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At Home in theNorthwest 5 Advertisement The author, left, and his wife did as much of the work as they could to cut down on costs. drifts against the house. If you’re building near the ocean, the design should handle lots of rain with big eaves and rot-resistant materials.West-facing win- dows in easternWashington could make your house un- bearably hot in the summer. In the forest, your house will be dark unless you have plenty of windows. Hiring experts: Some- times you don’t know what you don’t know. Hiring professionals early can help you avoid big mistakes. It might be tempting to skip on architecture to save money, but choosing an ar- chitect who designs locally will help with big-picture decisions — especially if you’re building in a location that’s dramatically different from Seattle. Likewise, a good local builder will have valuable The author did much of the finish work on the house, which saved money, but took up many weekends. input on which materials make sense for your region, and will rein in ideas that are unreasonable. When choosing people, ask for suggestions in the local community. Make sure you see their portfolio, speak to former clients and tour completed jobs to ensure you like them and their aesthetic. Expense planning Know this: It’s expen- sive: Any new construction is shockingly expensive. Ru- ral construction costs will probably be on par with a city build since there are fewer contractors, and they can charge what they want during a boom. Shipping materials to the site will also drive up costs. In the early stages, architects and builders will give you basic estimates. Their cost-per-square-foot is merely a starting point to land your job. Until you decide the fine details, those numbers are squishy at best. A good rule of thumb is to add 20 percent to what- ever they say, but it can cost much more. If you can’t afford their estimate early in the process, it’s time to rethink your project. Doing some work your- self: If you have the skills (or want to learn), you can save money by doing some of the building yourself. This is especially valuable with expensive finish carpentry. General contractors may let you do some of the work; just make sure the ar- rangement is clearly spelled out in your contract. And don’t underestimate the time demands (or overesti- mate your skills), or you’ll slow down your project. Those with construc- tion experience are often tempted to act as their own general contractor. But a local builder is more likely to have relationships with local subcontractors, and can put pressure on them to keep your project on schedule. Youmay also have trouble sourcing people, and may even be forced to pay extra to bring in workers from elsewhere. Building your own house is incredibly gratifying, just know that construction skills take practice and your house may not turn out as polished as one done by a pro. Going tiny is an option: Tiny homes can be a more affordable option for those on a tight budget. If all you want is a small space to enjoy the country life, do you really need 4,000 square feet of living space? Most tiny homes are technically RVs, and their portability allows you to by- pass most of the expensive site-development require- ments. You can park them almost anywhere, and you won’t need a septic field. Some run on solar power so you don’t need electrical hookups. However, as with RVs, there are some potential hurdles. Many neighborhoods don’t allow mobile homes. It’s also challenging to winterize an RV, and your tiny home may suffer cracked pipes and frozen sewer systems. Understand the timing The process is lengthy: Continued from previous page Continued on next page