The Complete Home Building Guidebook

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 discuss•The traits of a home builder•The 4 P's of Marketing•The day to day life of a small builderCHAPTER 2: TYPES OF HOME BUILDERS AND MARKET SEGMENTATION: This chapter discusses:•The types of home builders•The types of housing marketsCHAPTER 3: LAND: LOCATING, CONTRACTING AND DUE DILIGENCE: This chapter discusses:•How to find a suitable parcel of land•How to contract for the land•Methods of purchase the land•The due diligence processes•Property issues•Legal issues•TeardownsCHAPTER 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 lot•Reviewing the local demographics•What goes in a great house plan•How to find the best designer•Various types of home styles•Siting the house on the lot•Efficient floor plans•Design features•Universal design•Smart homes•Green homesCHAPTER 6: WORKING DRAWINGS: This chapter discusses:•How to find the right architect/designer•Questions to ask the architect/designer•Reading the working drawings•What to know about house plan copyrights•Items to review in the working drawings•Landscape designCHAPTER 7: SELECTING THE VARIOUS MATERIALS: This chapter discusses:•Reviewing the features of comparable homes•The house plan specificationsCHAPTER 8: ESTIMATING, BIDDING & DOCUMENTATION: This chapter discusses•How to estimate the working drawings•Various methods to estimate•The various components to estimate•How to value engineer•Estimating mistakes•How to find suitable subcontractors and vendors•How to get the various quotes•How to contract for the workCHAPTER 9: CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS: PREPARING THE BUDGETS & PROFORMA: This chapter discusses:•The price per square foot costs•Soft or indirect costs•Hard costs•Profit margins•How to determine what you can pay for the dirt•The risks associated with building•The "Go or No" decisionCHAPTER 10: FINANCING THE PROJECT: DEBT & EQUITY: This chapter discusses•Lot loans•Acquisition & development loans•Construction loans•Equity requirements•Construction & permanent loansCHAPTER 11: THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS: This chapter discusses:•Pre-construction•Scheduling•Construction starts•Gantt charts•Reviewing the subcontractor's work•Quality assurance•Performance testing•Potential construction issues•Safety in the workplaceCHAPTER 12: DEALING WITH SUBCONTRACTORS, VENDORS AND INSPECTORS: This chapter discusses•How to find the best trade partners•InspectorsCHAPTER 13: THE SALES PROCESS: This chapter discusses•How will the home builder market the house?•Models vs staging•Professional photographs•Curb appeal•Home builder branding•How to price the home•The monthly costs for the home buyer•Real estate commissions•Seller closing costs•When to list the home•Price negotiations•Negotiating strategies•Earnest money•Allowances•Standard upgrades•Change orders•Dealing with the purchaser's appraisal•The sales office•Traffic reports•Comparable studies •Sales techniquesCHAPTER 14: WORKING WITH THE HOME BUYER: This chapter discusses:•Types of home buyers•Pros and cons of customer home building vs speculative building•Pre-sale buyers•Types of contract•Selection of materials•Walk through of the house•Construction draws•Dealing with the home buyer's inspector•Warranty•Dealing with difficult home buyers•Dealing with real estate agentsCHAPTER 15: PRE-CLOSING, AT THE CLOSING & POST CLOSING: This chapter discusses:•Pre-closing•At the closing•Post-closingCHAPTER 16: THE BUSINESS END OF HOME BUILDING: This chapter discusses:•Setting up the new ownership entity•Licenses requires•Business plan and mission statement•Setting up your office•Employee manual•Bookkeeping/Accounting•Insurance and bonds•Accounting reports•Software•Filing system•Organizational chart•Meetings•Membership•Subscriptions•Time management•Successful business practices to followCHAPTER 17: LOT DEVELOPMEN T: This chapter discusses:•Lot development•Feasibility studies•Scaling up the home builder's expertiseCHAPTER 18: ADDITIONS & RENOVATIONS: This chapter discusses:•Items to include when pricing the job•Kitchen renovations•Bathroom renovations•Basement additions•Expanding the footprint•Adding a second story•Other areas to renovate •18 Renovation mistakesPPENDIX: This section includes•A glossary of terms•Types of construction equipment•Resource links•Photography of the home building processThis book is targeted towards:•Entrepreneurs who want to enter the home building business•Small home builders who want to organize their business for profitability•Production builders who want to have a training tool for their employees•Fix and flip renovators who want to elevate their game•Individuals who want to build their new home and want an understanding of the process•The various team players in the home building process that want to make themselves more valuable to their clients•Real estate sales agents that want to understand the home building process

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).