You’re finally going to build your dream home and you have it all planned out – or so you thought. Building your house can be an exciting time, but with so many small moving pieces, it can easily become an overwhelming experience. You know how you want the kitchen, but maybe the kids’ rooms are a little hazy. Or will they have to share to make room for your home office? Will your family be expanding further? Do you entertain guests overnight often or at all? Knowing the current needs of your family, as well as the potential needs will suit you well. Consider the following ideas when planning out what is sure to be the home of your dreams.
Design
The importance of taking the time to do design research cannot be understated. Poor design choices will not only affect your day-to-day activities but can be potentially hazardous to you and your family’s health. There are two distinct schools of thought regarding the planning of building your house: hiring an architect or finding a pre-drawn plan.
If your inner artist is calling to you and having a unique, aesthetically pleasing home is important to you- opt for the architect. They will give you artistically satisfying input on the aspects of your home that you may have not considered. For example, how the final shape of your home interacts with the surrounding landscape.
While not generally considered “artistically pleasing”, opting for a pre-drawn house comes with a history of success. Typically, these houses have less fab, more function and for the most part, serve the purpose of assisting in creating and raising families. Ultimately, whether you choose an architect or opt for a pre-drawn plan is up to you and the needs of your family.
Aging in Place
Nobody wants to think about what their life is going to be like when they are old, sick, or dying. However, this is a process that everyone goes through, and you can either prepare for that or not (and if this is the last home you hope to build or buy, preparation is key). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines aging in place as “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.”
A home that allows for aging in place has certain amenities you may not find in younger, more youthful homes. For example, this type of home will not have a second floor or stairs. Its doorways will be wide enough to fit wheelchairs. This also includes things that are external to your home, such as local grocery stores or restaurants; movie theatres or other entertainment; bus stops, train stations or other forms of public transit. These features may not be important to you now, but as you age, you might find yourself depending on what is around you.
Your Local Climate
Depending on where you are geographically, you may experience different forms of inclement weather. For example, the United States alone has many different climates and along with that several different issues. In the Deep South, you’ll find the humid heat sticky and hard to bear. While in the Midwest, you’ll see that in the winter months, you can get upwards of 30 or 40 inches of snow in a single storm
In order to best prepare for these different, yet equally tiresome, climates, the best route is to invest in a standby generator. The fuel source is up to you, whether you opt for a natural gas, diesel or propane generator is entirely up to you and your family’s storage needs and capacity.
Investing in standby power is beneficial to getting you through inclement weather. For example, according to the Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota receives an average of between 36 and 70 inches of snow, depending on where you live. Getting stuck in a blizzard without additional power sourcing may be more of a struggle than you can handle.
Building your house may be a scary adventure but the end result is your dream home!
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