Housing. Custom build, development build or buy.

[aturnis]

Originally Posted by Trivers

Spent 2 years building a modern, contemporary house. 2 GCs, 4 concrete subs, 2 electrical subs later, it is 99% done. Never again.

If you want a variation of a traditional house, build. Most GCs can handle it. Otherwise, buy and remodel.

Either way, you are screwed as most subs do average work, don't show up, and yet always want to be paid ASAP.

Build my own. Vertical Icf's for the foundation, Sip panels for the framing and roof.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by aturnis

Build my own. Vertical Icf's for the foundation, Sip panels for the framing and roof.

Please stay on topic.

[DaneMcCloud]

I own a "Custom Home". It's a one-off that was built in 1994. My wife's dream was to own a custom home, so that's what we purchased in 2003. I only have one word to describe a "Custom Home":

Nightmare.

Now, you are at a major advantage because your family would be participating in the construction of your home, so it's less likely that you'll encounter "weirdness" in the home design and decisions. But we've had whoppers here, from a single 75 gallon hot water tank on the second floor that feeds a floor above and a floor below (which generally means the bathroom faucet, tubs and showers have to be on a minimum of 2 minutes before warm water is feed through the pipes) to having 10 electrical outlets and eighteen 6" 75 watt can lights on a single 15 amp circuit to literally dozens more bad examples.

I could go on and on about all of the repairs and changes I've needed to make to this home for the past 10 years (and in excess of $200k) but I'm sure you get the point. While I absolutely love my home, there have been days when I wished it were not a single, one-off, custom home because it's likely to have been better designed.

Whichever way you go, best of luck!

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by DoucheMcCloud

I own a "Custom Home". It's a one-off that was built in 1994. My wife's dream was to own a custom home, so that's what we purchased in 2003. I only have one word to describe a "Custom Home":

Nightmare.

Now, you are at a major advantage because your family would be participating in the construction of your home, so it's less likely that you'll encounter "weirdness" in the home design and decisions. But we've had whoppers here, from a single 75 gallon hot water tank on the second floor that feeds a floor above and a floor below (which generally means the bathroom faucet, tubs and showers have to be on a minimum of 2 minutes before warm water is feed through the pipes) to having 10 electrical outlets and eighteen 6" 75 watt can lights on a single 15 amp circuit.

I could go on and on about all of the repairs and changes I've needed to make to this home for the past 10 years (and in excess of $200k) but I'm sure you get the point. While I absolutely love my home, there have been days when I wished it were not a single, one-off, custom home because it's likely to have been better designed.

Whichever way you go, best of luck!

Seeing as how you have the money to combat a problematic home, I think this speaks volumes to what I could potentially encounter should I enter into this type of venture. Thanks man!

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by El Jefe

Seeing as how you have the money to combat a problematic home, I think this speaks volumes to what I could potentially encounter should I enter into this type of venture. Thanks man!

I have sold many many custom built homes over the years- and Never even heard of such a thing. Most custom homes have the main plans set and You pick the "options" to Customize it to your taste. Most builders would not put a single water heater in a mansion-lol It is great to have a "design" program and noodle around- but you are Much better off picking a design that has been built before.

Little things like having your kitchen on the oposite side of your garage- people dont think about groceries ect- they just want to brag "we designed it ourselves" Great- but when you try to resale it- you can bet potential buyers will notice all the flaws as Dane describes.

I have also seen people go buy acreage thinking they will build their "dream home" but negect things like a water source, sewer, building codes, land usuage, taxes, electric and gas service- building in a flood plain, building on marshland or sandy earth that can wreck havoc on your foundation. Also consider cliff views- it gets pricey blasting away bedrock.

Best of luck! Most subdivisions will offer custom homes built to suit- based on proven designs. You pick all colors, flooring, ect. Believe me, you will be tired of choices by the time you are done. Pick wisely and think about the future. I had a lady that loved the color pink and her husband just went along- the whole house-EVERYTHING inside and out was pink- even the tubs and sinks. They were divorced a year later and that house sat on the market until it was finally bank owned and gutted.

Good luck!!

