As one who has done this more than once, I'd offer only one additonal piece of advice. Make sure that building your home is a passion. In my experience, people who contract just to save money wind up with a final product that looks that way. This has to be something you are passionate about doing. It must consume you; every detail. Otherwise, when the going gets tough (and it will from time to time get that way), you'll tend to compromise and cut corners....and it will show.