Help: New build landscaping blank slate advice

Hello,
We moved into our newly built home back in September 2013, and am looking for some guidance and help in terms of timing for our landscaping. I realize it best to wait a full year for the ground to settle before doing any landscape work, so we thought maybe this summer/fall we can plant some trees in our backyard to get them growing and then in the summer of 2015 we'd lay down the sod and complete the rest of any landscaping projects (sod, shrubs/flowers, fence).

Will it be an issue to plant trees now and lay down sod a year later?
Or should we just wait til 2015 comes and do both the trees, sod and fencing at the same time.
What is the order of the project, trees, sod then fence?

any help or suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

Good to give yourselves some time to decide what you want and think about layout.

I would draw the property on paper with important features such as 'good view', or 'soil stays wet in this area', 'steep slope, soil erosion' and other notes.

Then start with the underground problems, drainage and grading. Do you need retaining walls?

Next would be more underground work such as in ground irrigation. For this you need to know where everything will be.

Hardscape elements such as walkway, patio, storage/work shed and all other hardscape elements come next. Very important to know things like if you will want an outdoor kitchen, where will the plumbing (gas, water, electric) need to go.
Lay out these elements with a garden hose, and reshape them, larger, smaller... a little to the left... until you know you have them right. Leave the hose out for several days, walk around the area, set up whatever table and chairs you have.

Plants that take several years to grow to a useful size can be planted as soon as possible, but check out what is the optimum planting time for your zone. Plants need time to get their roots established before having to handle the stress of a snowy winter, or the heat of a long, dry summer.

Trees are great for shade, blocking an unpleasant view, directing the wind, producing fruit and so on. Trees are long lasting, so deserve to get off to the right start. Think about how big they will get, and plant them in an area where there is room to grow without having to be pruned hard to stay in bounds. Select a smaller tree for a tight area, a larger tree for a more open space.
Optimum planting time varies depending on the species of tree and your location.
Trees that lose their leaves are often planted when they are dormant.
Evergreen trees are planted in the late summer and into fall in mild winter areas, but probably in spring in your cold zone.

Larger shrubs can be planted from small pots if you have the time (several years) for them to grow, or plant from larger cans if you want something a bit larger right away. Same planting schedule as trees.

Smaller plants such as most perennials are usually planted so they can get their roots established before winter.

I have seen sod lawns installed when the weather is pretty cold, but the lawn is not going to do much growing until the spring starts warming the soil. Seeds won't sprout in that much cold.
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The other thing I would do while thinking and designing the landscape is to begin preparing the soil by doing some soil tests and adding compost, soil amendment and starting to correct drainage issues, build mounds, retaining walls and so on.
If nothing else, get a lot of organic matter and spread it all over the areas to be planted several inches deep. Let it start rotting in a method called sheet composting. When you are ready to work the soil it will be softer, easier to work, and will have started forming the cultures of microorganisms and macroorganisms (like earthworms) that mean the soil is thriving.