Get everything on paper and be sure to read the fine print.

Now, there are certainly some contractors out there who are honest and good at what they do. But you need to be aware of the bad ones, too.

It’s also important to know that even though you have a contract with your contractor, if he doesn’t finish the job for whatever reason, it could leave you having to hire another contractor and pay extra money for them to finish the job.

So make sure that when you sign a contract with a home builder or remodeling contractor, that all terms are spelled out clearly in writing and that everything is notarized. Get multiple bids from different contractors, so that you can get the best deal possible on your home remodeling project.

Start as early as possible.

• Start as early as possible. Do not wait until you think you’re going to build to start the planning process. Get your financing in order and get a mortgage pre-approval before you even start looking at lots (or homes, if you are planning on buying an existing home). Research builders early. This will help ensure that when it’s time to build, everything is in place and there won’t be any delays or roadblocks due to lack of preparation or foresight on your part.
• When choosing a builder, choose one whose reputation for quality matches your standards and budget (or exceeds them). When researching builders, look for problems with finished homes – things like water seepage into basements, poor workmanship that must be re-done by the builder after inspection, etc. Ask questions about how they handle these situations if they come up during construction – are they willing to fix problems? Will they consider using better materials? A builder who cares about his reputation is unlikely to disappoint you with the finished product because he will do what it takes to live up to expectations every time he builds a house – at least if he’s been in business for any length of time!

Make careful selections about your builder and materials.

When you’re building your first home, don’t rush into choosing a builder or materials until you are sure they are the best fit for your needs. It is important to find someone who will be able to meet your expectations as well as your budget. Research local builders and ask for references, talk with friends and family about their builds or remodels, or get online and search forums where people discuss their experiences with projects like yours. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of potential builders—if it’s not a good fit, then you’ll know before you’ve made any commitments. And when it comes to picking materials for your home, don’t settle on the first thing that catches your eye: often times there are a number of choices available that will do the job just as well at a lower price point.

Decide on your floor plan carefully.

Although I spent a lot of time pondering the layout of my new home, I was fortunate to have some expert advice from my significant other, who helped me with her own experience in the process. Knowing that she had been through it herself, I knew she would eventually be able to help me navigate a big decision like this one.

I’ll never forget the first time we discussed our options together. We sat at the kitchen table and went over each feature of each floor plan we liked best: an open floor plan, or a more enclosed style? A large kitchen that doubles as dining room, or a small kitchen? Also: What kind? Cabinets or countertops? Crown molding or wood grain? White cabinets with built-in appliances, or oak cabinets with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances? The possibilities were endless.

When we finally settled on the design—an open floor plan with an eat-in kitchen—we were both excited about how wonderful it would be for entertaining friends and family

Trust your instincts when it comes to your project manager or foreman.

Listen to your intuition when it comes to hiring your project manager or foreman. I learned my lesson the hard way with our first one, who was unresponsive and hard to get ahold of. Whenever I felt myself getting upset about something, I chalked it up to my inexperience. But really, this was someone who was not the right fit for me and did not have the same goals for my house that I had.

When we finally parted ways and hired a new project manager, he took time to explain things and educate me on construction jargon — all the while encouraging me to ask questions. He went out of his way to make sure that I understood what was happening during each stage of construction and made sure that everyone on his team treated me as an equal partner in this big adventure.

Don’t ignore your gut feelings about the builders or interior designers you’re working with, even if they have great references.

In addition to being a charming and personable guy, Bill is a real pro builder. He’s built many homes with his own hands, and he’s been around the block when it comes to developing interiors. His company is full of professionals who can do the job right, and they do—but you’ve got to know all your options before making a choice.

When we decided to build our home, we knew that we wanted our house constructed on concrete blocks with post-and-beam framing in an open concept home. However, when we asked Bill if he could meet us at one of these templates because it was one of the features we most liked about other houses in the area, he had his crew put up another house based on some other type of framing (I’m guessing wood frame). It ended up costing us more and taking longer than anything else I could have asked for at that point. We went with the concrete blocks and beam framing after talking through everything else thoroughly with him: how he would break down costs differently than contractors might; what kind of lumber to use; how much insulation is needed; building codes by region; typical costs by region; and so forth.

Eventually we found what was best for us among all this information: I’d trust my gut feeling about listening to Bill or not (just as I would consider any contractor). If it felt right to me, then whatever contract they came up with was going ahead—even if their prices were substantially higher than everyone else’s around town (which they were). Even if their quotes seemed fair at first glance, I wouldn’t trust them as much as someone like Bill. When you’re putting together a project like this (or even something smaller), don’t be afraid to walk away from someone initially well-recommended in order to save time or money elsewhere in your project—it’ll usually turn out better later on anyway!