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by DoucheMcCloud

I own a "Custom Home". It's a one-off that was built in 1994. My wife's dream was to own a custom home, so that's what we purchased in 2003. I only have one word to describe a "Custom Home":

Nightmare.

Now, you are at a major advantage because your family would be participating in the construction of your home, so it's less likely that you'll encounter "weirdness" in the home design and decisions. But we've had whoppers here, from a single 75 gallon hot water tank on the second floor that feeds a floor above and a floor below (which generally means the bathroom faucet, tubs and showers have to be on a minimum of 2 minutes before warm water is feed through the pipes) to having 10 electrical outlets and eighteen 6" 75 watt can lights on a single 15 amp circuit to literally dozens more bad examples.

I could go on and on about all of the repairs and changes I've needed to make to this home for the past 10 years (and in excess of $200k) but I'm sure you get the point. While I absolutely love my home, there have been days when I wished it were not a single, one-off, custom home because it's likely to have been better designed.

Whichever way you go, best of luck!

200 k for extra outlets and a water heater? WTF did you not build at code? That is a ton of money just fixing mistakes-wow. Sorry to hear that bud. I like your name change btw way-lol very unique-lol

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

200 k for extra outlets and a water heater? WTF did you not build at code? That is a ton of money just fixing mistakes-wow. Sorry to hear that bud. I like your name change btw way-lol very unique-lol

We spent at least $200k to repair and change all kinds of things throughout the house. All five bathrooms had crummy, cheap tile that was installed directly over drywall, the kitchen was originally 6x9 (which is ridiculous in a 3,500 square foot home), the flat roof was bad, we've added over 50 lights, had to do a ton of plumbing and electrical repair (I added 30 circuits last year alone) and on and on and on.

A good portion that was spent was cosmetic but I'd "guess" that at least 35% (if not more, I'd have to check my records) were "fixes". It was a major drag but we're happy with the results.

And you can thank the mods for my new username. It took me a while to figure out what happened and how to log in!

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by DoucheMcCloud

We spent at least $200k to repair and change all kinds of things throughout the house. All five bathrooms had crummy, cheap tile that was installed directly over drywall, the kitchen was originally 6x9 (which is ridiculous in a 3,500 square foot home), the flat roof was bad, we've added over 50 lights, had to do a ton of plumbing and electrical repair (I added 30 circuits last year alone) and on and on and on.

A good portion that was spent was cosmetic but I'd "guess" that at least 35% (if not more, I'd have to check my records) were "fixes". It was a major drag but we're happy with the results.

And you can thank the mods for my new username. It took me a while to figure out what happened and how to log in!

6x9 kitchen- Did you guys design it yourselves? Well at least the repairs you are talking about are things you can get money back out or have saved you money. Adding circuits so your house doesnt burn down could never be a bad thing-lol Chances are you are money ahead then if you sold it and bought another project.

Are you trying to tell me the Mods would do something like that-LOL

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

6x9 kitchen- Did you guys design it yourselves? Well at least the repairs you are talking about are things you can get money back out or have saved you money. Adding circuits so your house doesnt burn down could never be a bad thing-lol Chances are you are money ahead then if you sold it and bought another project.

Are you trying to tell me the Mods would do something like that-LOL

The house was built in 1994 and we purchased in 2003. The kitchen is now much bigger (29 foot long) but that came with the expense of routing electrical and plumbing from the master bath a floor above and removing a load bearing wall and replacing it with massive glue-lam beams, concrete and steel. Hillside homes built in earthquake zones are built much differently than homes in the Midwest.

And the house was recently appraised at twice the purchase price, so we're all good.

[Hootie]

omg

shut

UP

[Pablo]

AFEJT.

[cookster50]

I don't know what Fernt is, but I went with that choice.

[Hootie]

if anyone wants a good laugh, go look at the OP's thread history

it's hysterical

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by Hootie

if anyone wants a good laugh, go look at the OP's thread history

it's hysterical

Hootie, though you have a creepy affinity for my privates, there's still hope for you yet.

Hysterical indeed.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by Hootie

if anyone wants a good laugh, go look at the OP's thread history

it's hysterical

at him making a thread when his sister caught him cranking down.