Architect speak, builder speak, and real-estate speak — translated. If you've ever sat through a meeting where everyone nodded but you weren't sure what half the words meant, this page is for you.
Bookmark it. We'll add to it as we hear more “what does that mean?” questions in consultations.
- Allowance
- A budgeted dollar amount for a category (e.g. lighting, tile) when the exact selection isn't yet made. Going under the allowance gives you a credit; going over generates a change order.
- Architectural review committee (ARC)
- An HOA-appointed group that approves or rejects design proposals against the neighborhood's architectural standards. Common in newer Des Moines metro subdivisions.
- Backfill
- Soil placed against the foundation walls after waterproofing, before grading the yard.
- Buildable envelope
- The 3D space on a lot inside which a structure can legally be built — defined by setbacks, easements, height limits, and HOA rules.
- Change order
- A formal modification to the contract scope or price after signing. Should be priced and approved in writing before work proceeds.
- Construction loan
- Short-term financing that funds the build in stages (called draws). Converts to a permanent mortgage at certificate of occupancy. Different from a traditional mortgage.
- Contingency
- A reserve in the project budget (typically 5-10%) for unforeseen issues — soils surprises, code-mandated revisions, mid-project upgrades. Treat it as untouchable until you actually need it.
- Conventional vs. structural fill
- Soil placed under or around a foundation. Conventional fill compacts naturally; structural fill is engineered and tested for load-bearing applications.
- Draws
- Stage-based payments to the builder during construction, typically tied to verified completion of specific milestones (foundation poured, framed, dried-in, etc).
- Easement
- A legal right someone else (utility company, neighbor, city) has to use a portion of your lot. You can't typically build over an easement.
- Engineered floor truss / I-joist
- Manufactured floor structure that spans longer distances than dimensional lumber. Allows for wider open-concept floor plans.
- Footing
- The wide concrete base under a foundation wall that distributes the weight of the home into the soil.
- General conditions
- Builder overhead costs of running the project — site supervision, project management, insurance, temporary utilities, dumpster, portable toilet. Typically a percentage of the project total.
- HOA architectural guidelines
- Documented rules governing what can be built in a subdivision — exterior materials, roof pitch, square footage minimums, garage configurations.
- ICF (Insulated Concrete Form)
- A foundation/wall system using stay-in-place foam forms filled with concrete. Higher upfront cost, dramatically better thermal performance and quietness.
- Lien waiver
- A document signed by subcontractors and suppliers confirming they've been paid and won't file a mechanic's lien against the property. Critical at each draw.
- Plat
- The recorded legal map of a subdivision showing lot lines, easements, and street layouts. Pull the plat before buying a lot.
- Punch list
- The list of items identified during the final walkthrough that need correction or completion before move-in.
- R-value
- A measure of an insulation material's resistance to heat flow. Higher R-value = better insulation. Iowa code minimums vary by location in the wall/roof.
- Schematic design
- The first design phase — basic floorplans and exterior elevations to align on the overall shape and size of the home before committing to construction documents.
- Setback
- The minimum distance the home must sit from each property line. Set by zoning code and sometimes by HOA rules.
- Spec home
- A home built by a builder without a specific buyer in mind, then sold once complete. Different from a custom home, which is built FOR a specific buyer.
- Square foot cost
- Build cost divided by finished square footage. Useful for high-level comparison, misleading when used to compare different finish levels or scopes.
- Walkout basement
- A basement with at least one wall that opens directly to grade — usually because the lot slopes. Adds usable square footage but requires more foundation work.
- Zoning
- Municipal rules dictating what can be built where. Most luxury home builds in the Des Moines metro fall under R-1 (single-family residential).