Are we drifting?

[ChainsawGrandpa]

Hey nice is nice, and nicer is nicer yet! Everyone wants
to have luxury but I'm wondering if we are drifting from
the original intent of the class. Look at the photos of the
ranch in Redmond. The idea was: dry, warm, finished,
and not many dollars expended. Back when I took the
class the idea of a $15,000 house was enticing and the
thought of spending $25,000 for a home meant it had better
be big, and a lot of money spent on labor just for the luxury
of getting under roof as quickly as possible. I'm probably
one of the worst offenders, I made a guitar worth twice
as much as my car and made a road bike that is worth
many times what my car is worth (ok, it's not much of a
car :wink: ). I'm just thinking that a nice T&G cedar ceiling
with recessed LED lighting, and heated floors might just
bring the same price on the housing market as a home
with an unheated insulated floor and "homey" exposed
beams. All those extras are nice but finished sooner is
better than big, beautiful, and still under construction with
a big long-term loan. Just rambling. Opinions?

-Rick

[Basil]

What was skip's quote?

"Build as small and cheap as you can afford."

[jhastie]

We are still following the basic plan.

Anything that sets us FREE faster works.

In the years ahead, as fortunes build, who knows.

But we aim to get FREE first!

(That doesn't make others wrong. We may just be in different places along lifes varied paths.)

John

[charner]

Rick, I like your way of thinking. I subscribe to that line
of thinking and will be following that plan.

As it is, I'm clearing land tomorrow for the 20x20 temporary
cabin which will everntually serve as our bedroom, bathroom,
and office (loft area). My wife and I, plus our 3 yr old will be
cozy for a while, but we'll manage.

I'll connect the 20x20 to another 20x20 2-story through
a corridor of some sort (possibly stickframe--board & batten).

For anyone who wants to check out a good read on owner-builders
and their housing, check out The Owner-Builder and the Code.
Good stuff, dated--but if you mill your own lumber, you can make it
happen just like 'em...