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