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