| What does it take to build your own home, to be | | | | 318.865.5200. Landscaping -Richard Matthews at |
| your own contractor, to save money? In | | | | Avant Garde-ner has a love for landscaping and it |
| Louisiana an individual has the right to build their | | | | certainly shows. Let him help you design your |
| own home once per year. I've built several homes | | | | landscape, and you'll feel he's as interested in your |
| in the past, and each time was a learning | | | | project as you are. His phone number is |
| experience. With this experience I have prepared | | | | 318.797.7183. Mirrors and shower doors - Glass |
| for YOU a step by step guide to building a home | | | | Doctor can make anything your heart desires. |
| from my point of view. This article is specifically | | | | Give them a call at 318.221.3503. Gutters - |
| taylored to building slab-on-grade homes in the | | | | Harmon & Sons installed the gutters on the house |
| Shreveport Bossier City area. Choose your home. | | | | completed in 2005. No matter how much of a |
| Make a decision about which will be your next | | | | handyman you think you are, you're not going to |
| home. Once you decide what to build you'll need | | | | equal the quality of this work with stuff you |
| to purchase house plans. One of my favorite | | | | bought from the store. Their phone number is |
| places to look for house plans is W.L. Martin Home | | | | 318.671.9668. Appraisal Fee - Don't forget the |
| Designs. These guys have the most well | | | | appraisal fee. Once you finish the house the bank |
| constructed house plans I've ever seen, not to | | | | will want an appraisal so plan on paying one more |
| mention beautiful designs. Look above and check | | | | time before you move into your house. Get |
| out the WL Martin home completed in 2005. If | | | | Approved for a Mortgage. Contact your |
| your framing crew ever complains about a WL | | | | mortgage company and get preapproved for the |
| Martin house plan, consider firing them for | | | | amount calculated in your costs in Step 4. If your |
| incompetency. Find some land. Now you have | | | | credit is good enough, try adding a 10-15% |
| your house plans and you know what footprint | | | | contingency on top of your total value. You can |
| your house will have the property. Shop around | | | | have this amount for "cushion" in case you run |
| and find some land to build your new house on. | | | | into unforeseen circumstances. Also it might come |
| Drive around, look in the newspaper, look on the | | | | in handy if you see something you might want to |
| internet. Find out what the restrictions are on the | | | | upgrade along the way. Remember though, it's |
| property. Many subdivisions have covenants | | | | much better to complete your project under |
| (restrictions) describing what type of homes are | | | | budget rather than over budget. Get an Interim |
| allowed. If your house fits then great! If not, pick | | | | Loan. Commonly referred to as a "Construction |
| another house or another piece of land.Caution! Be | | | | Loan", an Interim Loan allows you to build your |
| on the lookout for contractors selling land requiring | | | | home and only pay interest on the money you |
| that you let them build the house for you. Not | | | | have borrowed to date. For example, if you are |
| that there's anything wrong with this; as a matter | | | | approved for $100,000 to build your home on a |
| of fact I would require people let me build the | | | | 7% interim loan and you spend no money during |
| house too. However, the focus of this article is | | | | the first month of construction then your loan |
| building your OWN home.Finance the land. If you | | | | payment would be $0 for that month. However, |
| don't have cash on hand find someone that will | | | | if you spent $20,000 during your first month of |
| loan money for the land. If you are building the | | | | construction then you'd pay $117. To arrive at this |
| home immediately most mortgage companies | | | | number all you need to do is multiply $20,000 by |
| have programs available. If it is months or years | | | | 0.07 (your APR, or interest rate). The result |
| before you plan to build the home then contact | | | | should be $1,400. Then divide $1,400 by 12 |
| David Ogletree at the Louisiana Land Bank. The | | | | (because their are 12 months in the year).Bring |
| Louisiana Land Bank has a program for future | | | | your house plans from Step 1 of this article, your |
| homesites which enables them to loan money for | | | | costs from Step 4, and your mortgage approval |
| raw land. Their rates are competitive, and their | | | | from Step 5. If you have done Step 4 completely |
| service is fast.Get your costs together. There's | | | | then the bank is going to be impressed and give |
