Comments on: Zeroing in on One Design

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:09:14 +0000

Jason: I guess my response is “this blog is not about being a web developer or an American. It’s about building a house.”

Just as my other blog, Mike Industries, says “hey, you’re a web developer, so you might be interested in sIFR, thoughts about how virus protection software screws up your code, or how to use online spreadsheets in your web pages”, this blog says “hey, if you’re thinking about building a house now or in the future, here’s one guy’s step by step process”. It doesn’t matter if it costs $100,000 or $100 million. And the cost of the land certainly doesn’t matter since that is outside the building process entirely.

I do think I may change one thing about this blog in light of the possibility that some people may react negatively to seeing numbers: I may hide the numbers on the left side and make you “subscribe” (for free, of course) in order to see them. Reason being, if you aren’t actually interested in the cost of things, I’d much rather you not see any numbers at all. The only reason the numbers are there are to help prospective builders understand what everything costs. There are way too many sites out there that talk about how their great new concrete wall just went up, but as a reader or admirer, you’re left asking “ok, but how much did that cost?” So really, I only want to expose these numbers to people who have a genuine interest in building… not people who don’t want to hear about numbers. (Update: This is now done)

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:29:39 +0000

I don’t think I would have read about 150k under, 150k over, relative to your offer price for land had it not been talked about. Again most web developers and 9X% of the Americans could not afford to spend over 100k on a property to develop. That’s a fact. I am saying what you already know… I just think times are changing and people are not going to want to hear about it. They are tired of the divide. So as I said [as a reader]… I am curious about the response.

Anyhow, I said my two cents, you get my gist. I don’t want it to really come off as an attack if it seems so. I’m not a negative person and love building and design having done both. I’ve followed your blog for many years and enjoy hearing your take on things. I just wonder what road your taking your readers on and if it is prescient.

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:33:45 +0000

Jason: Ah. Well, the land was expensive, yes. But if I was interested in “celebration of self” I would have listed what was involved with that. I’m not. I’m only interested in helping people who are thinking about building a custom home plan for the building of their custom home. The cost of the land is irrelevant in the process. You spend what you feel comfortable spending and then you move on to the construction phase. :)

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:29:37 +0000

I believe I said project – not construction.

IE land, taxes, interest, design, permits, construction, landscaping, etc.

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:16:26 +0000

Jason: Not at all. If I spend $1.5m to $2m on construction, I will be *well* beyond what I have budgeted for the project. In fact, if I thought construction would cost that much, I would stop the project immediately and sell the property (or rent it out until conditions improve and then sell it for a profit). It’s truly an exceptional property but $1.5m to $2m for construction alone is just too much.

Ali: Thanks.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:15:46 +0000

Let me rephrase where there may have been presumptions… — In my opinion –“Divulging this process is an exercise in both bravery and the celebration of self.”

The trumpet for dialogue was sounded, and I am curious what that call will bring, in the end. So I am more an observer of this experiment than someone making presumptions. I think I illustrated both sides of at least one coin.

By: Ali Reid

Ali Reid — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:19:42 +0000

@ Jason

Presumptuous of intentions is revealing about your own character.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:45:11 +0000

Seems like you are talking about spending 1.5 – 2 million on the project. Curious about people’s response since most web developers [or 9X% of the US] could never dream of affording something like that. Divulging this process is an exercise on both bravery and the celebration of self. Congrats on making it? I’m sure I missed this thread just catching up….

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:24:52 +0000

Rich: Yep, we got rid of that thing. It’s gone in the next (final) set of floorplans. Will post soon.

Josh, Matt, and Mike: Thanks for the tips.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:06:16 +0000

mike,

on a number of projects we’re working on, costs are starting to come down, in some cases significantly, as people are starting to get hungry for work, even smaller projects.