| What type of construction? |
| | Conventional framing |
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| Who took primary responsibility in your family for the work? |
| | Husband primary |
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| How many bids did you get for each subcontracted trade, on average? |
| | Two |
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| How many finished levels in your most recent owner-built house? |
| | One |
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| Were you working when you owner-built? |
| | Both working |
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| Did you have a written schedule for construction? |
| | No |
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| Did you install a water softener? |
| | No |
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| Did you use a designer, architect, stock plan? |
| | Stock Plan |
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| Are you a good shopper? |
| | Good shopper |
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| House style? |
| | Other |
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| How much did you save altogether vs. appraised or street value? |
| | 45% - 50% |
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| How many hours did you spend as a couple, counting planning and construction? |
| | 300 - 400 hrs. |
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| What trades did you do yourself? |
| | Underground utilities, plumbing, electrical, framing, tile, hardwood floor, paint, landscape, swimming pool (plumbing, wiring and decking). |
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| How much did you save on the trades you did yourself? |
| | $110,000 - $130,000 |
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| How long did your self-work trades take? |
| | >1,000 hours |
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| Did you get bids from generals? |
| | No |
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| Have you had it appraised? |
| | Yes |
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| Was yours a starter, step-up, custom, or dream home? |
| | Custom |
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| What's the difference in your mind between a starter, step-up, custom, or dream home? |
| |
Starter: Small square footage, economy finishes, budget appliances value to $250K.
Step-up: Adds footage - still lots of economy finishes, above $250K, less than $400K.
Custom: $400K to $900K lots of tile, Travertine, hardwoods, solid wooden doors, high quality kitchen, lots of square feet, pool custom landscape, high end appliances, Viking, Wolf, Sub-Zero, Jenn-Air etc.
Dream home: Excessive customization, water features, over 4,000 sq. ft., over $1M.
|
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| Did you get materials separate from labor on any of the trades? |
| | 70% - 80% |
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| What were special features in your house? |
| |
Saltwater solar heated pool
Desert landscape
Cobblestone driveways and patios
Observation deck
Stained glass pantry doors
Lots of archways and soffits
Low-voltage lighting
Viking Range, Jenn-Air appliances
Solid pine doors
Real maple floors
Snail shower -- custom Travertine
Double-pane windows and French doors
Built-in vacuum
|
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| Things or approaches you invented? |
| | We ran a 7-day work week with part timers at nights and on the weekends and the professional sub-contractors during the weekdays. |
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| Super bargains you got? |
| | Full trailer of solid maple flooring imported from Canada. Brick pavers direct from manufacturer. |
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| Ways to save money? |
| | Build in an area that does not have an onerous permitting authority.
Buy extra land, split it and sell the pieces you don't need.
Hire experienced tradesmen who want to earn extra $$$ on the weekends.
Supply all of the materials to your crews -- shop around to get the materials.
Ask everyone for a discount. |
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| Did you have contract problems? |
| | None at all |
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| Did you get liened by anybody? |
| | No liens |
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| What percentage of O-B's do you think get liened? |
| | 5% - 10% |
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| How much time did it take to construct? |
| | Six months |
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| How many trades were involved on your job? |
| | 10 - 15 |
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| Have you owner-built more than once? |
| | Three times |
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| Did you read The Owner-Builder Book before you built your house? |
| | Yes |
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| How many bathrooms did you include in your owner-built house? |
| | 3-4 |
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