"Thanks so much for teaching the Owner/Builder class! As a teacher you provided the perfect mix of knowledge and entertainment. We definitely got our money worth and came away with priceless information. I can't wait to study and digest your web page! We definitely will be spending lots of time on it. Love what we have seen so far, and the recipes look tasty, too! Thanks again for all your help and your contagious positive, personable, and awesome attitude."

Roxie and Ron Arnold
Owner/Builders

"Tom's 'Guide and Video' is absolutely content-rich for the owner-builder… we also know some General Contractors who would do well to spend a few hours with it. The only way to get more information and value is to retain him in person to be involved in your project. The two sections in the Guide most valuable to our project concerned Quality Control and Cost Analysis: we required a house we could live in forever that didn't leave us in debt for that long. The most important lesson we learned from Tom and his 'Guide & Video' is that without complete and detailed specifications, you probably don't know what you want and you certainly can't communicate it to the people that supply it, install it or loan you money to buy it."

Myrna & Daryl Harper
Owner/Builders

DOWN HOME RADIO EXCLUSIVE Click here to visit site "Partition Separation" with Guest Chuck Walker Click here to stream audio Tom interviews Chuck Walker, industry expert in manufacture and installation of engineered truss systems. Mr. Walker defines partition separation sometimes blamed on truss uplift, but more often attributable to other structural problems as building elements interact with one another; he then suggests preventative action to be taken to avoid partition separation.   Visit DownHomeRadio.com for the entire audio archive

"Anyone interested in designing a home or understanding the building process needs Tom's Guide and Video to create order and make their dream attainable. The Guide and Video have been invaluable in leading us through the Design/Build process."

Ross & Lisa Oswald
Owner/Builders

"The Guide is a well written, and researched, comprehensive step-by-step manual that helps 'de-mystify' the building process. It is presented in an easy to understand, logical, time-based format that lays out the sequence of events any owner/builder can expect to encounter when building a home."

Michael & Kelly Dowling
Owner/Builders

"There are two important reasons the Guide and Video are beneficial to the consumer. First, you get a 'Design/Build Matrix' which is an excellent format for organizing project details before work begins. Second, you get a 30-page 'Quality Control' checklist for reviewing work as it's accomplished. Adequate planning during the design phase and quality control during the build phase are the key to a successful home building project. . . . .Tom provides both elements. I highly recommend the Guide and Video to the consumer."

Mark Higley
Custom Home Builder

"The Guide and Video give everyday people clear and concise steps for building a custom home. It's an absolute must for anyone who intends to 'general' their own project."

Kenneth L. Greenleaf
Diamond Bay Electric

"I believe that owner/builders who choose to apply these techniques to their own projects will come back to the Guide and Video time and time again as valuable and practical 'tools' of the trade. I would highly recommend the Consumer's Guide and Video not only to prospective owner/builders, but also architects, contractors, planners, building officials, and anyone who works with construction professionals on a regular basis."

Jason Paulsen
City Planner

"Tom Landis' 'Home Building Consumer's Guide & Video' is a perfect 'mirror' of himself; it clearly reflects his thorough knowledge of the subject matter, ability to make the information easy to understand, while demonstrating his enthusiasm for the lifelong learning process."

Brenda Hopkins
Community Education Coordinator

"Understanding the construction process is the key to planning a successful outcome for your design/build home construction project. Tom cuts a wide swath through the jungle of confusing and overwhelming information out there. This is not another 'How To' book designed to lead you through the hands-on labor of construction. Rather, this opens the door to a lifetime of knowledge and experience with the building process."

David B. Simon
Youthbuild Instructor

"Consumers will do well by reading the Guide and viewing the video. Realizing just one page could be expanded into 100 pages, Tom sticks to providing the 'Big Picture'. Whether you hire an architect, general contractor, or act as an owner/builder, the Guide and Video keep your attention on the main issues and help you stay on the critical path."

Gerald J. Liggett
Owner/Builder

"If you're incompetent with construction details, you have to be honest with yourself," says Tom Landis, a former builder in Black Diamond, Washington, who now consults with homeowners about their construction projects. One client, a university professor who was considering acting as his own contractor, finally decided: "I just can't do this."

"There's no shame in that," Landis says. "We all have different competencies. I can't play the piano, and I'm not ashamed of it."

To help clarify whether you have what it takes to be an owner/builder, ask yourself these questions: Do I have time in my life? Am I aggressive? Can I make quick decisions? Do I have confidence in my choices? Am I organized?

If you were honest with yourself and still answered yes to these questions, you might be a candidate for an owner/builder project. According to those who have done it successfully, the satisfaction is deep.

Excerpt from
"So You Want to be Your Own Contractor"
Better Homes and Gardens'
"Remodeling Ideas" Magazine (Winter 1998)
Article by Kathy Price-Robinson

"Thank you again for the excellent remodeling overview and instruction you provided in your Owner/Builder class ! This really helped us to take another look at a very long home-improvement list and find a better way to prioritize and organize the work. It all makes so much sense and definitely relieves the overwhelmed feeling. Thanks again!"

Nancy Wildin & Wil Hasegawa
Owner/Builders