The new census numbers are out.  And yes, the government actually does track how many homes are built by owner.  According to the 2011 Census numbers, 49,000 single family homes were completed in the U.S. by owner builders (people acting as the general contractor for their new home).  So how does this compare to the last few years?  Which region of the country had the greatest number of people build their own home?  Check out this article you may have missed...Owner Builders Were Busy in 2011.

According to Roy Braden, a building inspector in Tennessee, 90 percent of the people building decks do not get a permit.  This can lead to dangerous consequences when structural problems are built in.  Check out this article along with video from an NBC affiliate in Tennessee...Deck Building Tips

We're in the middle of a major bath renovation.  And because our goal is to find the coolest, money saving ideas for your next building project, we have incorporated some really interesting products into our renovation.  From affordable frameless shower enclosures to mortar-free tile installation, we will be producing a whole series of videos for you.

We will be sharing our project and these new products with you over the next several weeks.  Check out the intro here...Shower Remodel Video Series

Manufactured roof trusses are installed on four out of five new homes built today.  They save time, get a roof over your new home faster to prevent moisture damage, and save money in your budget.  

When selecting the roof trusses for your new home you may want ask about Raised Heel Trusses.  These save energy by allowing low cost insulation to be used.  And because it can be installed to the full depth at the eaves, they can also save money on energy and help prevent ice dams (roof leaks in the winter).  Check out this article we recently published...Raised Heel Truss

A few of you have asked how feasible it is to add living space to your existing attic.  In some circumstances it can be a low cost alternative, but in other cases it makes absolutely no sense.  If you are thinking of beginning an attic project, check out this article we wrote for Buildipedia...How Feasible is it to Remodel Your Attic?

We just had our HVAC system replaced...and saved 50 percent in the process.  How did we do it?  Of course we got three bids from reputable contractors.  Then we worked with the company with the best price to lower the price even futher.  How did we do that?  

Have you ever heard the phrase, Help me, so I can help you? We saved another 13% off the already great price by offering to help the company get more business.  As long as they did a great, quality job, we would...

• Place their business cards in our community clubhouse 
• Write a letter about our experience for them to use with potential customers...and give permission to use our name as a reference
• Write a recommendation on our community website based on our experience
• Write reviews on popular service websites

These are just a couple of ideas for help you could offer.  This is a winner for you as they will be more motivated to do a great job...that's part of the deal.  For more money saving ideas when hiring companies to work on your home check out this video or this article...No More Nightmare Experiences Getting Work Done on My Home.

Everyone wants to know the answer to this question.  It's a difficult one to answer as each house is unique by its location, specifications, and plan type.  But can't you just give a ballpark square foot price? Sure, but keep in mind, pricing a house by the square foot is like pricing a car by the pound.  A Lamborghini Aventador weighs the same as a Chevy Impala but costs ten times as much.  

That being said, the National Association of Home Builders Construction Cost Survey says the average new home costs about $80 per square foot (including labor, material and local fees).

If you are planning to do some remodeling or building in the near future, be sure to stop by our ESTORE.  We offer some great digital products for saving money and time on your building projects.

ArmchairBuilder.com is growing, but we need your help to get to more people that need us.  If you like what we offer, please forward this newsletter or links to your friends.  And if you have any particular questions or comments feel free to contact us at info@armchairbuilder.com.  Thanks for being loyal followers.  Now let's go build something!