Designer Dream Homes Are Best If Custom Created
Articles - Retirement
Imagine, you've been at work all day, you finally lay down in your bed, in your new bedroom, and try to drift off to sleep as you forget, slowly, your day's activities. But this does not happen easily. The reason is simple. You are excited. You lay there and can't stop looking around your new and unfamiliar room - a room you created in your own mind and watched as it grew into reality. It is a room you dreamed of for so long- but here it is for real. The coffered ceilings, the perfect built-in video area; the smells; as exciting as the "new car" smells that you've experienced. The home is perfection. The master bathroom, just like the one in Rome where you spent your honeymoon, the parlor like the one in your childhood home. The kitchen, designed based upon your own experience and that of your favorite cook of all time (your mom). i Every nook, every cranny, every detail is perfect. No compromises, not this time. You've finally achieved the perfect home.
by KenRisley


Imagine, you've been at work all day, you finally lay down in your bed, in your new bedroom, and try to drift off to sleep as you forget, slowly, your day's activities. But this does not happen easily. The reason is simple. You are excited. You lay there and can't stop looking around your new and unfamiliar room - a room you created in your own mind and watched as it grew into reality. It is a room you dreamed of for so long- but here it is for real. The coffered ceilings, the perfect built-in video area; the smells; as exciting as the "new car" smells that you've experienced. The home is perfection. The master bathroom, just like the one in Rome where you spent your honeymoon, the parlor like the one in your childhood home. The kitchen, designed based upon your own experience and that of your favorite cook of all time (your mom). i Every nook, every cranny, every detail is perfect. No compromises, not this time. You've finally achieved the perfect home.

This feeling is something I have experienced 4 times in my life. Each was among the most fulfilling moments I can remember; as memorable as the birth of my children (maybe not as important but just a memorable). Like all hard-won endeavors, these have been pinnacles of my life. It is an experience that is enjoyed by many, like you and me, every day of the year. If you are as fortunate as I you've been a part of it; either in your own space or in feeling the excitement of others.

Some may wonder how hard it is to make arrangements to have such an experience. Is it possible? Please believe me when I say that it is. It is well within many, many folks' reach to have something as important as their own home, their own habitat, their own space - completely created for them and them alone.

Today may be one of the best times to do this.

So What is a Custom Building?

Custom building is the action of designing and building a home uniquely for the owner's own taste and desires.

It is one of the last industries where the creation of such uniquely individualized products is economically feasible. Other industries, today, rely upon duplicity of effort, in the form of mass production, to keep prices of various items to a level of affordability. Few could afford a car or computer or radio or any of the myriad of items available if each item was custom designed and built for the user. Actually mass manufacturing is a key to our material success in this society but it, inherently, must be guided by mass appeal.

A custom designed home, even though it is designed and built entirely to the specs of an individual, can be actually achieved, quite realistically, for costs similar to, and even less, that of the existing, mass-appeal units. This is because most homes are built in the same way; regardless if custom or if mass produced. Since homes tend not to loose value (in normal times) newer homes can built for cost similar to purchasing the existing ones. That is very interesting, and important. It turns out that custom designing and building is quite often done for similar cost. Yet most would argue that the value, at least to the first owner, would be far greater if custom designed and built for him or her. Also, custom homes, when sold later, are, in normal markets, just as expensive as when built since the owner is attempting to recover his costs to build. The bottom line is that usually costs to have custom designed and built are similar to the cost if you purchased it already built. And that is not to mention the savings if you did your own contracting.

Predesigned homes or modified model homes are really not custom homes - though they are often, mistakenly, called that. These homes can be modified in limited ways - or even moving a wall a little bit. The truth is that these are really "customized" homes - not custom homes. This would be similar to choosing the color of your car or if its seats are to be leather or cloth. This would not truly be custom as defined here. Homes where you have a few limited choices of modifications are "customized" homes.

Custom homes, as defined here, are homes uniquely designed and built. These are not homes which were designed for mass appear - similar to those from a "stock plan" company. These are homes that are designed for you.

While such an experience is quite within reach of many, there is much to know if you want to avoid the pitfalls. Before you venture into this adventure of a lifetime, assure that you acquire a good understanding of the process so that you will not fall into some of the traps that can exist.

Don't think you can't do it. You can - and quite safely and successfully. If you choose to achieve this particular dream, you'll never regret it. Happy Custom Building!

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.

Ken Risley, designer dream homes; is a Professional Engineer, Award Winning Designer and Builder since 1982. Learn more about this Luxury Home Designer today!