Building a Custom Home on the Wasatch Front: The Gordon Milar Process
Building a custom home on the Wasatch Front is about more than just floor plans; it’s about capturing the perfect mountain view and creating a space that fits your unique Utah lifestyle. At Gordon Milar Construction, we believe the journey should be as rewarding as the destination. We’ve streamlined our custom homebuilding process into four clear steps to take you from initial dreaming to move-in day.
Step 1 — Discover Your Vision
Everything begins with a conversation. We’ll meet at one of our model homes or at our office to discuss your goals, budget, and timeline.
The Land: Whether you already own a lot or are searching for the perfect location, we can help. We review your current property or show you curated lots available along the Wasatch Front. If none of those suit your needs, we’ll help you secure your dream lot.
The Inspiration: Bring your Pinterest boards, napkin sketches, or a floor plan you found online. Drawing upon our decades of experience building custom homes in Utah, we’ll talk about your must-haves and how to maximize your investment.
Step 2 — Design & The Start Meeting
This is where your home takes shape. You’ll work directly with our in-house designer and drafting team to ensure every square foot serves a purpose.
The Gordon Milar Start Meeting: A hallmark of our process is a comprehensive, three-hour start meeting with Gordon himself. We sit down together to talk through every detail of your vision, ensuring the foundation of your project is built on personal connection and expert oversight.
Floor Plan Customization: Whether modifying an existing plan or designing from scratch, our team has the experience to handle homes of all sizes and styles.
Lot Integration & Grading: We use drone data and site evaluations to ensure your home is positioned for the best views and optimal drainage. Before we break ground, we hold a critical grading plan meeting to ensure you understand exactly how your home sits on the land.
Step 3 — Pre-Construction & Permitting
Before we move any dirt, we handle the heavy lifting of logistics. Transparency is key during this stage to avoid surprises once construction begins.
Permitting: We coordinate with local city and county offices to secure all necessary building permits and navigate local zoning requirements.
Final Specifications: You’ll receive a detailed specification sheet. We believe in clear communication, so you’ll know exactly what materials and finishes are going into your home before we break ground.
Timeline Expectation: While every custom project is unique, the design and permitting phase typically takes one to two months, depending on the complexity of the build and local municipal timelines.
Step 4 — The Build & On-Site Collaboration
Once construction begins, your dedicated project manager takes the lead to ensure the craftsmanship meets the Gordon Milar standard.
Daily Oversight & Weekly Updates: Our project managers are on-site daily. While we provide weekly updates via a dedicated Instagram hashtag so you can track progress remotely, we’re also available for weekly on-site meetings to discuss the larger decisions that inevitably come up during a custom build.
The Four-Way Walkthrough: Before the walls are closed in, we conduct a thorough four-way walkthrough with you. This ensures every electrical outlet, plumbing line, and structural detail is exactly where you want it.
Quality Control & Final Walkthrough: We oversee our trusted subcontractors daily to ensure every detail aligns with our rigorous quality benchmarks. Before we hand over the keys, we’ll walk through every inch of the home with you to ensure every finish meets your expectations.
Build Timeline: Following the completion of the design and permitting phase, the typical build-out for a custom Gordon Milar home ranges from 6 to 12 months from the time we break ground. Factors such as design complexity, site-specific conditions, and change requests influence the final construction schedule.
Ready to take the first step?
The best way to get a feel for our quality and process is to see it in person.
Visit a Model Home: Drop by our models in Herriman or Salem for a no-pressure look at our work and craftsmanship.
Schedule a Consultation: Reach out online, send us a text or give us a call at (801) 406-1002 to sit down with one of our experienced team members to start mapping out your dream Utah home.