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The Best of Armchair Builder 2012
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
At the end of last year we compiled a list of some of the best Armchair Builder resources from the year. Well, here we go again. We’ve put together some of the best articles, videos, and building resources…just in case you missed something this year. We’ve covered a lot of ground but if you have […]
How to Build a Home…Step 1 The Overall Budget
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
This is our first blog post for our new How to Build a Home Series where we plan to take you through all the steps required. Building new can be a complicated process but it doesn’t have to be. Our goal is to break the process down so you know exactly what you are getting into. […]
Can You be Too Old to Build Your Own Home?
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
Beginning a project to build your own home is a major undertaking. It’s one of those things in life that is difficult, but can be extremely rewarding. Here at Armchair Builder we’ve talked about what qualifications you need to take on your new home building project as the general contractor. But we haven’t ever touched […]
Your Dream Home: How to Make it a Reality
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
This guest post is by Miguel Salcido. Building your dream home takes time, money and courage. Not everyone is prepared for the amount of work, planning and time it takes to make your dream into a reality. That said, it is entirely possible, and it starts from the ground up. House plans are the life […]
Getting Bids for Your Finished Basement, Part I
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Basement Finish, Save Money
We have been talking about how to go about finishing a basement. In this post, we will discuss how you go about getting bids from subcontractors. You will send out bid packages to a minimum of three subcontractors per activity. So, you will send out a package to three different drywall companies, three different trim […]
Pros and Cons of Kit Homes for Owner Builders We are always looking for ways to make the building process easier for those who want to build their own home as an owner builder. One option for making the process simpler is to purchase a kit home from a lumber supplier. What is a kit […]
Owner Builder Disclosure Statements: What are they? Many municipalities throughout the U.S. use something called Owner Builder Disclosure Statements to protect homeowners, or future homeowners, from unlicensed contractors. It’s a document that owner builders must sign when they go to the local building department to pull an owner builder permit. What kinds of things […]
Important Considerations for Home Additions
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Home Addition, Owner-Builder
As your family’s needs change, your home needs to change as well. Maybe a new baby is on the way and a second bathroom or third bedroom is needed. If you’ve already finished your basement or don’t have a basement, you may have decided that putting a new addition onto your home is the best […]
Owner Builders Save 50 Percent on Custom Options
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Build Your Own Home, Owner-Builder
Last week we talked about how owner builders can save twenty to twenty five percent by general contracting out their own home. This is the fee the builder charges for managing the project. We also discussed how an owner builder can save even more by taking on some of the physical labor themselves. From painting […]
Reader Question: Are Drain Tiles Required for My Home?
0 Comments | Posted by armchairbuilder in Fix it!
Reader Question from Terry B. in Wisconsin: “Do you know if drain tiles are required by law in Wisconsin? We do not have them and are getting water from the cove joint.” Building Codes First off, your local building code dictates the types of drainage systems required on new homes. When a builder, or armchair […]