Be extra thorough with your selections.

As a first-time homeowner, it’s important to take the time to consider all of your options and make the right choices so that you have the home of your dreams. Here are some tips for things to keep in mind when buying a new home:

• Spend time with your builder and be as thorough as possible with your selections. Look at samples of everything you’re choosing — siding, paint colors, countertops, flooring — and make sure they look like they’ll go well together before construction starts.
• You may want to consider hiring an interior designer to help you choose items for your home. A designer can provide valuable insight into what colors or patterns may come back in style in 5 or 10 years and he or she can help ensure that everything is cohesive throughout the house.
• Hire an inspector to do a pre-drywall inspection once all of your mechanicals are installed (electrical wiring, plumbing, etc.). It’s much easier for him/her to check any potential issues now than after drywall is installed because if it does need repairs down the road, there will be significant damage if parts need to be replaced.

Take pride in saving money, but know when to splurge too.

Saving money is part of the building process. You find a good deal on the land, a great deal on the house, and do your best to get deals on the materials. However, if you are serious about building to sell, there are some places you should splurge.

The first place where I would suggest spending more is in the design or plan. Having something that will set your home apart from others that have been built with the same plan is important. Too often builders simply build what they like or what has sold before, not always taking into account market trends or location specific needs and desires.

Designing a home with an open concept and newer colors can save you thousands down the road when it comes time to sell because it won’t need updating before selling.

Resist making expensive changes to the house once construction has begun, because not only will it raise costs, but it may also cause delays that can drag out construction for months.

• Resist making expensive changes to the house once construction has begun, because not only will it raise costs, but it may also cause delays that can drag out construction for months.
• Try to get it right the first time. Building a house is a complicated process with many people involved. If you decide to make changes during the process, you can expect delays and increased expenses. Try to have a detailed plan of what you want before construction starts so there are fewer delays and unexpected cost overruns.

Be ready to be open minded and work with others’ ideas, because they might make your end result even more magnificent than you imagined!

Be ready to be open minded and work with others’ ideas, because they might make your end result even more magnificent than you imagined! Be careful not to rush into any decisions, but do remain open to suggestions that may refine your vision. Know the difference between understanding what someone is saying, and simply hearing what they are saying. Ask questions to clarify anything you don’t understand, but don’t be afraid to say no if a suggestion doesn’t fit in with your vision.

Building a new home is a big decision and requires a lot of careful planning

Building your own home can be a rewarding experience, but it’s not without its challenges. If you’re getting ready to build your first home or are considering doing so in the future, there are several important things that you should keep in mind before you get started.

• Take your time and plan ahead. While it might seem like diving headfirst into the project is the best way to get it done quickly, rushing through construction can cause problems later on down the road. Besides, taking the time to plan gives you an opportunity to make sure your house meets all of your needs and wants.
• Know what you want beforehand. This may sound obvious, but many people don’t take the time to think about what they want out of their new home before they start building it.
• Keep yourself within budget. It’s easy to overspend when building a new home and forgetting that there are other expenses outside of construction costs can throw off your budget considerably if you aren’t careful! That said, knowing how much money you have available for this project will help ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible from here on out–and keep those funds from being wasted on unnecessary upgrades or modifications later down the line (which could add up very quickly).

If you’re building your first home and have no idea what to expect, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.

Here are the top 10 things we learned when we built our first home.

[product 1: Never put in a window that’s taller than it is wide; it lets too much light in.]

[product 2: Avoid roofs with a slope of more than 15 degrees; they’re hard to climb.]

[product 3: Design your rooms to be as large as possible; you can always make them smaller later.]

[product 4: Never install floor heating; it makes for uncomfortable, sweaty feet.]

[product 5: Always install skylights in every room; they’ll make everything brighter!]

[product 6: Go with white walls and ceilings; they’ll make your home look bigger.]

[product 7: Never use a cheap paint brand; it’ll just peel off after a few years.]

[product 8: Never install a curtain rod on the ceiling; it’s too far away from the floor!]

[product 9: Make sure you have plenty of electrical outlets in each room; they’re easy to forget about!]

[product 10: Don’t forget to build closets into every room so that

Congratulations! You’re on your way to becoming a homeowner by building your own house. You’ve done the research and you feel like you know what you’re doing, but there are a few things you might not have thought about. And that’s okay—we all make mistakes!

