Peter Economy - Building Your Custom Home For Dummies

Building Your Custom Home For Dummies®

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Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2021942675

ISBN 978-1-119-79679-4 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-79680-0 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-79681-7 (ebk)

1 Cover

2 Title Page

3 Copyright

4 Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here

5 Part 1: Getting Started with Custom-Home Building Chapter 1: The Custom-Home Process in a Nutshell Where Do You Start? Preparing to Build Your Home Money Makes the World Go Round: Paying for Your Home Introducing the Custom-Home Life Cycle Being an Owner-Builder: More Power to You! Chapter 2: Preparing for the Process Organizing and Documenting Budgeting Your Project Hiring a Contractor Identifying Insurance Issues Managing Your Expectations Chapter 3: The Land Grab: Selecting the Perfect Site Knowing the Difference between Land and a Lot Location, Location, Location: Refining Your Lot-Buying Needs Finding a Lot Evaluating a Particular Lot: The True Value of Dirt Dealing with a Teardown Property Buying Your Land Chapter 4: Defining Your House Style Getting to Know Your Style Preferences and Limitations Considering Conventional Construction: Wood versus Steel Enjoying the Warmth of a Log Home Highlighting Wood Inside: Timber Frame or Post-and-Beam Considering a System Approach Unearthing Alternative Construction Methods

6 Part 2: Assembling Your Team Chapter 5: Architects and Design: Time Spent Is Money Saved Arming Yourself with an Architect Looking at Architect Alternatives Placing the House on the Lot Planning the Size and Shape of Your Home Designing Your Home’s Interior So Many Details, All of Them Important Chapter 6: Engineers and City Folk: Approval Bureaucracy Made Somewhat Easy Understanding Plans and Blueprints Working with the Building and Planning Departments Submitting Your Prelims for Approval Gathering the Permits You Need Chapter 7: All the King’s Men: The Contractor and Their Cohorts Working with Your Contractor Managing Your Time and Money Introducing Other Important Players Managing Disputes

7 Part 3: All You Need Is Dough: Financing Your Custom Home Chapter 8: Cash Is King: Borrowing to Your Advantage Accepting the Need for Liquidity: Cash, Cash, and More Cash Breaking the Emotional Barriers: This Is Not Your Grandfather’s Depression Okay, So You Have All This Cash — Now Manage It Turning Your House into a Moneymaking Machine Safely Deferring Financial Decisions until the End of the Construction Project Chapter 9: Knowledge Is Power: What You Don’t Know about Construction Loans Can Hurt You Exploring Your Construction Loan Options Finding a Good Construction Lender The Loan Process from Start to Finish: When to Do What Understanding All the Fees Letting the Lender Carry Your Burden Chapter 10: Qualifying: It’s the Bank’s Way or the Highway Stepping behind the Desk: How a Construction Lender Views Your Project Recognizing What a Construction Lender Really Wants to See Building the Bank’s Construction Budget Calculating the Loan Amount and Cash Solving Other Budget Problems Chapter 11: Show Me the Money: Flowing Cash through the Project Managing a Self-Funded Project Working with a Construction Lender Understanding How the Voucher System Works Taking a Closer Look at the Draw Reimbursement System Figuring Out Who Gets the Money — You or the Contractor Using Credit Cards Responsibly Can Buy You a Trip to Europe

8 Part 4: Hammers and Nails: Overseeing the Construction Process Chapter 12: Excavation and Foundation: Getting a Solid Start Surveying and Site Preparation Preparing for the Utilities Pouring the Foundation Chapter 13: Framing and Rough: So Much Goes behind Those Walls! Things to Consider Before Framing and Rough Work Begin Looking at What’s Involved in Framing a House Installing the Rough Systems with Ease Sheathing, Flashing, and Insulation Chapter 14: Heading for the Finish: The Devil’s in the Details The Icing on the Cake: Exterior Finishing Moving Inside: Completing Fireplaces and Walls The Finish Carpenters: Doors, Windows, Molding, Cabinets, and Countertops All the Pretty Stuff

9 Part 5: All the After Stuff Chapter 15: Making a House a Home: Moving In, Furnishing, and Using Smart Tech Finishing Up the Custom-Home Project Selling the Old Home and Moving Considering Technology Options Chapter 16: Taking It Outside: The Art of Landscaping and Hardscaping Designing Your Dream Landscape Putting Your Plan in Action: Hardscaping Leafing Out: Softscaping with Plants Chapter 17: Making Your Nest Egg Financially Sound Managing Maintenance and Repairs Should You Stay or Should You Go? Identifying the Best Permanent Financing Solution

10 Part 6: The Part of Tens Chapter 18: Ten Common Custom-Home Mistakes and How