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Building a Custom Home in Vienna

November 3, 2013 By Doug Francis

As I sent photos off to a client who is relocating to Vienna and buying a new home which is being built, I figured that other people might enjoy reading a series of blog posts on this custom home project. So, this is the first in the series documenting a tear-down project in the Town of Vienna, Virginia.

Vienna VA new home constrction

The 1950’s house is gone revealing a large yard.

In case you don’t know, Vienna is located about twelve miles from Washington D.C., is a very walkable place to live with the 42 mile W&OD Trail passing through the center of Town ~ great for runners, walkers, bike riders and anyone walking a dog. It was ranked by Money Magazine as the #3 Best Places to Live.

Hey, we are #3!

Personally, I live in the Town and have been a real estate agent here for 22 years seeing a lot of changes. And one big change has been the redevelopment of the area as land values have jumped and original owners have sold their homes built in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Most of those homes are functionally obsolete and were built with a fifty year design life… so, the timing is perfect.

Land values have jumped thanks to economic growth in Tysons Corner, McLean, Reston and Arlington. Dulles International airport is nearby which has direct flights around the world. Washington D.C. provides a cultural hub. And, speaking as a guy who relocated from Boston, the weather here is relatively mild and features all four seasons.

Building a house is a great story

Okay, are you ready to follow this construction project? The plan is to have a weekly blog post and I decided to make it easy for you to follow everything… (see below).

Photography has always been a hobby so there will always be a link to a Google+ page which, by May 2014, will have 300 to 400 shots of this project.

Read posts on the progress of our House project 2014

Since this property is in the Town of Vienna, the builder had to take multiple steps to get his plan approved. All constructions plans need to be approved by Fairfax County, but the Town of Vienna has a Planning and Zoning Office which has to approve any plans too before construction can start.

Vienna VA home constructionVienna has a maximum lot coverage limit of 25% which includes driveways, so, new homes can only be “so big” and “so tall” ~ there isn’t a regulation on design style. Most of the older homes covered only 15% and the new “infill homes” are coming in at 24.5%. These new homes are designed to fit their lots and are designed along the lines of Sarah Susanka’s The Not So Big House.

Lot size, set backs, and building restriction lines influence what can be built. Vienna was established in the 19th century and some lots are shaped differently than the uniform subdivisions of the 1950’s. In some parts of town where lots are narrow but deep, new homes may have a wider shotgun style where there isn’t much of a side yard but there is a deep back yard. In other parts of Town the spacing allows for greater distances between homes.

Understand that lots in the Town of Vienna are not uniform, which is part of the charm.

A building restriction line means that all homes on any given street can’t be any closer than “x” distance from the curb. These building restriction lines are firm, and a recent request to the Vienna Town Council in October 2013 for an exception was unanimously rejected.


I have planned out this weekly series and will be excited to have you along for the journey. There isn’t going to be a sales pitch, just a geeky look at building a new house.

This is going to be a really cool house and there have been exciting design changes that will make it a very nice custom home in Vienna. If you have questions, comments or think that I missed something, leave a comment or send me an email because your question may be an interesting topic that other readers are interested in too.

Since I am the writer and editor, I do reserve the right to edit anything that might be inappropriate or other than “G” rated.

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Filed Under: Blog, House Project 2014 Tagged With: Vienna Virginia

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna. He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Helping my clients add value to their home has always been important to me. My step-by-step recommendations are intended to increase market appeal, return more then invested, and help net more when selling.

Beyond just sellers, I have helped many new homeowners make smart design decisions when remodeling. We gutted our house and totally remodeled it, and I pass that experience along because living in a nice house is simply better.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Questions? Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

Filmed in Vienna and McLean

https://youtu.be/ClqEIV1zoQg
Viva Vienna Vienna Idol event on the Town Green sponsored by Caffe Amouri

The Vienna Town Green

The Town Green in Vienna, Virginia is located where Maple Avenue intersects the W&OD Bike Trail and Mill Street. The Town

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“Doug nailed it! Within days, we had three offers, one of which not only met, but far exceeded all of our goals.”
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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for Fall 2022 right now.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

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6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

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