SimpleStart Designs:

Your Shortcut to a Dream Home

Explore our range of meticulously designed SimpleStart Designs, which are tailored to provide you with a comfortable and luxurious living experience, regardless of your lot. Our plans are optimized to maximize functionality without compromising on style, ensuring that every inch of your property is utilized to its fullest potential. With our advanced visualization tools, you can get a clear vision of your dream home's final look right from the beginning of the planning process.

Planning Ahead

Before you fall in love with one of the plans, consider these essential factors:

Land: Where Will Your Vision Live?

Do you already own land? If so, is it suitable for the type of home you want? Factor in things like terrain, accessibility, zoning regulations, and utility hookups. If you need to buy land, the cost and availability will massively influence your project. Start exploring early.

Budget: Money Matters

Considering your budget early in the process is key! While SimpleStart Designs offer a streamlined approach, remember that factors like site-specific requirements, customizations, and your chosen finishes will all influence the final project cost. Get a realistic idea of:

The cost per square foot in your area. Ask local realtors, bankers, and builders.
Potential additional expenses (site preparation, custom features, etc.)
Be honest about your financial resources.

Financing: Making It Happen

Financing your new home build requires careful planning. Explore different mortgage options, including traditional loans and construction loans, if you're building from scratch. Pre-approval can streamline the process and give you a clear picture of your budget. Don't be afraid to shop around and compare lenders to find the best rates and terms for your situation.

Builders: Finding the Right Partner

Finding a good fit with your general contractor is crucial for a successful and stress-free building experience. Your GC is essentially the captain of your project, overseeing everything from scheduling subcontractors to managing the budget. A skilled and compatible contractor will have the experience to handle potential challenges, communicate clearly throughout the process, and advocate for your vision. A strong relationship with your GC builds trust, ensures your goals are aligned, and ultimately contributes to a finished home you'll love for years to come.

Thinking Beyond the Basics

Design Style: What speaks to your soul? Rustic mountain estate, contemporary masterpiece? Inspiration is key.
Size and Functionality: How much space do you need? Consider current and potential future needs.
Timeline: Are you in a rush? How long is the "building season" where you are building?

With these things sorted out, you'll be armed with the right questions for a productive conversation with the designers at Arrow Timber.

Your dream home starts here!

Design Review: Where Your Vision Takes Shape

Our "Brainstorm" session is your chance to bring your SimpleStart dream to life! It's a collaborative meeting (in-person or virtual) where we'll dive into the details of your chosen plan and explore how to make it perfectly yours. Here's what you can expect:

Understanding Your Vision: We'll discuss your lifestyle, needs, and the must-have features you want in your home.
Exploring the Plan: We'll review the layout of your SimpleStart Design, highlighting its strengths and adaptable areas.
Feasibility Check: We'll discuss the feasibility of any modifications, considering factors like your site, budget, and local regulations.
Next Steps: We'll outline a clear path forward, including potential customization options, a preliminary timeline, and any further information you might need.

Finalizing Your Agreement: Securing Your Dream Home

Once you've chosen your ideal SimpleStart plan and construction solution, you'll sign your contract and enter the preconstruction phase. Here's what to expect:

Deposit: A deposit secures your project's place in our production schedule and initiates the Preconstruction phase.
Design Refinement: We'll work together to fine-tune any necessary details to make your home work for you and your site.
Engineered Construction Drawings: We'll create detailed drawings tailored to your project specifics. We'll get these engineered to work on your site and you can use these to get accurate bids from potential builders.
Potential Price Adjustments: While we strive for accurate initial pricing, factors beyond our control can sometimes influence the final cost. These might include:
- HOA Requirements: Specific design mandates from your Homeowners Association.
- Engineering Needs: Unique site conditions requiring specialized structural solutions.

