Section 02 — Planning
Plan the build before you break ground
Land, financing, drawings, budget, schedule — the five decisions that set the ceiling on everything that comes after them.
Sheets05
StageMonth 1–3
Comes beforePermitting
CostFree
Planning sheets
Five decisions, in order
PL-01 — PL-05
Planning is the cheapest place in the whole project to make a mistake. Every decision below is close to free to change now and expensive to change once the footings are poured — and each one feeds the next, so work them roughly in this order.
PL-01Securing LandFinding and evaluating a buildable lot — zoning verification, utility access, soil testing, and the due diligence that prevents expensive surprises.2–6 monthsPL-02Construction FinancingHow construction loans work for owner-builders: lender requirements, down payments, draw schedules, and the alternatives when banks say no.4–12 weeksPL-03House PlansStock plans versus custom design, what modifications really cost, and exactly which drawings your permit office will require.4–16 weeksPL-04Construction BudgetCost breakdowns by phase, how much contingency to carry, and the tracking that keeps a 20% overrun from sneaking up on you.2–4 weeksPL-05Project TimelinePhase durations, scheduling dependencies, and the buffer strategy that keeps a realistic build schedule from quietly slipping.1–2 weeks