| no skipping this step! Before you get a loan for | | | | you consideration for thinking everything through |
| building a home the bank will make you submit | | | | so carefully. Keep in mind that while it is your right |
| your cost estimate. I have provided a list for you | | | | in the state of Louisiana to build your own home |
| which includes everything I bought for my last | | | | once per year, it is also the bank's right not to |
| home project in 2005. I also provide you with | | | | loan you the money because you don't have a |
| names of people in the area who did a good job | | | | licensed contractor building your home. It's their |
| for me. Feel welcome to contact them and tell | | | | money and their rules. Many of the banks have |
| them I sent you. Please note that the purpose of | | | | discontinued loans to owner construction because |
| this list is to provide you with a starting point and | | | | so many have found theirselves in cost overrun. |
| remind you of things that are often forgotten. | | | | You'll need to find a bank that will finance to |
| You will need to edit this list to make it fit your | | | | owner construction. One bank that I know of that |
| requirements. These items are listed in the order I | | | | still does this is Minden Building & Loan in Minden, |
| encountered them. | | | | LA. Give Greg Lee a call at 318.377.0523.Get Your |
| Land Cost - How much you pay for the land. | | | | Permits. For building my last home out of the city |
| Land Clearing - You'll need to hire a good dozer | | | | limits I had to get a culvert permit and a parish |
| man to prepare your property for your home. | | | | building permit. Go to your Assessor's office in |
| For this task I recommend Roy McDowell from | | | | Bossier or Caddo Parish and tell them the address |
| Webster Trucking. He has a laser level on his bull | | | | of your new construction. They should be able to |
| dozer that puts a nice grade on your site. His | | | | set you up with all the permits you need. Nothing |
| phone number is 318.949.4915. House Plans - How | | | | like good 'ol taxation from the government. Get |
| much you paid for the house plans.Permits - Be | | | | Builder's Risk Insurance. Call Bobbie Smarr for |
| sure to obtain all required permits. These can be | | | | Builder's Risk Insurance at ICT Insurance Agencies |
| culvert permits, parish building permits, city | | | | 318.797.7400. Protect your investment. Prepare |
| permits, and more. Builder's Risk Insurance - | | | | your Land. Call Roy McDowell at 318.949.4915. |
| Protect yourself agains fires, theft, and a host of | | | | You'll need to discuss with him where your house |
| other unfortunate circumstances. Call Bobbie | | | | will be located on the property and where your |
| Smarr for Builder's Risk Insurance at ICT | | | | driveway(s) will be. Roy has an excellent knack |
| Insurance Agencies 318.797.7400. Portable Toilet | | | | for determining house elevations. He'll make sure |
| service - When you gotta go, you gotta go. Keep | | | | your house is high and dry. He's knowledgeable of |
| your workers relieved at your job site. | | | | soil compaction properties and will use only the |
| Temporary Water Service - Contact the water | | | | highest quality material. His bull dozer with the |
| service in your area and have them put a water | | | | integrated laser levelling system will make sure |
| meter in. There are several phases of | | | | your home is sitting on a perfect foundation. |
| construction that require water (ie. masonry). | | | | Portable Toilet. Time to get the potty for all the |
| House Pad - Find someone that can sell dirt and | | | | workers! Temporary Electricity. Call Bo Wilkinson |
| build the house pad for you. Don't go too cheap | | | | at BW Electric and tell him it's time to install the |
| here, or you'll have a house sitting in a mud hole. | | | | electric pole. 318.949.8711.Foundation Preparation. |
| For this task I recommend Roy McDowell from | | | | Contact Drew Paschall with TBG, Inc. His phone |
| Webster Trucking. He has a laser level on his bull | | | | number is 214.616.4841. They'll set the foundation |
| dozer that puts a nice grade on your site. His | | | | and dig all the beams for your home. Plumbing |
| phone number is 318.949.4915. Slab, Post Tension | | | | Rough-In. Call Tommy Adkins at 318.470.3490 so |
| - Contact Drew Paschall with TBG, Inc. His phone | | | | they can bring the Ditch Witch out and install |
| number is 214.616.4841. Driveway and sidewalks - | | | | water and sewer lines. Order cabinets. Don't find |
| Contact Drew Paschall with TBG, Inc. His phone | | | | yourself waiting later. Get those cabinets ordered |
| number is 214.616.4841. Temporary Electricity - | | | | now so you'll have them when you need |
