re: Building A House: What Are Some Do's & Dont's Based On Your Experience?

Post tension slab.

I agree with skipping the jetted tubs. They get nasty and are rarely used. Get a big soaking tub instead.

Walk in rain maker shower prob the thing I wanted most that I use least.
It doesn't have the water pressure other two showers onthe house have.

Cold in there in the winter

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I built a house in 2007 and seemingly single-handedly caused the housing market crash. The ink wasn’t dry on the paperwork and the house had lost 1/3 value. Still down a little more than 10% from the build price. 

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I bought my first house in early 07. I feel your pain. We sold it at a loss in 2013.

Did the same, but I did 90% of the work. Built a 175K house in 1996 for 60K.

Subbing, one better know what they are doing up front.

If one goes that route, make sure every contractor has insurance.

So here's a question? Do you gamble on USB ports? When will they go obsolete?

Use spruce for interior studs, use web complex floor joists if second floor, (for as hard as it is to believe) use tongue and groove solid plywood 3/4" flooring on the second floor, solar barrier roof panels, 2x6 yellow pine outside walls, tyvek branded wrap, don't buy roof shingles from Home Depot or Lowe's, depending on the complexity of your roof the trusses can be prefab which i'd recommend for speed (if not field frame is just as good).
If you have separate shower and tubs, check out tile ready shower pans - very easy install and can be done in one day vs custom shower pans. Buy canned lights from sunco lighting on amazon. Much less than halo and the same quality.
Please put hardwood floors in your house if you have crawl space. HW floors can absorb the moisture without having a negative impact. If tile, make sure you have someone do it professionally that will warranty the floor (big moisture problems). If you have a slab tile is okay.

I built 100 homes in San Antonio, 10 custom homes for a notable people if you want more info I am more than happy to chat about it. Currently renovating a home in New Orleans and learned quite a bit that I didn't know.

All of this is a mute point if Mrs. Oweo doesn't take all of your money.

ETA: My biggest harp with the house in New Orleans is because I wanted to tear down 90% of the house and rebuild but because of its location in the Historic District made it more difficult. All other houses have been new builds which are an absolute breeze. Individual bathrooms are worth more than jack & jill's. Always a half bathroom off a large living room / game room.

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best not to put water heater in attic

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go with a tankless water heater...never run out of hot H20.

Levels

Hence the learned quite a bit, building the house is no different, pylons are pylons but dealing with the city permitting office was one of the most arse backward experiences ever. Plus every decision has to go through them before making a minor change. It is insane

This is what I was working on today. Installed the draws and doors.





Then finished spraying out the island.





All lumber came from trees off my place that were sawed on my sawmill.

The livingroom is open to the kitchen as one room. All in timber framed. Wainscoting all thru that area is oak too along with all trim will be the same thru out the house. It's just a two br/one bath guest house.