Complete with illustrations, checklists, sample contracts, forms, and survey maps, and a must-have homebuilding timetable, this guide gives you everything you need to know to build your dream home.

A #1 best seller for years, Bill Hirsch's Designing Your Perfect House: Lessons from an Architect has been called an essential read for Homeowners as well as Professionals. Bill's flowing style of writing makes you feel like you are sitting with him having a chat about your project. The philosophy behind design decisions is explained with stories, photos, sketches, and checklists. The book is divided into Twelve Lessons, with an additional Bonus Lesson ," Building Green, Naturally". You will learn how to evaluate your needs and work towards creating a suitable design, perfect for you and your family. The experience of home design and construction should be controllable, gratifying and enjoyable. With the valuable advice that Designing Your Perfect House: Lessons from an Architect provides, it can be.

You deserve a home that meets your specific needs and desires! If you find yourself dreaming of the perfect patio, the ideal kitchen, and inviting rooms where you love to spend time, it might just be time to start building! With Building Your Custom Home For Dummies, you won’t have to feel intimidated as you plan, finance, and oversee construction on your new oasis. You’ll learn what it takes to build a custom home, including which pros to call and when. This updated edition also covers the latest in real estate and home construction trends, including smart homes, green building, and banking options. It's more important than ever to live in a home that’s truly how you want it, truly your own. Now is the perfect time to get started—if you’re still in the dreaming stage, this book will help you identify your style and articulate your vision. If you’re further along in the process, you’ll benefit from checklists and pointers on reviewing architects’ plans, evaluating contractor bids, flipping the home you build, and more. The latest guidance on building a beautiful home on any budget New ideas for high-tech homes with low carbon footprints Step-by-step instructions for securing financing, hiring architects, and finding reliable contractors Advice on how to invest your home-building budget wisely and plan for the future Building Your Custom Home For Dummies takes you from finding the perfect homesite through laying the foundation to framing and finishing—in the friendly Dummies style you can trust.

Keep construction on track with helpful checklists Turn your dream of a custom home into reality! Thinking about building your own home? This easy-to-follow guide shows you how to plan and build a beautiful home on any budget. From acquiring land to finding the best architect to overseeing the construction, you get lots of savvy tips on managing your new investment wisely -- and staying sane during the process! Discover how to: * Find the best homesite * Navigate the plan approval process * Obtain financing * Hire the right contractor * Cut design and construction costs * Avoid common mistakes

DESIGN YOUR CUSTOM HOME WITH LESS STRESS & GREATER SUCCESS! Professional Designer Rick Kadello and Architect Paul Larsen take your step-by-step through the design process of your custom home. This book is filled with wisdom and practical knowledge that puts decades of their experience to work for you by a careful consideration of the important issue. Selecting an Architect Should I use my Architect's Consultants? How Long Does the Design Process Take? A Realistic Design Budget Prioritizing Your Needs and Wants Design Elements That Inflate Cost Should I go Green? Do I Need CAD Drawings? What Can I Expect After I Move In? Those and many other insights will equip you to avoid common pitfalls and prepare you for an exhilarating and positive design experience.

Experience the craft of Dan Sater, a true master of residential home design, as you turn the pages of this stunningly beautiful book. Here you will find 32 of Dan's finest and largest luxury estate homes?most never before published?from authentically detailed and richly appointed Tuscan and Spanish masterpieces to breezy, refreshing Florida-style seaside treasures. Read a candid introduction of each project from Dan and then go on a breathtaking pictorial and narrative tour of each home. See a birds-eye view of the property on the colorful site plan and ?walk through? the house using the detailed floor plan. Glimpse some of Dan's most creative past and future projects in the ?Concepts? chapter and consult the ?Resource List? at the back for valuable information on builders, landscapers, pool contractors, interior designers, lighting engineers and photographers who have been part of the ?Sater Team.? For those who are designing, building, furnishing or just dreaming about a state-of-the-art luxury home, this inspiring book will be a fantastic wish come true. Take advantage of the rare opportunity to peek over the shoulder of one of America's acclaimed residential designers and enter some of the most enchanting and stimulating homes ever built!