Design Your Log Home For Resale

Almost every log home owner who sells their homeBut I'll tell you: buyers are very disconcerted when
will tell you that when they built the house, theythey can't find the front door. They walk around the
planned to live there forever. Because custom loghouse looking lost. Something is missing. This is a very
homes are so personal, we sometimes design forpersonal choice, but doing away with such a major
aesthetics and forget about practicality. This isn'tfeature 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 whereAgain, it's not a crisis, but it can be a big
the house must be put on the market.Theannoyance.FIREPLACE: Everyone expects a log home
budgetarily-challenged log home owner will be willingto have a fireplace, or at least a wood stove. This
to live without certain things for the sake of gettingcan easily be a "deal breaker". If you can't afford the
the project finished, but you will discover that thefireplace right away, at least try to design the
next owner will not be so forgiving. Here's a list offoundation with footers to accommodate the weight
items that any Real Estate professional willat a later time.BASEMENT: I strongly advise you not
recommend if you want to get your house sold forto settle for anything less than a full basement. If
the most money:GARAGE: This is a big one. Veryyou are building in an area where basements are
few buyers are willing to buy a home without aexpected, anything less will be a huge problem. First
garage. If you can't afford one right away and planof all, the wiring in exterior walls will be run from the
to build a detached garage later, make sure you setbasement (or crawl space). Secondly, you're probably
aside a convenient space near the house, and don'tgiving up your attic if you have a cathedral ceiling, so
use it for anything else. If the buyer can visualize awhere are you going to store everything? Even a
future garage, this will make the purchasehealthy 5-foot crawl space is considered inadequate
easier.CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING: We all knowby a buyer. There is just no compromise.TINY
that log homes are cooler in the summer thanLOFTS: People like a loft they can put furniture on.
framed houses. However, this doesn't matter to aNarrow 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 walkalways the best way. Some plan a space for a future
when hearing that the house is not air conditioned. Inelevator when stairs become a challenge, or use
fact, our mortgage company made sure central airwider doorways for a possible future wheelchair. It's
was in the design before approving our constructiona lot to think of when your biggest worry is staying
loan. If you can't afford to install the whole system, itwithin budget, but if you plan ahead for your
would be advisable to at least incorporate theeventual old age, you might accidentally be making
ductwork into your design for future installation, so ityour 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 tenddealer and also a Realtor in New Jersey and
to minimalize the front door, reducing it to the statusPennsylvania. She designed her own log home which
of a side entrance or eliminating it altogether in favorwas featured in the 2004 Floor Plan Guide of Log
of glass doors that open directly into the great room.Home Living magazine.