The custom home construction process is often misunderstood by most people. Many people go about a custom home project in a reverse way. Instead of hiring the builder first, they first buy the land, hire the designer, prepare the plan or the blueprint and then hire the builder. Such an approach is not efficient and hence not at all recommended. A good custom home builder would be very helpful in identifying and buying the plot of land on which the home is to be built. That way, the whole process would be much smoother.
A professional custom home developer would have a good network of realtors, architects, designers, contractors and so on. It is a better idea to leave it to the builder. To do that, it is important to hire the builder first. If you think you can take care of things yourself with regard to the land without hiring the builder, then you are making a big mistake. It would only end up delaying the whole project. Also, assembling a team of contractors and architects yourself to help with the project would also delay the project. You are better off leaving it to the builder.