2. Set your budget. Part of planning ahead is setting a budget. However, when you set your budget, you need to plan for, and budget for, incidentals and unexpected costs, make this about 10% of your budget. You can use home building budgeting software to help you budget, or you can simply figure things out on your own. Another great way to get started on a budget is ask multiple contractors to draw one up for you. You can look at their estimates and account for the slightly inflated prices, then adjust it accordingly. You can also do a lot of comparison shopping, and get bids. This is going to help you stay on budget. Prices fluctuate and change, so get written bids for the needed materials, and make sure you plan on some variances.

3. Set a schedule. If you want to stay on schedule you need to have a schedule. So, talk to your contractor about the schedule, have them draw one up, then alter it how you see fit, as long as it still is feasible. You will want to leave a little bit of room in your schedule for things like inspections not passing, bad weather, or other unexpected delays. If you plan things too closely you will just get further and further behind.

4. Information and communication. If you communicate properly with your subs and contractor this will really help you to stay on budget and on schedule. So, let subs know expected times to begin work, dates you need them, and the possibility for change. Give them due dates, etc.

5. Set penalties. If you want to stick to your schedule, there has to be a penalty for someone who doesn't. So, include financial penalties in contracts. For example, include in your sub's contracts that they are expected to show up at this time (specify) if they are late, the are docked a specified amount of money. They should have quoted you a time frame for when the job should be complete. They set it, so put a penalty on it. If they are not finished, you pay $50 less per day it goes over. This will keep them working hard, and keep them honest about their estimates.

6. Have back ups. Time is money when it comes to building a home, so if you want to keep your home building on budget and on schedule you have to have back-up plans. Sub contractors are not exactly known for being reliable and timely. So, get several bids, hire one, and ask the other one to be your back-up. That way if the person you select does not show on the day they are supposed to, your house does not sit empty with no work being done, you can call in someone else (without paying a last minute premium), and get the work moving along.