The Complete Home Building Guidebook

(Paperback)

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The Complete Home Building Guidebook, written by Howard Zuckerman is based on the last 35 years of experience in building homes in the Atlanta, GA marketplace. Written in easy to understand language, this book will take the reader through each phase of the home building process. This guidebook includes numerous bullet points, charts, illustrations, photographs, checklists, forms and documents. Each of the chapters presents information that can potentially save or earn the reader thousands of dollars.CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO HOME BUILDING: This chapter discusses:What this book will discussThe traits of a home builderThe 4 P's of MarketingThe day to day life of a small builderCHAPTER 2: TYPES OF HOME BUILDERS AND MARKET SEGMENTATION: This chapter discusses:The types of home buildersThe types of housing marketsCHAPTER 3: LAND: LOCATING, CONTRACTING AND DUE DILIGENCE: This chapter discusses:How to find a suitable parcel of landHow to contract for the landMethods of purchase the landThe due diligence processesProperty issuesLegal issuesTeardownsCHAPTER 4: ASSEMBLING THE HOME BUILDING TEAM: This chapter discusses:How to assemble the best home building team and who the various players areCHAPTER 5: DESIGNING THE HOUSE PLANS: This chapter discusses:Finding the right house plan to fit the market and the lotReviewing the local demographicsWhat goes in a great house planHow to find the best designerVarious types of home stylesSiting the house on the lotEfficient floor plansDesign featuresUniversal designSmart homesGreen homesCHAPTER 6: WORKING DRAWINGS: This chapter discusses:How to find the right architect/designerQuestions to ask the architect/designerReading the working drawingsWhat to know about house plan copyrightsItems to review in the working drawingsLandscape designCHAPTER 7: SELECTING THE VARIOUS MATERIALS: This chapter discusses:Reviewing the features of comparable homesThe house plan specificationsCHAPTER 8: ESTIMATING, BIDDING & DOCUMENTATION: This chapter discussesHow to estimate the working drawingsVarious methods to estimateThe various components to estimateHow to value engineerEstimating mistakesHow to find suitable subcontractors and vendorsHow to get the various quotesHow to contract for the workCHAPTER 9: CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS: PREPARING THE BUDGETS & PROFORMA: This chapter discusses:The price per square foot costsSoft or indirect costsHard costsProfit marginsHow to determine what you can pay for the dirtThe risks associated with buildingThe "Go or No" decisionCHAPTER 10: FINANCING THE PROJECT: DEBT & EQUITY: This chapter discussesLot loansAcquisition & development loansConstruction loansEquity requirementsConstruction & permanent loansCHAPTER 11: THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS: This chapter discusses:Pre-constructionSchedulingConstruction startsGantt chartsReviewing the subcontractor's workQuality assurancePerformance testingPotential construction issuesSafety in the workplaceCHAPTER 12: DEALING WITH SUBCONTRACTORS, VENDORS AND INSPECTORS: This chapter discussesHow to find the best trade partnersInspectorsCHAPTER 13: THE SALES PROCESS: This chapter discussesHow will the home builder market the houseModels vs stagingProfessional photographsCurb appealHome builder brandingHow to price the homeThe monthly costs for the home buyerReal estate commissionsSeller closing costsWhen to list the homePrice negotiationsNegotiating strategiesEarnest moneyAllowancesStandard upgradesChange ordersDealing with the purchaser's appraisalThe sales officeTraffic reportsComparable studies Sales techniquesCHAPTER 14: WORKING WITH THE HOME BUYER: This chapter discusses:Types of home buyersPros and cons of customer home building vs speculative buildingPre-sale buyersTypes of contractSelection of materialsWalk through of the houseConstruction drawsDealing with the home buyer's inspectorWarrantyDealing with difficult home buyersDealing with real estate agentsCHAPTER 15: PRE-CLOSING, AT THE CLOSING & POST CLOSING: This chapter discusses:Pre-closingAt the closingPost-closingCHAPTER 16: THE BUSINESS END OF HOME BUILDING: This chapter discusses:Setting up the new ownership entityLicenses requiresBusiness plan and mission statementSetting up your officeEmployee manualBookkeeping/AccountingInsurance and bondsAccounting reportsSoftwareFiling systemOrganizational chartMeetingsMembershipSubscriptionsTime managementSuccessful business practices to followCHAPTER 17: LOT DEVELOPMEN T: This chapter discusses:Lot developmentFeasibility studiesScaling up the home builder's expertiseCHAPTER 18: ADDITIONS & RENOVATIONS: This chapter discusses:Items to include when pricing the jobKitchen renovationsBathroom renovationsBasement additionsExpanding the footprintAdding a second storyOther areas to renovate 18 Renovation mistakesPPENDIX: This section includesA glossary of termsTypes of construction equipmentResource linksPhotography of the home building processThis book is targeted towards:Entrepreneurs who want to enter the home building businessSmall home builders who want to organize their business for profitabilityProduction builders who want to have a training tool for their employeesFix and flip renovators who want to elevate their gameIndividuals who want to build their new home and want an understanding of the processThe various team players in the home building process that want to make themselves more valuable to their clientsReal estate sales agents that want to understand the home building process

Author Bio

I have over 35 years of experience in the Home Building and development business having built or converted more than 1,000 homes, condominiums and townhomes in the southeast USA.I have an undergraduate degree in Marketing from Ohio State University and a master's Degree in Real Estate from the University of Wisconsin.I have written the following books over the last 25 years: - Real Estate Investment & Acquisition Workbook - Prentice Hall- Real Estate Development Workbook & Manual - Prentice Hall- Real Estate Wealthbuilding - Dearborn Publishing- Real Estate Exchange - Probus Publishing- Real Estate Workout Deskbook - Probus Publishing- Problem Real Estate - Probus Publishing- Real Estate Development - A Guidebook to Profitability - IREDI PressI have been the editor for the following three national newsletters for 8-1/2 years- Real Estate Workouts & Asset Management Newsletter - Warren, Gorham & Lamont- Real Estat4e Development & Asset Management Newsletter - Warren, Gorham & Lamont- Capital Sources for Real Estate Newsletter - Warren, Gorham & LamontI have also taught the Real Estate Development course at the graduate level at Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA).