If building your own house is in the back of your mind then you are in for some interesting times. This process is fun, exiting, enjoyable, and oh yeah, frustrating all at the same time.
If this is a major project that you wish to undertake then you need to do your homework. If you are totally new to the construction process then it is advisable to educate yourself by obtaining as much info as possible before you start to get things underway.
Being familiar with building terms and typical situations will be so helpful to you as a builder. Even if this is not a large scale project finding the right information will save you lots of headaches down the road. Depending on your level of current knowledge the learning curve may but more then you had bargained for.
There is another route to consider, that of hiring a project manager (refer to project management) to oversee and coordinate the work for you. Whether you take on the work or it is hired out to subcontractors, someone in the know can be an extremely valuable resource, save you time and money, and get you started off on a positive note. This will certainly make the process more enjoyable.
Things to consider
Do I buy the property first
Do I buy the plans first or have them drawn up by a draftsperson
What size of house do I/we need
Will it have a basement, crawl space, is it a slab.
Are there schools close, a medical facility, a sports facility, if these are important to you.
What type of neighborhood would I like to be in.
Can I afford to hire someone to build, or am I looking for a challenge and plan to do as much work myself and save a fair amount of cash.
The list could go on and on. Plan,plan,plan,and plan. then make a choice and get to work.
Happy New Year!