BUILDING YOU OWN HOME

 Looking for the house, not just any house, but THE house is a challenge.  You find so many little things here and there that are not quite what you wanted.  "If only they had...", becomes the catch phrase of all your efforts.  You curl up on the couch and mutter, "Why don't we build our own house the way we want it."  Well, why don't you!

Well, before you do, you may want to rent a copy of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House to see if you are up to the challenge.  But once you convince yourself that building is the way to go, let's sit down and check out all that you have just committed yourself (and your family) to endure.

Here are 6 considerations to ponder when building your "dream house".

1. Materials - To paraphrase a friend, "What is there to putting up a few walls?" Material selection is important.  If you are operating on a shoestring budget, you count every nail.  If your budget is unlimited, well anything goes when it comes to material selection - solid gold fixtures in all the bathrooms, why not!

2. Time Frame - Just how long does it take to build a house depends on the house design, the weather, the availability of materials, and available skilled labor.  Where will you live till your "dream" is a reality.  Custom builds can take up to six months to complete.

3. Warranties - Hiring a licensed general contractor may give you a sense of security that the construction is done to local code and design specifications, but after you take ownership who will be there to repair flaws?  Mike Holmes has made a career out of "Making It Right" when homeowners deal with design flaws.

4. Selecting Upgrades - A solid gold shower head certainly looks out of place in a rustic log cabin.  It is important to select upgrades that will optimize the design of your home as well as be within budget.

5. Managing Negotiations - Ah, here is where we get to the heart of the matter.  Getting bids from sub-contractors, reviewing them, and finalizing terms for work to be completed all while holding down your 9-5 job that is paying for all this work.  

6. Dealing with roadblocks - Even before the shovel turns up the first patch of soil there are the hurdles and hoops you will have to jump over and through just to get your designed approved by the local building department.  Then once construction begins there are the scheduled inspections, scheduling conflicts and dealing with delays from suppliers and contractors.

You may think I am painting a negative picture here for those who want to build their own house, I am not.  I am reminded of the line uttered by George Blandings in the above-mentioned movie: Despite all the delays, cost overrides and difficulties, when all was said and done - "it is all mine!"  And will be all yours too.