Thread: Question from a n00b-in-diapers...

You will definitely want to identify a parcel of land first. The design of the house needs to work with the lot and will depend on how the property is graded. Also, the style of the house should fit in with the neighborhood. You don't want to build an ultra-modern house in a neighborhood of homes from the 1930's. I would always suggest working with an architect; yet it costs more but it more than pays for itself in the final product. No architect equals a house that looks like every other cookie cutter suburban house.

Exactly, as my music professor would say. Pick out the land, how is it graded? Sloped? How many degrees? Rocky? Will it be wooded or out on a prarie like Montana? Mature trees? How much frontage for a driveway? Or is the builder going to destroy 200 year old oaktrees to temporarily house a staging area inturn ruining your privacy forever? Afterall, he desn't care if your neighbors can see what you're eating for dinner.....again.

Agentsranking is right: DON'T build an ultra modern house that'll be surrounded by homes built in the 1900's: you're property value won't be what you think it will be in the years to come due to your building that mansion in a ghost town filled with houses that still have a well in their root cellar Follow? It's called Regression/Progression.

There are books at Lowes (don't go to Home Depot, you could be waving money there and not get any help), pick out a plan you like, bring it to your architect or order the plans from the book! How bout that? If I had the money, that's what I would do. Pick out the lot, acreage, obtain the plans of a home you like any way you can. Bring to your builder. And if your builder's German you'll have your house completed and ready to move in, in three months.