We just bought a lot and are in the process of looking into builders, plans, etc...
What kind of advice can you give us? What things should we do, shouldn't do? What do you like about your house? What would you have done differently? I'll have to think of some more questions but I just want to post this quick before I lose it.

Hello! Our new house was finished in November. I think the most important thing we did was to shop around. We thought that due to budget contraints we might have to settle for a production home, but we wound up building a custom home with a very respected builder for less money than nearby production homes built by not-so-respected builders.

If you have any specific questions I would be happy to answer them. :)

I see you are from WI. What builder did you use? Does he just build in your area. I see you live near Green Bay.

I remember you from other boards but I couldn't remember where in WI you live. I'm in De Pere, are you nearby?

We used Robert Peters Construction. The build in the Green Bay and Fox Valley areas. A coworker had an excellent experience with a smaller builder, L & J Home Builders.

Actually I live in Two Rivers. Right on the lake. I doubt they would come out this way. Do you know if they have a website that I could look at?

They don't have a Web site unfortunately. Maybe you can get some info. from Manitowoc County's Home Builders Association and find out when the next Parade of Homes will be held. Also, I happened across this: http://www.home-building-directory.com/USA/Wisconsin/Manitowoc-County/Two-Rivers/

Congratulations on purchasing your property !! We also just moved into a new custom house in November and we had the opposite as Bobbie. Our builder who we choose had a great reputation however he is SLOW. Even though we are in our house they are still working on it. Just make sure whatever you do you get a start by date and a completetion date along with some repercussions if the builder is not finished by the expected completion date. It will save you a lot of hassle.

Even though my house is still being worked on I would do it all again in a heart beat (we plan on building again in a couple of years). I picked out everything in my house and I just LOVE it.

Good Luck !!

~Jaimie