What is the Process of Building a New Home?

Building a house is one of the most exciting journeys a homeowner can make, but it’s filled with many different steps. If you haven’t built a home before, learning the ins and outs of the process is the best way to prepare! If you are considering new home construction with Arive and are wondering how to build a home in Utah, this blog post is for you.

At Arive Homes, we are committed to providing an exceptional home-building experience every step of the way. We believe the best experience starts with the best information. That’s why we give you all the details you need to know before you make this big decision. Let’s walk through the steps involved in the process of building your new home with Arive.

Find Your Community

Arive Homes is proud to build homes in many beautiful communities across Salt Lake and Utah counties. Are you looking for minimal upkeep, or are you entering retirement and interested in simplified living? We have several different communities to choose from, such as single-family communities, townhome communities, and active adult communities.

Our communities are located in some of the fastest-growing and most desirable locations in the two biggest counties in Utah. Every location is conveniently located in safe neighborhoods with beautiful views. We’re currently building beautiful new neighborhoods in these cities:

• Elk Ridge
• Herriman
• Lehi
• Mapleton
• Orem
• Payson
• Pleasant Grove
• Salem
• Saratoga Springs
• Spanish Fork
• Springville

Browse through our new home construction communities to find the perfect one for you. With so many to choose from, you’re sure to find a new place to call home.

Get Pre-Qualified

One of the most common questions people ask while beginning the home-building process is, “How much house can I afford?” Before you build your new home, we’ll help you answer that question through the pre-approval process. We can complete this step of new home financing with a simple phone call, and we’ll put you in contact with one of our preferred loan officers. While we always recommend having a loan pre-approved before drafting a contract, it’s not necessary. The only requirement is that we have pre-approval from our preferred lender within 7 calendar days of you signing a contract (more on that below).

After reviewing your financial information, you will have a clear picture of how much you can afford to spend on the house. This early step in the home-building process gives you an estimate of what you can borrow. If you’d like to move forward with the building process, you’ll submit an application for a loan. You’ll be guided through this process by our loan officers, who will help you apply for your new home and will help you choose what type of loan is right for you. SecurityNational Mortgage Company offers the following loans for clients of Arive Homes:

• Fixed-rate mortgage – This is an excellent option for buyers who want to stay in their home long-term and are looking for predictable monthly loan payments.
• Adjustable-rate mortgage – This type of loan is for those who are okay with accepting the risk of higher rates down the road, such as those who will probably sell their home in the near future.
• Jumbo loan – Jumbo loans are for those who are looking to buy a more expensive home that exceeds the conforming loan amount.
• FHA or VA (government-insured) loan – These are great options for those who may not be approved for conventional loans, may not have access to a down payment, or for those who are active or retired military homebuyers.

Next, all you have to do is wait for approval before beginning the process of building the home. On average, it takes about 30-90 days for the loan application to be approved.

Reserve Your Lot, Choose Your Floorplan, and Sign a Contract

Next comes the process of signing contracts, where you’ll need to know which lot and floor plan you’d like to move forward with. You may already have a perfect lot in mind, but if needed, our team can help you choose the right one for your home. Once you’ve selected the lot and floor plan, and signed the contracts, you’ll put down a deposit to reserve your home.

At this point — if you haven’t already been pre-approved for a loan — you’ll need to get loan pre-approval from our preferred lender within a week of signing. Our preferred loan partner, SecurityNational Mortgage Company, will walk you through this entire process, making it as seamless and convenient as possible. They offer experienced loan officers and quick closing times to make your homebuilding process smooth and efficient.

Customize Your Home

Now comes the part many homeowners dream about: customizing your new home! If you’ve budgeted to make additional customizations to your floor plan, you’ll meet with our architectural team to walk through your options, so your new home is perfectly tailored to your needs. Using years of experience, our architects will help make modifications along with offering suggestions for innovative home design that will help you set your house apart from the rest. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions during this phase of the design process — the more thorough you are, the better results you’ll have.

Afterward, you’ll meet with our interior designers in our New Home Design Center to help truly customize your house. Our interior design team is passionate about helping you create a home you’ll love for years to come. They take the time to know you and understand your personal style. Choose your flooring, interior and exterior paint colors, tile, fixtures, and more with the help of our team. With our experienced designers by your side, you’ll find the right selections to make your home a place that you genuinely love.

Begin the Home-Building Process

After the plans and selections of the home have been completed, a bit of paperwork is completed before we can begin construction; this usually takes several weeks, but can vary. Our team completes an internal review, while engineering makes sure the lot and land are prepped and ready for home construction. Additionally, we complete the permitting process with the local municipality or county which clears our team to get started.

Once building begins, the timeline varies depending on the specifications and details of your build, as well as factors outside of our control — including weather, supply chain issues, and more. While going through the home construction process, you’ll never be in the dark; we believe in transparency throughout the entire process of your build. That’s why we offer unique access to your home’s superintendent throughout the build, something unheard of in the new construction industry.
They will take you on walk-throughs of the home so you can monitor the process and discuss the progress. In addition, you will have a number to text with your concerns and questions and receive weekly updates from the person in charge of your home’s build.

We’re committed to providing an exceptional experience, and this remains true throughout the most work-intensive period of your home’s build.

Start the Financing and Appraisal Process

Right around the time cabinets and countertops are being installed, we recommend you meet with your loan officer to finalize the financing process. During this phase, the home will be appraised to ensure that everything is on track to complete the loan process and finalize the final stages of your build.

Complete the New Home Presentation

The New Home Presentation is an exciting time for a new homeowner. It’s your opportunity to walk through the new home with the builder to inspect the house, learn how the home works, and address any items that need to be corrected. During this presentation, you’ll go through the home room by room with a member of our team. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions about the elements of your home and how to complete any regular maintenance.

If anything needs to be fixed or addressed, Arive will schedule the repair to be completed. We complete this process before closing on the house so that all work orders are completed, or scheduled to be completed, before you’re handed the keys. You’ll also be given warranty information about your new home. At Arive, we do everything that we possibly can to ensure that your new home is in the best condition possible before we pass it on to you.

Close and Move In

This is the biggest day in the home-building process. On move-in, you’ll get the keys to your new house! About 30 days before your home is scheduled to be completed, we’ll schedule the closing of your home. It’s a meeting between your lender, your real estate agent, a title company representative, an Arive team member, and you. You’ll sign all the necessary closing documents, then receive all the documentation relating to your home purchase. We’ll give you the keys to your beautiful new home, and then you’ll be free to start moving in boxes!

Let Arive Build Your New Home in Utah

At Arive Homes, we believe in giving you an exceptional building process from beginning to end. Over the course of the months while your home is being built, you’ll find that we provide a superior design and build process while keeping you in the loop. We are the home builder in Utah that believes in three main elements that give an exceptional build experience: transparency, relationships, and customization.

Each week, you’ll receive updates from our team members while you are guided through creating your dream home. We believe that the foundation of every successful new home is a strong relationship between the builder and the homeowner. We aim to give you the attention and focus you deserve while providing you with a house tailored to your lifestyle. Our entire team is dedicated to providing only the best quality and craftsmanship for every build. Are you ready to get started on your new dream home? Contact Arive Homes today.