I loved the experience. It was a great investment also, worth far more than if I have bought a similar house. Brought ideas to an architect and started from a clean sheet. I have another idea for a house that is unconventional, uses commercial methods and materials that are not used much in residential.
Goal by end of 08 is to get it drawn to a point where I can do a real takeoff estimate and decide whether it’s feasible to build. Since it is highly unconventional I can’t count on it being worth what stick built subdivision houses would be – it’s not comparable. It has to build out at about 70% of what comparable square footage is worth.
My fear is that if it’s very unconventional, people who really want it might tot up the cost of building their own and decide that’s a better value. I had that fear with the last house and it turned out to be completely unfounded.
