2020 Fall Home Improvement

Page 30 2020 FALL HOME IMPROVEMENT Lincoln Daily News September 24, 2020 that something you want won’t work, don’t get mad, get curious. Ask why your idea is a bad one. Two of the best answers are because it won’t meet code or it is a hazard to the health and wellbeing. That given, be a little flexible, seek a compromise to “make it work .” If you don’t have a plan then you can easily find one online. There are dozens of websites that sell you floor plans. Prices vary according to the size of the home, how complicated the plan is, and also what is included - floor plan, artists rendering, material lists, etc.. Suggested keywords for an online search are “new house plans 2020 with pictures.” If you find a plan you like, but it lacks just a thing or two, tweak it to make it more of what you are looking for. Goodman says he has done this. And finally, carve it in stone. It is true that there is always going to be someone out there who is doing something new and innovative. New products are introduced, new finishes and much more. You will drive yourself crazy along with your contractor if you are continually influenced by the new things you see after you’ve started your build. Stop looking! Your dream house is just the way you planned it, and you don’t want to someday regretfully say, I had a plan, but then I changed it. And finally, while this home is “your baby,” don’t mother-smother your contractor or his employees. If you want something done, your contractor. If an employee complains to you about something going on at the work place, don’t take it upon yourself to fix his or her problem. Everyone has bad days, and if an employee is out of sorts, that is only your problem if it is impacting his or her quality of work. Again, don’t be the middle person, go to the contractor if you have a concern. Building a new home is a big endeavor, and even with the right contractor, you are still going to be in on the build in ways you may not even imagine. You get to do the fun part, choosing designs, colors, finishes, fixtures, and more, while someone else does the work. So enjoy it, and you might want to follow the advice of architect Charles Moore, “If you care enough, you just do it. You bind the goods and trappings of your life together with your dreams to make a place that is uniquely your own. The crucial ingredient is concern, care for the way that a house is built, and the shape it gives to your life.” Happy building!