Building a Home Part 1 : What I have learned so far.

Let me first start out by saying: this is all new territory for us. We have remodeled two homes but we have never built. So... to say we have learned A LOT about building a home is an understatement.

Table of Contents

Just Flow With It

I had heard HORROR stories about building a home. I thought "that won't be us... ha!" We worked really hard to dot all of our i's and cross our t's. While our extra efforts have helped significantly, everything still has not gone smoothly. Life. There will be bumps, frustration will be imminent and a good crying session might be in your future. Just flow with it, cry it out and then get up and keep going.

What Comes When

Plans drawn and engineered - before you buy plans online, make sure you check with your state regulations. The state of Utah requires an architect to look at your plans and have them engineered even if you bought them online.
Get financing in place - many institutions don't offer construction loans. So shop around to find what you need. AND shop closing costs as well as rates. My husband is a banker and did lots of research before on this.
Buy the lot

Submit plans to the city for approval - each city and state has a different process. Make sure you check your city's website. They will tell you exactly what you need to submit for building. We also had to have an HVAC residential check to submit with our plans to the city.
Excavation - and have a dinner to celebrate!!
Inspection - The city came out and made sure all of our setbacks and excavation was correct.

Porta Potty - Most cities require you have one for your workers. We rent a honey bucket for $100 a month.
Pour footings - These are the first things poured.
Put up forms and rebar-
Inspection - the city inspected that before we could pour our foundation walls

Pour foundation walls - a few days later they can pour the walls

Bring in water and sewer- generally done by excavator. Local sewer district will usually have to come out and inspect your sewer hook up.
Put in rough plumbing - When the excavator starts check with your plumber to make sure you are on their schedule and see if they need you to do anything specific
Inspection - Rough plumbing had to be inspected before we could pour the floor
Bring in gravel - We used a rock thrower. That was so fun to watch

pour cement slab -
French Drain/down spouts - run these after the cement walls are poured and before you back fill.
back fill - This is when you push all the dirt around your foundation.

Dumpster - You will need a dumpster so the framers can discard their waste.
framing - I have loved watching the house be built. Scroll for some fun progress shots.

Basement