Before You Build...   Learn the Homebuilding Process   "Check Out" Some Good Books   Research Methods & Materials   Learn About Loans & Mortgages   Review the Construction Agreement   Learn About Building Codes   Test Drive Home Design Software   Contact Trade Associations   Watch A Homebuilding Video   Search Our Lost & Found   Visit Our Home Page Recommended Reading These books represent two different viewpoints of the homebuilding process. Home owner or home builder, if you are building your first home, read them both... before you build! The Contractor's Viewpoint... The Well Built House The Homeowner's Viewpoint... Your New House: More Construction Books

"Building a custom home is quite possibly the single largest investment of time, money, and energy that you will ever spend; unless you are crazy enough to build another one."

Most people reading the above quote would accept it at face value and then immediately conjure up images of the poor dejected homeowner and all of the problems that they will have to overcome during the design and construction of their dream home. However, try reading it again. This time, imagine that the person who said this may have been saying it to a first-time homebuilder. Yes, building a new custom home is a major undertaking for all involved parties, not just the homeowners.

inding just the right location, location, location, on which to build, can take years of searching. Developing the plans and specifications for the home that you envision will take several more months. Settling on a mortgage company that is willing to provide a construction loan secured by the shack your lender thinks you are about to build will take longer still. Abiding by local building ordinances and zoning regulations, filing construction permits, and interpreting local building codes can be time consuming tasks. And, hiring a reputable builder or finding a reasonable buyer could both be considered oxymorons. Because, as long as human beings are responsible for putting the pieces of the homebuilding puzzle together, mistakes, problems, and misunderstandings will be inevitable.

Building a new house or remodeling an existing home is a team effort that normally involves hundreds of different people - each with a different viewpoint, a unique personality, and her or his own idea of how the finished project should look. Thorough preparation, proper planning, good coordination and clear communication are the keys to any successful construction project.

All of the time, money, and energy that is spent making the decisions needed to build a new home can take a toll on your mental well being. Fortunately, building a custom home can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your lifetime - provided you know what to expect. If you have unrealistic expectations, you will almost always be disappointed.

So, whether you are the "well meaning homeowner" trying to deal with an "insensitive builder" or you are a "master craftsman" who is having his entire life disrupted by "the homeowner from hell", it is a good idea to learn as much as possible about all aspects of the homebuilding process before you build.

Good luck with your project, thank you for visiting 4homebuilder.com and have fun building!