The Home Build Guidebook from Texas House Plans
Building a house for the first time? Here's every step, in order.
From your budget and your land to the final punch list, this 32-page guidebook shows you what happens next, what to ask your builder and what to check before it costs you money to change.
Downloadable PDF, instant download
You don't know what you don't know.
That's what gets expensive.
You found the land, or you're close. You've saved boards of kitchens and porches. Then the real questions start, and nobody hands you the order they come in.
Most first-time builders learn these answers the hard way, one change order at a time. The guidebook gives you the answers before each phase starts, so you walk into every meeting knowing what to ask.
How much should I budget beyond the build itself?
Do I need an architect, a stock plan or something in between?
Can I actually build what I want on this lot?
What am I supposed to check before the slab is poured?
When is it too late to add an outlet?
What do I get from my builder before I write the last check?
Most first-time builders learn these answers the hard way, one change order at a time. The guidebook gives you the answers before each phase starts, so you walk into every meeting knowing what to ask.
WHAT'S INSIDE
Project Preparation
Set your goals, build a complete budget with a 10 to 15% contingency, compare construction loans, choose your team and decide how you'll get your site.
Your Site
Choose a location you won't regret, read the land (slope, soil, drainage, sun), check zoning, setbacks, easements and HOA rules, and price out utilities before you buy.
Your House Design
Define what you really need, compare build-ready vs. customized vs. custom design, test your floor plan against a real day, choose materials and plan energy efficiency while changes are still cheap.
Your House Build
All 10 construction stages, from grading and foundation to framing, roofing, MEP rough-in, interiors and landscaping, with what to check at each walk-through.
Project Closeout
Final inspections, a punch list that actually gets finished, warranties, lien waivers and final payment, and a move-in checklist.
Also inside: a one-page timeline of the whole build (design 1 to 6 months, permitting 1 to 2, construction 6 to 12+, closeout 1 to 2), and an overview of how a home design goes from concept to construction drawings.
$85 is the smallest line in your budget
Your house will have a contingency fund of 10 to 15% of the total budget for the surprises you didn't plan for. This guidebook exists to shrink that list of surprises.
Mistakes found after the concrete is poured or the drywall is up cost far more. The guidebook's own warning is that repairing foundation mistakes can cost thousands to hundreds of thousands on larger projects.
Help, I'm Building a House: The Home Build Guidebook
$85
- 32-page printable PDF
- 29 steps, 28 checklists, 30 pro tips
- Instant download
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Digital product. All sales final, no refunds.
Is this guidebook for you?
This is for you if:
- You're building your first home and want to understand the whole process before you sign anything
- You own land or are shopping for a lot and want to know what to check before you commit
- You're deciding between a build-ready plan and custom design and want to compare them honestly
- You want to stay on budget without cutting corners where it matters, like the foundation, flashing and insulation
- You're working with a builder and want to know what to look for at each walk-through
This isn't for you if:
- You want a contractor's technical manual or a code book. This is a plain-English guide for homeowners, and your local professionals still review your project against local code.
The Home Build Guidebook from Texas House Plans
Spend $85 on the guidebook today, save on costly mistakes in the future.
Let's do this.
