PLAN PLAN PLAN Just as it is important to find the right LOCATION, planning is key to building your home - or to any project. If you have no plan, develop one. Begin with a search among the customizable blueprints that are available from current builders ... or, develop YOUR idea with the help of an architect.

Looking for a certain style? Want Tuscan, find a builder who specializes in the Tuscan look. Want Traditional? find a builder with that expertise ... There are a lot of "middle-of-the-road style" builders who capture the style that is customary in their market - they create lovely homes to meet the typical desires of the local client.

If you don't find the right rub with a builder of your style, don't dismay. Every builder can create every look. However, when one specializes in a style, or has experience with an approach, that is one less learning curve that has to be navigated.

Ultimately, it is key to find the builder with whom you "click" - the one in whom you feel confident and the one you can talk to about your needs, ideas, etc. It is a bit like dating, isn't it?