Most people think building a custom home begins when the excavator arrives.
In reality, weeks—or even months—of planning happen before the first shovel ever touches the ground. From designing your home to evaluating your property and securing approvals, every step helps prepare your homesite for a successful build.
Here’s a step-by-step look at how American Heritage Homes designs a custom home, evaluates your land, prepares the homesite, coordinates the preconstruction process, and guides you through the many decisions involved in building on your own lot.
Since 1995, American Heritage Homes has helped Central Ohio families build fully customizable homes on their own land. Because every property is different, our process is designed to identify site conditions early, answer common questions about permits and site preparation, and help you move into construction with confidence.
Building on Your Lot Is a Team Effort
Some parts of the process are managed by American Heritage Homes, while others remain the homeowner’s responsibility. Throughout this guide we’ll explain who typically handles items like: floor plan design, aoil reports, aurveys, building permits, aeptic systems, wells, utility coordination and homesite preparation.
Initial Consultation
Every custom home starts with a conversation.
During your first meeting, we’ll learn more about your vision, your property, and how you want your home to work for your family.
- Your family’s needs
- Your budget
- Your property (or if you’re still looking)
- Floor plan options
- Potential customizations
- Your timeline and goals
This meeting helps us understand your priorities and determine the best path forward.
Designing Your Home
Before you sign a contract, we’ll work with you to develop the design and pricing for your home.
During the design process, you will:
- Select a floor plan
- Customize the layout
- Review structural options
- Review pricing for your customized home
American Heritage Homes offers more than 50 customizable floor plans, giving you the flexibility to create a home that fits your family, lifestyle, and property.
Once the design, pricing, and contract details are finalized, you’re ready to move into the selections process.
Contract & Selections
After the contract is signed, you’ll begin making the interior and exterior selections for your home.
During the selections process, you will:
- Select flooring and tile
- Choose cabinets and countertops
- Choose exterior colors
- Finalize interior colors and finishes
- Confirm remaining design details
By the end of this phase, your plans and selections will reflect your needs, style, and priorities.
Lot Walk & Site Evaluation
Once your home design begins taking shape, we’ll visit your property.
During the lot walk, we’ll review:
- House placement
- Driveway location
- Existing and proposed grades
- Available utilities
- Septic or sewer needs
- Trees and drainage
- Construction access
- Future plans for decks, pools, or outbuildings
Using the information gathered during the lot walk, we begin developing the site plan and identifying work that may be needed before construction can begin.
Surveys, Soil Information & Site Planning
Every property is different, so the information needed during this phase depends on your homesite.
Site planning may include:
- A property survey or survey plat
- Auditor maps
- A soils report
- Septic evaluation and design information
- Utility locations
- House, driveway, and septic locations
- A site-preparation plan of action
- A review of site-condition allowances
Why this matters: This information also helps identify potential challenges early, reducing surprises later in the construction process.
Preconstruction Meeting
Before construction begins, we’ll meet to review the details of your project together.
During this meeting, we’ll:
- Review the complete set of house plans
- Confirm options and change orders
- Review the lot inspection sheet and site plan
- Confirm utility locations
- Review homeowner and builder responsibilities
- Discuss the typical construction workflow
- Review allowances and site conditions
- Finalize costs and documents needed by the lender
- Answer questions before work begins
This meeting helps ensure everyone understands the plans, responsibilities, and next steps before construction.
Permits & Approvals
Once the plans and project details are finalized, American Heritage Homes compiles and submits the building permit package.
Depending on your property and jurisdiction, additional permits or approvals may include:
- Building permits
- Health department approvals
- Septic permits
- Well permits
- Driveway or culvert permits
- Stormwater or erosion-control approvals
- Utility applications
- Other county, township, or municipal requirements
Because every county, township, and health department has different requirements, permit responsibilities can vary from one property to another. Our team helps explain what is required for your homesite and coordinates the portions of the process included in your building agreement.
Preparing Your Homesite
A great deal of work may need to happen before excavation.
