A First Home is Always Memorable
Home Ownership for people is a dream that many get to appreciate and is different for all. Som people buy a condo to ease into the process, others buy small with the intent of moving up when the need arises.
The April challenge, being hosted by Kathy Streib and Carol Williams is to bare our experiences with our first homes. Never having been one to march to an expected beat, my first home was not a purchase, but a sequence of purchases. See, I built my first home just to prove I could.
I was not starting off green, however as I had spent many years with my father as a kid watching him as he did work around the house as well as side carpentry jobs. Also, we had built a house for him and my mom a few years prior.
There used to be special homes featured in our Sunday Homes section of the newspaper. So much of this no longer exists. I had seen a house that captured my imagination and sent away for the plans.
I was determined to be the general contractor so once a lot was found, I did what was necessary for permits, excavating, foundation as well as finding someone that could get me the materials needed.
I went to a couple of lumber yards, and yes, they used to exist before the big box stores. I also sourced plumbing fixtures, siding, etc.
I was approached by a contractor friend that offered to take a set of drawings to a source of his that could fabricate the walls in a factory and all that would be needed was the assembly in the field as well as the roof.
It was the way I went as the labor savings justified it, plus I had spent a couple of summers working for a pre-fab house manufacturer and I knew firsthand that the walls were stronger as they were nailed top and bottom.
Coordinating all took time and I worked long hours as I not only was overseeing the erection of the house but was also working a full-time job as an engineer at the same time.
It all came together, and we enjoyed the house while we were there.
I don't think I would do it all again but a few years after I helped my father build another house and a lot of what was learned here was put into place there as well.
The experience and education I obtained I have found most useful while working in real estate today. My most important area of the house is in the basement where I can see the bones of the house. My clients also appreciate the insights I offer on the homes, while staying within the boundaries of the job.
As an aside, the contract friend had a very good summer that year and let me know that I allowed him and his wife to earn a free vacation from his supplier. A week n Curacao.
A First Home is Always Memorable
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