Introduction |
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1 | (4) |
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2 | (1) |
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3 | (1) |
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3 | (1) |
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4 | (1) |
Part 1: Getting Started With Custom-Home Building |
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5 | (76) |
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Chapter 1 The Custom-Home Process in a Nutshell |
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7 | (14) |
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Where Do You Start? Preparing to Build Your Home |
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8 | (1) |
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Money Makes the World Go Round: Paying for Your Home |
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9 | (2) |
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Asking yourself about affordability |
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9 | (1) |
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Them that has the gold makes the rules: If you finance, the bank will dictate process |
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10 | (1) |
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Introducing the Custom-Home Life Cycle |
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11 | (7) |
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It takes (more than) two to tango: A quick guide to the players |
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12 | (2) |
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So many tasks, so little time: Fifty steps to a custom home |
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14 | (3) |
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Patience is a virtue: A true timeline for building your home |
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17 | (1) |
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Being an Owner-Builder: More Power to You! |
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18 | (3) |
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Analyzing the truth about savings |
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19 | (1) |
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Finding and managing subs |
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19 | (1) |
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20 | (1) |
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Chapter 2 Preparing for the Process |
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21 | (18) |
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Organizing and Documenting |
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21 | (4) |
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Building a workbook and portable file system |
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22 | (1) |
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Calendar and communication: Your smartphone is your friend |
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23 | (1) |
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Being the bean counter: Keeping track of your finances |
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24 | (1) |
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Shopping and sharing: Collecting material information |
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24 | (1) |
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25 | (4) |
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Looking at your finances and cash flow |
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25 | (1) |
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Defining "dollars per square foot" |
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26 | (2) |
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Using a budgeting template |
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28 | (1) |
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29 | (5) |
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Understanding the contractor's role |
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30 | (1) |
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Getting bids: Comparing apples to apples |
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31 | (1) |
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Evaluating a contractor's three Cs: Cost, craftsmanship, and compatibility |
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32 | (1) |
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Using expert interviewing techniques |
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33 | (1) |
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Identifying Insurance Issues |
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34 | (2) |
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34 | (1) |
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35 | (1) |
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Course of construction policy |
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35 | (1) |
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Managing Your Expectations |
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36 | (3) |
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Planning a timeline: A custom home is forever (so, what's the hurry?) |
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36 | (1) |
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Making hard choices: What you can (and can't) afford |
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36 | (1) |
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Having patience: Not everything must be perfect right away |
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37 | (1) |
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37 | (2) |
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Chapter 3 The Land Grab: Selecting the Perfect Site |
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39 | (22) |
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Knowing the Difference between Land and a Lot |
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40 | (1) |
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Location, Location, Location: Refining Your Lot-Buying Needs |
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41 | (1) |
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41 | (1) |
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42 | (1) |
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42 | (3) |
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42 | (1) |
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Engaging a real-estate agent/lot specialist |
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43 | (1) |
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Doing the legwork on your own |
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43 | (1) |
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Finding a lot when there isn't one |
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44 | (1) |
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Evaluating a Particular Lot: The True Value of Dirt |
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45 | (6) |
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Examining amenities and utilities |
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45 | (1) |
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Zoning in on zoning's limitations |
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46 | (1) |
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Understanding setbacks and footprints |
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47 | (2) |
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Size matters: Assessing the land's value with the house |
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49 | (1) |
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A tale of two lot buyers: How square footage impacts value |
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50 | (1) |
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Dealing with a Teardown Property |
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51 | (2) |
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Accounting for demolition costs |
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51 | (1) |
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Assessing neighborhood tolerance |
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51 | (1) |
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52 | (1) |
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53 | (8) |
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Understanding the purchase process |
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53 | (2) |
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55 | (3) |
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Finding other land loan alternatives |
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58 | (1) |
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Making sure the loan period is long enough |
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59 | (1) |
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Stop! Don't pay off your lot yet! |
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60 | (1) |
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Chapter 4 Defining Your House Style |
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61 | (20) |
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Getting to Know Your Style Preferences and Limitations |
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61 | (4) |
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62 | (1) |
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Discovering your local style |
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62 | (1) |
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Playing by community rules |
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63 | (1) |
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Tapping the wisdom of the pros |
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64 | (1) |
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Considering Conventional Construction: Wood versus Steel |
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65 | (1) |
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Enjoying the Warmth of a Log Home |
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66 | (4) |
