You might be under the impression that BUILDER magazine -- and its accompanying Web site, BUILDER Online, were strictly for members of the building industry. It's an understandable assumption, but an erroneous one. Even if building your dream home seems like an impossible dream at the moment, it's well worth your while to peruse the BUILDER Online Web site. You'll find plenty of ideas here to file away in your mental filing cabinet so when the right time comes along, you'll be armed with sound advice. The site also makes available to users experts on such topics as architecture, so you can save yourself time, legwork, and the risk of costly mistakes before embarking on your next home-building project, home restoration, or remodeling project. And speaking of architects, BUILDER Online's Web site architects have created a top-notch site that incorporates the best of what online technology has to offer, utilizing virtual walk-throughs, the latest news relevant both to consumers and industry members, product recommendations, and related Web sites.

In addition, BUILDER Online has just introduced a home plan designs site to help you brainstorm everything from historic to modern home projects to garden projects. The home plan designs site enables users either to enter their specifications (architectural style, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and square footage) and then conduct a search of home plans; or conduct a search of the site's database of 400 home plans. A simple click of your mouse will give you a look at this month's featured home designs. For each, users are given a sketch of the front of the home, along with specs and an 800 number if they wish to order a copy of the plan (all of the plans may be ordered).

A "Home Planners" link accessible through the home plan designs site provides users with a list of preferred builders in their areas, "how-tos" for various building projects, a library of recommended books, advice on finishing touches, and -- best of all -- an "Open House" of floor plans (contemporary, Victorian, or American Country style) built by home owners, including photos of the finished products and an introduction to the home owners who built them. The home owners discuss any challenges they faced during construction, as well as the advantages of their respective home plans. Users may purchase a copy of those home designs if they wish.

If you're a bona fide do-it-yourselfer, BUILDER's Guide to Building Products lists four new products every day. Each product is accompanied by a photo, as well as a contact number or link which will give you the opportunity to order the products. The Guide contains an archive, and users may conduct a search among its products.

It's also worth your time to peruse the pages of BUILDER magazine, which is posted on the site, as well. The magazine's August issue, for example, passes along the best trade secrets in the industry, and consumers as well as industry professionals will want to check them out.

BUILDER Online's "talk" link provides outlets for conversation about an array of topics. A "Consumer to Pro" chat room, for example, connects home owners with builders and remodelers.

"The Store" is a real time-saver, offering consumers a complete line of books, magazines, software, and all of those hard-to-find items for the Bob- Villas-in-training among us.

Whether you're embarking on a home-building project or merely considering one, log on to BUILDER Online. It's well-stocked with plenty of ideas to get the creative juices flowing.

Published: August 25, 1998

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