It is not a good idea to get into a custom home building project without a good designer. But, a lot of people do this mistake. It does not matter if it is a new custom home or a home remodel. A designer is needed.
A lot of people think that a designer is not required in the beginning of a project itself. They think they can hire a designer in the middle of a project which is a completely wrong approach. If you think you are spending a lot of money by hiring a designer, then you would end up with regret at the end of the project once you realize that the project has not turned out as you liked.
Your builder himself would suggest you a good designer. You don’t have to go looking elsewhere for a custom home designer. If the builder has no recommendations to make, then you can always go online and find a good home designer who specializes in custom homes. There are many directories on the internet which list details of the top home designers in the country.