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67 | (2) |
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Purchasing your log package |
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69 | (1) |
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Highlighting Wood Inside: Timber Frame or Post-and-Beam |
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70 | (4) |
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Considering a System Approach |
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74 | (4) |
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74 | (2) |
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76 | (1) |
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77 | (1) |
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Unearthing Alternative Construction Methods |
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78 | (3) |
Part 2: Assembling Your Team |
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81 | (60) |
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Chapter 5 Architects and Design: Time Spent Is Money Saved |
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83 | (26) |
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Arming Yourself with an Architect |
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84 | (5) |
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Deciding whether you even need an architect |
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84 | (1) |
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Finding the right architect |
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85 | (1) |
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Managing the architecture process |
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86 | (1) |
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87 | (2) |
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Looking at Architect Alternatives |
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89 | (3) |
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Published floor plans: Picking a home from books or online |
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90 | (1) |
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Software programs: Designing your own plans |
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90 | (1) |
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91 | (1) |
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Placing the House on the Lot |
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92 | (3) |
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92 | (1) |
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Which orientation is best? North, south, east, or west |
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92 | (2) |
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Taking advantage of natural elements |
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94 | (1) |
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Planning the Size and Shape of Your Home |
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95 | (3) |
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Size matters: Figuring the right square footage |
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95 | (2) |
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Resale potential: Creating a house everyone wants to buy |
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97 | (1) |
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Exterior styles: Considering architecture examples |
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97 | (1) |
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Designing Your Home's Interior |
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98 | (7) |
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Ten general floor-plan considerations |
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99 | (1) |
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Special considerations room by room |
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100 | (5) |
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So Many Details, All of Them Important |
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105 | (4) |
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Materials, hardware, fixtures, and finishes |
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105 | (2) |
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Allowance is a dirty word: Making all your decisions now |
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107 | (1) |
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Energy efficiency: Saving the earth (and your money!) |
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107 | (2) |
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Chapter 6 Engineers and City Folk: Approval Bureaucracy Made Somewhat Easy |
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109 | (16) |
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Understanding Plans and Blueprints |
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109 | (6) |
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Prelims: Floor plans, site plans, and elevations |
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110 | (2) |
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Working drawings: The how-to-build-it papers |
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112 | (3) |
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Working with the Building and Planning Departments |
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115 | (1) |
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Submitting Your Prelims for Approval |
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116 | (5) |
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Addressing grading, septic, and well issues |
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117 | (1) |
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Understanding design guidelines |
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117 | (1) |
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Requesting variances and exceptions: Don't be Don Quixote |
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118 | (1) |
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Not so fast: Acquiring neighbor approval |
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119 | (2) |
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Gathering the Permits You Need |
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121 | (4) |
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Submitting and revising the working drawings |
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121 | (1) |
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Picking up permits and paying the fees |
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122 | (3) |
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Chapter 7 All the King's Men: The Contractor and Their Cohorts |
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125 | (16) |
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Working with Your Contractor |
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125 | (4) |
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Fostering good communication: A meeting a day keeps the anger away |
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126 | (1) |
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Maintaining a productive work environment |
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127 | (1) |
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Change orders: Dealing with indecision |
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128 | (1) |
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Maintaining a happy and healthy relationship with your contractor |
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129 | (1) |
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Managing Your Time and Money |
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129 | (4) |
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130 | (2) |
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132 | (1) |
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Controlling the funds: How to manage the bank account |
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132 | (1) |
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Introducing Other Important Players |
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133 | (4) |
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134 | (1) |
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Working with subs: Each one is an expert |
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134 | (2) |
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Preparing for building and bank inspectors |
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136 | (1) |
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137 | (6) |
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Avoiding mechanic's liens: The contractor's weapons |
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137 | (1) |
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Using legal remedies: Arbitration and attorneys |
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138 | (3) |
Part 3: All You Need Is Dough: Financing Your Custom Home |
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141 | (78) |
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Chapter 8 Cash Is King: Borrowing to Your Advantage |
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143 | (14) |
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Accepting the Need for Liquidity: Cash, Cash, and More Cash |
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144 | (1) |
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Breaking the Emotional Barriers: This Is Not Your Grandfather's Depression |
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145 | (5) |
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Evaluating real estate within your net worth |
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146 | (1) |
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Seeing why secured debt can be good |
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147 | (1) |
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Getting on the same page: How banks evaluate risk |
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148 | (1) |
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Changing perspective: Home equity isn't a savings account |
