Category: build-your-home

Once construction begins, changes become expensive because nothing exists in isolation. Move a wall and electrical may change. Then plumbing. Flooring. Cabinetry. Lighting. Schedule. The more decisions you finalize before construction, the fewer expensive surprises you create. Put specifications in writing: materials, manufacturers, models, sizes, finishes, allowances, responsibilities. Ambiguity creates change orders. Before approving a change, understand the ripple effect. “Can we move this door two feet?” may sound simple until you discover plumbing is in the wall and flooring was centered around it. Keep a contingency because something will happen. The goal is not to eliminate every problem. … Continue readingChange Orders: The Most Expensive Phrase Is ‘While We’re Here…’

So you bought a piece of land and you want to build a house. Congratulations. Now come hundreds of decisions. Before you worry about floor plans, countertops, pools, garages, or rooflines, answer the most important question: Why are you building the house? There are two very different philosophies. If you are building for yourself, you are probably not doing it because it is the cheapest possible way to obtain shelter. You are doing it because you want something customized around your life. Maybe this is your forever home. Maybe this is where you raise children, entertain, retire, work, or … Continue readingWhy Are You Building This House?