Last month The Plan Collection added a lot of different house plans with mother-in-law apartments (click here to view), and this month we seem to have been very busy adding new garage plans.

Now, if you’re like most people, you already have a garage (and it’s probably attached to your home); but have you ever wished there was more room? Did your teenager just buy an old beater that you wished wasn’t just sitting in your driveway? Maybe you’ve always wanted your own workshop. Whatever your situation might be, the blueprints for one of our garage plans could be just the solution!

I won’t belabor the point, but if you fall into one of these categories, you should definitely check out out awesome garage plans!

At some point in time, everyone has experienced the chore of entertaining the overbearing house guest. Whether it’s the visiting mother-in-law, a dead-beat friend who’s down on his luck, or even the occasional college student taking a break from her studies, it’s never fun to share your limited living space for long periods of time. It’s especially hard sharing a kitchen and bathroom with said guests. Even the best of friends and family can grow tiresome after awhile. I think Benjamin Franklin put it best when he eloquently penned the words, “Fish and visitors smell in three days.”

You never know when they will drop in, and you never know how long they will stay, but it’s always a good idea to have room to house your guests. It’s even better if you can provide them with a fully-furnished living area with a bathroom and a kitchen. Even if those areas aren’t used very often, an in-law suite will definitely cause your home’s value to skyrocket.

So, if you’re looking for house plans with an in-law suite, The Plan Collection should be your first stop! Check em out!

It’s also time to start your spring cleaning. While you’re at it, you might want to consider renting a rototiller for the weekend. You’d be surprised at how much value a garden can add to your home — not to mention the satisfaction that comes from helping something grow. And who can say “no” to a homegrown tomato? Seriously.

At any rate, I’ll be busy getting my hands dirty this weekend!

Some of the more interesting tips include:

1. Plan your project carefully. It’s always a good idea to clip pictures, make sketches, and write descriptions. This will help you accurately convey to the contractor what you want the finished product to be.
   (By the way, if you want to find a great plan, you should give me a call at The Plan Collection – our number is (866) 787-2023 – I’ll hook you up with a 10% DISCOUNT)
2. Make a list of contractors. (That’s what I’ve been saying all along!) Ask your neighbors or friends for the names of reputable tradesmen. Contact material suppliers — lumberyards, for example — and ask for recommendations.
3. Get at least three written bids for the project, but don’t give in to the temptation to automatically accept the lowest bid. A higher bid may be worth the price in better materials, workmanship and reliability. If you get a very low bid, the contractor may have made a mistake or forgotten to bid on everything you wanted. If they have deliberately low-bid, they may use cheaper materials or take shortcuts to make a profit.
4. Many states and provinces require registration and/or licensing. For the USA, www.nationalcontractors.com provides a starting point for your state and type of construction. If licences are required in your jurisdiction, be certain to ask to see your contractor’s licences and be sure that it’s not expired.
5. Ask for references and then check them out. Look at the projects and ask the previous clients if they are satisfied with the quality of work done, if it was started and completed on schedule and if it is complete.
6. Get a signed, written contract and be sure you understand it. The Construction Contractors Board of Oregon claims that the single biggest cause of homeowner-contractor disputes is the written contract: not having one, having a poor one, or having one everyone ignores. A good contract should include:
   • The company name, address (not a post office box) & phone number, the name of the builder, contractor and license number, if applicable The total price and payment schedule
   • A detailed project description
   • A materials list
   • A statement that all necessary permits and inspections are the responsibility of the contractor
   • Starting and completion dates
   • Warranties of workmanship, the length of the warranty, and specifically what’s covered and what’s not
   • Contractor’s guarantee that he carries liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage
   • A statement that clean-up will be done by the contractor
7. Make any changes to the project in writing with a “work order change” to avoid misunderstandings and surprises.
8. Keep pets and children away from the construction site. This will ensure not only their safety, but also that of the workers. In addition, it helps keep the project on schedule.
9. Inspect the work regularly.
10. Pay directly and promptly according to the contract.
    • Be wary of hourly, time and materials or cost-plus pricing where the final price is not determined until completion of the project. Although it may seem higher, a fixed price may give you the best protection and price.
    • Be cautious about upfront payments for more than 15% of the contract price. The schedule and criteria for each installment should be clearly defined in the contract. Any installments should be not be required on a certain date, but correlated to work completion.
    • Do not pay cash. A reputable builder will ask for a check.

Debbie has some really good insights. You should really Check it Out!

Okay, so now you know how to make a list of builders and determine whether they specialize in quality, speed, or price. Are you ready to make your choice?

Not yet.

When choosing a builder, you really have to do your homework. Building a home is a major investment, and you should shop for your builder as carefully as you shop for your home. Whether you are building a condo, a townhouse, a house in a subdivision, or a custom built house, you want to know that you are going to get a good quality home from a reputable builder.

