Most Sacramento custom home buyers think construction starts when permits are approved. The decisions that determine whether your home turns out right happen before that — here's what to do first.

You've spent months working with your architect. You've revised the plans, made decisions about the kitchen layout, debated the size of the primary suite, and finally — finally — arrived at a set of plans you feel good about.

Most people's next step is handing those plans to their builder and watching construction begin.

There's one step in between that most people skip. And it's the one they wish they hadn't.