1. The Mouse Method

The first is the mouse method. Hold the Z key, to restrict movement of the object along the z axis (up/down) and click/drag with the left mouse button to move the object. The coloured box around the object is a useful guide to when it is in position. If any part of the coloured border sinks into the bar, you have gone too far. This is a fairly slow technique and uses a lot of camera changes. Be patient. You will normally use this technique to position objects on vertical surfaces like walls rather than horizontal surfaces like the bar.
Stick with it.

2. The Manual Method

The second technique uses references from other similar objects, in this case the plate we have just placed. After you have positioned the first plate with the method described above, double click on the plate. Remember that x,y,z co-ordinate information we mentioned before? Look at the info giving the plates' positions. Write down the z co-ordinate.
Once done, select the bar again, get the top view and drop another plate into the render window, and reposition it above the bar. Now double click on this new plate and type in the z co-ord you have just written down. The new plate snaps to this new point on the bar. This is a great way to get a lot of objects at a precise height. But they must be identical objects. The xyz co-ordinates actually refer to the location of the centre of the yellow cross inside the object's multicoloured box. Objects of two different heights will have two different z-axis positions, even if they are placed on top of the same flat surface.

3. The "Fall" Command

Set up another plate above the bar. We are now going to learn one of the most important keys in the CS. This is the F key. This causes the selected object to fall. It will fall until it hits another object. It is a great way to add objects on to tables, floors etc. Take care though. The object will stop when it hits an object. Check its height later to see nothing stopped it on the way down.
[indent]Handy hint: when decorating an empty room try to work from the floor up. Start with carpets, then furniture that stands on the floor. Then objects which stand on the furniture. This way the F key can be really powerful.[/indent]
4. Duplicating Objects in Place

The last technique is to use the CTRL + D function. This makes a duplicate of an object in exactly the same position. It’s brilliant for stacking and repeat tasking. Select one of the plates on the bar and then press CTRL + D. The object may change appearance. This is a side effect of the doubling. Now select and drag one of these plates across the bar, and you will see the new plate appear. It will maintain its z-axis position from the plate you duplicated. Position it so it does not collide with any other objects. We now have 4 plates on the bar. Practice if you like dropping other objects using the F key and the CTRL + D to duplicate them.

Rotating Objects

The final part of this first lesson involves rotating objects. Select an object that will clearly show that rotation has occurred. A mug with a handle will do. You rotate using the right mouse button (RMB). But here is the thing: rotation occurs only in the z axis. This is the most common type of rotation and is the easiest to perform.
To rotate in the x axis, use x + RMB.
To rotate in the y axis use y + RMB. N.B. Some people have found that rotating in y axis was the default, and rotating on the z axis required z + RMB
You can also use the rotation boxes in the object's pop up dialog box. This is best if you want precise angles like 90, 180 and 270 etc.
Practice doing this.
You may also place your cursor in any of the position or rotation boxes and use the up down arrows on your keyboard to make very small incremental movements.
Finally a couple of extra bits:
Holding X when dragging an object restricts movement to the x axis only. (Very handy when hanging stuff on a wall).
Holding Y when dragging an object restricts movement to the y axis only. (Very handy for stocking shelves).

Ahhh yes, thank you that's what I was missing. I knew about the axis for rotating but wasn't left clicking to actually move it along the axis. Thanks.

Hold the Z key, to restrict movement of the object along the z axis (up/down) and click/drag with the left mouse button to move the object.

Problem is it does not say anything about how to sink your home into the ground so that the basemant is submerged into the terrain. Unless of course I'm missing something from what you pasted.

Basemants are interior cells only, you do not place them in the outside world and sink them into the ground.

There is no relation to interior/exterior except through load doors. Place exterior of houses in the Tamriel worldspace, interiors are just interiors in their own cell.

Sorry should have highlighted that first sentence when I pasted the info but figured the rest of it might prove useful also !

lol, basemant vs. foundation... sorry.


(P.S. If you follow my link in my sig, TESA has a CS Basics class with teachers always available to answer questions and review your work. Feel free to come and join.)