Three Most Important People To Talk To Before You Build A House!

[@compactc9]

Worse than liability for problems are the problems themselves! I want engineers involved with the intention of them helping me ensure no problems and a good solid building when I’m done.

[@relerfordable]

Very informative!

[@chitza3270]

My last house was so far below street level that standing on the street out front you were level with the third floor. That is not a typo. The house only sat about 35-40 feet back from the street. It was a nightmare.

[@ATia-gg2do]

very smart man

[@popcorn6931]

Pls help me understand why do you need the ground wet before you pour the concrete? Don't you want to keep it dry so that it doesn't heave as much? What happens when the ground becomes dry... Wouldn't it shrink a bit thereby causing a slight drop in elevation?

[@HowToBuildYourOwnHome]

The concrete dries too fast, least least in my super arid environment.

[@jpal1080]

Are these flood zone issues revealed to potential buyers during house hunting ( known only by the builder) or before a closing or caught completely off guard?

[@HowToBuildYourOwnHome]

No, home owners need to be better informed.

[@tedfritsch3340]

Buyer beware!

[@danbiss87]

If your buying a home then the bank and insurance company will know its in a flood zone and will require you to have flood insurance to protect the note. If your buying land or a house for cash then you need to due your due diligience

[@gruivis]

If you're building in a flood zone, would it be prudent to go up a foot or two above what is required?

[@HowToBuildYourOwnHome]

Yes

[@tedfritsch3340]

Awesome words of wisdom. Just wait until an insurance underwriter takes a good long look at the problem child home down the street.

[@extraclip]

Valuable knowledge. Do you have a General Contractor course?

[@extraclip]

Found it.

[@HowToBuildYourOwnHome]

Great, see howtobuildyourownhome.com

[@ericaramirez6659]

We're required to secure a contractor before we're able to secure our land. We were provide cost of 350-375/per sqft with so many factors going in to cost per sqft figure I thought this was a bit inflated as a base especially given that this is going to be a simple design 750 sqft ADU with no high end finishes. Thoughts?

[@dlorien7306]

Not scam-high, but Versace-level (or Lamborghini-level if you prefer cars) pricing. Hope you're getting top-shelf results. Your area of the country makes a big difference in price though

[@HowToBuildYourOwnHome]

Location defines cost in labor, while material cost is often uniform throughout the country. That cost per sq foot is high in my area,

[@eljefe4473]

Using the term ADU I’m betting you are in California

[@MissBabalu102]

I wonder where you are? I'm in California.

[@HowToBuildYourOwnHome]

We are in Southern Utah

[@24revealer]

#1 things not to do: build in a flood zone...

[@patrickmulholland9332]

Why would you build so close to a flood zone? Even if it’s legal, is it moral?

[@redstripeblueboat1840]

you would be surprised at what is considered in the flood zone. New York, New Orleans....both flood zones

[@HowToBuildYourOwnHome]

A great majority of homes are in some kind of zone that requires more planning and or engineering. The key is to research to find out this information.

[@patrickmulholland9332]

Thx for the updates chaps, in the UK it’s virtually impossible to build on flood areas as insurance companies generally refuse insurance.

[@danbiss87]

A lot of areas FEMA defines as flood zones are bs as well. Its like obamacare where they expand the flood zone to reach homes that may never flood to help pay for the damage caused to homes that are high risk... Huge scam... My house is identified as in a "100 year flood zone" and had to pay 2500/year extra for flood insurance... My house will never flood, it sits around 25' above the tributary and right after my house the elevation rapidly drops in elevation a few hundred feet for about a mile. On top of that when they drew the flood map they conveniently drew around the 30,000sq' commercial building right next to me and they sit at a lower elevation!!!.