Ready to simplify your timber frame homebuilding journey? Discover our SimpleStart Design floor plans, where streamlined design meets your vision. These carefully crafted floor plans provide a clear starting point, offering exceptional functionality, flexibility, and timber style to make the home truly yours. We understand there are loads of stock floor plan sites out there with good floor plans, but none of them are experts in timber design, and that often leads to awkward, last-minute solutions to force in that timber look you want. Our homes are designed from the beginning with decades of hybrid timber framing know-how. SimpleStart Designs makes it easy to get the unique timber frame home you've always imagined. Check out some of our more popular designs below.

Find Your Ideal SimpleStart Design

Aspen

Pasadena

Leavenworth

Cascade

Newberry

Pikes Peak

See All SimpleStart Designs

The Preconstruction Process: Setting the Stage for Your Build

After signing your agreement, we dive into the essential preconstruction details that ensure a smooth transition to the construction phase. Here's what happens behind the scenes:

Preliminary Architectural Plans: You'll initially receive a set of preliminary architectural plans. This helps you start communicating your project vision to potential general contractors and secure accurate estimates.
Technical Drawings: Our team will begin creating detailed technical drawings tailored to your specific SimpleStart plan and its adaptations.
Engineering Stamp: We'll obtain the necessary engineering stamps for your drawings. Our licensed engineers understand timber framing and will use our plans to create a full structural drawing set that incorporates your timbers and can be used to build from.
Timber Sourcing: We carefully source high-quality timbers for your project, ensuring the beauty and strength of your timber frame elements.
Permit Acquisition: You or your general contractor will submit the engineered construction set to your local building department for review. We'll be in close communication to address any necessary alterations should they arise. Please note that permit approval timelines can range from weeks to months, depending on the county and the complexity of changes.

Collaboration and Communication: Throughout this phase, we'll maintain open communication, providing updates and addressing any questions you may have. Our goal is to lay a solid foundation for a successful and stress-free building experience.

Example of Drawings Provided for Your SimpleStart Home

The Fabrication Process: Where Craftsmanship Meets Your Vision

This is where your timber frame home begins to come to life! At our on-site mill, skilled artisans transform premium logs into the beautiful timber elements that will define your home.

True Craftsmanship: Our team utilizes traditional joinery techniques, handcrafting each timber without reliance on CNC machinery. This ensures a unique and authentic touch.
Attention to Detail: Every cut and join is meticulously crafted with precision and care, ensuring a perfect fit for your timber frame structure.
Parallel Progress: While your timber frame is taking shape, your general contractor will be busy ramping up their portion of the work. You'll work with them on the fun details like lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, and colors that will define your style. They'll handle site preparation and coordinate subcontractors for tasks like excavation, foundation work, and all conventionally framed elements of your home.

The fabrication process and site preparation happen in tandem, ensuring a seamless transition into the exciting assembly phase of your build.

Home Construction: Your Dream Takes Shape

Now, the real excitement begins as your home rises from the ground! Here's how this phase unfolds:

Contractor in Charge: Your general contractor takes the lead, executing the plans we've provided and coordinating all non-timber framed aspects of the build.
Strategic Timber Delivery: At precisely the right moments, your beautiful timber frame elements will be delivered to the site.
Installation Options: Depending on your agreement, the timber frame installation will be expertly handled by either Arrow Timber's experienced crew or your chosen builder.
The Complete Package: As the timber frame takes its place, your contractor will continue with the conventional framing, roofing, siding, and all interior finishes that bring your vision to life.

Progress and Partnership: We'll stay connected with you and your contractor throughout the construction phase, ensuring a smooth process and a finished product that you'll love for generations.

Why Choose A SimpleStart Design?

SimpleStart Designs take the guesswork out of the design process, offering a perfect blend of convenience, simplicity and style:

Effortless Design: Start with a thoughtfully crafted floor plan designed around timbers, eliminating the stress of designing from scratch and forcing timbers into a floor plan that may not be optimized for them.
Streamlined Decisions: Experience a smoother design journey with a clear starting point.
Focus on Your Vision: Enjoy the ease of a pre-designed framework, leaving you free to focus on the details that make your home unique.

Ready to see how SimpleStart Designs can simplify your dream home journey? Contact us today to learn more about our collection!