Simple language with no technical jargon. (The New York Times)

This excellent book offers the average person a way to say 25% of the high cost of a new house. Recommended. (Library Journal)

For those who are considering building a home (or addition) this book is a must! (American Homeowners Foundation)

If you can balance a checkbook, read, and deal with people in a fair manner, you can build your own house or addition. You don't need any technical knowledge or building skills - in fact, you'll never pick up a hammer.

With veteran contractor Carl Heldmann as a guide, you'll learn that you can get exactly the house you want, done the way you want it, for less.

In this completely revised and updated fourth edition of his classic how-to book (more than 185,000 copies in print), Heldmann gives an overview of all the steps of building and includes a glossary of building and business terms and sample contracts. He tells how to:

Select land

Secure financing

Develop house plans

Establish schedules

Identify cost-saving options

Select subcontractors

Negotiate contracts

Buy materials and supplies

Estimate building costs

Written by a construction loan consultant and former home builder, this guide describes the steps of building a new house or addition with a minimum of technical jargon. Heldmann contends that by acting as the general contractor and hiring expert subcontractors to do the work, home buyers can save approximately 25% and get their home built the way they want it. The text does not provide information on how to perform the various tasks of the subcontractors such as carpentry and plumbing.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

While building a home is not a simple task, expert Carl Heldmann shows that it is not as complicated as one might believe. With his sound advice, readers can act as their own house contractor and save a quarter - or more - of the cost of building a home. And without picking up a hammer!

Heldmann explains each step of the home building process in non-technical, easily understood language, helping readers avoid the pitfalls that plague general contractors, even experienced ones. Readers will learn how to develop house plans, establish schedules, select good subcontractors, identify cost-saving options, negotiate contracts, estimate building costs, purchase materials and supplies, and much more.

Carl Heldmann is a construction loan consultant, a home builder, and the founder of two schools of home building.