| Almost every log home owner who sells their home | | | | But I'll tell you: buyers are very disconcerted when |
| will tell you that when they built the house, they | | | | they can't find the front door. They walk around the |
| planned to live there forever. Because custom log | | | | house looking lost. Something is missing. This is a very |
| homes are so personal, we sometimes design for | | | | personal choice, but doing away with such a major |
| aesthetics and forget about practicality. This isn't | | | | feature is taking a big risk.COAT CLOSET: I see a lot |
| always a good thing! Life sometimes gets in the way, | | | | of log homes without a place to hang your coat. |
| and the owners find themselves in a position where | | | | Again, it's not a crisis, but it can be a big |
| the house must be put on the market.The | | | | annoyance.FIREPLACE: Everyone expects a log home |
| budgetarily-challenged log home owner will be willing | | | | to have a fireplace, or at least a wood stove. This |
| to live without certain things for the sake of getting | | | | can easily be a "deal breaker". If you can't afford the |
| the project finished, but you will discover that the | | | | fireplace right away, at least try to design the |
| next owner will not be so forgiving. Here's a list of | | | | foundation with footers to accommodate the weight |
| items that any Real Estate professional will | | | | at a later time.BASEMENT: I strongly advise you not |
| recommend if you want to get your house sold for | | | | to settle for anything less than a full basement. If |
| the most money:GARAGE: This is a big one. Very | | | | you are building in an area where basements are |
| few buyers are willing to buy a home without a | | | | expected, anything less will be a huge problem. First |
| garage. If you can't afford one right away and plan | | | | of all, the wiring in exterior walls will be run from the |
| to build a detached garage later, make sure you set | | | | basement (or crawl space). Secondly, you're probably |
| aside a convenient space near the house, and don't | | | | giving up your attic if you have a cathedral ceiling, so |
| use it for anything else. If the buyer can visualize a | | | | where are you going to store everything? Even a |
| future garage, this will make the purchase | | | | healthy 5-foot crawl space is considered inadequate |
| easier.CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING: We all know | | | | by a buyer. There is just no compromise.TINY |
| that log homes are cooler in the summer than | | | | LOFTS: People like a loft they can put furniture on. |
| framed houses. However, this doesn't matter to a | | | | Narrow lofts that run along an upstairs wall full of |
| buyer who is accustomed to central air conditioning. | | | | doors can be disappointing.Designing for expansion is |
| There is a large percentage of folks who will walk | | | | always the best way. Some plan a space for a future |
| when hearing that the house is not air conditioned. In | | | | elevator when stairs become a challenge, or use |
| fact, our mortgage company made sure central air | | | | wider doorways for a possible future wheelchair. It's |
| was in the design before approving our construction | | | | a lot to think of when your biggest worry is staying |
| loan. If you can't afford to install the whole system, it | | | | within budget, but if you plan ahead for your |
| would be advisable to at least incorporate the | | | | eventual old age, you might accidentally be making |
| ductwork into your design for future installation, so it | | | | your house easier to sell when other opportunities |
| doesn't have to be retrofitted.FRONT DOOR: I find, | | | | come along.Mercedes Hayes is a Hiawatha Log Home |
| these days, that lots of designs with big decks tend | | | | dealer and also a Realtor in New Jersey and |
| to minimalize the front door, reducing it to the status | | | | Pennsylvania. She designed her own log home which |
| of a side entrance or eliminating it altogether in favor | | | | was featured in the 2004 Floor Plan Guide of Log |
| of glass doors that open directly into the great room. | | | | Home Living magazine. |