Buying a new home can be an expensive endeavor. Many people dream of building their own home but mistakenly believe that doing so is not cost effective. However, you can save 20 to 40 percent or more by building your own home. In The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Home and Saving Thousands on Your New House you will discover that your dream can become reality. From basic planning to construction methods, this new book will take you through all the steps of building your own home. You will learn how to: choose a site, draw up a construction time line, apply for construction loans and financing, obtain essential insurance information, buy or prepare inexpensive plans, find and negotiate with subcontractors, comply with building codes, select features and fixtures, choose the style of the house, decide on the size of the rooms, and get building permits. You will learn about building materials and foundations, floors, walls, paint, windows, decks, garage doors, roofing, flashings, chimneys, plumbing, wiring, ceilings, floors, railings, and attics. In addition, you will learn how to design a home that will meet your needs, perform constructions tasks safely, and build amenities. This book will inform you about common problems to watch for, including foundation, roofing, walls, stairs, sidewalks, driveways, heating and cooling, electrical capacity, and wiring. This book will detail money-saving options and environmentally friendly techniques, while at the same time allowing you to monitor the quality of the materials and the workmanship, fine-tune the design, and make sure the results are exactly what you had envisioned. Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company president's garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.

Save 30% on home construction! Whether you want to take on all the responsibility of contracting your home or simply want to intelligently communicate with your homebuilder, The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home can help you save 30% or more on the cost of home construction by teaching you the ins and outs of managing your construction project. Learn how to get your project off to a solid start. Get financial and legal details in language you can understand. Learn what to consider when selecting a lot and how to deal with suppliers, labor and subcontractors. Gain understanding of building codes and inspections so you can manage with authority, confidence, and efficiency. This extensive guide walks you through each phase of construction including preconstruction, foundations, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, masonry, siding, insulation, drywall, trim, painting, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, tile and landscaping. Completely revised and updated, this edition includes a new section on sustainable building as well as the most comprehensive building resources section ever compiled. You'll find schedules, order forms, control logs, contracts and checklists to help keep your project on track.

Old homes come with a character unmatched by recently built houses on the market The craftsmanship is often more distinct, the architectural elements more refined, the wood floors and trims more detailed, and the structure more solid and settled. A certain amount of renovation must be done to the older homes, and remodelling your home can make it come alive, fix its flaws, enhance its interior, and even make it more eco-friendly. However, renovating can be time consuming, expensive, and nerve-racking, leaving the homeowner in a dust whirl-wind with everything that needs to be done. This guide helps you to overcome these challenges bringing you home-owner bliss. To begin, you will learn how to estimate and stick to your renovation budget, as well as some key cost-cutting techniques to help you come in under budget. You will learn what building codes to follow before your begin your project, as well as the projects you can do on your own and what you might need professional assistance on. This book takes you through the complete remodelling process from the bottom up, beginning with the foundation. The book also presents ideas for renovating your family room, bedrooms, attic, basement, kitchen, and bathroom, as well as a variety of floor plans to follow if you need some help getting started. You will learn how to select and install cabinets and counter tops, as well as how to fully update sinks, taps, appliances, baths, showers and toilets. You will also learn how to overcome the challenges associated with water, electricity, asbestos, tanks and wells, and cesspools. There are step-by-step instructions for some of the most common projects, including installing drywall, upgrading windows and doors, and installing flooring. There is a section on exterior renovations, which contains information on skylights, garage doors, sunrooms, decks, and pools. Whether you are attempting your first project or are a seasoned professional, this is an indispensable companion for any homeowner with a project or two in mind.

