever home styles you like. Unlike spec homes, the only limit on custom home construction is your imagination. At C&C Partners, we’ve designed and built stunning custom homes in every style, combining our expertise with our clients’ unique visions to create the extraordinary. Contact us today by visiting us online or calling (310) 322-0803. 

The Four Most Frequently Asked Questions When Building a Custom Home

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As an architectural design firm, there are a few questions clients frequently ask us at the beginning of the design/build process. Building a custom home can feel overwhelming – after all, your dream home is likely one of the biggest investments you’ll make.

At C&C Partners, we understand how difficult unforeseen challenges building a home from the ground up can be. We want you to go into new home construction feeling confident, comfortable and informed. For your reference, we’ve compiled a list of the four FAQs we receive about custom home building.

Why Custom Home Building?

If you’re considering a custom home design, you’re likely weighing it as an option against remodeling an existing home or purchasing a ready-made property.

Custom home building offers several advantages, the first and most obvious being that your new home will be exactly what you want it to be. It’s all in your hands – from features to layout to style. Custom home design offers a level of creativity you can’t get any other way.

Secondly, custom home building allows you to live comfortably while your dream home is being built. If you’ve ever lived in a home while it’s being remodeled, you know how frustrating and messy it can be to navigate a half-finished kitchen or living area.

Lastly, a custom design/build home can be built on any piece of land you like – no need to choose between a home you love and your ideal location.

Why Build a Custom Home and Not a Spec Home?

Speculative or “spec” homes are designed and built based on what builders believe the market wants. You may be able to choose between a few different layouts and colors, but most of the design process has been done for you.

While these homes can be beautiful, they aren’t tailored to you. Often, spec home buyers are left underwhelmed by a property that isn’t built to their specifications. Custom home building allows you to create something uniquely yours. 

How Long Does Custom Home Design Take?

While every project is unique, custom home building typically takes from 12 to 18 months. 

By working with an all-inclusive design/build firm, you can expect the process to run efficiently and smoothly. We’ll get all the design, budget and permitting details ironed out in the earlier stages to ensure the actual construction goes on without a hitch.

When Should I Build a Custom Home?

Extreme weather can pause construction in some parts of the country. Luckily, Southern California doesn’t typically have to worry about that. Rain or shine, we’ll get your custom home done on time.

C&C Partners provides the finest home-building experience. Our design/build firm has completed stunning custom homes for clients across the country, ensuring exceptional service at every stage of the process. With your vision and our expertise, we’ll create something extraordinary. Contact us online or call (310) 322-0803 and tell us how we can service your needs.