Getting your first set of plans

By now the builder should have a pretty good feel for the type of home you want, and the layout. Before he tosses out that first set of plans to you, try to be specific on some of the things you know you want/don't want.

You have probably already discussed your price range too, so he'll design something that he knows will fit into that range.

The more you can give him now to get into those plans will help in getting that initial price of the home. It's hard to say all of those thing until you see that first drawing, but it helps to get it all out now. Start mentioning those thing you wanted to finish yourself.

Again, keep track of all the things said.

After you receive those plans, critique every little thing. i.e lights on the sides of the garage door, stone coping, sidelights on front door. Some stuff is just a habit that they have of putting into the drawing that in the end you might not get.