Building a tiny house can be time-consuming, expensive, and overwhelming... but it doesn't have to be. Tiny House Decisions is the place to start.You've taken the journey from tiny house dreamer to future tiny house dweller. You know that the tiny house lifestyle is for you.If you could move in tomorrow, you'd do it in a heartbeat. But as you start to wrap your head around the thousands of choices you'll need to make as you build your house (or work with a builder), you can feel the overwhelm creeping in.You might be struggling with the following questions:Can I actually do this myself?What if I get told I have to move my house?Figuring out which building system to go with: Framing? SIPs? Metal Framing?What kind of tiny house trailer to use?Can I actually do this for the limited amount of money I have saved?You've watched plenty of tiny house tours on YouTube. You've found books on framing your house, doing your own electrical wiring, and even the legality of living in a tiny house.. What you haven't found is the guide that brings it all together and takes you start to finish, through the process of researching, planning, building, and finally living in your tiny house.

This complete guide to building your own home covers every step of the process. It includes advice on: how to select land ; design guidelines; the roles of professional consultants ; how to deal with the workings of control authorities ; preparing working drawings ;who's who of subcontracting and supply industries. Includes in detail the practical steps that owner-builders need to take to ensure their building meets the aims of local regulations in environmental efficiency. Also included are detailed drawings showing how all the components are assembled to achieve the home of your dreams.

Keep construction on track with helpful checklists Turn your dream of a custom home into reality! Thinking about building your own home? This easy-to-follow guide shows you how to plan and build a beautiful home on any budget. From acquiring land to finding the best architect to overseeing the construction, you get lots of savvy tips on managing your new investment wisely -- and staying sane during the process! Discover how to: * Find the best homesite * Navigate the plan approval process * Obtain financing * Hire the right contractor * Cut design and construction costs * Avoid common mistakes

Buying a new home can be an expensive endeavor. Many people dream of building their own home but mistakenly believe that doing so is not cost effective. However, you can save 20 to 40 percent or more by building your own home.

In this completely updated and totally revised second edition, you will learn how to choose a site, draw up construction time line and flow charts, apply for consturction loans, obtain essential insurance information, buy plans, find and negotiate with subcontractors, and comply with building code, inspection, and permit requirements. The ins and outs of self contracting are explained, combined with the experiences of others, and with dozens of forms and checklists at hand, you will learn all about: building materials and foundations, windows, decks, roofing, plumbing, heating, wiring, air-conditioning, and much more. There are hundreds of tools, contracts, and checklists to help you get your project organized and save you thousands! The companion CD-ROM is included with the print version of this book; however is not available for download with the electronic version. It may be obtained separately by contacting Atlantic Publishing Group at [email protected] Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company president s garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.

