Caution - Philosophy Ahead Prior to starting on the home building adventure let us look at some of the caveats that prospective homeowners should become aware of through a process of education by qualified and interested parties. Building a home is usually an undertaking between partners, and requires a substantial effort on their behalf. However this does not mean that the road traveled can not be highly productive and enjoyable. What it surely does mean is that both parties should... - be on the same page, with the same information - have common intentions for the basic design - work toward a definable set of goals - cultivate a positive mental attitude - discuss this book in order to gather new insights A common misconception about building a custom home is that disagreements between mates will invariably strain their relationship. This is not necessarily true, nor does it have to be that way. Because of the home building experiences that my wife and I had it actually built a stronger bond between us... a big plus in a landscape of potential negatives. At the beginning of this project I would suggest... - sitting down with a glass of good wine - trying to envision the end result of your labors - discussing the steps that it takes to get there If both parties can not substantially agree on what the home should look like, take a time out and re- start this process after some thoughtful contemplation. To put this process another way, a good relationship between partners and a good home building experience will always involve compromise. Winning an argument may appeal to some, but if it adversely affects the relationship, the winner becomes the other looser. So try for a win- win scenario, which means compromise. When parties disagree, the person with the greater need should prevail... unless that person always has the greater need