Open Book Build Online Course

The Open Book Build Online Course: How to Build Your Own Home

$249: This course focuses on the building of a home, from start to finish. It shows what a professional builder does to plan and oversee the project through to completion. It's perfect for those interested in general contracting their own home. See full course curriculum below. (course enrollment includes access for a full year)

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Student Reviews

Great information explained well

Adam Upchurch

This validates so much. Some I already knew. But learning much more I didn't!

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Great Course

Japhet Amaya

I love the owner builder LLC company CEO talking about financing and the unexpected site costs.

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Genuine Real Course For Beginners & All

joben sandhu

Thanks Michael.

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Great Resource

Ashlee Fadjoh

Just completed course one and I'm so happy with this purchase. This is an amazing resource even if not doing an owner build. The info is given in bite size p...

Just completed course one and I'm so happy with this purchase. This is an amazing resource even if not doing an owner build. The info is given in bite size pieces that are easy to understand. I love the different education techniques that make it fun to learn. The videos, text, mini review quizzes, and interviews keep things fresh and fun. Thank you so much for creating this course!

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Great!

Kim Blanchette

This course is far more detailed than I anticipated. Plan to spend plenty of time on completing the course. It's certainly not a one-day and done program, ...

This course is far more detailed than I anticipated. Plan to spend plenty of time on completing the course. It's certainly not a one-day and done program, but I'm glad because I really need all the detail.

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Open Book Build Course Review

Dale Deines

Very good presentation with quality videos and documentation throughout. The fact that it was produced during an actual home build makes it easy to follow a...

Very good presentation with quality videos and documentation throughout. The fact that it was produced during an actual home build makes it easy to follow and understand the steps that are being explined. I have been building for over 50 years and hold an unlimited building contractors liscense (both commercial and residential) and picked up some good ideas! For those who have never built a home, ths is a great resource to get you up and running quickly! Thanks for your attention to details.

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very good course

Aslam Lodhi

The best ;;; I learned a lot thank you so much.

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Very informative and comprehensive

L Relerford

I'm not a GC, but this course made me more confident in my decision to accept the role.

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Well worth the cost!

Christian Overman

Details are at the right level. Not too much, not too little. Great balance between written instructions and video instructions. Good reinforcement of import...

Details are at the right level. Not too much, not too little. Great balance between written instructions and video instructions. Good reinforcement of important points. Appreciated the email reminders to "keep going." Appreciated the ability to send Michael questions and actually get real answers quickly. Outstanding.

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House Foundation

Christopher Franklin

I found this section very helpful and it really motivated me. I'm sure I can manage this section as a owner builder. Great section, can't wait to see the nex...

I found this section very helpful and it really motivated me. I'm sure I can manage this section as a owner builder. Great section, can't wait to see the next steps.

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straight forward

Roy Robinson

very detailed considering markets are constantly changing/the cost to perform trades

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amazing course

Jarmiaz Whitaker

amazing course so far!