The best way to learn about a particular builder is to visit homes he has built and talk with the owners. You might want to consider the following:

• Ask the builders on your list for the addresses of their recently built homes and subdivisions. Builders may even be able to provide names of some home owners who would be willing to talk with you.
• Drive by on a Saturday morning when home owners may be outside doing chores or errands. Introduce yourself and just be honest; tell them that you are going to be building your own home and that you are considering working with the builder who built their home. Talk to several owners, and try to get a random sample of opinions.  You’ll get a much more accurate idea of the quality of a particular builder by talking to as many people as you can. At the very least, drive by and see if the homes look well-built.
• When you talk to builders and home owners, take along a notebook to record the information and your personal impressions about specific builders and homes. Doing so will help you to make comparisons later. Some questions you can ask people include:

Are you happy with your home? If you had any problems, were they fixed promptly and properly? Would you buy another home from this builder?

Usually, people tell you if they are pleased with their homes. And if they are not, they’ll probably want to tell you why.

A Few More Tips

If you want to find a good builder, you really need to look at new houses whenever you can.

Home shows and open houses provide an excellent opportunity to look at new homes. Model homes and houses displayed in home shows are often furnished to give you ideas for using the space, but you can also ask a builder to see unfurnished homes.

When examining a home, look at the quality of the construction features. Inspect the quality of the cabinetry, carpeting, trimwork, and paint.

Ask the builder or the builder’s representative a lot of questions. Get as many specifics as possible. If you receive the answers verbally rather than in writing, take notes. Never hesitate to ask a question. What seems like an insignificant question might yield an important answer.

Hopefully you found something here that can help you.

Once you have a list of builders, how do you go about trying to choose one?

The first thing you need to determine about a builder is What Area Does He Specialize In? – Is his main focus quality, speed or price?

Quality

Everyone wants a quality home, but at the same time, you should definitely think twice before hiring the builder with the greatest reputation for quality.

This builder is probably taking advantage of his clients because of his reputation.  You will notice this when he bids your home plans, because his will be the highest bid by far.

A good quality builder is worth some extra, but how much more?  If you specify everything that is to be in your home, the quality guy isn’t going to build it out of gold, just charge like he did.

Speed

Nobody wants to get wrapped up in one of those “never-ending projects,” especially when it comes to your home. The sooner the home is finished, the better. You can start moving your stuff and getting settled down.

It’s always nice to work with a builder who can get the job done quickly, but at the same time, you need to keep in mind that if he focuses too much on speed, the quality will take a hit. You’re also going to be paying more for the extra speed.

A home should take 4-6 months to complete.  There are some builders who promise that they can have your home done much quicker; and it can be done, but don’t lock your mortgage rate just yet.  Chances are it will take longer than he told you.

Price

In today’s world where Wal-Mart dominates the U.S. economy, it’s easy to see that people usually go for the lowest price; but that isn’t always the best idea when it comes to building a house.

NEVER go with the lowest bidder until you’ve had a chance to inspect his work. All builders are in the business to make money, and if they offer you significantly lower prices, it’s safe to say that they’re probably going to cut a few corners to make it worth their while.

My advice is to find the middle-of-the-road builder.  Look at all of the bids and ask lots of questions about their company.  Look at their homes and pay special attention to details like their concrete work, finish work, and paint work.

I’ve mentioned this before, but the NAHB really is a great organization (they’re the ones who sponsor the Parade of Homes).  I would recommend finding a builder who is a member of this association. Click Here to find NAHB members in your area.

I hope this info helps. Let me know what you think!

Hey y’all!

No frilly intros today, I’m just gonna cut to the chase. You’re building a house, and you’re looking for a good contractor. Where do you even begin?

Here are a couple of tips to help you make a list of possible builders.

Talk to your Friends

Undoubtedly, the best way to find a good builder is by asking friends and relatives for recommendations. Be sure to ask them all about the building process. Was it worth it? Are they satisfied with the service they received? Would they buy another home from this builder?

Make a list of their recommendations, but don’t just take their word for it – make sure to do your homework first!

But what if you don’t know of anyone who has recently worked with a builder in your area?

Contact your local Builders’ Association

Your local Builders’ Association can provide you with a broad list of builders who construct homes in your area.

You can find and contact your local Builders’ Association by visiting the National Association of Home Builders’ website, NAHB.org. They have an entire page devoted to helping you find a Builders’ Association in your area – Click Here to check it out.

Check Other Sources

Call or email local real estate agents. They may also be able to help you in your search.

You might also want to look in the real estate section of your local newspaper for builders and projects. The ads and articles can help you learn which builders are active in your area, the types of homes they are building, and the prices you can expect to pay.

Hopefully these tips will help you make a list of contractors who build the type of home you’re looking for, but like I said before, don’t just hire the first guy on the list – do your homework!

More information will follow. See ya!

So from now on, I’m going to break major topics like that into smaller posts – kinda like a miniseries!

The next topic I’m planning to tackle is How To Find a Good Builder. (I just thought y’all might like a bit of a ‘heads up’ for what’s ahead here at HousePlans.info)

Hiring a good general contractor is the most valuable piece of advice I can offer if you’re planning on building your own home — so I’m going to be giving you an in-depth and straightforward insight into this important decision. In the meantime,

Take Luck!