Course Curriculum

  • 1
    Welcome to the course!
    • Course Introduction
    • About this course
    • Can You Build Your Own Home?
    • Before we begin...
    • Support When You Need It
  • 2
    Chapter 1: Finding a Building Lot & Financing the Project
    • Creating Your Overall Budget First
    • How Much to Spend?
    • What to Look for When Evaluating Potential Lots
    • Lot Selection Criteria
    • How Much Should My Lot Cost?
    • Open Book Build Lot Details
    • Rural Lot with Drainage Ditch/Driveway Crossing
    • Lot Purchase Checklist
    • Lot Holding Cost Worksheet
    • Homeowner's Insurance Check
    • Septic System
    • Water Well Installation & Cost
    • Land Pre-Purchase: Don't Do This!
    • Purchasing Your Lot or Land
    • Test your learning
    • Owner Builder Loans
    • Introduction: The Owner Builder Loans Interview
    • Common Terms with Owner Builder Loans
    • Typical Qualifications for a Loan
    • Financing the Lot Purchase
    • Inspections for Loan Draws
    • Interest Rates and When Interest is Charged
    • Loan Processing Fees
    • Options for Financing Your Build
    • Construction-to-Permanent Loans
    • What if you exceed the 12 month loan term or exceed your budget?
    • Good Advice for Owner Builders
    • House Plan Lot Fit
  • 3
    Chapter 2: Hiring Subcontractors
    • House Plans
    • Determining Rough Cost to Build
    • Rule of Thumb Estimating
    • Help with Determining Preliminary Rough Cost per Square Foot
    • House Plan Recommendation
    • House Plans 101
    • House Plan Lot Fit
    • Finalize Bid Packages for Subcontractors
    • Roofing Scopes of Work and Specifications
    • Scopes of Work and Specifications: What are they?
    • Scopes of Work and Specifications: Video Walk Through
    • Example of a General Scope of Work and Specification
    • General Scope of Work and Specification
    • Bid Sheet Video Walk Through
    • Bid Sheets: What are they?
    • Common Mistakes by Owner Builders
    • Bid Sheet, Asphalt Shingle Roof
    • Subcontractor Information Sheet
    • Sending out Bid Requests
    • Making Changes Later On
    • Test your learning
  • 4
    Chapter 3: Finding Trades & Suppliers
    • Create the Bid List
    • Test Your Learning
  • 5
    Chapter 4: Attorney Review of Contract
    • Attorney Review of Contract
    • Contract Review
    • Test Your Learning
  • 6
    Chapter 5: Review Bids
    • Review Bids
    • Bid Comparison Video
    • Test Your Learning.
  • 7
    Chapter 6: Negotiate Pricing
    • Negotiation
    • Review: Hiring Subcontractors
    • Lien Waivers
    • Test Your Learning
  • 8
    Chapter 7: Sign Contracts
    • Sign Contracts
    • Test Your Learning
  • 9
    Chapter 8: Finalize Budget
    • Finalize Budget
    • Budget Line Items
    • Test Your Learning
  • 10
    Chapter 9: Insurance During Construction
    • Insurance Coverage
    • Test Your Learning
  • 11
    Chapter 10: Develop Engineered Site Plan
    • Engineered Plot Plan
    • Tree Clearing Next to Home
    • Engineered Site Plan Video Walk Through
    • Test Your Learning
  • 12
    Chapter 11: Obtain Building Permit
    • Permit Application
    • Working with Your Local Building Department
    • Permit Application Process Example
    • Test Your Learning
  • 13
    Chapter 12: Review Construction Schedule
    • The Schedule
    • Video Introduction for the Construction Schedule
    • Detailed Video for The Schedule
    • Owner Builder Toolkit
    • Checking Schedule Progress with Video Camera
    • What's The Best Time of Year to Start Building?
    • Test Your Learning
  • 14
    Chapter 13: Let's Start Construction! The Foundation
    • The Foundation Schedule
    • Clear Trees & Install Temporary Electric Service
    • Lot Preparation
    • Strip Topsoil & Install Construction Drive
    • Stake Lot & Order Windows, Exterior Doors and Trusses
    • Excavate for Foundation and Install Sewer & Water Service
    • Check Excavation Elevation & Soil Bearing
    • Soil Bearing Check
    • Form Footings
    • Inspect & Pour Footings
    • Footing Quality Check
    • Strip Footing Forms & Pour Foundation Walls
    • Foundation Walls
    • Strip Foundation Wall Panels
    • Foundation Quality Check
    • Prepare for Basement Waterproofing
    • Waterproof & Insulate Foundation Walls
    • Install Drain Tile
    • Waterproofing & Drain Tile Best Practices
    • Underground Plumbing & Sump Crock
    • Backfill, Install Downspout Undergrounds, Trench Electric Service, & Rough Grade
    • Backfill & Install Downspout Undergrounds
    • Downspout Locations
    • Prep & Pour Interior Slabs
    • Foundation Insulation Above Grade
    • Install Above Grade Foundation Insulation
    • Foundation Engineering Best Practices
    • Foundation Quality Check Two Years After Pour
    • Foundation Schedule Complete
    • Slab Foundation Types
    • Turnkey Contractors & Suppliers
    • Test Your Learning
  • 15
    Chapter 14: Frame Schedule
    • Lumber Delivery
    • Frame Floor Deck
    • Frame Walls & Basement Stairs
    • Roof Framing
    • Install Windows & Exterior Doors & Pour Front Porch
    • Exterior Door Installation Best Practice
    • Frame Porch Roof & Install Trim and Columns
    • Roof Installation
    • Frame Punch 1
    • Frame Quality Check
    • Plumbing Rough
    • Hot Water Heater Location
    • Install Exterior Stone
    • HVAC Rough & Exterior Paint
    • Electrical Rough
    • Indirect Lighting with Crown Molding
    • Preparing for Finishing the Lower Level
    • Draft/Fire Stop & Frame Punch 2
    • Draft and Fire Stop
    • Frame Inspection
    • Bath Fan Connections
    • Insulation
    • Drywall Hang & Install Overhead Garage Door
    • Finish Drywall and Blow Ceiling Insulation
    • Siding, Soffit and Fascia
    • Install Awnings & Corbels
    • Test Your Learning
  • 16
    Chapter 15: Final Finishes
    • Prime & Paint Walls/Ceilings
    • Install Cabinets, Interior Trim/Doors & Master Shower Tile
    • Paint Interior Trim & Doors
    • Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
    • Install Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
    • Install Countertops
    • Final Plumbing & Install Appliances
    • Electrical and HVAC Final
    • Install Master Shower Door, Shelving & Hardware
    • Driveway
    • Final Grade
    • Final Clean & Final Punchlist
    • Call for Final Inspection
    • Test Your Learning
  • 17
    Bonus Content
    • Options to Consider for Your New Home
    • Detailed Cost Savings for Owner Builders
    • Lumber Costs Are Still Expensive by Historical Measures: Ideas on how to deal with it
    • The Energy Check
    • Radon Mitigation System
    • eBook: Building a Home: A Step by Step Guide (free download)
    • Free eBook Bonus: "97 Secrets Your Builder Won't Tell You"
    • eBook: "97 Secrets Your Builder Won't Tell You" (free download)
    • Slab vs. Pier and Beam Foundation Resource
    • The Dry Well for Low Spots in Grade
  • 18
    Next steps
    • NEXT STEPS AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
    • Before you go...