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Dream Home Tips

Building the Perfect Home

I believe the old saying goes, "Every now and then even a blind pig finds an acorn." Well, this particular Builder Bulletin appears to be one of those rare acorns or as I call them grand slams. The response for this bulletin has been nearly overwhelming. I would have bet money that the response would have been just slightly above normal. Every time I go out on a limb and predict that a particular Bulletin will indeed be popular, it generates a humdrum response. I have decided to give up predicting after this bulletin!

Perfection - It Can be Costly

Some people look at perfection in two different ways. Some want perfect workmanship that is flawless. This is almost always impossible but it can be achieved. If you want perfect workmanship then communicate this from the get go and be prepared to open your wallet. The status quo, unfortunately, is that many people want great results for low cost. This is the same as mixing oil with water. It can't be done!

But some people want the perfect home with respect to function. Imagine a house that fits you like a glove. I have gotten very close on several occasions, but have yet to achieve it even with my own home.

To get perfection in this way you almost always need to build the same home twice. Once you have moved in, you will start to uncover pesky flaws. Often they are minor. Perhaps it is just a matter of inches. Maybe it is an electrical outlet that is in the wrong place. Maybe there is an outlet missing. Perhaps you had trouble moving furniture into or out of a particular room. Maybe there aren't enough hose bibs around your home or the ones that are in place are in poor locations. You get the idea.

A Little Trick

Very few people have the required discipline to do what it takes to achieve the perfect house. You need to maintain a list of the flaws in your current home. It is hard to take a moment out and write something down, but if you do it, it will pay huge dividends. Every time a pesky flaw causes you a problem write it down. When you go to buy an existing home or plan for a new one, use the list to make sure these mistakes do not happen again.

Be sure to write down even the craziest things. For example, do you like the location of the soap dish in your shower? Would you like a tall shelf in one or more corners to store shampoo and other body care products? Who says they have to be down low on the back corners of the tub? It is simple to install triangular marble shelves in tile showers!

When you travel write down things you like in hotel rooms. Do you like that coffee machine in the bathroom? Do you want coffee as soon as you jump out of the shower? It is possible. Just plan for enough counter space to comfortably place the coffee machine!

Outdoors is Important

Don't forget the outside of your home. Do you need more space for cars? Do you like to shoot hoops? If so, you need to plan for a nice level basketball area. Do you like to sit outdoors at night? What about bugs? Will your screened in porch be big enough?

Is your grill going to be in the right location? Can you cover it somehow so you can grill when it rains? Is your patio going to be in the blazing sun? Is there a way to orient it or plant a tree to provide some shade? What about screening neighbors? What about stopping outdoor noise from getting inside? There are all sorts of things you need to think about. Keep writing things down on your list!!!!! Check out my list in 50 Dream Home Design Tips column.

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