The Complete Home Building Guidebook, written by Howard Zuckerman is based on the last 35 years of experience in building homes in the Atlanta, GA marketplace. Written in easy to understand language, this book will take the reader through each phase of the home building process. This guidebook includes numerous bullet points, charts, illustrations, photographs, checklists, forms and documents. Each of the chapters presents information that can potentially save or earn the reader thousands of dollars.CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO HOME BUILDING: This chapter discusses: -What this book will discuss-The traits of a home builder-The 4 P's of Marketing-The day to day life of a small builderCHAPTER 2: TYPES OF HOME BUILDERS AND MARKET SEGMENTATION: This chapter discusses: -The types of home builders-The types of housing marketsCHAPTER 3: LAND: LOCATING, CONTRACTING AND DUE DILIGENCE: This chapter discusses: -How to find a suitable parcel of land-How to contract for the land-Methods of purchase the land-The due diligence processes-Property issues-Legal issues-TeardownsCHAPTER 4: ASSEMBLING THE HOME BUILDING TEAM: This chapter discusses: -How to assemble the best home building team and who the various players areCHAPTER 5: DESIGNING THE HOUSE PLANS: This chapter discusses: -Finding the right house plan to fit the market and the lot-Reviewing the local demographics-What goes in a great house plan-How to find the best designer-Various types of home styles-Siting the house on the lot-Efficient floor plans-Design features-Universal design-Smart homes-Green homesCHAPTER 6: WORKING DRAWINGS: This chapter discusses: -How to find the right architect/designer-Questions to ask the architect/designer-Reading the working drawings-What to know about house plan copyrights-Items to review in the working drawings-Landscape designCHAPTER 7: SELECTING THE VARIOUS MATERIALS: This chapter discusses: -Reviewing the features of comparable homes-The house plan specificationsCHAPTER 8: ESTIMATING, BIDDING & DOCUMENTATION: This chapter discusses-How to estimate the working drawings-Various methods to estimate-The various components to estimate-How to value engineer-Estimating mistakes-How to find suitable subcontractors and vendors-How to get the various quotes-How to contract for the workCHAPTER 9: CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS: PREPARING THE BUDGETS & PROFORMA: This chapter discusses: -The price per square foot costs-Soft or indirect costs-Hard costs-Profit margins-How to determine what you can pay for the dirt-The risks associated with building-The Go or No decisionCHAPTER 10: FINANCING THE PROJECT: DEBT & EQUITY: This chapter discusses-Lot loans-Acquisition & development loans-Construction loans-Equity requirements-Construction & permanent loansCHAPTER 11: THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS: This chapter discusses: -Pre-construction-Scheduling-Construction starts-Gantt charts-Reviewing the subcontractor's work-Quality assurance-Performance testing-Potential construction issues-Safety in the workplaceCHAPTER 12: DEALING WITH SUBCONTRACTORS, VENDORS AND INSPECTORS: This chapter discusses-How to find the best trade partners-InspectorsCHAPTER 13: THE SALES PROCESS: This chapter discusses-How will the home builder market the house?-Models vs staging-Professional photographs-Curb appeal-Home builder branding-How to price the home-The monthly costs for the home buyer-Real estate commissions-Seller closing costs-When to list the home-Price negotiations-Negotiating strategies-Earnest money-Allowances-Standard upgrades-Change orders-Dealing with the purchaser's appraisal-The sales office-Traffic reports-Comparable studies -Sales techniquesCHAPTER 14: WORKING WITH THE HOME BUYER: This chapter discusses: -Types of home buyers-Pros and cons of customer home building vs speculative building-Pre-sale buyers-Types of contract-Selection of materials-Walk through of the house-Construction draws-Dealing with the home buyer's inspector-Warranty-Dealing with difficult home buyers-Dealing with real estate agentsCHAPTER 15: PRE-CLOSING, AT THE CLOSING & POST CLOSING: This chapter discusses: -Pre-closing-At the closing-Post-closingCHAPTER 16: THE BUSINESS END OF HOME BUILDING: This chapter discusses: -Setting up the new ownership entity-Licenses requires-Business plan and mission statement-Setting up your office-Employee manual-Bookkeeping/Accounting-Insurance and bonds-Accounting reports-Software-Filing system-Organizational chart-Meetings-Membership-Subscriptions-Time management-Successful business practices to followCHAPTER 17: LOT DEVELOPMEN T: This chapter discusses: -Lot development-Feasibility studies-Scaling up the home builder's expertiseCHAPTER 18: ADDITIONS & RENOVATIONS: This chapter discusses: -Items to include when pricing the job-Kitchen renovations-Bathroom renovations-Basement additions-Expanding the footprint-Adding a second story-Other areas to renovate -18 Renovation mistakesPPENDIX: This section includes-A glossary of terms-Types of construction equipment-Resource links-Photography of the home building processThis book is targeted towards: -Entrepreneurs who want to enter the home building business-Small home builders who want to organize their business for profitability-Production builders who want to have a training tool for their employees-Fix and flip renovators who want to elevate their game-Individuals who want to build their new home and want an understanding of the process-The various team players in the home building process that want to make themselves more valuable to their clients-Real estate sales agents that want to understand the home building process

A comprehensive guide to building or renovating a home provides everything homeowners need to know to get the best results, covering such topics as selecting and supervising an architect and contractor, cost estimates, budget, plan specifications, dealing with permits, and more and examining a wide range of common pitfalls and how to avoid them.