Seven years after the real estate bust, housing prices are racing back toward previous levels.  In fact, several metro areas have actually surpassed the pricing peaks reached during the housing bubble.  This situation should provide motivation for those owner builders wanting to build their dream home and get exactly what they want at a fair […]

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When building a new home, it’s important to perform a thorough garage inspection both during construction and before closing to help prevent the spread of fires.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there were 6,600 garage fires in residential buildings from 2009 to 2011.  As a result of these fires, there were thirty deaths, 400 […]

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While the real estate market is on the road to recovery, there is still some weakness out there.  Bank owned homes are getting harder to come by but they are still available in some markets.  One of our readers recently asked…”Does it make sense to take on the responsibility for general contracting your own new home when […]

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Crown molding can really improve the look of any space in your home.  From traditional to contemporary, there are  many different trim profiles and configurations.  But crown molding can get expensive when you add up the cost of materials and labor.  Here I will share with you an alternative trim detail that will keep your […]

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Defining quality in new homes can be difficult.  What may seem like a good practice by some, may be shoddy workmanship to the next person.  But the truth is, there is a minimum standard that should be met by contractors that goes beyond the building code.  Unfortunately, many people choose contractors without really asking what […]

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As a builder I’m frequently asked, What is the best way to prevent basement leaks?  It’s a great question when you consider the damage, cost, and hassles lower level water intrusion can create.  If you’re going to put time, effort and money into finishing our basement, shouldn’t you take all necessary steps to keep the […]

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Are you familiar with the important items to review for a septic system inspection?  Depending on the location of your new home, you may not have city sewer service.  If you have lived with municipal services your whole life, a septic installation can be foreign to you.  Most of us have heard the horror stories […]

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My wife absolutely hates bugs of any kind.  I’m personally more concerned about drafts that are constantly trying to make their way through the exterior walls.  Whether you want to keep pests out or just want to keep your energy bills low, it’s important to do a thorough job sealing up the exterior walls in […]

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We are proud to announce that we’ve just published a new e-book, Building a Home:  A Step by Step Guide.  This resource combines all of the articles from our blog series, How to Build a Home, into one neat package. From choosing a lot and obtaining a construction loan through all of the phases of […]

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ArmchairBuilder.com regularly shares builder tips and secrets for those that want to take on the general contractor role for their own new home. Today we want to share with you some owner builder success stories to show how real people are making their dream a reality. So if you are one of those people that […]

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