Real Estate Information Center

For many, the kitchen is a social place – the spot where kids and spouse come to visit with the cook, away from the distractions of TV, games, etc. In fact, in many homes, the kitchen is the social center, where even visits with friends occur around the kitchen table.

If that describes your family, then plan a space for “non-cooks” to sit, out of the way, so visiting can take place with out disrupting the cooking. A breakfast bar, or a table tucked into a corner can become a place of comfort, where some of the most important events of life are discussed. It’s also a great place for kids to sit when they need a bit of parental help with homework.

In addition, if someone in your family is a serious cook, the design and placement of counter tops, refrigerator, range, and sink become paramount. Many of the new house plans I’ve seen ignore the old “triangle” rule and stick the refrigerator out of the way, around behind the breakfast bar or a center island. It might look nice, but it will become a serious annoyance very quickly.

Continue reading ‘Building a Home – Plan Your Kitchen to Reflect Your Lifestyle’ »

Before you choose a house plan, take some time to sit down with the people you live with, and consider the space you occupy right now. When you find out how each of you feels about your present home, you’ll make better choices when planning your new home.

What you learn may be things you’ve heard many times before, but haven’t thought about. And, because it has an impact on planning your next home, you may learn something new. So ask these questions of each person who will occupy your new home:

* What do you love and appreciate most about our current home?
* What is the most convenient feature of your current home?
* Is there something you wish this home had that it doesn’t have?
* Is there some feature that really annoys you?
* Is there some feature that’s a small but constant irritation?

You may learn that your daughter loves and appreciates her south-facing window or that your son loves the little nook under the stairway. And you may learn that the cook absolutely hates those can lights in the kitchen ceiling that shine in the wrong spot.

Continue reading ‘Building a Home – What to Do Before Choosing a House Plan’ »

Where will you build? If a rural area has your heart, and if you’re at all addicted to television or the internet, you need to plan ahead.

Here in the woods, where I live, there is no such thing as cable. There is also no such thing as fiber optic cable for the telephone.

The location is perfect – we have privacy, mountain and water views, and plenty of wildlife to observe. I love it and wouldn’t consider living anywhere else.

But… the phone lines are 30+ years old. Well, most of them are that old. There is that 1,200 foot section of new line that’s currently hanging on a fence, except for where it’s laying on top of the ground.

When I asked the repairman about the possibility of getting fiber optic he laughed out loud. He told me I’d be darned lucky to get a new copper line. With a low population density, the phone company isn’t at all concerned about upgrading service to our neighborhood.

Continue reading ‘Building a Home in a Rural Area – Add This to Your Planning’ »