By Jan Sommerfeld

Post Crescent staff writer

Prospective home buyers who think they’ll have to pay $1,000 for a home design can relax. It’s really a pain-free process, according to Andy Backus, a plan designer at Andrew Homes. The Oshkosh firm, which designs and builds homes, works with customers throughout the design process. Customers know the price of all components of the house. There is no fee for the designs of homes built by Andrew Homes.

The following is a general overview of how the design process works between home buyers and the design team at Andrew Homes:

Initial meeting. A designer meets with prospective home buyers to find out about their lifestyle, including the number of children they have and what they are looking for in a home.

Design. Next, the designer talks about the style of the home, including the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and creates a general design and budget.

Drafting. To allow for more creativity, each plan is reviewed by a six-member design team. Then the plan is submitted to a draftsperson. It takes three days to two weeks to draft a design.

Lot evaluation. In the meantime, the site specialist meets with home owners at their lot to evaluate the site. The specialist will recommend where to build the house-usually at a spot that affords the best view or southern exposure.

Drawing. A drawing of the house is presented to the clients. It’s a good starting point because it gives clients a better idea of what the house will look like. The designer may suggest how to improve the layout by "redlining" the plan. That means making changes with a red pen. If home owners can’t visualize certain elements, the designer shows them examples from Andrew Homes’ collection of digital or print photos or directs them to one of their 15 model homes.

Details. After the design is finalized, components such as flooring, cabinets and wall finishes are discussed.

Description of materials. Clients are given a 12-page printed form listing all the materials the homeowners selected for their home.

Pricing. Even though the final cost is determined through a pricing process, it is normal for the final price to be adjusted to reflect the needs and wants of the home owners. They may decide to finish the basement later or remove components. Sometimes they talk about a more cost-effective design with less expensive architectural elements.

Building agreement. When the clients are pleased with the final design, they sign a building agreement.

Start-up meeting. The home owners meet with about eight people from the construction team to discuss details of the plan, such as where the AC condenser, water heater, furnace and basement windows will go. The construction team includes:

                    General manager: The person who oversees all the construction jobs.

                    Site specialist: The person who helps homeowners place the house on their lot.

Ground breaking. Within three weeks after signing the building agreement, permits are obtained and the site is prepared for the dig.