How to Plan, Contract, and Build Your Own Home

On the many important and potentially expensive details that are normally left to the discretion of builders, this guide has been an acknowledged source of information, advice, and inspiration. This expanded second edition features new material on the planning and purchase of major appliances, garage designs and enhancements, plumbing and electrical wiring, energy-saving lighting options, home safety and security measured, and much more. Plus, the authors take a fresh look at vacation homes, multi-family dwellings, solar-powered, underground and kit structures.

• Save and get more from your money
• Pick the perfect site
• Minimize maintenance cost and effort
• Maximize indoor and outdoor space

There are countless reasons why building your own home makes good sense. But for most people, the chance to create the home they've always wanted is #1 on their list. And this all-in-one guide can help you every step of the way toward realizing your vision -- from hiring the right vendors to picking fixtures.

Whether it's basic planning ("What's your move-in date?") or construction methods ("Wood or steel?"), this trusted reference, now fully updated to cover new materials, techniques, energy-saving options, and environmentally friendly technologies and methods, is the most complete source for homebuilders available.

Written by experienced instructors and builders, and used by thousands of savvy buyers of custom and not-yet-built homes, How to Plan, Contract, and Build Your Own Home will help you:

• Select the right site and supervise its preparation
• Make wise decisions on floor plans, types of construction, framing, and foundations
• Plan for home office use, communications upgrades, "smart house" technology, and a home that will serve your needs throughout your life
• Choose the newest and most economical and efficient types of insulation, roofing, plumbing, wiring, and more
• Select amenities such as decks, patios, gazebos, sidewalks, and driveways
• Evaluate doing it yourself vs. subcontracting
• Know when you'll move in with a helpful calendar-style checklist
• Select the right mortgage