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148 | (1) |
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Understanding the benefits of liquidity |
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149 | (1) |
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Okay, So You Have All This Cash - Now Manage It |
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150 | (3) |
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Finding and working with a financial adviser |
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150 | (1) |
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Diversifying your portfolio |
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151 | (1) |
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Exploring alternative investments |
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152 | (1) |
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Turning Your House into a Moneymaking Machine |
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153 | (2) |
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More house for less cash: Benefiting from leverage and appreciation |
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153 | (1) |
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Protecting your investment by making it marketable |
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154 | (1) |
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Understanding taxes: Some parts of a home project are deductible |
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154 | (1) |
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Safely Deferring Financial Decisions until the End of the Construction Project |
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155 | (2) |
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Chapter 9 Knowledge Is Power: What You Don't Know about Construction Loans Can Hurt You |
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157 | (22) |
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Exploring Your Construction Loan Options |
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158 | (3) |
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Finding a Good Construction Lender |
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161 | (4) |
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Choosing a broker or a bank |
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162 | (1) |
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Testing a loan officer's knowledge |
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163 | (1) |
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Getting value added: Education and experience are worth the money |
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164 | (1) |
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Private money: The last resort |
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165 | (1) |
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The Loan Process from Start to Finish: When to Do What |
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165 | (5) |
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Deciding when to sell your existing house |
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166 | (1) |
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167 | (1) |
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Getting the loan after construction starts |
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167 | (1) |
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168 | (1) |
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Locking in an interest rate |
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169 | (1) |
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Determining the length of your construction loan |
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170 | (1) |
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Understanding All the Fees |
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170 | (7) |
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172 | (1) |
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Escrow and title: More than with other loans |
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173 | (1) |
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174 | (1) |
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175 | (1) |
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175 | (2) |
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Letting the Lender Carry Your Burden |
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177 | (2) |
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If someone offers you money, take it |
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177 | (1) |
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No payments: Taking an interest reserve |
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177 | (2) |
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Chapter 10 Qualifying: It's the Bank's Way or the Highway |
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179 | (24) |
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Stepping behind the Desk: How a Construction Lender Views Your Project |
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180 | (4) |
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Why some lenders may seem uncaring |
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180 | (1) |
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181 | (1) |
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How banks view your property |
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182 | (1) |
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How lenders view contractors |
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182 | (1) |
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How lenders view occupancy |
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183 | (1) |
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How lenders view spec projects |
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184 | (1) |
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Recognizing What a Construction Lender Really Wants to See |
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184 | (9) |
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186 | (2) |
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188 | (1) |
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189 | (2) |
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191 | (2) |
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Building the Bank's Construction Budget |
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193 | (4) |
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194 | (1) |
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194 | (1) |
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195 | (1) |
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195 | (1) |
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196 | (1) |
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197 | (1) |
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Totaling up the cost to build |
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197 | (1) |
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Calculating the Loan Amount and Cash |
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197 | (4) |
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Basing the loan on finished value |
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198 | (1) |
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Basing the loan on cost to build |
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198 | (1) |
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Calculating the cash needed for the project |
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199 | (2) |
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Solving Other Budget Problems |
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201 | (2) |
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Landscaping and finish work can kill the project |
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201 | (1) |
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Costing: What if I can build on the cheap? |
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202 | (1) |
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What if I need more cash than is in my budget? |
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202 | (1) |
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Chapter 11 Show Me the Money: Flowing Cash through the Project |
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203 | (16) |
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Managing a Self-Funded Project |
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204 | (1) |
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Working with a Construction Lender |
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204 | (3) |
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Of course, you don't get all the money up front |
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205 | (1) |
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205 | (1) |
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206 | (1) |
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Understanding How the Voucher System Works |
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207 | (2) |
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Taking a Closer Look at the Draw Reimbursement System |
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209 | (6) |
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Figuring which costs are which |
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210 | (3) |
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Managing the flow of funds with percentages and contingencies |
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213 | (1) |
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213 | (1) |
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214 | (1) |
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Using the draw system to pay for your log or kit home deposits |
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214 | (1) |
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Acing your finals: Final completion and final funds |
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215 | (1) |
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Figuring Out Who Gets the Money - You or the Contractor |
