So, I have an awesome idea for a website...what next?

I’m not sure what steps I should take for creating a website like this…can I build this on my own given enough time?

The idea of my website, has a similar format like Fluther (forum based, and can see live time feedback), but isn’t a Q&A site, but rather a site that people can exchange goods and services in real time (much like a craigslist website).

How much work would this be for a novice like myself, and maybe one other friend to help assist? What kind of startup costs would one expect from this?

I would like this to be some sort of side project that I can manage from within my apartment, and since I get a pretty good discount on computer hardware, I could probably put together a decent server of some sort.

Any helpful suggestions? Thanks!