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