Thank you everybody for your tips and info. Much appreciated! Awnmyown, Thanks for your encouragement and warnings about the boredom of taping drywall and difficulties involved in trim work. I think he will have a go at both of these in say a walk-in closet or such less noticeable spot and see how it turns out. He actually was very skilled at the trim work before, but on a much smaller scale. Good idea about the closet organizers and staining (e.g. staining the steps needs to be done) and door locks/handles, etc. There are lots of little jobs that are not too difficult for a handy person with some extra time available. Good for you to have built so much yourself. We have been GCing our build since the beginning and that has been lots of stress too (we are part way through plumbing and electrical rough-in and have the outside all cladded). Subs have done all the work thus far. Flgargoyle, It is amazing that you have done all that work on your own!! It certainly sounds like a labour of love. Too bad about the weather delays. Our two oldest kids are teen boys and one is a very keen labourer (he had volunteered for Habitat for Humanity). The other has some experience with electrical so may help install fixtures and has time to spare to assist with hanging the drywall. Autumn, Glad to hear from another DIY type who is also combining that task with raising a family (we have four kids). Looks like you will have plenty on your plate! Good to hear you have had good success with lots of DIY jobs. I will pass along your warnings about the taping to DH. Like you, we are wanting to give it a go before hiring out the mudding. Jrldh, We will keep your warnings in mind. We have a sub contractor who may be willing to be paid on an hourly basis to supervise DH's work. He has already tentatively agreed to this as we have given him lots of business. He lives close by so would schedule the paid supervision meetings to suit him. Carol

It's a leading question, methinks! The answer is (or should be), that every strong and enduring architectural design grows out of its site and climate analysis. For example, one seldom builds an atrium-type home in the middle of Manitoba, or two-story and basement house in south Texas. That said, exteriors are not some sort of cosmetic stage set with magenta lipstick and pink rouge which one simply throws over a floor plan. Floor plans and exteriors are only strong if developed together simultaneously, since they are inextricably linked together. What happens on the inside directly affects the outside and vice versa. One of the biggest mistakes many consumers make is to spend inordinate amounts of time trying to develop the "ideal", "forever" floor plan and then ask an architect or builder to throw some roof trusses over it to keep out the rain! If one has an early preference for a type of architectural style--colonial, federal, mission, etc.--then that will have great impact on how the floor plans may or may not be developed. For example, true colonial houses were only 1-2 rooms deep and organized by climate. In the colder northeast, the fireplaces were centrally located in the middle of the house, with 1-2 rooms on either side. In the more moderate Mid-Atlantic and southeast, a central entry hall, providing access and ventilation might be located between the 1-2 rooms on each side. The rooms on each side would share a fireplace for winter warmth. Thus, if one wants a strong and enduring design for their home, they will consider site, climate, the type of architecture which is appealing if any, and the relationship between interior and exterior. For those who may not care about any of this, just make the exterior pink. The neighbors will never bother you...

2 years and a flip mentality are the recipe to a big huge giant financial loss. And 2 years is about what it would take to find property, have a house designed, and built. You should rent.

Before I became a custom home designer/builder/remodeler, I worked as a project engineer on various commercial construction and renovation projects. Suffice it to say I'm familiar with both commercial and residential construction, the trades which work in each, and the quality levels. Whether a commercial contractor is an appropriate choice for your project depends on a couple of considerations including the project size/scope, schedule, cost, the contractor's relevant experience, and your quality expectation. In general, commercial contractors deal with larger scope (e.g., really large new home construction projects), fast-track, and high-cost projects. The quality of construction is likely to be on par with entry-level or maybe move-up residential construction--not high-end residential. Schedule and cost trump quality in the commercial construction world. I don't think the commercial contractor's restaurant construction experience is all that transferable to your project. Frankly, new residential construction is different enough from residential remodeling that I would be concerned if a custom home builder wanted to bid on your project as his/her first foray into the wonderful world of remodeling. Proceed with caution.