Part 2: Assembling Your Team
Chapter 5: Architects and Design: Time Spent Is Money Saved
Arming Yourself with an Architect
Looking at Architect Alternatives
Placing the House on the Lot
Planning the Size and Shape of Your Home
Designing Your Home’s Interior
So Many Details, All of Them Important
Chapter 6: Engineers and City Folk: Approval Bureaucracy Made Somewhat Easy
Understanding Plans and Blueprints
Working with the Building and Planning Departments
Submitting Your Prelims for Approval
Gathering the Permits You Need
Chapter 7: All the King’s Men: The Contractor and Their Cohorts
Working with Your Contractor
Managing Your Time and Money
Introducing Other Important Players
Managing Disputes
7 Part 3: All You Need Is Dough: Financing Your Custom Home Chapter 8: Cash Is King: Borrowing to Your Advantage Accepting the Need for Liquidity: Cash, Cash, and More Cash Breaking the Emotional Barriers: This Is Not Your Grandfather’s Depression Okay, So You Have All This Cash — Now Manage It Turning Your House into a Moneymaking Machine Safely Deferring Financial Decisions until the End of the Construction Project Chapter 9: Knowledge Is Power: What You Don’t Know about Construction Loans Can Hurt You Exploring Your Construction Loan Options Finding a Good Construction Lender The Loan Process from Start to Finish: When to Do What Understanding All the Fees Letting the Lender Carry Your Burden Chapter 10: Qualifying: It’s the Bank’s Way or the Highway Stepping behind the Desk: How a Construction Lender Views Your Project Recognizing What a Construction Lender Really Wants to See Building the Bank’s Construction Budget Calculating the Loan Amount and Cash Solving Other Budget Problems Chapter 11: Show Me the Money: Flowing Cash through the Project Managing a Self-Funded Project Working with a Construction Lender Understanding How the Voucher System Works Taking a Closer Look at the Draw Reimbursement System Figuring Out Who Gets the Money — You or the Contractor Using Credit Cards Responsibly Can Buy You a Trip to Europe
8 Part 4: Hammers and Nails: Overseeing the Construction Process Chapter 12: Excavation and Foundation: Getting a Solid Start Surveying and Site Preparation Preparing for the Utilities Pouring the Foundation Chapter 13: Framing and Rough: So Much Goes behind Those Walls! Things to Consider Before Framing and Rough Work Begin Looking at What’s Involved in Framing a House Installing the Rough Systems with Ease Sheathing, Flashing, and Insulation Chapter 14: Heading for the Finish: The Devil’s in the Details The Icing on the Cake: Exterior Finishing Moving Inside: Completing Fireplaces and Walls The Finish Carpenters: Doors, Windows, Molding, Cabinets, and Countertops All the Pretty Stuff
9 Part 5: All the After Stuff Chapter 15: Making a House a Home: Moving In, Furnishing, and Using Smart Tech Finishing Up the Custom-Home Project Selling the Old Home and Moving Considering Technology Options Chapter 16: Taking It Outside: The Art of Landscaping and Hardscaping Designing Your Dream Landscape Putting Your Plan in Action: Hardscaping Leafing
