| Do not be in too big a hurry to begin the | | | | build a house than buy one, there are several |
| finish work. Wait until the plaster is | | | | ways to go about it. You can get an architect |
| thoroughly dry; two or three weeks should | | | | to plan the house and get a contractor to |
| elapse from the time the plaster is completed | | | | build it; this should result in just the |
| before the finish lumber, flooring, doors, | | | | "perfect" house for you, but can be expensive |
| and cabinets are even brought into the house. | | | | unless you are more than careful. Hire the |
| Otherwise, the moisture from the plastering | | | | plans drawn and be your own contractor, |
| will swell the wood and damage the surface of | | | | letting the work out to sub-contractors, as |
| the finish lumber. An extra few days' waiting | | | | concrete men, carpenters, electricians, |
| will result in a much better job of | | | | plasterers, etc. Do this only if you have had |
| finishing. An accurate account of the cost of | | | | considerable business experience and have |
| a building should be kept as the work | | | | plenty of time to devote to it, as the |
| progresses. This is not too difficult if one | | | | supervision of these workmen is what you pay |
| is careful to keep all bills, vouchers, | | | | the general contractor to do. You might get |
| receipts, check stubs, and all other papers | | | | plans out of a magazine and proceed as |
| involved in buying the materials, getting the | | | | suggested above; or get some experienced |
| permits, and paying the labor. It is also a | | | | person to help you with the plans and build |
| good idea to keep an account of the hours you | | | | part of the house yourself, hiring |
| spend in the building work. Keep a separate | | | | professional help only where necessary. Of |
| account of the time spent in actual labor on | | | | you could buy a lot, draw your own plans, and |
| the job really building and the work spent in | | | | do the whole job yourself, with the help of |
| buying, negotiating with contractors, | | | | your family, hiring specialized skills only |
| subcontractors, and building officials. It | | | | where absolutely necessary. This is the most |
| makes an interesting record if a note is made | | | | work, but can' also be the most fun and the |
| of the exact kind of work done each day, to | | | | least expensive. Much depends on your |
| see how the various kinds of work consume | | | | experience, your skill, and the time you can |
| time. A very young man may wish to hire help | | | | afford to devote to the work. If you decide |
| for the more skilled types of work and do the | | | | to hire a general contractor to build for |
| more strenuous physical work himself, while a | | | | you, select him with care. There are several |
| man in his fifties or sixties might prefer to | | | | criteria by which to judge a contractor's |
| hire the heavy work done and do the skilled | | | | ability and competence. Ask to see several |
| and more puttering kinds of work himself. | | | | houses that he has built; let him show you |
| This will vary with the individual, and the | | | | the houses, which he should be proud to do, |
| type of help he can get. A person should | | | | and look them over carefully. If you do |
| usually plan on hiring some help in building | | | | decide to purchase a house always use a |
| a house, as it is rare to find a person who | | | | mortgage calculator to help you get the best |
| can do skillfully all kinds of work necessary | | | | mortgage. |
| to do in a building. If you would rather | | | | |