Welcome to your inside look at a home built from dreams, dust, and dozens of thoughtful decisions.
This isn’t just another polished “after photo” of a custom home. This is the real story — the step-by-step journey of building a tailored home from the ground up, right here on Hole 3 of Dalhousie Golf Club.
We’re excited to introduce you to the future home of Brad and Kristin Korn — a truly custom design built in collaboration with our team at Trawick Homes. From their first walk on the lot to the last coat of paint, we’ll walk you through the decisions, details, and design moves that bring their vision to life. And the best part? You’ll see it unfold in real-time.
Whether you’re dreaming up your own forever home or just trying to understand what this process looks like, our hope is that this ongoing series gives you more than pretty pictures. We want to show you how a home really comes together — and what kind of builder it takes to get you there without the headaches.
Table of Contents
What makes this home special?
A few things, right off the bat:
- The lot. Nestled along Hole 3 of Dalhousie Golf Club, Brad and Kristin’s property pairs sweeping views with room to breathe — a rare, peaceful setting that inspired nearly every design decision ahead.
- The homeowners. As an entrepreneurial/coaching couple with style and vision, the Korns came to us with clear ideas and high hopes — but wanted an expert guide to lead the way, keep surprises off the table, and help them navigate every phase with confidence, while staying on budget.
- The scope. This isn’t a cookie-cutter or spec build. It’s a custom-designed home that balances beauty, function, and craftsmanship. From limestone details to bold finishes and executive-level trim, you’ll see a home tailored to the way this family lives and loves to gather.
What you’ll get from this series
Throughout this living article, we’ll share:
- Lot prep, plans, and early excavation
- Design selections and how we helped narrow the options
- Real-time photos from each construction milestone
- Weekly progress highlights and what’s coming next
- Stories behind fixtures, finishing choices, and style moves
- Honest conversations around budget pivots and timeline decisions
Think of this as your guided preview: a transparent, ongoing diary of building a home with us — from blank dirt to move-in day.
First up: Standing on the lot with a vision and a whole lot of questions.
Check out the next section as we break down the planning, layout, and approvals that took place before the first dig.
Phase One: Pre-Construction – Getting to the Starting Line
Before the first shovel of dirt is turned or a single stud is raised, there’s a critical phase that sets the tone for the entire build. In this first chapter, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real first steps we take with every custom Trawick home — using real dates and milestones from the Korn Home project on Hole 3 at Dalhousie Golf Club.
1. Laying the groundwork: Meet the project and people
- Project address: A picturesque lot backing to Hole 3 on Dalhousie Golf Course: 5754 Dalhousie Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO, 63701
- Clients: Brad & Kristin Korn — busy professionals with a clear vision, distinct style, and a goal for an elevated, functional home they can truly settle into
- Company: Trawick Homes — guiding every step from design to build
This is where we get aligned — on expectations, communication styles, and what success looks like from where we’re standing right now.
2. We start with paperwork (and peace of mind)
Here are the behind-the-scenes steps that turn ideas into action — all before anything shows up at the site.
✅ Contract signed
- What this means: The Korns officially decided to build with us. This is where the partnership really begins.
- Date: August 27th, 2025
Quick note: This is also when we lay out the full roadmap — timelines, budget checkpoints, what to expect, and how we’ll communicate.
✅ Permits submitted
- What this involves: Submitting detailed plans to the city or county for approval. It includes everything from layout to utilities.
- Date: September 4th, 2025
- Brad & Kristin’s take: “Marshall’s relationship from the appraisers to the city inspectors was very evident in the short timeline it took for our plans to get approved and us to get digging as fast as we did.”
⏳ Permit approved
- What happens next: Once approved, we can break ground.
- Timeline tip: Some jurisdictions can take weeks (or longer). We stay proactive by prepping everything else in parallel.
- Date: September 12th, 2025
✅ Financing approved
- What this includes: Loan approvals, draw schedules, and lining up title companies.
- For the Korns: They used a heloc loan along with a construction loan – all were completed on September 24th, 2025 by Montgomery Bank and United Title Company.
3. Moving dirt (finally!): The estimated start date
- Site start date: September 2, 2025
- What’s happening on site: Silt fencing, utility marking, excavation — the first real movement on the land.