Depending on the property, homesite preparation may include:
- Surveying and staking lot lines and setbacks
- Staking the house location
- Marking and protecting the septic field
- Installing erosion protection
- Clearing trees, stumps, crops, and other obstructions
- Marking existing utilities through OUPS
- Installing culverts
- Installing a construction driveway
- Establishing temporary electric service
Many raw-land preparation items are the homeowner’s responsibility. American Heritage Homes may provide estimates or help coordinate certain services when requested.
Once the required preparation is complete and the property is accessible to construction vehicles, excavation can begin.
Construction Begins
Once the homesite is prepared, construction can officially begin.
This is the stage most homeowners think of first, but it is actually the result of weeks—or sometimes months—of planning behind the scenes.
Construction generally follows these major phases:
- Excavation
- Foundation and framing
- Mechanical rough-ins and inspections
- Concrete
- Insulation, drywall, and siding
- Cabinets, countertops, and interior trim
- Painting, tile, and flooring
- Final plumbing and electrical work
- Final inspections and walk-through
- Move-in
Throughout construction, our team coordinates the trade partners involved and keeps your home moving through each phase of the building process.
Typical Timeline for Building on Raw Land
Every home and property is different, but the process generally includes four major phases:
Planning
Initial consultation, home design, selections, and lot walk
Preconstruction
Site planning, surveys, permits, approvals, and the preconstruction meeting
Homesite Preparation
Staking, clearing, erosion protection, utilities, culverts, and construction access
Construction
Excavation and foundation through final inspections and move-in
Keep in mind: Timelines vary based on the municipality, weather, site complexity, utility availability, homeowner decisions, trade-partner availability, and permit approvals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does American Heritage Homes handle soil testing?
The soils information needed depends on the property. AHH may help request or coordinate a soils report as part of site planning. For septic systems, AHH may also hire a soil scientist and coordinate the report, design, and health department process when requested. Our team will explain what is needed and how the related costs apply to your project.
Does American Heritage Homes handle permits?
American Heritage Homes compiles and submits the building permit package. Separate permits or applications for septic systems, wells, utilities, driveways, culverts, and other site-development work may remain the homeowner’s responsibility. Our team can explain the requirements for your property and may help coordinate certain items when requested.
Who prepares the land before construction?
Homesite preparation involves both homeowner and builder responsibilities. Homeowners are generally responsible for items such as lot clearing, utility applications, and providing a construction driveway. American Heritage Homes coordinates the home-building process and may provide estimates or assistance for certain site-development items when requested.
How long do permits take?
Permit timelines depend on the jurisdiction. Some municipalities may issue permits within a few weeks, while others may take longer because of required reviews, revisions, and workload.
Do I need utilities before building?
Utility planning should begin before construction. Homeowners are generally responsible for establishing electric, natural gas, propane, water, sewer, or well service when applicable. American Heritage Homes helps coordinate certain installation details once service has been established.
Can I build during the winter?
Yes. Homes are built throughout the year in Ohio. However, severe weather, frozen ground, heavy rain, utility delays, and seasonal limitations on certain exterior work may affect the schedule.
Who pays for soil reports and site testing?
Soil reports and site testing are generally considered part of the costs associated with evaluating and preparing the property for construction. American Heritage Homes will explain how those costs and any related allowances apply to your specific project.
Can I build on any piece of land?
Not always. Before construction begins, factors such as zoning, setbacks, access, utilities, drainage, soil conditions, and health department requirements all need to be evaluated. A lot walk and site evaluation help determine whether your property is ready for construction and what preparations may be required.
Building on Your Land Starts Long Before Construction
Planning is just as important as construction when building a custom home on raw land. By taking the time to design your home, evaluate the homesite, understand responsibilities, and secure the necessary approvals, you can move into construction with greater confidence.
If you’re ready to build on your own land—or you’re just beginning to explore the process—American Heritage Homes can guide you through each phase, from the first conversation to the day you receive your keys.