Here are 10 things I learned when I built my first home:

1. Wallpaper is more difficult to remove than I thought, so I chose to skip it altogether in favor of paint.

2. Getting an outdoor fireplace will take up a lot of space, so if you want one, plan ahead and pick a spot that won’t steal precious space from your floor plan.

3. It’s important to put in enough outlets in the right places, because if you don’t, connecting multiple electronics is a pain.

4. When choosing the layout for your home, think about what makes sense for YOU—not just what looks best on Pinterest or someone else’s home tour online. Think about how you’ll use each room day-to-day and work from there.

5. When working with contractors, find someone who has experience with small projects like remodeling or painting rather than just larger jobs like building from the ground up. This is important because they’ll be

You’ve probably heard it said a million times: building a home from scratch is a stressful process. But is it really? I recently went through the process of building my very first home, and now that it’s complete, I can say this with confidence: It’s not nearly as bad as you think.

Here are 10 things I learned along the way that may help you prepare for the process.

1. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of materials.

2. Be sure to consult a professional before starting any major project.

3. Make sure you have all the tools you need before beginning your project.

4. Allow plenty of time for projects to dry (or cure).

5. When in doubt, call your contractor!

Do you dream of building your very own home? Me too! I’m a total sucker for those HGTV shows. I’ve always been obsessed with the idea of taking an empty plot of land, and turning it into the house of my dreams.

I finally made that dream a reality this past year, and let me tell you—it was an adventure.

If you’re thinking about building a home, there’s a lot to consider. So, let’s jump right in to my top 10 things to know when building your first home!

1. Be sure to check zoning laws in your area before buying a plot of land. If you don’t have access to clean water, or your plot is full of wetlands, or you’re too close to train tracks or other high-traffic areas, you might not be able to build on the land at all!

2. Ensure that you can get utilities on the land before you buy it. You need water, electricity, and gas lines for any house to be livable—so make sure you can get them installed on your plot before committing!

3. If finances are tight, consider hiring as many contractors as possible so that you don’t have to buy as many tools and

1. Don’t skimp on the windows. They’re worth it!

2. If you want to stay married, it’s kind of important that you and your spouse be on the same page when it comes to design choices like… well, anything.

3. It really is true: You don’t know what you’ll learn about yourself until you build your own home.

4. You might not think so at first, but having a dedicated laundry room is life-changing.

5. Don’t go over budget buying a fancy toilet if you can help it (it’s just a sink with a hole).

6. If you’re going to have kids, make sure they have a safe place to run around outside—you will be grateful for it later!

7. Hiring an interior designer was probably one of the best decisions we made; in fact we would do it again in a heartbeat!

8. Don’t spend too much time trying to decide between light and dark countertops—they’re both beautiful options! Just pick the one that speaks to you and go with it!

9. Building your own home is the ultimate test of patience: there are good days and bad days, but just remember that no matter

Building your first home is a big deal. I mean, it’s not just a big deal—it’s THE big deal. It’s the biggest, most important thing you’ll do in your life, and it can be nerve-wracking.

Trust me, I know. I’ve been through it!

I’ve got 10 things to share with you that’ll make your first home build just a little less stressful and hopefully save you some headaches along the way.

1. Take care of yourself

The first thing you need to know is that building your first house is going to take a lot out of you—and the last thing you want to do when you’re tuckered out is make a mistake! Make sure that you get enough sleep, eat right, and exercise. It’ll help keep you fresh, focused, and able to make good decisions on the job site.

2. Keep your wallet handy

You’re going to need your wallet—a lot. You’ll need it for buying supplies and paying workers, as well as thinking about what appliances and furniture you want for your new house. Keeping track of all those expenses can be tough if you don’t have an organizational system set up ahead of time (more on that later).

1. Be specific when you’re choosing the flooring

My first mistake was not being detailed enough about what kind of floor I wanted. I just told the contractor I wanted wood floors, and he assumed that meant engineered hardwood. It’s not what I had in mind, but we went with it. Now I have a ground floor that’s all engineered hardwood, and an upper floor that’s solid wood because we realized our mistake halfway through construction.

2. Ask for recommendations for landscapers

I had one contractor leave me a recommendation for someone to do my landscaping, but she did a really poor job! We ended up having to hire another landscaper to redo all the work she did, and it cost twice as much as it should have because we had to pay for both jobs.

3. Don’t leave windows out of your budget

This is something I’d never really thought about until my contractor brought it up, but windows are super expensive! They can easily take up 2-5% of your total budget if you’re not careful. Mine were only 1% of the total budget because they were included in the price of the house.