| This is it. You've found your dream location. | | | | right style for your lot. |
| Perhaps you are still looking for your vacation | | | | Tip #4 Find a good budget and then add about |
| home plans, the blueprints to bring your vision to | | | | $25,000+ for overages depending on the size of |
| life. You envision long weekends, coffee on the | | | | your project. Issues that cost extra money do |
| porch, water skiing in the lake, snow skiing down | | | | invariably come up so it's good to be prepared. |
| the hill, walks on the beach, your own kitchen to | | | | And if they don't you've just come in under |
| have breakfast in. Whatever your goals are for | | | | budget. Congratulations to you as the minority of |
| this home, it's slowly about to become reality. | | | | home builders. |
| Oh my gosh. You're going to build a home. That's | | | | Tip #5 Find a contractor who likes technology. |
| a huge undertaking! It's exciting and scary. Don't | | | | Little things like being able to email you a digital |
| worry, you can do this. Take a deep breath and | | | | photo of their daily building progress are a huge |
| follow some 'been there, done that' advice. | | | | help when you are not nearby. See if they can |
| Tip #1 Find out if there are any special reports | | | | text message you questions instead of calling or |
| that need to be done before you hire anyone, | | | | emailing (and then add text messaging to your |
| preferably before you buy the land. Do you need | | | | phone). It's not just for teenagers and is the least |
| an environmental report? Is there some kind of | | | | stressful way of communicating available. |
| obscure bug residing in the area that might delay | | | | Tip #6 Screen your contractor. Most towns also |
| or prohibit your building process? Even if there are | | | | have some sort of Chamber of Commerce who |
| homes next door to your lot, check. The county | | | | will give you recommendations of good local |
| or city where you are building will have all of the | | | | contractors. It's also important to check the |
| data. This is a very critical part of the building | | | | Better Business Bureau for negative reports but |
| process. I have friends who have had to spend | | | | don't assume they are a good contractor just |
| thousands of dollars and several years just to | | | | because they are listed there as good - most |
| certify that a moth that breeds there will not be | | | | people don't know that those listings are paid for. |
| damaged. Some vacation home eh? | | | | Just look for negative marks and avoid that |
| Tip #2 Get to know your clerks. The permitting | | | | contractor. |
| process can be tedious. It is very important that | | | | Tip #7 Schedule time to work on home issues. |
| you never yell or berate anyone in the system of | | | | Decisions have to be made along the way. |
| approving your permits to build. Don't go into | | | | Emergencies will most likely come up. Don't |
| battle. Play nice and you might be better able to | | | | automatically rush out to the site. Do as much as |
| get your way. Most clerks are not paid enough to | | | | you can from home via phone or internet. Find |
| care if your deck gets denied. But a clerk who | | | | blocks of time each week or, as you get further |
| likes you might be more inclined to approve | | | | into the build, each day, to be able to handle |
| quicker. Building a home is all about building a | | | | yesterday's list of things that need to be done. If |
| strong network of fans willing to assist you on | | | | you need to make a decision, put it on the daily |
| your way. | | | | list and address it during your allotted time slot |
| Tip #3 Buy a home plan that is designed for your | | | | otherwise you will be running around in circles. |
| specific topography. If the land is flat as far as | | | | Now take a deep breath and start shopping for |
| your eye can see, don't build a Colorado style | | | | your vacation home plans. You can make it |
| home with a walk-out basement. It won't work | | | | through this process if you understand that the |
| no matter how much you love the floor plan. | | | | vacation will not start until the work is done. Then |
| There are plenty of sites that will allow you to | | | | you have a lifetime of memories to make at |
| input your land specifications so you can pick the | | | | your new vacation home. |