| Millions of people every year dream of owning a log | | | | is the rough total living space (square footage) you |
| home. In fact, the popularity of log homes has been | | | | need and want? For many people, looking at existing |
| increasing over the past several years. However, the | | | | log home plans can provide ideas. |
| reality of it is that only a small percentage of people | | | | Once you have a rough floor plan concept, think |
| actually make the full transition from dreaming about | | | | about how you would like your log home appointed. |
| owning a log home to actually owning one. Thirty | | | | Is rustic living more important than marble counter |
| years of experience in the log home industry tells me | | | | tops, a Hi-Fi, High Def entertainment room or wireless |
| there are several primary reasons why there are | | | | internet? Will a wood stove work or do you just |
| roughly only 30,000 new log homes built each year | | | | have to have a field stone fireplace centerpiece? It is |
| (over the past several years). | | | | okay to dream big, but it is as important to be |
| I hope by sharing my knowledge and experience, | | | | realistic as there is a cost associated with everything. |
| more people will be able to go from dreaming to | | | | Once you've compiled a preliminary idea of what you |
| planning to building to living in a log home or log cabin | | | | want, the next most important step is to talk to a |
| of their own. The first piece of advice I offer is to | | | | mortgage consultant to ascertain how much money a |
| do your homework upfront to get a good | | | | bank will loan you to finance the project (unless of |
| understanding of what is available, what you want, | | | | course you have sufficient resources at hand to pay |
| what you need, what you can afford and if | | | | cash for the materials and construction). Getting a log |
| necessary, what compromises you are willing to | | | | home construction loan pre-approval early on |
| make. | | | | significantly reduces the amount of time and |
| There is a plethora of resources available for anyone | | | | frustration you will have to spend finalizing your plan. |
| who is serious about wanting to go from dreaming to | | | | If you are ready to move the process forward at |
| planning. The Internet offers a wealth of information, | | | | this point, it becomes beneficial to select a log home |
| ranging from species of logs to styles of logs, from | | | | manufacturer who you are comfortable with to help |
| planning checklists to information on hundreds of log | | | | guide you through the rest of the process. Select a |
| home manufacturers, dealers, designers and builders. | | | | partner that has demonstrated an interest in helping |
| Subscribe to one or more of the leading log home | | | | you; one that has helped inform you without putting |
| industry publications; they too provide potential log | | | | a lot of "buy now" pressure on you. Someone who, |
| home buyers with tips and ideas on how to make | | | | even though they may have sold hundreds or |
| the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible. | | | | thousands of log homes, treats you like your log |
| Attend a log home show and sit in on some of the | | | | home is the most important one they have ever |
| educational classes offered by leading industry | | | | been involved with. Someone who stands by their |
| experts. Talk to the various log home company reps | | | | workmanship long after the sale is closed. |
| to find out what they specialize in and what they | | | | On average, this process takes between 6 months |
| recommend. Take advantage of the first-hand | | | | and a year before a deal is closed and the logs are |
| opportunity to look at, feel and smell the different | | | | delivered. So, if you're getting a lot of pressure to |
| types and styles of logs and log home construction. | | | | buy something this month or to settle for something |
| Learn as much as you can about what your options | | | | that is not what you want, you might want to look |
| are and then it's time to sit down and begin putting | | | | for another relationship. |
| your wants and needs, likes and dislikes on paper. | | | | If you are serious about building a new log home or |
| Sketch out a rough plan of what you envision your | | | | log cabin, heeding some of these recommendations |
| perfect log home to be based on how you plan to | | | | may increase the likelihood that you will eventually |
| use it. How many bedrooms do you want? How | | | | become one of the few dreamers who actually |
| many bathrooms? One floor or two? How important | | | | made it through the process (sooner rather than |
| are cooking and eating spaces? Porch or deck? What | | | | later). |