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Course Curriculum

1. Course Introduction
2. About this course
3. Can You Build Your Own Home?
4. Before we begin...
5. Support When You Need It
1. Creating Your Overall Budget First
2. How Much to Spend?
3. What to Look for When Evaluating Potential Lots
4. Soil Report Sample
5. Lot Selection Criteria
6. How Much Should My Lot Cost?
7. Open Book Build Lot Details
8. Rural Lot with Drainage Ditch/Driveway Crossing
9. Lot Purchase Checklist
10. Lot Holding Cost Worksheet
11. Homeowner's Insurance Check
12. Septic System
13. Water Well Installation & Cost
14. Land Pre-Purchase: Don't Do This!
15. Purchasing Your Lot or Land
16. House Plan Lot Fit
17. Expansive Soil & Your New Building Lot
18. Test your learning
19. Owner Builder Loans
20. Introduction: The Owner Builder Loans Interview
21. Common Terms with Owner Builder Loans
22. Typical Qualifications for a Loan
23. Financing the Lot Purchase
24. Inspections for Loan Draws
25. Interest Rates and When Interest is Charged
26. Loan Processing Fees
27. Options for Financing Your Build
28. Construction-to-Permanent Loans
29. What if you exceed the 12 month loan term or exceed your budget?
30. Good Advice for Owner Builders
1. House Plans
2. Determining Rough Cost to Build
3. Rule of Thumb Estimating
4. Help with Determining Preliminary Rough Cost per Square Foot
5. House Plan Recommendation
6. House Plans 101: Reading Your Plans
7. House Plans 102: Cross Sections & Key Notes
8. Architect or Designer...Which to choose?
9. Student Question: Floor Trusses vs. 2x12?
10. Prefab Wall Panels vs. Stick-Built Onsite
11. Finalize Bid Packages for Subcontractors
12. Roofing Scopes of Work and Specifications
13. Scopes of Work and Specifications: Video Walk Through
14. Scopes of Work and Specifications: What are they?
15. General Scope of Work and Specification
16. Example of a General Scope of Work and Specification
17. Common Mistakes by Owner Builders
18. Bid Sheet Video Walk Through
19. Bid Sheets: What are they?
20. Bid Sheet, Asphalt Shingle Roof
21. Subcontractor Information Sheet
22. Sending out Bid Requests
23. How Far Out From the Start Date Should You Request Bids?
24. Making Changes Later On
25. Test your learning
1. Create the Bid List
2. Test Your Learning
1. Attorney Review of Contract
2. Contract Review
3. Test Your Learning
1. Review Bids
2. Bid Comparison Video
3. Help! My Contractor Won't Break Down Their Bid
4. Test Your Learning.
1. Negotiation
2. Review: Hiring Subcontractors
3. Lien Waivers
4. A Great Question from a Fellow Student
5. Test Your Learning
1. Sign Contracts
2. Test Your Learning
1. Finalize Budget
2. Budget Line Items
3. Test Your Learning
1. Insurance Coverage
2. Test Your Learning
1. Engineered Plot Plan
2. Tree Clearing Next to Home
3. Engineered Site Plan Video Walk Through
4. Test Your Learning
1. Permit Application
2. Working with Your Local Building Department
3. Why so Many Departments?
4. Permit Application Process Example
5. Owner Builder Affidavit
6. Owner Builder Affidavit, Disclosure Statement, or Exemption Form
7. Test Your Learning
1. The Schedule
2. Video Introduction for the Construction Schedule
3. Detailed Video for The Schedule
4. Owner Builder Toolkit
5. Checking Schedule Progress with Video Camera
6. What's The Best Time of Year to Start Building?
7. Schedule Delays
8. Safety on the New Home Job Site
9. Test Your Learning
1. The Foundation Schedule
2. Clear Trees & Install Temporary Electric Service
3. Lot Preparation
4. Strip Topsoil & Install Construction Drive
5. Stake Lot & Order Windows, Exterior Doors and Trusses
6. Excavate for Foundation and Install Sewer & Water Service
7. Tips for Storing House Plans on Your Job Site
8. Soil Bearing Check
9. Check Excavation Elevation & Soil Bearing
10. Form Footings
11. Footing Quality Check
12. Inspect & Pour Footings
13. Foundation Walls
14. Strip Footing Forms & Pour Foundation Walls
15. Strip Foundation Wall Panels
16. Prepare for Basement Waterproofing
17. Foundation Quality Check
18. Waterproof & Insulate Foundation Walls
19. Waterproofing & Drain Tile Best Practices
20. Install Drain Tile
21. Backfill, Install Downspout Undergrounds, Trench Electric Service, & Rough Grade
22. Underground Plumbing & Sump Crock
23. Downspout Locations
24. Backfill & Install Downspout Undergrounds
25. Prep & Pour Interior Slabs
26. Why it's Important to Insulate the Basement Foundation Wall
27. Install Above Grade Foundation Insulation
28. Foundation Insulation Above Grade
29. Foundation Engineering Best Practices
30. Foundation Schedule Complete
31. Foundation Quality Check Two Years After Pour
32. Slab Foundation Types
33. Turnkey Contractors & Suppliers
34. Test Your Learning
1. Lumber Delivery
2. Frame Floor Deck
3. Frame Walls & Basement Stairs
4. Roof Framing
5. Install Windows & Exterior Doors & Pour Front Porch
6. Exterior Door Installation Best Practice
7. Frame Porch Roof & Install Trim and Columns
8. Roof Installation
9. Frame Punch 1
10. Frame Quality Check
11. Plumbing Rough
12. Hot Water Heater Location
13. Install Exterior Stone
14. HVAC Rough & Exterior Paint
15. Electrical Rough
16. Indirect Lighting with Crown Molding
17. Preparing for Finishing the Lower Level
18. Draft/Fire Stop & Frame Punch 2
19. Draft and Fire Stop
20. Frame Inspection
21. Bath Fan Connections
22. Insulation
23. Drywall Hang & Install Overhead Garage Door
24. Finish Drywall and Blow Ceiling Insulation
25. Siding, Soffit and Fascia
26. Install Awnings & Corbels
27. Test Your Learning
1. Prime & Paint Walls/Ceilings
2. Install Cabinets, Interior Trim/Doors & Master Shower Tile
3. Paint Interior Trim & Doors
4. Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
5. Install Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
6. Install Countertops
7. Final Plumbing & Install Appliances
8. Electrical and HVAC Final
9. Install Master Shower Door, Shelving & Hardware
10. Driveway
11. Final Grade
12. Final Clean & Final Punchlist
13. Call for Final Inspection
14. Test Your Learning
1. Options to Consider for Your New Home
2. Detailed Cost Savings for Owner Builders
3. Lumber Costs Are Still Expensive by Historical Measures: Ideas on how to deal with it
4. The Energy Check
5. Radon Mitigation System
6. eBook: Building a Home: A Step by Step Guide (free download)
7. Free eBook Bonus: "97 Secrets Your Builder Won't Tell You"
8. eBook: "97 Secrets Your Builder Won't Tell You" (free download)
9. Slab vs. Pier and Beam Foundation Resource
10. The Dry Well for Low Spots in Grade
11. Termites and Your New Home
12. Dumpster Fire
13. Multi-Family Construction: Key Differences in Planning and Execution
14. Reducing Stress as an Owner Builder
15. Building in Florida
16. ADU Planning Resources
17. Because the Attorney Says So
18. Build Your Legacy
19. Do I Have What it Takes to Be an Owner Builder?
20. Glossary of Terms
1. Student Discounts!
2. Before you go...

About this course

$249.00
198 lessons
4.5 hours of video content

Welcome to the course!

Chapter 1: Finding a Building Lot & Financing the Project

Chapter 2: Hiring Subcontractors

Chapter 3: Finding Trades & Suppliers

Chapter 4: Attorney Review of Contract

Chapter 5: Review Bids

Chapter 6: Negotiate Pricing

Chapter 7: Sign Contracts

Chapter 8: Finalize Budget

Chapter 9: Insurance During Construction

Chapter 10: Develop Engineered Site Plan

Chapter 11: Obtain Building Permit

Chapter 12: Review Construction Schedule

Chapter 13: Let's Start Construction! The Foundation

Chapter 14: Frame Schedule

Chapter 15: Final Finishes

Bonus Content

Next steps

About this course