Building a home, for the average person, is something one can only wonder at. For a professional, it is second hand. No two homes are built exactly the same, but generally speaking, they are. Every home has a foundation, walls, ceilings, a roof, doors and windows, but have you ever wondered just how you go from raw land to the all important "certificate of occupancy". This article will be the beginning of your "lesson" in building.

What is a House/Home

First let's visit what a house/home is. According to Merriam-Webster (m-w.com), a house is a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families. Home can be used interchangeably for house as you will see in this writing. When we sit and think of a house, many things can come to mind. There are large homes and small homes, brick homes and homes with siding; houses that are on large parcels of land and homes that are situated within neighborhoods. Bottom line? A home is a house and a house is a home - they are buildings that serve as living quarters and share the same general characteristics. Now for the nuts and bolts.

Securing Financing

It is not by some strange co-incidence that securing financing is included in the stages of new home construction or that it is listed at the first stage of new home construction. It is mandatory to make this your first stage. I have asked the same question over and over, whether at a home show or answering the office phone - "Have you set a budget and secured your financing for the project?" The majority of people by far have answered that they have no budget and have not talked to any banks about financing. Really? When you go school clothes shopping with your kids - do you tell each child "You have this much to spend on your clothes"? As you leave to go to the grocery store with a generalized list - do you have any idea what is in your account to spend at the store? These are budgets. Small scale budgets, but budgets all the same. Why would you not call your local lender, discuss your plans, have them assist with a credit application and travel down the road knowing where you are headed and how much it will take to get there? First stage of new home construction? Secure that financing.