Drew

Ditto^2 on Annemarie's comments.

New construction by it's nature is easily focused on job completion over other concerns, occupied buildings are much harder to finish around a families life and belongings. So, if I had to build a two phase home, I would for instance build the eastern half then the western rather than the lower then the upper. A finished half could be a nice small house on it's merits, that can be added to without invasive construction. You could perhaps mortgage a small house to further construction on the additions, a basement that's part of an incomplete building would not be as easy to mortgage.

If you need storage during construction look into leasing an old trailer or shipping container.

Try in your planning to budget tasks as discreet and during construction to hold costs down keep tasks discreet.

Take care, Roger.