• SUMMARY HOME BUILDING INFORMATION

• SUMMARY HOME BUILDING INFORMATION

• Search House Plans Your first step in home construction project is searching house plans for home

• HOME BUILDING STEPS

• Building ideas. View designs to decide on home style, home type, floor layout, room dimensions, and other design specs you would like to see.

• STEP 1: Analyze the Numbers
  Understand what is needed: Can you afford building your home? Can you qualify for construction financing? These questions are reviewed in this step.

• W http://www.SearchHousePlans.com  design considerations: http://www.SayBuild.com/ 
• http://www.eplans.com
•   Design Your Home

• STEP 2: Where to Start Your Home Building
  Where to start: use this step to define your family objectives, find your lot and
  location, view home styles, and review house plans.

• Construction Specifications

• STEP 3: Design the Construction Specification Plan
  Define your home specifications: list the size and type of rooms, the general floor
  layout, the plumbing needs, flooring requirements, landscaping plan, etc.
  

• The Specification Plan defines the design and product specifications for your home
  construction.

• STEP 4: Arrange for Home Construction Financing
  Paying construction has two parts: 1) home building line: used to pay supplies
  and contractor costs; 2) residential mortgage: used to payoff the construction line.
  

• It will list the size and type of rooms, the general layout of each floor, the plumbing
  needs throughout the house, flooring requirements for each room, type of doors
  and windows, electrical plan, type of HVAC, landscaping layout, etc.

• STEP 5: Qualifying for a Mortgage Loan
  Lenders use several criteria to qualify a home buyer for a mortgage loan:
  1) home appraisal; 2) credit rating; 3) income/debt ratios; and 4) employment.
  

• Two Types of Home Builders

• STEP 6: Managing Your Home Construction
  Types of management: 1) home owner/builder management; 2) change management;
  3) problem resolution management; and 4) cost management.

• 1) Custom Home Construction
  where the construction is based on a custom design and individually built for the
  home owner

• STEP 7: Home Closing and Settlement
  What’s needed to close: summary guide on home inspection, closing, closing cost
  estimates, going to settlement, taking possession, and buyer rights.
  

• 2) Production Home Construction
  where the construction is based on 3-4 different "production" designs. The owner
  will select one of the design with minimal modifications.

• HOME CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS

• Find the right home builder:
  Manage Your Home Construction Project

• SPEC PLANNING A: Home Style and Plan
  First, download our construction specification sheet as a guide. Use it to define
  your home style, identify the number of rooms, arrange your rooms by adjacencies,
  and define the room size dimensions.

• Project management types:

• SPEC PLANNING B: Lot Excavation
  View the physical features of the lot. Note any rocks, trees, water-fronts, or other
  desirable or undesirable views. Note any extra requirements. Check the drainage.
  

• 1) building management

• SPEC PLANNING C: Home Foundation
  The foundation is the most critical part of your home construction. Types of
  foundations: slab foundation; crawlspace foundation, and basement foundation.
  

• 2) owner management

• SPEC PLANNING D: House Framing
  Framing is where your house begins to take shape. You want to inspect the work
  often to make sure the framing is going as planned. View wood vs. steel framing.

• 3) change management

• SPEC PLANNING E: Roofing
  Identify type of roof and rain removal systems. Roofing materials come in asphalt
  and fiberglass shingles, cedar shakes, tile, slate and more expensive materials.

• 4) problem resolution management

• SPEC PLANNING F: Doors and Windows
  Identify the type of doors and windows by room. Windows and exterior doors
  should be installed as soon as the frame is completed to prevent damage.
  

• 5) cost management

• SPEC PLANNING G: Plumbing
  Identify any special plumbing needs by room: utility sink in garage; wet bar in
  recreation room; plumbing for unfinished basement, etc. There are many new
  plumbing materials that can reduce your cost. See site for information.

• 6) financial management

• Note: Here is the bottom line when choosing a Contractor. Make sure you have a war a fuzzy feel with him, don't let price dictate how you choose. If the price sounds to good to be true, don't be fooled, because it most likely is. Make sure you feel that you can work with the contractor and that he listens to your needs, not his.

• PRE-SETTLEMENT WALK THROUGH CHECK LIST

Grading

• Does the ground around the foundation slope away from the house?
• Make sure the water does not pond in swales. To check, water the areas with a hose, if possible.
• Are there signs of erosion?
• Is the shrubbery placed at least 2-3 feet from the foundation?
• If the house has a basement, are the basement window wells clean and graveled?

• Are the windows and doors sealed and protected by weatherstripping?
• Are the trim and fittings tight? Are there any cracks?
• Does the paint cover the surface and trim smoothly?
• Has landscaping been installed according to the terms of your contract?

Roof and Gutters

• Are the shingles flat and tight?
• Is the flashing securely in place?
• Do the gutters, downspouts and splash blocks direct water away from the house?

• Are all doors and windows sealed?
• Do they open and close easily?
• Is the glass properly in place? Is any loose or cracked?

• Is the painting satisfactory in all rooms, closets and stairways?
• Did the painters miss any spots?
• Are the trim and molding in place?

• Is the carpet tight? Do the seams match?
• Are there any ridges or seam gaps in vinyl tile or linoleum?
• Are wooden floors properly finished?

• Do all of the appliances operate properly?
• Are all of the appliances the model and color you ordered?
• Check all faucets and plumbing fixtures, including toilets and showers, to make sure they operate properly.
• Check all electrical fixtures and outlets. Bring a hair dryer to test the outlets.
• Do the heating, cooling and water heating units operate properly? Test them to make sure.
• If the home has a fireplace, do the draft and damper work?
• Are there any nicks, scratches, cracks or burns on any surfaces, including cabinets and countertops?
• Test the doorbell. Also test the intercom system, garage door opener and any other optional items.

• Are there indications of dampness or leaks?
• Is there significant cracking in the floors or foundation walls?
• Are there any obvious defects in exposed components, such as floor joists, I-beams, support columns, insulation, heating ducts, plumbing, electrical, etc.?

• Has your local municipality signed off on your house?

Some problems may not be readily apparent during the walk-through. Even a professional inspector might miss a few. Most warranties cover any such problems that are the result of faulty workmanship. However, warranties usually exclude problems that result from owner neglect or improper maintenance.