• I post this all the time. Anything I've put in bold is something that should be rethought on your plan. I will say there is a lot that is working though.

Also where's the second floor and the other elevations?

How does the house sit on the lot?

What direction is north?

The best houses orient the public rooms towards the south for the best passive solar heating and cooling

The best houses are L, U, T, H, or I shaped.

The best houses are only one to two rooms deep. And covered lanai, porches, garages, etc count as rooms in this case. (Specifically your nook/kitchen/dining area. See below for why)

The best houses make sure kitchens have natural light, meaning windows so one doesn't have to have lighting 24/7 to use the kitchen. (And no, dining areas with windows 10' or more from the kitchen will not allow for natural light.)

The best houses make sure all public rooms and bedrooms have windows on at least two walls.

The best houses do not if possible put mechanical rooms, pantries or closets on outside walls

The best houses do not have diagonal interior walls making for odd spaces.

The best houses keep public and private spaces separate.

The best houses do not have you walk through the work zone of the kitchen to bring laundry to the laundry room.

The best houses do not have the mudroom go through any of the work zones of the kitchen.

The best houses do not use the kitchen as a hallway to any other rooms.

The best houses do not put toilets or toilet rooms up against bedroom walls or public areas.

The best houses do not have walk in closets too small to stand inside.

The best houses have separation, such as closets, between bedrooms and between bedrooms and public rooms.

The best houses do not have roofs that are overly large, and dominate the exterior of the house.

The best houses do not have stick on exterior materials only on the front façade.

The best houses have an organizing “spine” so it’s easy to determine how to get from room to room in the house and what makes sense. Meaning they don’t have meandering circulation paths.

I will add that good houses don't need lots of bump outs and multiple gables. It also doesn't need fake brick up to the window so that section winds up looking like an old man with his pants too high.

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I am really sorry I copied this awhile ago and thought I had included the person who posted this in the post My sincere apologies for doing this but the list is so perfect please forgive me .

You can download this from this website using this link.

https://www.southlandcustomhomes.com/docs/Build-Custom-Home-Checklist.pdf

They forgot "Keep bank account full".

To give you something useful we need to know what your role will be and what the role of others will be.

In other words, tell us who will design it, who will build it, what type of contract will be used and if you will be providing materials or services. It would also be helpful to know if there are any unusual elements like an elevator, pool or extensive site work or unusual design and permitting issues like zonng restrictions or historic design reviews.

There are many kinds of checklists; for instance, the above list from Southland Custom Homes omits the design of the house and focuses on "how to build" ... you even called the project a "build". My advice is to focus on the design and the proper documentation of the project.

It may be useful to have a construction checklist if you don't plan to have independent representation during the construction phase (I love the instruction to "buy building level") but what you need right now is a checklist for the design phase.

Good luck with your project.

Nice checklist.

On the electrical end. Focus on your floor plan and imagine yourself walking around your home. Do you want a 3 way light switch instead of crossing a room. Are your outlets at a hight that works for you. If you're getting older anticipate using a wheelchair or already do. Maybe you want the receptacles and switches at a hight good for you. Add extra receptacles. Outdoor security lights or security systems. Extra outdoor receptacles. Are the overhead lights where you want them. I just mentioned this because it seems folks just go with the flow.

Was mentioned somewhere about no thaving utility rooms on outside walls. I disagree, piping dryer vents, boiler or furnace and such are better getting rid of the exhaust as soon as you can and a shorter chimney or dryer vents. Bathroom humidity vents are best kept shorter.

We put our home the direction we wanted to look out the windows and windows where we wanted to be able to look out.

I guess I'm saying try to imagine living there and don't be afraid to make it yours.

Good luck and stay positive, there's nothing you can't

All of the info above is pertinant but to be honest you need an architect, a kitchen designer and ideally an interior deigner to help you. Building new home is a big deal and the more help you can get the better. You go the the architect with a list of must haves and another list of wants . The architect then goes to see your plot of land you are building on since that is a deciding factor in the design of thewhole home . I dislike a client who comes to me with a list of things they do not want to change that is IMO like tying my hands behind my back. A ggod home design is one that works for you , the plot of land and looks great .

Thank you for all your comments and time put in to help answer my question. I got the idea of a checklist from a builder I was watching on youtube, as he offered one on his site, and I believe it was a general checklist to help clients make sure they haven't missed anything that their contractor is going to need from them as the build moves forward. Perhaps the better title of this type of list, is "a timing list- as in knowing when your builder and the subs are going to need decisions from you. We do have an architect, a lot, a view of the ocean, and a contractor, and a part time designer. But as I'm such a visual person a general checklist that I can check off on what I need to do, i.e., pick out lights, know where I want outlets, when do I need decisons made on internal doors, etc., would be useful. I'm sure my contractor would answer my questions as needed, but a list was something to keep me from driving him crazy.

I appreciate all the suggestions.

Timing and scheduling depends on the design, the weather, the budget, and the contractor. It is not linear. It is complex algebra with a lot of ”if” equations. One size doesn't fit all.

A construction schedule and "timing list" is a something you would expect to get from a capable contractor.

Seattle is surprisingly one of the most humid cities in the US!

Make sure you have a whole house HVAC system.

If installing hardwood floors, go with engineered, factory finished floor. You are sure of the stain color; you won't have to deal with all the mess; and the floors won't cup. Budget permitting, you can put engineered throughout the house. Damp mops without issue.

And, as @Mark Bischak, Architect comments...get ready, financially, for the unexpected.