Land Selection for Building a Home
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Save Money
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 […]
Drain Tile Problems. A Reader Question
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Basement Finish, Fix it!
A reader recently had her interior drain tile in the basement repaired and is still seeing signs of moisture. Here are her comments and question along with our response. Reader Drain Tile Issue: “I had drain tile replaced (interior method) and a couple months later, all the new cement, which was placed after the drain […]
Ductless Heating and Cooling Can Lower Costs
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Cool Design, Owner-Builder
Ductless heating and cooling systems are becoming more popular as people are starting to realize the benefits associated with them. The initial installation is quicker in many cases and because there is no ductwork to install, the home design has fewer limitations. As a home builder that has a ductless system in my own home, […]
One of the benefits of building a new home is that we get to create exactly what we want. An eye catching front elevation that combines unique materials and design to make us smile when we pull into the driveway…check. An open layout that meets the family’s particular needs for socializing and entertaining…check. An engineered […]
Housewrap for Building a Tight Home
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Great Products
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 […]
The latest Armchair Builder Monthly Builder Secrets update was just published. In this quick email blast we cover trade secrets that most professional builders won’t share with you like profit margins, pro builder design ideas, and insider tricks for getting more home for the money. In case you haven’t committed to signing up just yet, […]
In our last article we looked at the total number of owner builders that completed their own dream home last year. So we know a lot of people took on the challenge of building their own home as the general contractor. But where were the most owners builders located? Were there more homes built by […]
How Many Owner Built Homes Built in 2013?
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
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 […]
Finding a Builder Consultant
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
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 […]
Contingency Budget for Unexpected Costs
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
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 […]
