| 1. Know Your Budget | | | | a network of builders and other contractors and |
| How much can you afford? How much do you want | | | | know their qualifications. As the customer, you would |
| to spend? Or how much should you spend? If you | | | | be responsible for contracting with the builder and |
| are looking at the home as an investment for future | | | | should always check out who you are going to be |
| turn-over, you may not want to build a log castle on | | | | dealing with for the next one to two years or even |
| a city lot. If this is your dream and you plan on living | | | | longer on some projects. |
| there a long time, then you plan for that. Looking at | | | | 6. Get Your Permits |
| resale is always good with any home purchase. You | | | | Check with your local township and get the paper |
| should write out your plans and discuss them with | | | | work for their specific building and inspection process. |
| your spouse, investment partner, banker and financial | | | | Find out what type of septic and well you will need |
| advisor. Be practical and allow for unforeseen | | | | for your area. This should be one of your first steps |
| expenses. Consider how much of the work you will | | | | as some areas have specific sizes for homes and |
| be doing yourself. This could allow you to go larger | | | | septic sizes. Drive around and get the names of |
| on the home or buy a nicer piece of property. | | | | other homeowners and builders in your area. Most |
| - Total budget $_______________ | | | | often they would be happy to share their success |
| - Land $____________ | | | | story. Tell them you would like to build a log home |
| - Home $_____________ | | | | and ask them for names and numbers of contractors |
| 2. Purchase Land | | | | in the area. |
| For some this step may come at different times. The | | | | 7. Hire Someone To Put The Foundation In |
| obvious point is that you will need some land to put | | | | The best time to find a foundation contractor is in |
| your home on. | | | | the off-season. So begin early to secure your spot |
| 3. Decide On A Plan | | | | for when the frost leaves the ground. If you have a |
| Once you know your budget you can begin to look | | | | builder, he may already have a subcontractor lined up |
| for a plan. You can get estimates on different plans | | | | that he likes to work with. |
| to figure out the basic size and style of home that | | | | 8. Order Your Log Package |
| will work within your budget. Some folks have been | | | | Order the log portion of your package as soon as |
| working on this step most of their life, hence the | | | | possible to ensure that your logs are cut, peeled and |
| dream. The design process of finding and working | | | | dried when you're ready for them. At Classic Log |
| with the home style and floor plan that's right for | | | | Homes, Inc. we are able to provide high quality log |
| you can be painstaking. However, this is probably the | | | | products and save you money on your log home by |
| most important part of the process. | | | | cutting your package to order. We use small, family |
| 4. Decide On A Log Home Provider | | | | owned log mills with low overhead and we don't have |
| Sometimes finding the provider first can help put | | | | a large advertising budget. We are then able to pass |
| some of the other steps in order. The company you | | | | the savings on to you. Your best savings comes |
| decide to buy your log package from should be able | | | | from our air dried, natural peeled logs. We also have |
| to: | | | | more modern milled, kiln dried, and true handcrafted |
| - Either build your home or put you in touch with a | | | | log packages to fit your budget and individual taste |
| builder. | | | | for your one-of-a-kind dream home. |
| - Help you find the right style you are looking for | | | | 9. Compare Products and Prices With Other |
| according to your budget, needs, and dreams. | | | | Companies |
| - Supply quality products of the style you have | | | | At Classic Log Homes, Inc., the cornerstone of our |
| chosen within your budget. | | | | business is exceptional quality products and services |
| 5. Find A Builder | | | | at lower prices. We are confident that you will get |
| In some cases the log provider is the builder, but you | | | | larger, higher quality logs for less. So we encourage |
| may need to find a contractor / builder. Most log | | | | you to compare with out competitors. |
| home companies only provide the materials to | | | | 10. |
| complete the project. Your log provider should have | | | | |