If you were to ask any of the 10 designers or architects of The House Designers what is one of their first chores, when they sit with a client for the first time in the process of designing a custom home, they would all conclude that this would be trying to help their clients identify their needs, so that the design they eventually create will be exactly (or very close to) what their client is thinking of. We help clients to develop a program that creates a framework within which to work.

When you develop your own program, write down your needs. Try to be as open and truthful with yourself as possible. Ask yourself what you expect from your new home. Hopefully, you will recognize that these needs are personal requirements. Considerations in this area include space requirements – both the amount and type of space you need – taking into account anticipated changes in your family's size and needs. These are not only today's needs but also your needs in the future.

Will you need to accommodate aging parents or a growing family? Will you need a home office to fit your future job plans? Do you plan to live in your new home after retirement? Is there a possibility that a child will return home after college? Do you have the space to accommodate an elderly, ill or disabled person?

As for today's needs, does your lifestyle demand more space for entertaining? Do you need separate entertainment areas for adults and kids, or are distinct divisions no longer necessary? How do you feel about a Great Room that opens the entertainment area to the cooking and dining regions? Do you prefer a country kitchen where cooking casual meals and informal entertaining are combined in one space?

In establishing goals for your new home, you also need to evaluate the importance that you place on impressing others.

Perhaps you entertain regularly for business or need a house that is a statement of your hard-earned status in life. These considerations could influence your personal requirements and lead to different choices.

If you are less concerned with the perceptions of others than you are with personal gratification, then let your instincts be the guide. You may need to search deeply to strike a balance between personal needs and making a statement.

One of the subjects that your program must address is budget. A few words of caution here: leave ample dollars for landscaping and furnishings. An under-furnished new home with no landscaping can be a real disappointment. Also allow for cost overages; a common recommendation is to add a minimum of 10 percent to the total cost in order to cover the unforeseen changes, additions and upgrades that inevitably occur.