House Floor Plan - Before ordering a set of house plans, you need a clear picture of what you want. Two story or one? Attached garage? How many beds and baths? Large family room? Take a tour of homes, read books and magazines. Make a list of "must-haves" and "would like to haves". Look at floor plans. Start a notebook with information and notes on all the details you want to include.

This also might be the time to weigh hiring a building professional, under a management contract, to help you. This person would cost less than a general contractor, and could walk you through parts of the project where you feel inexperienced.

As the manager, your biggest responsibility is hiring the subcontractors who will do the work. Do you know someone that recently had work performed on their house? Who did they use? Was it done on time and within budget? Would they use them again.

Drive around neighborhoods you like and find out who's building the houses. If you have dealt with subcontractors in the past (and you trust their opinion), get recommendations from them. If your carpenter recommends an electrician he works with frequently, that's a solid lead.

House Floor Plan - Building your own home is both rewarding and maddening. The problems you will face can tax both your energy and patience. Even hiring a general contractor to manage the project will not prevent problems from distracting you from other activities (like making a living).

You will also face one of the most frustrating things you likely will ever come across - the local building inspector. Just wait until one of these creatures shows up at your building site. You won't believe the goofy things they come up with. To be fair, some of the items they refuse to pass will be valid. But all too often, you'll end up with a jackass that's trying to stroke his/her over inflated ego.

Don't count on anybody to do their job right. Just because an architect has a nice office and a good reputation doesn't mean the drawings will be done properly. The contractor that comes highly recommended might end up ripping you off with shoddy work. You absolutely must stay on top of the entire home building project to prevent losing money or getting a house that you hate. It's amazing how many contractors can't even read a simple set of blueprints. And don't let them talk you into changing something unless you really want the change. In some cases, the contractor is simply trying to swap cheaper materials to increase the profit margin.

Get a firm estimate, put everything in a contract, and hold everybody to it. Don't allow excessive monetary draws. While it's customary to have an initial draw, make sure it's for actual building expenses and not some kind of "fee" to get work started. Every dime should go towards actually building the house. While material costs vary, and there is usually a clause in the contract that allows for this, don't fall for the "I'm not making any money on this project" scam three quarters of the way through. Unless you have made changes to the original plan that increase the cost, or supplies go up more than anticipated, don't pay any more than stated in the contract. Pay a dollar for a dollar, nothing more, nothing less. If you have been keeping the draws under control you can fire the contractor if necessary and find someone else. Remember that it's your house, your money, and you are the boss.