Upstate NY Custom Home Building Blog

You’re ready for something that’s entirely yours. Building a new home is an exciting journey, especially in the beautiful Greater Rochester area. At Gerber Homes, we understand that embarking on this journey involves many questions, particularly regarding the timeline. How long will it take? What steps are involved?

As a trusted custom home builder with over 40 years of experience, we’re here to guide you through every phase of the home-building process and the associated timeline for each step.

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Building a custom home on your own land is not as simple as picking a floor plan and digging in. Whether you're working with raw acreage in Wayne County or a tucked-away lot in Ontario County, the first and most critical step in the process is the site evaluation. A proper site evaluation looks beneath the surface, literally and figuratively. It helps you and your builder understand the unique features (and limitations) of the land so that your home can be placed, designed, and built efficiently, within budget.

Gerber Homes has walked hundreds of properties across Upstate New York. We've seen everything from dream lots with hidden challenges to tricky terrain that became the perfect homesite with the right plan. We're honored to walk you through exactly what happens during a site evaluation and how it helps set the stage for a successful build.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Site Evaluation and Why Does It Matter?
• Who Performs the Site Evaluation?
• What Gerber Homes Looks for During a Site Walk
• How the Site Evaluation Affects Your Budget and Timeline
• What Happens If the Site Isn’t Ideal?
• When Should You Schedule a Site Evaluation?
• Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building on Your Own Land
• Ready to Build on Land in Upstate NY? Start with a Site Evaluation

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Share this post with someone planning to build a home in NY in 2026. It is not too late to secure natural gas, but that window may close quickly.

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Designing your dream home in Greater Rochester, NY, is one of the most exciting steps you’ll ever take. It's the backdrop for everything you've ever planned for your ideal future. Many homeowners can’t wait to jump right into creating floor plans, selecting finishes, and envisioning the perfect layout. But here’s a common mistake: starting with design before talking to a builder.

Too often, families invest in plans that look beautiful on paper but come with a price tag that far exceeds their budget, or that can’t be built efficiently on their chosen lot. This leads to frustrating redesigns, wasted money, and months of delays.

The smarter path is to start with a builder, and we're here today to discuss exactly why. Gerber Homes has been helping families across Greater Rochester, Ontario and Wayne Counties, and the Finger Lakes turn ideas into homes since 1981. And we know from experience that an early consultation with a builder helps you avoid budget blowouts, make smart trade-offs, and keep the entire process on track.

Table of Contents

• What Happens When You Design Without a Builder?
• How Builders Help Align Your Vision with Budget
• Why Floor Plans Should Be Based on Real Costs
• What to Expect in a Builder Consultation with Gerber Homes
• Why You Should Consult a Builder First in Greater Rochester
• Common Myths About Talking to a Builder First
• Ready to Build Your Dream Home in Greater Rochester, NY?

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Having land in Upstate New York is a dream for many, especially in picturesque areas like Canandaigua, Rush, or Macedon. But how do you make the most of that piece of paradise once you have it? Many landowners ponder, "I want to build a house on my land; where do I start?" If that's you, here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the exciting journey of turning your raw land into a beautiful custom home.

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