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215 | (2) |
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Using Credit Cards Responsibly Can Buy You a Trip to Europe |
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217 | (2) |
Part 4: Hammers And Nails: Overseeing The Construction Process |
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219 | (68) |
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Chapter 12 Excavation and Foundation: Getting a Solid Start |
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221 | (16) |
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Surveying and Site Preparation |
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222 | (8) |
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222 | (1) |
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222 | (2) |
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Preparing your site before the first shovelful |
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224 | (1) |
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225 | (1) |
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226 | (1) |
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Constructing retaining walls |
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227 | (1) |
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228 | (1) |
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229 | (1) |
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Spot-check: Surveying and site preparation |
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229 | (1) |
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Preparing for the Utilities |
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230 | (3) |
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230 | (1) |
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231 | (1) |
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Installing septic systems |
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231 | (1) |
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231 | (1) |
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232 | (1) |
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232 | (1) |
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233 | (4) |
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233 | (1) |
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Installing the foundation |
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234 | (1) |
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235 | (2) |
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Chapter 13 Framing and Rough: So Much Goes behind Those Walls! |
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237 | (24) |
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Things to Consider Before Framing and Rough Work Begin |
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238 | (2) |
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Questions to ask your contractor |
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238 | (1) |
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239 | (1) |
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Trusses and I-beams: Yes or no? |
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239 | (1) |
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Looking at What's Involved in Framing a House |
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240 | (6) |
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Understanding the framing process |
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241 | (5) |
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246 | (1) |
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Installing the Rough Systems with Ease |
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246 | (11) |
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247 | (4) |
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251 | (1) |
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251 | (1) |
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252 | (1) |
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253 | (3) |
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Spot-check: Rough electrical |
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256 | (1) |
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Sheathing, Flashing, and Insulation |
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257 | (4) |
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Covering the framing: Sheathing and flashing |
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257 | (1) |
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Rolling out the insulation |
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258 | (1) |
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Spot-check: Sheathing, flashing, and insulation |
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258 | (3) |
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Chapter 14 Heading for the Finish: The Devil's in the Details |
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261 | (26) |
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The Icing on the Cake: Exterior Finishing |
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262 | (8) |
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262 | (2) |
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Finishing an attached deck |
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264 | (1) |
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Up on the roof: Roofing and rain gutters |
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265 | (3) |
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Installing the driveway: Finish options |
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268 | (1) |
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269 | (1) |
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Spot-check: Exterior finishing |
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269 | (1) |
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Moving Inside: Completing Fireplaces and Walls |
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270 | (3) |
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270 | (1) |
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Drywall and wall textures |
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271 | (2) |
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Spot-check: Fireplaces and walls |
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273 | (1) |
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The Finish Carpenters: Doors, Windows, Molding, Cabinets, and Countertops |
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273 | (6) |
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275 | (1) |
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276 | (1) |
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Cabinetry and countertops |
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277 | (2) |
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Spot-check: The finish carpenters |
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279 | (1) |
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279 | (10) |
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279 | (2) |
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281 | (2) |
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283 | (2) |
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285 | (1) |
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Spot-check: Painting, fixtures, flooring, and appliances |
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285 | (2) |
Part 5: All The After Stuff |
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287 | (34) |
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Chapter 15 Making a House a Home: Moving In, Furnishing, and Using Smart Tech |
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289 | (8) |
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Finishing Up the Custom-Home Project |
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289 | (4) |
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Getting your certificate of occupancy |
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290 | (1) |
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Obtaining the mechanic's lien releases |
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291 | (1) |
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Rolling the construction loan: Choosing a final loan amount and program |
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291 | (1) |
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Taking the final contractor walk-through |
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292 | (1) |
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Selling the Old Home and Moving |
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293 | (2) |
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Considering Technology Options |
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295 | (2) |
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Chapter 16 Taking It Outside: The Art of Landscaping and Hardscaping |
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297 | (16) |
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Designing Your Dream Landscape |
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298 | (7) |
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Using a designer: Yes or no? |
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298 | (2) |
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Revisiting your site plan |
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300 | (1) |
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Considering your wants and needs |
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301 | (2) |
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Dealing with your climate |
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303 | (1) |
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Saving time and money by design |
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304 | (1) |
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Getting your plan on paper |
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304 | (1) |
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Putting Your Plan in Action: Hardscaping |
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305 | (5) |
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Planning a patio, daddy-o |
