Differentiating between some land and a lot may seem like an easy distinction. But not so fast. The two are in fact quite different. All lots can be considered land but not all pieces of land can be called lots.

Here is short list of questions to ask: Does your lot require gravel, asphalt, or concrete for its driveway? Will you need to install sidewalks? Will you need to install street lighting? Will the lot require extensive earth moving or a special foundation? How far is the electricity from the build site, and how much will it cost to extend it to your

Contact a real estate agent and get a list of properties that have sold in the area during the last year. Make sure the list includes the square footage and room count of each home. 2. Pick the three sale prices that are most similar to the house in square footage and room count that you want to build and average the sales prices. Most lenders use

Get the facts from the architect and conduct your own research. The more you take responsibility for educating yourself and making some decisions upfront, the greater chance you have of eliminating problems, saving some money, and getting the home you’re looking for. Use your architect as the high-paid consultant that he is and make sure to set a r

These prelims consist primarily of three basic elements: Floor plans (see Figure 6-1): Each floor of the house has a layout that shows the following: • The location of each room • The placement of each door and window • The location of other amenities, such as stairs, fireplaces, closets, and major fixtures such as kitchen cabinets and showers Site

The more square footage you build, the more the house will cost, so efficiency is important. At the same time, skimping on rooms can reduce utility and make for unpleasant living. Here are some minimum recommendations for typical room sizes to give you a general idea of what you need: Bedroom: 100 to 200 square feet Dining room: 100 to 300 square f

Always discuss the price with the architect before you sign a contract. Get a complete estimate upfront with a detailed breakdown of expenses. Set a maximum price with progress payments based upon certain milestones such as the preliminary design and design review approval

Just because they handle both design and build aspects through one firm doesn’t mean you can reduce your investigation for finding the right partners for your project. Design-build can be something of a conflict of interest because it doesn’t involve any competitive bidding in the process. Not only that, but the project’s ultimate quality is tied u

If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you’ll probably gain value from an architect. Despite their seemingly high cost, architects can save you time and money by bringing their experience to the table. Their insights on functionality and government bureaucracy can save you months of time and thousands of dollars.