Armchair Builder

CAT | Build Your Own Home

  We know how important it is to provide an air and moisture barrier to the exterior of homes built today.  Not only does it keep rainwater and air from freely passing into the exterior walls of the home, but these barriers also allow any moisture trapped in the wall to get out.  And by […]

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New Home Pitfalls

Real World Example The best way to describe potential new home pitfalls is to share a real world example.  I want to tell you about friend of mine that had a new home built by a production home builder.  It was one of those communities that has a single builder constructing all of the homes.  […]

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It’s totally possible to general contract your own home to save money and get control of your new project.  But what about doing some of the physical labor yourself?  Is it a good idea to DIY the project or should you leave the work to the professionals?  There are circumstances where it does make sense […]

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Most people know that in order to general contract your own home a serious commitment in both time and resources must be made.  But for those that are willing to make that commitment there are some huge potential savings to be realized.  Approximately how much one can save is best determined by analyzing the financials […]

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One of the major steps in the planning for building a home is the land selection or building lot purchase.  Whether the home will be built in an existing neighborhood or in a more rural setting, there are some critical items that should be analyzed to ensure an efficient build.  Let’s take a look at […]

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One of the biggest reasons people choose to build a new home is to add all the latest technologies and building techniques to create a high performing structure.  Older homes in many cases have insulation and moisture problems that can create mold, increase maintenance, and lead to higher energy costs.  One of the ways we […]

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One of the questions that frequently comes up here at Armchair Builder is, “Are there many owner built homes being constructed in the U.S.?”  And when we say owner built, we are referring to the situation where the owner of the property pulls the permit and assumes the responsibility for the project.  This responsibility includes […]

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We just received a reader question asking the best way to find a builder consultant to help with building a new home.  Our reader wants to oversee the planning and construction process as an owner builder, but they want to have a “go to” person that is knowledgeable about home building in their local area […]

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There are so many people and products that come together when building a new home.  With this many moving parts, it’s inevitable that one or two budget items will come in over expectations.  For this reason, most professional builders add a line item into each new home budget to cover unexpected costs.  This is called […]

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Building site selection is one of the most important aspects to a successful home project.  Most people know the market value of the completed home will be affected by the location of the building lot.  Things like schools, views, and neighborhood will be a major consideration for future buyers when selling.  These are obvious but […]

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