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Building Your Dream Home 101

For those who are interested in becoming actively involved in the design and construction of a new home, we have put together the basic information that you need to know before starting to look for a lot or acreage for your new home. We will take the mystery out of the building process for you. We have the procedures and systems fine tuned.

We help you secure financing, find the perfect home site, introduce you to custom home builders and designers, and continue to advise and help you manage your new home throughout its construction. Below are just some of the most frequently asked questions that we hear from our clients when they are considering the possibility of building a custom home.

If you would like answers to these questions, please indicate your level of interest in the subjects below by choosing one of the buttons. '1' indicates a very high level of interest and '4' indicates no interest.

Level of Interest	1	2	3	4
Site Selection What is the access to the lot? What limitations on equipment and design does the topography entail? What is the best orientation for a building with respect to the sun? How do the CC&R's restrict the use of the lot? How about zoning requirements? What easements are on the property that may restrict its use?
Level of Interest	1	2	3	4
Permits What information do I need to get the necessary permits? What is the cost of permits? What inspections will be necessary and how do I prepare for them? How do I prepare for proper compliance with the applicable building codes?
Level of Interest	1	2	3	4
Financing Why are there separate loans for land acquisition and construction? What is a 'take-out' loan? How do I pay the contractors as work progresses?
Level of Interest	1	2	3	4
Design What are 'stock plans'? How are they different from custom plans? Can I draw the plans myself? How do I interact with an architect? How can I make sure that the materials used will provide the most efficient energy use? What is the cost of change orders during construction? What are the principal things I should keep in mind to enhance the resale value of my home?
Level of Interest	1	2	3	4
Materials What do I need to know to safely evaluate the various types of construction materials and how do I shop for the best price?
Level of Interest	1	2	3	4
Bids from Contractors and Sub-Contractors What type of contract do I need to have with the general contractor, sub-contractors and material suppliers? How do I check references? What kind of insurance for workers on my job site do I need ? Is worker's compensation, liability and builder's risk insurance necessary and where do I find the providers for this type of insurance? What about natural disaster insurance during construction?
Level of Interest	1	2	3	4
Liens What are liens, what do they accomplish, and how do I protect myself from them?
Level of Interest	1	2	3	4
Checklists Using and Customizing home-building Checklists. How does this scheduling tool help to keep the sequence of events organized and to maintain control of construction decisions?
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Building Your Dream Home 101

Level of Interest

Site Selection

Level of Interest

Permits

Level of Interest

Financing

Level of Interest

Design

Level of Interest

Materials

Level of Interest

Bids from Contractors and Sub-Contractors

Level of Interest

Liens

Level of Interest

Checklists

Contact Information (name & email required)