A lot of friends and relatives think we are crazy. For the most part, we have really enjoyed the building process 3 times now and are still happily married!

Our first home was a 25 yr brick ranch we fixed up and sold 8 years later to move to our first new home in 1988. This was a semi-custom home, we worked with our builder changed a few things, and he let us do a lot of work ourselves. There was a huge amount of choices to be made, but nothing compared to the choices out there today! We stayed there 12 years before building a little more upscale home less than 1 mile away. Again it was semi-custom. This was a really interesting process as we were on site every day, much more so than the builder! We caught quite a few errors that would have been very costly to change later (like windows in the wrong place). This was a very nice home in a very nice neighborhood that we are still trying to sell!

DH & I have always loved looking at homes! All homes.. old/new expensive, and not so.. About 5 years ago we decided to do it again.. This time from scratch. In our current community there were 12 custom home builders, since we were the 2nd people in the 1st phase and on site everyday, we watched all of the other 11 models homes being built. We love our town, and neighborhood. When the last phase of our development started we thought weÂd be first in line to get the best lot with the best builder. Despite looking for hours and days we never found THE perfect floor plan, so put together a list of what we wanted, and 4-5 floor plans that we liked parts of. After about 6 months of preliminary plans we first met with our chosen builder in Feb of 2005. My first conversation with him started with, we want a home about the same size as we have now (4400sf)...and budget number... But more custom, with details. We gave him pictures/floor plans etc. He came back with a 6500sf house! And no shock, over budget to start with. We did really like the builder and what he built, so thought we would try to work with him, but trying to cut 2000sf and $$$ off of a home already designed was not easy. 2 architects later, we did get it down to about 5400. Long story short, after over a year of working with this builder, and his increasing prices and inability to hear what we really wanted.. We bailed.. Lost a lot deposit but in the end saved $$$$$$.

In the meantime we found a perfect lot where we could be owner/builder, always wanted to do so (we could not do that in our current neighborhood) this was not in our current town, but only 5 miles away. The best thing we found through that builder was a wonderful architect, we continued with, and kind of started from scratch. This architect listened to us, and knew what we wanted. I had a list of must haves... and I just looked back at it today, and we did get everything on that list.

Some our must haves were- 1st floor master, not adjacent to family room

Multiple garage space

Large walk in pantry off kitchen, near garage entry

ButlerÂs pantry between Kitchen and DR

Large walk-in master closet with laundry, & lots of built ins

Steam shower, not too much glass to clean

Small separate office off back hall

Exquisite wood trim detail



Starting over from scratch in mid 2006, we came up with an even better design, still a little over in sf... But way under where we started (about 4900). We were also working with a designer for lighting/ cabinet details. Our final plans were done Jan 2007. We loved working with our archecitcet. He always listened to all our wishes and somehow made them work.

We started files for everything. Cabinets, appliances, lighting, plumbing, decorating, furniture, storage, colors. We read a few books; obtained lots of info online and started biding in Jan of 2007 we have many good friends in the trades who helped. For novices, I think we did ok in bids. The only item we forgot about was soffitts. We stayed on budget for most major items. Our biggest over budget was for lumber, (about 20% over) and this was really their mistake, they quoted from our blueprints, but were way under. And we just guessed at the cost of retaining walls.. BIG mistake.. Very expensive.

Overall, with the exception of our cabinet builder going under.. ( link)http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg110826068075.html?12

Everything went smoothly and on time. We really liked having complete control and overseeing everything going on. Keeping things running smoothly was more than a part time job. We own our own business and have flexible hours which was a valuable asset.

We broke ground 7/2007, and would have completed on time (1 year) if not for cabinet maker going BK. We still have a few minor details to finish, but can do so after we are in.

Most Important Lessons Learned:

Take your time in the beginning, do as much research as you can on everything

Find an awesome architect

Keep files of everything you like

To be a good owner/builder you have to have flexible hours and be available at the site

Check references/reliability of subs

Our biggest mistake was to not get our current home up for sale earlier, but we certainly didnÂt anticipate the current real estate down turn. With our last 2 moves there was no way we could afford 2 homes, so had our homes sold prior to starting the build. One in 3 days the other in 10 days by owner.. We now own two homes,.

We love our new home, wouldnÂt do anything different, and canÂt wait to move in.., probably next week.