Real Estate Blog - What was this Builder Thinking?

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What was this Builder Thinking?

Yesterday I was showing homes in Atlanta GA and we pulled up to this one that was for sale. At first glance it looked odd to me, something was off.

quirky house

This is the front of the house. Notice anything missing? That's right, no front door.

Quirky House

The "front door" is on the side of the house, facing the side of the neighbor's house. By the way, none of the other homes in the neighborhood had this design flaw. This wasn't a corner house either. The inside was choppy. I was thinking I really hope my buyer doesn't like this one because it will be a tough resale for me in the future. When he said he didn't like it, I said Oh good, I wasn't going to be able to let you buy this one! It's too quirky. :) As Realtors we see alot of homes. Sometimes we go to houses and we wonder what was this builder thinking? What's the craziest design flaw you have seen?

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in or around Decatur, GA contact local expert and Realtor Jen Bowman, Broker Associate & e-PRO with Success Realty at 404-456-5024.

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Posted by Jen Bowman - Real Estate Agent in Decatur, GA serving metro Atlanta on 09/11/2009 08:40 PM

Comments (22)

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Originally posted at: Jen's Intown Living Blog: What was this Builder Thinking?

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22 Comments on What was this Builder Thinking?

SEP

I'm wondering if the builder is charging more or less for that set up? lol

Does this builder do this on all their homes?

Maybe it is a side door special.

It is so funny--and weird!

Jen - Wow! That's a real keeper of a photo--to use in a "what not to do" post. I've encountered many unusual features, one of the most memorable was an 8' X 40' bedroom in the Grant Park area. It went to foreclosure a couple of years ago.

Monika, it is weird. I was talking to another agent that was there to show his client and he said "I drove all the way here for this!?" That was after he saw the inside which was in good shape but just an awful layout.

John, I just had to take a picture of it. This one is a foreclosure too. An 8' x 40' bedroom? That had to be ridiculous looking. Even trying to divide it up, it would still be difficult to balance it. I do love the old homes in Grant Park though.

This looks like the architect swapped the entranceway and fireplace as a prank and no one noticed. Ashton Kutcher would be proud.

Jen - That looks like a really nice house. It's too bad the door is on the side of the home.

What an awful layout!

Great for illicit activity though. People coming in and out without drawing suspicion.

Jen - The house is designed for that rare special someone who doesn't like to live in a home that conforms to normal expectations. The architect had a very specific type of person in mind.

SEP

Jen, we have some twin homes in our area that have no front door. I don't like it!

Jen It just proves using a cheap architect may not be wise Karen

Hi Jen, this for sure is a hard seller, there is a new trend on moving doors to the side to allow for better space planing and less wasted space, but this should not compromise the Curb Appeal....

Jen,

I am thinking as most people enter their homes through the garage the Architect decided a front door was not necessary. Obviously someone thought it was, so they added it later LOL

Why do you think it's a design flaw? I think it's awesome, but I see that type of "design flaw" quite often out here. Maybe some Californian moved to Decatur, Georgia, and built him a California-style home -- LOL.

SEP

Sorry for the delay in responding everyone. It's been a good and busy weekend of showing and selling homes!

Erik, That would be a funny prank!

Robert, The rest of the neighborhood looks more normal. It could have been a great house.

Heather, It's crazy.

Jane, LOL

Marc, It would have been interesting to hear how they came up with this plan.

Tony and Darcy, I just think a home needs a front door. It doesn't seem right without it.

Karen, I'm wondering if they used an architect at all!

Barbara, I could see if it made sense, but in this case it just doesn't.

Sharon, You are right in that most homeowners go through the garage but our guests never enter through the garage door. Maybe they thought the homeowner would have no friends? :)

Russel, It just looks out of place in the neighborhood. None of the other homes have this "feature". My client actually said the inside made him feel like the builder just used bits of leftovers to put it together.

Thank you all for your comments!

You know, you might be able to correct this by building a portico/entrance hall over the front door leading out to the actual "front" of the house and accenting with lighting and landscaping.

Jen, what does the floor plan inside look like? I like Maria's idea for a "front" door.

SEP

Jen, WOW talk about a brain cramp. Something so simple could end up costing him a ton of money on this house.

Jen, so how was the kitchen?

That really is a strange facade!

Maria, That's an interesting thought.

Judi, The inside feels cramped and choppy. The flow just isn't there. The small living room and the small dining room is divide by a bathroom and stairs in the center. It would have been much better to have it open. Even the kitchen is closed off with a small doorway from the dining room.

George, Unfortunately, this home is already a foreclosure.

Patricia, Funny you should ask...It certainly isn't gourmet, by any stretch. :)

SEP

I saw a row of houses with side entry in a neighborhood once. They were stick-built but it felt like a mobile home park wheRe everyone is looking at the neighbors back windows...I agree, somebody got punk'd!

SEP

Jen, The builder might be thinking .... The front door is here; let's call it a side loading garage!

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