One Size House Does NOT Fit All

Would you buy a suit that was a couple of sizes too small? Would you pick your new shoes from a rack of “standard” sizes and colors, even if none of them actually fit or the colors weren’t right? Of course not. So why is it that we are willing to pick out a house from a handful of “standard” plans offered by a builder or developer.

There are well over a million new housing “starts” in the United States each year, but only a small fraction of those houses are custom designed. It’s a sad thing. Your house is the largest single investment most people make. Your house has a major impact on you and your family. It’s not just an object, it’s your home. It’s the environment you occupy and interact with during a larger portion of your life than anywhere else. And we are all shaped and influenced by our environment.

“But I can’t afford a custom house design,” you say. Well that may be so, but even if you are selecting from standard plans or picking out a plan from a book of house designs, you can make better choices and understand what Your Perfect House can be by learning a little about what constitutes good design. You need to raise your level of awareness.

I’ll be posting information on this blog that will help you. There will be a number of posts that show how to evaluate and improve standard plans. I’ll point out ways to make your budget go farther and how to avoid spending money uneccessarily on things that give little benefit. I’ll help you think through what Your Perfect House might be. Plus, I’ll answer any questions you submit.Don’t settle for “standard.” Demand more. Make Your house Perfect.

I hope this information is helpful to you. You might want to get yourself a copy of my best-seller, Designing Your Perfect House. It is chockfull of valuable tips and advice that will save you many times the cost of the book on your house building or remodeling project. You might also like The Well-Centered Home: Simple Steps to Increase Mindfulness, Self-Awareness, and Happiness Where You Live. It will show you how to make your home a happy place.