Hey Guys! Anyone any good at building TS2 Sims?

Hey people. I actually recently got my Laptop back, but I'll only have it for about a week more (my school is stupid, they keep the laptops over the Summer Holidays, but don't update them till First Term)
I've been playing The Sims 2, and as always, I'm having trouble with simselves. xD

So if anyone has tips or can help me, I would appreciate it.
Also, where would be the place to go for Hairs and Clothing?
I was on xmsims before, and it takes way too long to download. (You gotta download each mesh and separate hair colour all separately)

It's a shame that thesims2.ea.com was shut down. Now I have nowhere to take any problems I have in the game.

http://www.lianasims2.net/

http://www.parsimonious.org/

I tried looking for some building tips, but most were not really "tips" but more like general guidelines that you probably already know.

The TS2 site isn't closed! It was but it's since reopened... http://thesims2.ea.com/

Also All About Style still has some really good TS2 stuff and so does Mod the Sims...

Here's another TS2 forum I've used for a few years, it's not as active as it used to be but you can still get help and find links to lots more TS2 stuff... http://thesims2new.webs.com/

Edit: Duh, a link might help

Thanks guys!

I did see that The Sims 2 website was back up. It's under maintenance again now.
Has been for the last 12 hours or so. :l