We put together these nine steps to be used as a guide for identifying the home and home site that best fits the way you want to live. When you go to a grocery store, you likely prepare a list beforehand of the items you want to purchase. The reason for this is twofold:

1. The list reminds you of exactly what you need so that you don't forget anything.
2. The list keeps you focused on the necessities so that you don't waste time needlessly wandering the aisles.

We recommend compiling a list and referring to it all the way through the building process.

You may already have a vision of what your new home should look like. By creating this list it can help you refine these choices, so that as you begin searching, you're sure to focus on homes, home sites and products that meet your criteria. Use your completed list as a bookmark to make sure you don't misplace it, and keep a pen or pencil handy so that you can jot down notes or even refine the list as you search.

Let's begin by writing down some information about your current home, make note of all the features and accessories that you like, then all the one's you wish you had.

Here are a few things to consider:
1. Square footage under heat and air
2. Number of garage stalls and direction facing from road
3. Workshop area
4. Larger master bath
5. More living space
6. Split bedroom floorplans
7. Number of bedrooms
8. Number of bathrooms
9. Fireplace, garden tubs, walk-in closets, etc
10. Balconies, porches, decks, etc
11. Lot size, water views, direction of the sun
12. Neighborhood, schools, shopping, crime

Once you put this list together you can add to it at any time. Make sure that you keep it with you at all times and refer to it often. Good luck and now lets more on to the next step.