| Contact Bo Wilkinson at BW Electric at | | | | them.Pour Slab & Install Post Tension. Drew |
| 318.949.8711. They have electric poles and will help | | | | Paschall comes back again to install the post |
| you coordinate getting the temporary power on | | | | tension cabling and pour the concrete for your |
| your job site. Interim Loan interest - Be sure to | | | | slab. Just after the slab dries they should do a |
| remember this one. While it takes 3-12 months to | | | | "partial pull" of the cabling. This helps prevent |
| build your home you'll be paying interim loan | | | | premature cracking of the concrete.Framing. A |
| interest on the money you have borrowed. I like | | | | day or two after the concrete dries Drew's crew |
| to use 5% of the final borrowed amount to | | | | is back out again to build the frame for the house. |
| estimate how much interest I'll pay over the life | | | | This process will take several weeks. Once they |
| of the interim loan.Framing & Lumber - Contact | | | | are finished your house will have tar paper on the |
| Drew Paschall with TBC, Inc. His phone number is | | | | roof, windows and doors on the exterior, and any |
| 214.616.4841. Even if you use someone else for | | | | applicable siding. You can now brag to your friends |
| the construction of the slab make sure you don't | | | | using the lingo, "my house is in the dry" or "I got |
| miss the pleasure of working with these people in | | | | my home blacked in". Put the Roof on. Bring out |
| framing your house. Their speed will save you | | | | the roofers and put the shingles on so the house |
| money on your interim loan interest. They work in | | | | won't leak. Remember the cheap shingles don't |
| large crews and focus on YOU until they are | | | | last as long as the expensive ones! More Rough-in. |
| finished with the job. tape/float/texture/paint | | | | It's now time to rough-in your air conditioning, |
| stain - This process involves hanging sheetrock | | | | electricity, insulation and plumbing. Now is your |
| inside your home, preparing the sheetrock for | | | | chance to make any special requests for location |
| texture, texturing the sheetrock, painting the | | | | of sockets, installation of surround sound, or |
| house, and staining the cabinetry. For this task I | | | | anything else your heart desires.Install the |
| have a strong preference for Mark Villarreal at | | | | Fireplace. Now is the best time to install the |
| Aim To Please. His home phone number is | | | | fireplace an all associated duct work.Install |
| 318.949.8871. His cell phone number is | | | | Cabinets. The painters are going to need to stain |
| 318.458.0079. Since this step in building a home is | | | | the cabinets while they're painting the house so |
| time consuming, Aim To Please's painters work in | | | | get them installed just before the guys show up |
| large crews to complete your job in a shorter | | | | with their paint brushes. Paint the house. This part |
| amount of time. This saves you money on interim | | | | takes the longest and quite frankly it is the most |
| loan interest. Cabinets - Get your order in for | | | | boring in my opinion. However, rest assured that |
| cabinets at the same time you pour your slab. | | | | lots of work is happening. At this stage you'll get |
| Doing it this way will prevent delays when it's time | | | | your sheetrock hung, your walls texturized, and |
| to install them. Randy Peters and Tim Taylor build | | | | your whole house painted! This stage could take |
| some beautiful cabinets. Contact them at | | | | well over a month if not two or three months. |
| 318.272.4598. Cabinet knobs - Steer clear of | | | | Masonry. Brick? How about some stucco? Bring |
| fancy prices here. Get the cabinet knobs and | | | | that brick man out and let him put the brick on. |
| stuff on Ebay! That's what I did. Countertops - | | | | Trim Work. All moulding, doorways, stairs, and |
| Will it be formica, corian, granite, marble? Make | | | | other fancy stuff should be installed at this point. |
| the choice now. You need to know how much it | | | | Install Fixtures. Bring the guys back again for final |
| will cost you.Wood, tile, and carpet material and | | | | trim out of air conditioning vents and controls, |
| labor - Decide how the flooring will be laid out in | | | | electrical fixtures and switches, sinks, faucets, |
| your new home. For fair pricing and top notch | | | | etc.Appliances. Time for the dishwasher, stove, |
| workmanship contact BJ's Flooring at | | | | range vent, and microwave.Insulation trim-out. |
| 318.371.6823.Electric/ethernet/security - Nobody | | | | Bring on the pump truck. The insulators will come |
| does my electric work except BW Electric. Give | | | | out one last time. They'll run hoses throughout the |