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306 | (1) |
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306 | (1) |
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307 | (1) |
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308 | (1) |
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309 | (1) |
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309 | (1) |
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Leafing Out: Softscaping with Plants |
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310 | (3) |
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Planting trees after construction |
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310 | (1) |
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Adding texture with shrubs |
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311 | (1) |
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Bloom time: Annuals and perennials |
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311 | (2) |
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Chapter 17 Making Your Nest Egg Financially Sound |
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313 | (8) |
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Managing Maintenance and Repairs |
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313 | (3) |
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Understanding the builder's long-term responsibilities and warranties |
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314 | (1) |
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Dealing with construction defects |
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314 | (2) |
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Should You Stay or Should You Go? |
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316 | (3) |
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Being aware of new neighborhood trends |
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316 | (1) |
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Looking at the tax implications |
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317 | (2) |
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Identifying the Best Permanent Financing Solution |
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319 | (4) |
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Fixed versus adjustable rate |
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319 | (1) |
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319 | (1) |
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320 | (1) |
Part 6: The Part Of Tens |
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321 | (38) |
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Chapter 18 Ten Common Custom-Home Mistakes and How to Avoid 'Em |
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323 | (6) |
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Designing a House Unlike Others in the Neighborhood |
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323 | (1) |
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Attempting to Build outside the Design Review Guidelines |
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324 | (1) |
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Thinking the House Will Be Worth What It Costs |
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324 | (1) |
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Paying Off the Lot Before Starting to Build |
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325 | (1) |
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Waiting for Permits to Investigate Construction Financing |
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325 | (1) |
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Applying for the Construction Loan Too Early |
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326 | (1) |
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Applying to Too Many Lenders |
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326 | (1) |
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Borrowing the Minimum to Get By |
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327 | (1) |
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Spending Your Own Money First |
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327 | (1) |
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Selling Your Existing Home Before Building the New One |
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328 | (1) |
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Chapter 19 Ten Great Ways to Lower Construction Costs |
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329 | (8) |
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Build the House That Suits the Land |
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330 | (1) |
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Make It Tall to Keep Your Budget Small |
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330 | (1) |
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Keep It Simple and Tasteful |
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331 | (1) |
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Use Design Elements to Eliminate Costly Materials |
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331 | (1) |
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Choose and Order Items in Advance |
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332 | (1) |
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Use Surplus Materials for an Old-Style Home |
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332 | (1) |
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Group Simple Windows for a Custom Look |
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333 | (1) |
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333 | (1) |
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334 | (1) |
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335 | (2) |
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Chapter 20 Ten Common Stuck-in-the-Middle Problems and Their Fixes |
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337 | (8) |
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My Home Is Behind Schedule |
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337 | (1) |
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My Construction Loan Is Expiring and the House Isn't Complete |
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338 | (1) |
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My Contractor Wants More Money in a Fixed-Price Contract |
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339 | (1) |
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Everything Costs More Than My Budget in a Time-and- Materials Contract |
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340 | (1) |
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The Bank Won't Fund the Draws |
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340 | (1) |
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341 | (1) |
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The House Is Having Some Engineering Problems |
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341 | (1) |
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My Contractor and I Can't Get Along |
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342 | (1) |
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My Contractor Walked Off the Job |
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342 | (1) |
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This Project Is Breaking Up My Marriage |
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343 | (2) |
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Chapter 21 Ten Ways to Build Sustainably |
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345 | (8) |
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Making the Best Use of Your Lot |
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345 | (1) |
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Avoiding an Oversized House |
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346 | (1) |
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346 | (1) |
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Making Your Landscape Earth-Friendly |
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347 | (1) |
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Using Alternative Energy Sources |
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348 | (1) |
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349 | (1) |
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350 | (1) |
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350 | (1) |
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351 | (1) |
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351 | (2) |
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Chapter 22 Ten Helpful Custom-Home Resources |
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353 | (6) |
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Land Ho! Finding Land to Build On |
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353 | (1) |
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Finding Home Design Inspiration |
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354 | (1) |
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Decorating for the Uninitiated |
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354 | (1) |
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Building a Log or Timber Frame Home |
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355 | (1) |
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355 | (1) |
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Working with an Architect |
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356 | (1) |
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Turning to the National Association of Home Builders |
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|
356 | (1) |
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Getting Support if You Want to Be Your Own Builder |
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|
356 | (1) |
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Designing a Home with the Environment in Mind |
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|
357 | (1) |
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Landscaping Your Home with Native Plants |
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|
357 | (2) |
Index |
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359 | |