Be patient. New home construction is a lengthy, exhausting process. But remember, your dream home awaits.

• Design with the an eye for future changes. This is key. Choose a house plan that you love, but consider future options: Is it possible to add on later? Can you add a second story in five years? Porches can also be very expensive, and it might be easier to add one in the future. Your builder will be able to help in this area and knows what can be changed cost-effectively.

• Lower the square footage. This is an easy money saver when you are building a house, and it won’t necessarily be a huge sacrifice. Many formal dining rooms aren’t used very often, and large bedrooms can be wasted space if they aren’t used for much more than sleeping. Stick with an open floor plan and consider not having vaulted ceilings. These can make a space seem less cozy and raise your energy bill.

  Source: SFGate

Lap marks are those ugly stripes caused by uneven layers of paint buildup. They occur when you roll over paint that’s already partly dry. (In warm, dry conditions, latex paint can begin to stiffen in less than a minute!) The key to avoiding lap marks  when doing DIY wall painting is to maintain a “wet edge,” so each stroke of your roller overlaps the previous stroke before the paint can begin to dry.

Here’s some painting tips: To maintain a wet edge, start near a corner and run the roller up and down the full height of the wall, moving over slightly with each stroke. Move backward where necessary to even out thick spots or runs. Don’t let the roller become nearly dry; reload it often so that it’s always at least half loaded. Keep the open side of the roller frame facing the area that’s already painted. That puts less pressure on the open side of the roller, so you’re less likely to leave paint ridges when doing DIY wall painting.

Source: FamilyHandyMan