DIY Network

Breaking Ground: Choosing the Builder and Lot From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-102

	In DIY's new Home IQ series, you'll follow the Oberg family during the decision-making process of building this beautiful new home.
	In this week's episode, the Oberg family hires a surveyor, choose a builder and get to check out the lot where the house will sit. This is Brad and Lynn Oberg (right and middle), the homeowners, with the builder they chose, Hank Swierczynski.
	Figure A

In this first segment of the second episode of DIY's new Home IQ series, the homeowners, Brad and Lynn Oberg, choose their builder and choose the lot where their house will sit. After hiring a surveyor to survey the site, the builder gets township approval and permits to build. The Obergs secure their financing and viewers hear from the builder who explains the type of loan they have taken out. We learn what escrow is and see the closing meeting where the Obergs sign lots of documents. With the financing secure, the Obergs begin to make their selections from an extensive list of items given to them by the builder.

Before any ground is broken or dirt moved, the Oberg family must accomplish the following:

1. Select plans. The Obergs looked over countless plans until they settled on what they wanted for their new home.

2. Choose a builder. Recommendations from other homeowners were important in this particular selection process.

3. Find a lot. With the builder's help, the Obergs found a great lot in Ehrman Farms, a subdivision of Cranberry, Pittsburgh. The lot (figure A) has natural beauty and provides the family eye-catching views. One challenge, however, is that the lot slopes dramatically down into the woods, which will require major excavation.

4. Secure building permits and permissions before construction can begin. Before any work can begin, the builder must obtain township approval and building permits.

5. The builder must hire a surveyor to make sure the house will, in fact, fit on the lot. This step is vital because the survey papers must be included with the application papers that the builder takes to the township's municipal center to file. The papers will include the following:
   • Specifications (two copies),
     
   • approval letter from the land developer,
     
   • insurance information,
     
   • information concerning the special insulation that will be utilized with the Oberg's new home,
     
   • copies of the drawings and blueprints (two copies) and.
     
   • the permit itself.

	Figure B
	Figure C