Beware of Being Your Own Home Builder
Homeownership is the foundation of the American Dream, and in today’s do-it-yourself culture where how-to advice for just about anything can be found on the internet, many people think they could save a lot of money by building their own home. But your home is likely the single largest investment you will make in your lifetime, and not hiring a professional home builder could be a costly mistake for many reasons—financial, emotional, and physical. 
Getting financing is an important consideration. As a self-contractor, lenders have strict guidelines and limits on how much money they will give you, and they will require that you provide house plans, specifications and an itemized list of documented costs and bids beforehand.
Even if you feel that you have enough cash to do the job, it is wise to get a loan to cover material or labor cost increases, upgrades or material overruns. Many mortgage companies will not lend money to cover unanticipated costs on a home when construction has already begun.
Read MoreIntroduction to The Living Stone Difference
We chose Living Stone because of Sean but we love Living Stone because of their team. Molly, Matt, Pam, John, Frank, Laura and our main man Mike! Mike drives our home’s construction, can answer any question at a level you can understand and is a pleasure to work with. Laura organizes and improves all of our design decisions, gives us inspiration and keeps everything on track. Sean, it is a credit to you that you have surrounded yourself with so many truly good people. We are having a ball! Jim Jones
Read MoreWhat Home Buyers Really Want
based on surveys done by the National Home Builder's Association in 2012February is National Builder Designation Month
Buying a new home or remodeling your existing house is not a decision many families take lightly. Not only is buying a home a significant financial expenditure, your home has strong emotional ties as well. For many families, homeownership is the most valued long-term investment they’ll ever make, and it builds a sense of pride, accomplishment and stability. So it’s not a job you want to entrust to someone who may not have the training or experience to do the job right. One way you can achieve confidence in your selection of a builder or remodeler is if they have earned a professional designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). NAHB offers comprehensive training programs to builders, remodelers and other industry specialists that lead to professional credentials in specific topic areas. The professional designations in NAHB’s program are aimed at helping home builders and remodelers improve their skills, advance their careers and to recognize industry expertise and commitment to professional growth for the home building industry. Some of the professional designations builders and remodelers can earn include: Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) Graduate Master Builder (GMB) Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) Graduate Master Remodeler (GMR) Certified Green Professional™ (CGP) Master Certified Green Professional (Master CGP) Earning an NAHB professional designation is a challenging and enriching process. Designation students learn the latest technology, building methods and business practices through a series of relevant courses taught by expert instructors. In addition to the required courses, they stay current by investing in continuing education to keep abreast of the latest building techniques and emerging industry trends, and to maintain their active designations. For example, choosing a professional who has earned the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation ensures that your remodeler will know how to address common age-related barriers. They will modify your home so that you, or an elderly resident of your home, will be safe and comfortable by widening doors to accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility aids, installing shower bars to improve safety, and making other modifications. Builders or remodelers who have earned designations will also perform the work to the latest safety standards. If you live in a house built before 1978, federal law requires that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes must be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Home buyers and owners can be confident that a credentialed professional has superior training, practical experience and in-depth knowledge. Designation-earners are qualified specialists who are ready to meet your specific needs, have passed rigorous coursework and are committed to being among the best in the business. Each year, hundreds of builders and remodelers from around the country make the effort to earn professional credentials. To find out more about what builders and remodelers who have earned designations can do to help you achieve your housing goals, go to nahb.org/forconsumers and select Work with a Certified Professional. Sean Sullivan is an Accredited Master Builder and past president of the Asheville HBA. He is currently the Region X VP of the NCHBA. His firm, Living Stone Construction, is a first-tier builder of fine custom homes in Western North Carolina, and recently won “Best in Black Mountain in Custom Homes 2011” by the US Commerce Association. Source – www.NAHB.org