Before You Build: A Pre-Design, Pre-Construction Guide for Homeowners: Homeowners Architecture Project Work Book

Read it before you call an architect, before you call a builder, and possibly, even before you call your mother…

If you think you might be building soon—or even if your plans are vague or happening sometime in the future—and you have never been involved in a construction process before, this book will give you some guidelines on what to expect, and how to get started. Even homeowners who have built before may find this book useful with its many checklists, resources, reminders and example maps and application forms, descriptions of processes and where to find more information.

Over the years I have found that prior to contacting me about their project, very few homeowners have experienced a home construction project. They are frequently confused about the process, nervous about money issues and horror stories about builder reputations and almost all are hungry for detailed information.

A few years back I started gathering the checklists, tasks, questionnaires, tips, and resources I had created, collected or learned about in twenty plus years of residential architecture experience, for a home-building guide that I could offer prospective clients. To help reduce the anxiety that often stems from information overload, the original workbook was broken down into a series of three books, each focused on a different aspect of the home improvement process.

The objective of the workbook was not to cover every architectural or building subject that may interest a homeowner planning to build, but simply to share the kind of information my own residential clients would get at the start of a new project.

Excerpts from codes and other government resources have been limited to the most common situations, and apply both to new construction as well as additions and renovations. There is no guarantee that the information quoted from agencies or other outside sources is complete, current or accurate, but the examples should help direct you toward local or current resources, and more detailed information.

Even if you do not end up using an architect, with this guide you should be better prepared to ask the right questions of who ever you do engage to design and build your project. A print version of this book will be available shortly.