| them a call at 318.949.8711.Air conditioning / | | | | house and up to the attic to blow a nice coat of |
| Heating - Don't cheap out here. Get a unit with a | | | | insulation to keep your house cool in the summer |
| high seer rating and enjoy reduced electric bills. | | | | and warm in the winter. Contact your loan |
| Look at the pictures above. The house completed | | | | officers. You're now about 1 month away from |
| in 2002 was 1,400 square feet with an average | | | | moving into your new home. Contact your loan |
| electric bill of $250/month. The house completed | | | | officers and decide upon a target move-in date |
| in 2005 is 4,000 square feet with an average | | | | for your new home. Put your interim loan officer |
| electric bill of $160/month. Contacted Fertitta's Air | | | | in touch with your mortgage officer and let them |
| & Heat and let John come out and work his | | | | coordinate how they will handle the roll-over of |
| magic. Their phone number is 318.687.5966. | | | | your interim loan into a mortgage. Now is the time |
| Masonry, labor, sand, mortar, lentils - Get with Jim | | | | to lock in your mortgage interest rate. Flooring. |
| Thomas at 318.377.3856 or Toby Whaley at | | | | Just when you thought you were almost through |
| 318.218.4803. Both of these guys have an | | | | it's now time to install the flooring. Expect another |
| excellent reputation in this area.Plumbing, plumbing | | | | period of slow, intensive labor. This process takes |
| fixtures, tubs, faucets, toilets - Tommy Adkins' | | | | a few weeks, but the end result is fabulous! After |
| phone number is 318.470.3490. He can provide | | | | the flooring is done it's okay to move in your |
| you with a quote on your plumbing. I approve of | | | | refrigerator, washing machine and dryer. Install |
| their work, and I think you will too. Trim Materials | | | | garage doors. This process only takes about a |
| and Labor - This includes crown moulding, mantels, | | | | day. If you're getting standard doors then the |
| and anything else that might be fancy. Let Drew | | | | delivery time is fairly rapid. If you plan to have |
| Paschall set you up. His phone number is | | | | insulated doors you should order them about one |
| 214.616.4841. Insulation - Who else but Charles at | | | | month prior to the expected installation date. |
| AAA Insulators. His phone number is 318.949.3719. | | | | Mirrors and shower doors. All mirrors and shower |
| Fireplace - Try Mike Cox at Bradley Brick. His | | | | doors are ready for installation around this date. |
| phone number is 318.752.9933.Garage doors - | | | | Just make sure this is done AFTER the electrical |
| Whether your looking for the regular ones or the | | | | trim-out or you could run into problems. |
| fancy insulated ones give Benny Cash a call at | | | | Driveways and sidewalks. Bring Drew out for one |
| Overhead Door. His phone number is | | | | last time. The installation of the driveways and |
| 318.865.7666. Lighting fixtures and ceiling fans - No | | | | sidewalks will only take a couple of days.You're |
| recommendations. Just find a place known for | | | | not finished, but Move In! At this point you have |
| on-time delivery. Dishwasher/stove/vent | | | | completed your house to the point where you |
| microwave - No recommendations. Just find a | | | | can order an appraisal, close on your mortgage, |
| place known for on-time delivery. Refrigerator - | | | | and move in!Install grass, landscaping, and gutters. |
| No recommendations. Just find a place known for | | | | Now that you're all moved in you'll be ready to |
| on-time delivery. Exterior doors, interior doors - | | | | just enjoy your new house. Make one final push |
| Contact Drew Paschall at 214.616.4841. Stairway | | | | and get your lawn, landscaping, and gutters |
| materials and labor - Contact Drew Paschall at | | | | installed. Thank you for reading Building your own |
| 214.616.4841.Windows - Contact Drew Paschall at | | | | home in Shreveport Louisiana. I hope you have |
| 214.616.4841.Roofing materials and labor - No | | | | found this article both informative and interesting. |
| recommendations. Lawn Preparation for Grass - | | | | It takes a great deal of planning and effort to |
| James San Angelo and his tractor can work | | | | build a home, but the rewards are money savings |
| wonders. Cell: 318.393.4923Home: 318.746.9985. | | | | and satisfaction through piece of mind. I welcome |
| Grass, mulch and labor - Now is the best time to | | | | any of your comments or suggestions.Matthew |
| add a layer of compost to compliment your lawn | | | | Thompson, Realtor, Webmaster |
| installation. Eco Mulch & Sod can make all this | | | | Shreveport Real Estate Webmaster |
| happen for you. Their phone number is | | | | Copyright. All rights reserved. |