Our goal is to help the owner builder prepare and proceed with their construction project. Many people are apprehensive about building their own home.We stive to simplify the homebuilding process.

In addition, OwnerBuilderOnline.com and now Ownerbuilderonline.net  are quickly becoming  one stop shops for contractors and builders to find information, make contacts, and get noticed.We have loads of informational pages covering topics ranging from the bid process through building inspections, plus our free contractor's directory and our real estate featured properties page.

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Preconstruction Planning

Just like a general contractor, the owner builder must do preconstruction planning to ensure a successful homebuilding project.

Many owner builders lose interest or get worn out during this period. The "instant gratification" level is very low. Your lot remains empty and no work is being done. It begins to seem like you will never break ground. It is important to stay focused and keep moving forward.

Preconstruction Tasks-There are several important tasks that take place during preconstruction. Lot selection, as you may have already reviewed, is a daunting task. Home design and/or plan selection is vital. Homebuilding cannot begin without trades and material, so bid acquisition, review and award must happen. Once you have selected your lot, floorplan, trades and material, you then must get your permits before you can begin any homebuilding. Dealing with municipalities can be a nightmare. As you can see, preconstruction is not just some bump in the road. It is a key to success.

Now is when you are doing the mental homebuilding. Lot selection and floorplan design lay out exactly what you want in a home. Remember to take your time on these tasks and don't settle for OK. Make it yours, even if it takes a while.

Owner Builder Financing-Wow! One look at today's housing market and the sub-prime mortgage mess and most people get scared. It's hard to tell how much of the problem was with banks lending money to people who weren't in a strong position to borrow and how much was a weakening economy. Recent stories of people abandoning their mortgage to get a better deal suggest it may be more of the first.

Remember, I used to work for one of the major builders. In their case, it seems to me, there was an appetite to grow got too big, too fast and they overextended themselves. Now they have land that they paid too much for and can't afford to build on.

So the big builders are building less...This actually will be a boon for owner builders. Trade contractors and construction managers that used to charge a premium because they were swamped, are now looking for work and are ready to negotiate. Land that 3 years ago was out of reach is now available at a reasonable price. Now is the time to get your project planned and underway.

Lot Selection-A big step you can take towards building your own home is selecting and purchasing the right property. This part of the preconstruction process can take a long time. Technically you could already have been conducting your preconstruction research for years as you have looked for that perfect lot.

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