- App we use to track progress: Buildertrend
- Weekly updates begin: immediately
4. Hard stop: Our internal safeguard
- Hard stop check-in date: September 15, 2025
- What this means: Reserved time for any course correction before framing begins.
Example: Make sure all selections are finalized, budgets verified, and nothing critical was overlooked.
Phase Two: Construction milestones — when the dream starts to take shape
Once a custom home breaks ground, progress starts to move fast — and so do the emotions. One minute you’re looking at poured concrete, and the next, there are walls, rafters, and the first real glimpses of living room light.
In this post, we’re walking you through Brad and Kristin Korn’s construction phase — what’s already behind us, what’s still to come, and what each step really involves. If you’re wondering what to watch (or plan for) during your own build, this is the chapter you’ll want bookmarked.
1. Site prep & excavation: Turning a golf course lot into a foundation-ready canvas
- Start date: September 2, 2025
- What we did: Installed silt fencing, added topsoil, determined accurate grade, prepped for utilities
- Things we double-check here: Drainage patterns, elevation specs, and soil stability
Behind the build: This lot backs to Hole 3 at Dalhousie, which meant careful planning to preserve the view — but also protect against run-off and hold firm through Missouri spring rains.
2. Foundation poured: The literal base for everything
- Date completed: October 9-17, 2025
- What it includes: Footings, stem walls, slab work
- Why this is a milestone: Every wall, window, and appliance goes on top of this — it’s where precision really starts to matter.
3. Framing: When a home finally looks like a home
- Start date:
- Complete date:
- Includes: All structural framing — walls, roof trusses, subfloor, and interior framing
- Why it’s exciting: This is the first time you can walk the halls, stand in the kitchen, and “feel” the space
Quick tip for homeowners: Now’s the perfect time to walk through and visualize everyday routines — where light hits in the morning, where drop zones make the most sense, what walls might need built-ins. We walk you through it — room by room.
4. Roof complete (watertight): Covering it all before the next steps
- Date completed:
- What this locks in: Weather protection and the green light to begin rough-ins and exterior finishes
5. Windows & doors installed: Locking the envelope
- Date completed:
- Why this matters: Keeps weather out, keeps heating/cooling more predictable during next stages
- For the Korns: Their windows were custom-ordered to match both function and golf-course views — we confirmed sizes on-site during framing to be sure everything aligned with their furniture layout and style goals.
6. Rough-in inspections (plumbing, electrical, HVAC): Everything behind the walls
- Date completed:
- What this includes: Plumbing stacks and supply lines, electrical runs, HVAC ductwork, and system placement
- Inspection process: Each system reviewed and signed off before we can insulate — no skipping steps here
7. Insulation & drywall: Closing up the walls
- Date complete:
- Why it’s a turning point: Suddenly, rooms feel real. Sound quiets. Details start to feel permanent.
8. Interior finishes begin: Where personality starts to shine
- Start date:
- Includes: Wall textures, baseboards, custom millwork, and paint prep
Designer insight: We partnered with Kristin early on to establish a whole-home palette — this made choosing fixtures, paint colors, and cabinet details way less overwhelming at this stage.
9. Cabinets & fixtures installed
- Date:
- This phase includes: Kitchen + bath cabinets, sinks, plumbing fixtures, and visual anchors for each room
10. Flooring & trim complete
- Date:
- Includes: Wood, LVP, or tile installations, base and crown trim, stair details
- Trawick tip: We protect flooring with commercial-grade covers until final clean so everything stays pristine.
11. Painting complete
- Date:
- What we’ve chosen:
12. Final fixtures & appliances installed
- Date:
- What this means: Light fixtures, mirrors, hardware, and appliance installs
Hard stop: Final walk-through + punch planning
- Date:
- What happens here: Together, we walk the full home, note any adjustments needed, review warranty info, and confirm final timeline to move-in
- Also includes: Orientation on smart systems, HVAC operation, maintenance tips, and contact points for post-move support
Coming up next: Final clean, reveal day, and move-in prep
We’re almost there — but we don’t sprint to the end just to call it done. We’ll walk with the Korns through every final checklist item so that moving day feels joyful, not chaotic.
Stay tuned for Phase 3 — and get ready for some finish line beauty shots.
– The Trawick Homes Team
