| Many people dream of living in a spacious log home | | | | Draw a simple plan - Create a drawing of your |
| nestled at the edge of a forest. During the | | | | existing home using simple squares for each room. |
| settlement of America, most everyone lived in a log | | | | Use this plan to help you "see" areas where you |
| home, a simple design that was meant to provide | | | | might need more or less space. Write in the |
| shelter. Many log cabins featured one large room that | | | | dimensions of the rooms in your existing home and |
| served as living, dining, kitchen, and sleeping quarters | | | | use these to draw a simple plan for your new home |
| for the entire family. Some boasted a loft area | | | | by expanding or subtracting from each room. The |
| where the kids were nestled down for the night, | | | | two drawings will give you a comparison chart and a |
| while a few had separate bedrooms, at least one for | | | | place to start when choosing a kit for the log home |
| the parents. A basic square design was the norm - | | | | that will be perfect for your family. |
| no extras for a people trying to create a new world | | | | Wood - One of the most important choices will be |
| to live in. | | | | the type of wood to use for your log home. The |
| As with most things, this has changed over the | | | | most common types of wood used for log homes |
| years. Now, for those seeking the romantic feel of a | | | | are cypress, pine, cedar, and aspen. One of the most |
| log home, there are many designs and styles to | | | | popular choices is cedar because of its natural ability |
| choose from. And many come in the form of a kit - | | | | to repel insects and because it is less likely to decay |
| complete with everything needed for you, or | | | | or shrink - however, this is also the most expensive |
| someone you hire, to easily construct your log home | | | | choice. |
| on your property. So, how do you decide which log | | | | Compare packages and prices - Once you have a |
| home kit is right for you? | | | | pretty good idea about what you want in a new |
| Here are some tips for choosing a log home kit: | | | | home, use the brochures you have already collected |
| Use your existing home as a starting point - Look | | | | and request brochures from several more companies |
| around your existing home and make lists that include | | | | in order to compare what type of kits are available |
| the things you are satisfied with and the things that | | | | and the price of each. Another thing to consider is |
| you would like to improve upon. For instance, do you | | | | shipping costs - the farther away the company, the |
| have an adequate number of bedrooms or do you | | | | higher the cost of shipping. Choosing a log home |
| need more, do you have an adequate number of | | | | from a company farther away that is a little cheaper |
| bathrooms or do you need more. Or maybe your | | | | than one that is closer may not actually save any |
| existing home is too large and you are downsizing - | | | | money, as the shipping costs will eat up the savings. |
| now is the time to decide exactly how much space is | | | | Services - Most log home companies offer services |
| required for you to live comfortably. | | | | to potential customers and services that extend to |
| Create a log-home choice kit - Collect magazines and | | | | after the sale. Be sure to find out which services are |
| books featuring log homes. Almost any company that | | | | available and decide how much assistance you will |
| sells kits for log homes will send you a free brochure | | | | need from the company. The log home company can |
| that explains the details of each home, complete with | | | | help you take your plans and turn them into the log |
| pictures to give you an idea of what the home will | | | | home kit that is perfect for you. Once that has been |
| look like. Some plans can be customized to suit your | | | | done, most companies offer on-site assistance - |
| needs, so one great idea is to make a scrapbook | | | | some offer a set number of hours, while others |
| with pictures of your favorite choices along with any | | | | offer unlimited assistance. All companies are looking |
| features you would like to add or subtract from that | | | | for satisfied customers; so don't be afraid to take |
| model. | | | | advantage of the services they offer. |