Do’s & Don’ts For Real Estate Buyers: Tip 3
Idealism Fades…or “Live-it but Budget!”
My sister and I are in the enviable position of spending lots of time with people in the midst of seriously life changing decisions. Creative juices flow…the possibilities are REAL…boundaries are questioned and often discarded! And we are PART OF the process - Brave New World, Damn the Torpedoes, What Color is My Parachute? (Choose your own spin!)
Our opinions, parables and cautionary tales often affect the decisions that set a family or individual’s trajectory and knowing this, we don’t take our positions lightly. Not to be a BUZZKILL or anything but sometimes we have to play a moderating role because as the subtitle suggests (neigh, clearly states) idealism can WEAR OFF and it’s best to have planned for this reality!
Better Budget for that Front Door, OK?
An example or two may be in order: Let’s take the family that falls in love with the A-frame or old Hunting Camp converted to a year-round home. Hmmm, this one is heated exclusively by wood (albeit a central wood-fired hot water boiler).
Too true - wood heat is efficient, is typically lower cost than fossil fuels and admittedly nothing feels as “warm” as wood heat. But what about going away for 3 days in heating season? The house will go down to ambient temperature and HELLO, welcome home to 10^F and frozen toilets! What about loading the wood larder when you have the flu and your partner is on the couch with a strained back?
Wood is a wonderful source of heat but “live-it and budget”. Make sure you factor-in the cost to make the conversion to a back-up source of heat.
There can be Limited Demand for converted hunting camps!
That converted A-frame or Hunting Camp (or Schoolhouse or Grange Hall) may remind you of your childhood in Vermont and that is clearly a good thing. Unfortunately it was impossible for the original builders of these places to anticipate our INCREDIBLY HIGH STANDARDS for functional layouts, large and uniform room proportions and the ability to support modern heating and wiring.
When clients are in-transition mode and the notion of a “converted” anything is a possibility I always say “Feng Shue” and they answer with a blank stare. What I mean is that you may or may not believe in the idea of Feng Shue but when you walk into a hotel lobby or waiting room of an office that has been professionally designed and decorated to give it’s occupants a sense of serenity and warmth YOU JUST KNOW IT. Isn’t that what you want in a home? Will you get that when you have to get to your washer / dryer using a hatch in the kitchen floor? Is this a plausible long-term arrangement?
You probably CAN get that serene and warm feeling (the one that really “sells” a home) with this structure as the starting material. Consider the limitations and the costs carefully, talk to pros and if it really is your dream then follow your path, paint your parachute any color you like and most definitely “Live-it but Budget” because whether you do it for yourself or for a future buyer - SOMEONE’S slightly tattered idealism will demand it!