One of the huge benefits of building a new home is that you can incorporate all of the latest technologies to improve energy efficiency.  Your new house will conform to the latest building and energy codes to save you money on utilities and improve your family’s comfort.  But can’t you just make changes to your […]

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Ask most general contractors if it’s possible to build your own home and you’ll hear a bunch of reasons why you shouldn’t.  I guess they figure the speech is necessary for job security.  After all, if they talk enough people out of general contracting their own home, it should leave plenty of work for them […]

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Updated May 2020 “Exactly how much can I save building my own house?”  As a builder, I get this question a lot…and no, it doesn’t bother me.  I’ve never been a fan of keeping people in the dark.  If you’re trying to decide whether you want to build your own home or have someone else […]

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There are so many things to think about when building, from budgets to bids to loans, the process can be overwhelming.  Owner builder insurance is one key item that should not be forgotten when building or renovating a home.  A successful project requires you to anticipate potential problems before they happen.  Whether you are building […]

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One of the big motivations people have for becoming owner builders is the potential savings achieved by eliminating the general contractor fee.  This is the fee the contractor or builder charges you to oversee the construction of your new home.  Whether the home is custom home built from scratch or a production home from one […]

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January 16th, 2014 Have you been wondering when the term “connected” would actually do something useful for your home?  As a home builder, I can honestly say I have been very skeptical of all the “smart home” talk up to now.  In my humble opinion, it’s mostly just hype that makes good conversation at the […]

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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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It’s common for new homes that are located in an area with city utilities to have a sewer cleanout in the yard.  This cleanout is a pipe that typically terminates at, or near, the finished grade and is used for access to the home’s sewer service line.  Some common questions regarding the placement, use, and […]

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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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