Homewood. Each case is different but for us a simplification of the steps was: Survey to determine building area envelope without the need for any variances and likely location of new well and septic. Then consultation with an architect to develop building plans and specifications. Then meeting with bank to determine financial feasibility - maximum amount of loan we could reasonably expect assuming all underwriting criteria were met. Then shoreland and septic applications and approvals. Then fine tune and finalize details with architect and produce construction drawings and specifications. Then, and for us this was critical: Narrowed down list of local builders to three and sent them the plans and specifications and had them bid, with instructions not to make any changes to the plans and specifications. Thus we were comparing apples to apples when we got the bids back. Chose the builder we felt good about and who by the way had the middle bid. Got final bank approval and signed contract. We did make some relatively minor changes to the plan based on valuable input from the builder. In terms of timing, started survey process in late 2011, first meeting with architect in March of 2012. Plans and specifications done by May of 2012. State and town approvals in June, signed contract in late July, 2012. Job started in October and got certificate of occupancy in late May, 2013. We could probably have shortened the survey and architect time but we chose not to. Worked out very well for us.
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