Plans

• Before you even buy your property, take a look at plans. Unless you are an architect, don't even try to draw them yourself. There are a bazillion details involved in building a house that you haven't even thought of, even if you did work on a roofing crew when you were in college. Buy professionally designed house plans from a reputable architect or house plan company. The package will cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. The package will come with builder's copies that show details of everything. You can even get a work plan from some providers that shows you what to do first, next and next. Also, professional plans will make planning and zoning commissions and the building inspectors happy.
  
  

Zoning

• Where you decide to build your home will affect how you build, how much of the job you can do yourself, how big your house can be and what materials you can use in building it. If you are in an incorporated area such as a city or town, you'll first have to get permits to build. Some counties also have zoning restrictions. To get building permits, you'll probably have to show a plan to a planning and zoning commission and have it approved. You may have to use licensed plumbers, electricians and even hire union workers instead of doing it yourself. Before you buy property, find out whether there are any zoning restrictions. If you're like most folks who want to build their own home, you probably want to add features that make your home special. Make sure zoning will let you do that before you buy the property.
  
  

Property

• Make sure you have property large enough to fit the house. In many areas, there are offset requirements that dictate how close to the property line your house can be. You don't want to buy plans that are too large for your lot. Make sure the property offers access to utilities and water and has sewer connections or a large enough area for a septic system. If you're in a development controlled by a homeowners association, study deed restrictions and zoning requirements before settling on a final plan.
  
  

Financing

• Make sure you understand your financing and how the bank distributes the loan proceeds during construction and how long the bank will allow you to complete construction. Prepare yourself a budget and timeline that ensures you have adequate funding at every step of the construction process. Track your expenses carefully during construction and stay within budget. If you save money in one area, don't rush to spend it on frills. Other construction expenses will surely run over budget and absorb any savings you've made.
  
  

Doing It Yourself

• While it is perfectly possible to buy books on how to frame a house, how to build roofs, and do plumbing, wiring insulation and cabinetry, be realistic. Hire professional help for tasks that you aren't sure your skills are up to. You can save yourself a fortune by doing things such as painting, and laying insulation, carpet, wallpaper or linoleum. If you can frame the house, but aren't comfortable with wiring, hire an electrician. You may have experience running plumbing, but need to hire out the installation of the septic system, drilling a water well or connecting to public utilities. You may not have the physical stamina to hang drywall, but be comfortable installing baseboards and wood trim. Be smart, flexible and realistic about what you can do and what you shouldn't do.
  
  

Who's Your Builder?

• If you don't have the experience or expertise, hire a general contractor to take charge of the project. Make sure you find one who is willing to let you do parts of the project yourself and who doesn't mind you hanging around onsite. Not every builder will allow you to do part of the building yourself. Insurance providers may also have problems with your participation, so know what your insurance will allow in the way of doing-it-yourself. If you contract the project yourself, make sure local zoning doesn't require you be a licensed contractor or become one.