Creating Homes that Fit the Lot

I've been observing a lot of properties recently that were not built to make full advantage of the lot upon which they were built. The resale value is damaged by this. These said properties are most likely in tract subdivisions. One very conspicuous example is a residence built neighboring the greenbelt space on a dead-end lot. As you go into the street to the left of the property, directly the cul-de-sac you can see a natural ranchland with a wet weather creek, stunning mature oak trees and native vegetation. A area that is devoted not to be developed. It's pure Texas Hill Country scenery of the kind one sees in photos and that you imagine appreciating from a back porch rocking chair or swing. It is way better than staring at a neighbor's property. The person who built the property really did blow it.

Much to my amazement, the floorplan of this home offers no acknowledgment or orientation to this natural surroundings--none at all. If I had built on this lot, I would have chosen a floorplan where in I could appreciate the native Texas scenery, having the windows of the kitchen or the living room face towards the scenery and supplemented a largely roofed patio. This home was built without even a roofed patio in back, and the patio itself is a tiny 5?8 foot concrete slab. Upstairs, the master bedroom is on the other side of the home from the open area and offers no view.

If there is none to choose from, the whole floorplan could have been reversed and flipped to the other side, the kitchen as well as the breakfast area would have had the sight of the native Texas scenery, and the master bedroom would be overlooking it, while windows could have been supplemented or moved to more appropriate areas.

So why in the world would a person construct a home on this lot that doesn't make maximum advantage of this wonderful and peaceful sight? I think when purchasing new homes, individuals choose a floorplan first, then choose the lot on which to build the home (or vice-versa), but they don't always stop and ask themselves whether that home is a fine match for that certain lot. I've also seen builder spec homes with floorplans with the similar deficiency of thinking of which floorplan will best fit to make advantage of the orientation and/or sceneries of the lot.

On the other hand, negative characteristics of a lot can be mitigated by thinking better. An example, would you construct a home with the windows of the master bedroom in front of the home at the 'T' end of the street? No, because the headlights from cars at night will shine into your bedroom windows. You will surely notice this from you first night after transferring in if you don't think of such things ahead of time.

If you're getting ready to construct or buy a new home, pay concentration to how good the home and the lot you've selected flatter each other. Those homes that ignore this association are the homes you should stay away from. Pay attention to how the streets are aligned and whether there might be potential light interruption into your home from night time road traffic. observe the compass reading of the home and whether likely sunlight will flatter or torment your living area.

Because of these types of issues I scratch numerous candidate houses off the list when previewing homes for purchaser prospects. To make a fine home it makes more than a fine floorplan, this is why these homes that look ideal in Internet pictures and on paper doesn't survive on the first visit. The lot has to have the right floorplan.

Article Source: http://www.myaddirectory.com

This article was written by Chandler Smith, an up and coming real estate ace in the Austin Texas area. He oversees Austin Home Appraisal as well as Real Estate Appraisal in Austin

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