Jeese, looks like the denizens of TBN have moved on over to
CBN! [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] Which is a good thing. [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

As I read other peoples questions about building there own
house and problems with builders I just nod my head as I'm
having the same toughts and issues.

We have been talking to builders for 2.5 years. Found four
and after talking with them for awhile ran away quickly from
three. Found the fourth builders last summer and really liked
him. We have spent quite a few hours talking with him over
the last year and figured we had found a builder.

To make a long story shorter and getting to the Subject Line,
the builder gave us a qoute on a house sketch last winter.
Based on that price per square foot I drew up some blueprints
for the sketch. Decided the house was to big and redid the
the blue prints. The price per square foot we where given
from the sketch was $70. Now that is low and would go up.
Also the first floor of the house, close to 2/3s the s/f of the
house would be a finished concrete slab. That drove our
cost down since we have no basement or crawlspace.

We finally got a quote from the builder based on the
blueprints. The house had gone up by about 25%! [img]/forums/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

I figured the s/f on the house at around 2400/2500. His was
3100ish. [img]/forums/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

I know HOW he got 3100ish. My house design class and my
book I used to draw up the blueprints showed the dimensions
of the house from wood frame to wood frame. What this
does it keep out the width of the brick from the house. This
save about 1 linear foot over the two x,y diminsions of the
house. That may not sound like alot but its big bucks. Has
anyone else seen the dimensions done like this?

The other thing he did that I really don't like is that there
is a space over the living room that is open to the second
floor ceiling. He counts this 300 s/f space in his bid. NOT!
I certainly can't sell open air as liviable space if I had to sell
the house. Has anyone seen this as well?

Thus I'm now thinking of building my own house.... And not
liking the idea at all. But I had similar problems when trying
to get work done on the property and ended up with a
tractor! [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Thanks,
Dan McCarty