As an owner-builder, you want to make sure your new home addition will be of the highest quality with the fewest possible problems.  So make sure you require your HVAC subcontractor to run a manual J calculation (or equivalent) to check the equipment sizing for your existing home with new space added and give you […]

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You’ve decided to put an addition onto your home as an owner-builder in order to add valuable space.  Once your new addition is complete, your family room and kitchen will open up into the large, new space that your family will enjoy for years to come.  Your new construction project will go on for several […]

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For your new renovation, it is critical to put the time and effort into making sure your new floor and roof line up with the existing floor and roof.  This sounds obvious and simple but based on the number of homes I have seen with one or both of these screwed up, I thought I […]

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Recently one of my customers asked if he could supply his own commercial grade fan over his range.  After all, he does own his own restaurant and they will be cooking up some big meals in the new home.  I asked him to get me the specifications for the fan so I could determine what […]

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  If you want to save yourself some headaches, make sure you only use trades that regularly do what you are hiring them to do.  As you all know, I regularly write about things that happen on my projects.  Well, today I excavated for a new home start.  The company that I use to dig for […]

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In discussions about taking advantage of today’s real estate market, a common concern is the difficulty in selling our existing home.  The thought is, How can I take advantage of the market if I can’t sell my home? We will discuss several ways to deal with this issue below. Make Your Home The Best:  Don’t […]

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There are some fantastic deals out there in today’s sluggish real estate market.  Keep in mind, some of the best deals will need some work.  I should know, this year I purchased what I feel is the deal of a lifetime…but it needed some serious TLC.  My wife and I looked at several hundred properties […]

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On any construction projects that require plumbing, electrical, HVAC or structural work, always obtain a permit through your local building department.  There are some headaches involved with getting a permit and subsequent inspections, but the benefits definitely outweigh the costs. Why are Permits Required? Believe it or not, there are a few trades and contractors out there that don’t […]

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With the economy as it is today, people are looking for ways to save money.  Many families have moved in together to share costs. So, how can you add space to accommodate the extra occupants comfortably?  The truth is, there are some very affordable ways to add living space to an existing home and some, […]

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I saw this owner-builder story, How I Built My Own House – Without a Mortgage,  and couldn’t help but share it with you.  Ian’s example of an owner taking charge and building his own home is somewhat extreme but successful nonetheless.  He actually completed a good portion of the work himself which compounded his savings.  Ian […]

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