We are pleased to announce the release of our new book, Building a Quality Custom Home, co-authored with Dave Konkol.
Building a Quality Custom Home
Preview a sample chapter…
What You Need to Know
Contents
An Important Note From the Authors…………………………………… ix
Before You Begin …………………………………………………………….. x
Part I: Before You Build
1. Should I Build, or Should I Buy an Existing Home?
10 Questions to Help You Decide ……………………………………………. 1
2. Which Comes First: The Builder or the Designer? ……………….. 3
3. Forcing a Round Peg Into a Square Hole
Finding a Competent Builder …………………………………………….. 5
4. Do I Have to Like My Builder? …………………………………………. 7
5. Pick Three Out of Four
Quality, Speed, Service, Price ……………………………………………. 9
6. Where Should I Spend My Money?
If You’re Going to Err, Do It Here ……………………………………… 11
7. What’s So Important About the Kitchen Anyway? ……………….. 13
8. Needs Vs. Wants – The Design Outline™ ……………………………. 15
9. Should I Use a Fixed-Price or Cost-Plus Contract?
Part 1 – Fixed-Price …………………………………………………………. 17
10. Should I Use a Fixed-Price or Cost-Plus Contract?
Part 2 – Cost-Plus…………………………………………………………….. 19
11. Don’t Even Begin Designing Your Home
Until You’ve Done This!…………………………………………………….20
12. Buy a Plan Or Custom Design?
Read This Before You Decide …………………………………………….. 21
13. Surprises That Could Inflate Your Custom Home Cost …………. 23
14. Design Your New Home With Resale in Mind …………………….. 25
15. You’re Going to Live Here HOW Long? …………………………….. 26
16. Should I Hire an Attorney? ………………………………………………… 27
17. How Much Do You Charge Per Square Foot? ……………………… 29
18. Welcome to Art Class!
Create a Dream Home Notebook ………………………………………. 31
19. Close Enough to Perfect?
Identifying Expectations …………………………………………………… 33
20. The Terrible Truth About Building Beyond Your Means ………. 35
21. The Hidden Pot of Gold in Your Pocket …………………………….. 37
22. Choices, Choices, Choices!
Choose Before You Lose …………………………………………………… 39
23. The Startling Step Most New Homeowners Fail to Take ………. 41
24. Will I Go Over Budget? …………………………………………………… 42
25. Don’t Buy That Lot!
Call Your Builder First ……………………………………………………. 44
26. How Many Bids Should I Get For My New Home? …………….. 46
27. Excellence or Perfection? …………………………………………………. 48
28. Why Picking the Right Builder Is Half the Battle ………………… 50
29. What About Storage? ……………………………………………………….. 52
30. How Do You Avoid a Builder Scam? …………………………………. 53
31. Financial Smarts – Part 1
Where Do I Start?……………………………………………………………… 55
32. Financial Smarts – Part 2
What Loan Is Right For Me?…………………………………………………… 57
33. Financial Smarts – Part 3
Should I Get a Fixed, Adjustable, or Interest-Only
Line of Credit? …………………………………………………………………….. 59
34. Financial Smarts – Part 4
How Do I Know What My Closing Costs Will Be?…………………. 61
35. What Kind of Warranty Can I Expect? ……………………………….. 63
Part II: During Construction
36. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff ……………………………………………… 66
37. What Language Are You Speaking? …………………………………… 68
38. Eight Common Arguments Builders Have With Homeowners
and How to Avoid Them…………………………………………………. 70
39. How Long Does It Take to Build a New Custom Home? ………. 72
40. Understanding Two Worlds: Yours and Your Builder’s …………. 73
41. Should I Be Afraid of a Change Order? ………………………………. 74
42. Why Do I Have to Pay a Builder’s Margin on a
Change Order? ………………………………………………………………. 76
43. How t o Make Your Builder Love You ……………………………….. 78
44. Why You Shouldn’t Use Friends As Subcontractors …………… 80
45. The Top Eleven Mistakes Made by Homeowners ………………… 81
46. Should I Hire an Independent Building Inspector? ……………….. 83
47. How to Maximize Your Valuable Investment …………………… 84
48. What Can I Expect After I Move In? …………………………………. 86
49. Is Going “Green” the Way to Go?………………………………………. 89
Part III: Helpful Checklists
50. Checklist #1: What To Do Before You Hire a Builder ……….. 94
51. Checklist #2: Top Questions to Ask a Potential Builder …….. 95
52. Checklist #3: Top Questions to Ask Your Builder’s
Previous Homeowners ……………………………………………………… 96
53. Checklist #4: Before You Begin Construction …………………. 97
54. Checklist #5: Before Your Builder Hangs Drywall …………… 98
55. Checklist #6: 3 Weeks Prior to Closing …………………………… 99
56. Checklist #7: The No-Sweat List for Closing and Final
Walk-Through ………………………………………………………………… 100
57. The Savvy Homeowner’s Glossary …………………………………… 102
A Final Thought ……………………………………………………………… 105
About the Company ……………………………………………………….. 106
About the Authors ……………………………………………………….. 107