Building Your Dream Home Continued...

1 - CHOOSING A PLAN: Choosing the right house plan can be an exciting experience if you know what to look for and prioritize your needs. As you begin your search, be sure to look for features that fit your lifestyle, lot and budget. You'll want to carefully check the design and size of each room, especially the kitchen, master suite and great room — since these are the most lived in areas of a home. The trend is towards a more causal, open floor plan, which allows you to easily customize your dream home.

2 - FOUNDATION: The foundation is a critical element of the building process, and it must be done correctly to prevent problems further down the road. Your lot needs to be cleared and adjusted (i.e. fill dirt brought in, leveling, etc) to prepare the space for your new home. Next, form boards will be put up which serve as a mold for the foundation. After plumbing lines are put in place, the foundation is poured and you'll be able to see your home's footprint.

3 - FRAMING: After the foundation has been poured and has set up, the form boards are removed and framing of the house begins. Much as our skeleton serves as the structure for our bodies, the frame of a house is the underlying structure of the home. As the framing progresses, you will see the layout of your home unfold, and you'll be able to identify different rooms, doorways, and windows. If your home seems smaller than you imagined at this point, don't panic. It is simply an illusion!

4 - INSPECTIONS: Inspections are a very important part of the home construction process, for it ensures that every element of the building is done correctly. After the foundation is poured and the framing is completed, your town or city will send an inspector out to view the progress. He or she will check the framing and the mechanical components of the home, making sure they are up to code and installed properly.

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