• Reconsider buildng a cathedral ceiling because of problems associated with insulation and wiring.ceiling fan image by Adrian Hillman from Fotolia.com
  
  Building a home can be one of the most aggravating and frustrating experiences of your life. This need not be the case, however. If you approach the experience armed with the knowledge of those who have gone before you. Just keep in mind that it is your house that is being built; therefore, you are the ultimate arbiter of what will work and what won't.
  
  

Timing Your Rental

• If you are currently renting while the house is being planned, don't trap yourself into a long-term lease if you expect the home to be built long before that lease is up. Ask the landlord for a lease covering a shorter period.
  
  

Pre-construction Costs

• Be aware that costs can start occurring before the first nail is hammered. Pre-construction costs could include the price for demolition of a pre-existing structures on the property as well as the cost of hauling trash away to the dump.
  
  

Building Estimates

• You want to save money but also make sure that you aren't paying for a lousy job and bad materials. This is why it pays off in the end to obtain estimates from at least three different builders. Your estimate should include the exact date on which construction will start as well as an anticipated completion date.
  
  

DIY Construction

• Explicitly state in the contract any work that you plan on making a DIY project. There is certainly no law that says you cannot cut your costs by taking on some projects yourself. In order to avoid potential problems down the road, however, you need to spell out your DIY intentions for things like plumbing. Be as precise as possible on what jobs you are planning on doing yourself, because they may be dependent on the contractor finishing part of his work first.
  
  

Cathedral Ceiling

• Reconsider home-building plans that call for a cathedral ceiling. Although aesthetically pleasing, the shallow area between roof and ceiling makes insulating a cathedral ceiling very difficult. In many cases, according to authors of "The Homeowner's Handbook to Energy Efficiency," the area will have be completely sealed off to keep moisture out of the cavity. Electrical wiring will diminish the effectiveness of any insulation that can be placed above a cathedral ceiling when installing recessed lighting.