tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8506851267439971622024-02-19T08:23:44.468-08:00Build Your NestBUILD YOUR NEST
Inspiration and ideas from years of nest building!Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-4807658667308497012015-06-20T08:00:00.001-07:002015-06-20T08:00:17.730-07:00Eye of the Beholder...5 Tips to a more Beautiful Home!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87r_zaB0se5r5gyVx7mW48hZCPjr2ftED1w6zPD5FU5V_33CsY5gJpsoJJmyatZXFmgeUXBPoBRI7x376DnSvuY_6jJ1f4DC4qRUTgqdx3by9Zv8u613rG0KjVkLNSz2-ap8mwTaOkWI/s1600/Palmer+Ad+-+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87r_zaB0se5r5gyVx7mW48hZCPjr2ftED1w6zPD5FU5V_33CsY5gJpsoJJmyatZXFmgeUXBPoBRI7x376DnSvuY_6jJ1f4DC4qRUTgqdx3by9Zv8u613rG0KjVkLNSz2-ap8mwTaOkWI/s400/Palmer+Ad+-+Blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our friends, and client Cozy and Mark Palmer informed us the other day that <a href="http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-home">DHome Magazine's</a> editors selected their home as one of the 10 Most Beautiful homes in Dallas! A stunning accomplishment for Mark in particular who has been dreaming of building a Greek Revival Farmhouse for the last 25 years or so.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK44CivmZhz451LWb55nr2q3SHS_61OiZ78zMsO8mtRhfRmtvz4CrJf-uhcu3HoTYgcVETjvQfSwCKNAPDG5erXP7RCUPu1CVCSSkgJnVukBWJlFC3CHyxpCTMZNlWYBLQRQeA2yUwIA/s1600/ice-cream-cone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK44CivmZhz451LWb55nr2q3SHS_61OiZ78zMsO8mtRhfRmtvz4CrJf-uhcu3HoTYgcVETjvQfSwCKNAPDG5erXP7RCUPu1CVCSSkgJnVukBWJlFC3CHyxpCTMZNlWYBLQRQeA2yUwIA/s200/ice-cream-cone.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The old saying goes, <i>'...one man's trash is another man's treasure...'</i> And so it is with homes. What keeps life interesting is producers who continue to make chocolate...and vanilla...and even tutti fruiti - something for everyone who declares their individual taste.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But on the other end of the spectrum from "Most Beautiful" is often "Ugliest!" While '<i>beauty really is in the eye of the beholder,</i>' here are 5 ways to maximize the beauty of your home construction or remodel project:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0XCZKHiiXAtj3K2CeLtZerE-pVCURDks-yNjgaPN528JGgL0-WR1QFp9JGoeadYPoewgaBowhRKRB185E17ZClyy-rUFmrm7V7JalFQasrwtGde7-GcV8gYbuRLcDXUdGvzbYrE46-4/s1600/300px-Da_Vinci_Vitruve_Luc_Viatour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0XCZKHiiXAtj3K2CeLtZerE-pVCURDks-yNjgaPN528JGgL0-WR1QFp9JGoeadYPoewgaBowhRKRB185E17ZClyy-rUFmrm7V7JalFQasrwtGde7-GcV8gYbuRLcDXUdGvzbYrE46-4/s1600/300px-Da_Vinci_Vitruve_Luc_Viatour.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Go Pro</u></b> - Just like Doctors are trained in how our bodies function, architects, landscape architects, and interior designers are classically trained in proportion, balance, harmony and variety. Who really studies da Vinci's Vitruvian Man or Le Corbusier's Modulor based on the Golden Mean? Architects do! It's all part of their training. As a result of their training, degreed architects or interior designers are more likely to help you create a thing of beauty. But don't always discount those who haven't studied Le Corbusier - some people just have a knack for designing beautiful things!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Show and Tell </u></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMTtxsUl-Ey7zxJL0jR8v25vLG7Q_vBjkT42K5DUDMcFPbqbNQQFQeYiOoG88dt0eBNUO308FlU3hyphenhyphen3HA5BZ5H8FR7HIHr_2h8E6wejW-vTaGaqYFoUNyTI3yPJVEp24MvPnnP_nPvls/s1600/houzz-review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMTtxsUl-Ey7zxJL0jR8v25vLG7Q_vBjkT42K5DUDMcFPbqbNQQFQeYiOoG88dt0eBNUO308FlU3hyphenhyphen3HA5BZ5H8FR7HIHr_2h8E6wejW-vTaGaqYFoUNyTI3yPJVEp24MvPnnP_nPvls/s1600/houzz-review.jpg" /></a></div>
Trapped deep within your brain are images and feelings that are satisfying. Experience suggests the easiest way to "untrap" those feeling and images is to research pictures and find things that feel good. Coffee table magazines like <i><u>Veranda</u>, <u>House Beautiful</u>, </i>and<i> <u>Southern Living </u></i>to name a few, are brimming with ideas. Recently a website named <a href="http://www.houzz.com/?m_refid=gl-sem-brand_main&kw=houzz&pos=1t1&device=c&gclid=CJ3FmOuBnMYCFYM9aQodhW8DUw">Houzz</a> began collecting catagorized pictures from architects, builders, interior designers and landscape architects for the sole purpose of displaying professional's best ideas for building or renovating homes. With well over a million photos, surely you can find something that resonates with your soul!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Point and Shoot</u></b> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_ng1NG1dJnMXhXcxozAQ6oyv0bKH9aVq_u_fhYhuG0Iyc2_G-cMctkFJrU1SFZzoKq7Z5N88oOkppM1pXVDZ-9ridyqDW-6vYQYpnxdZfC5R580DIsaF2rZzqJxjYATonh72-MfpR0E/s1600/mlp88nnSYv3lF-g2m2aAQxQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_ng1NG1dJnMXhXcxozAQ6oyv0bKH9aVq_u_fhYhuG0Iyc2_G-cMctkFJrU1SFZzoKq7Z5N88oOkppM1pXVDZ-9ridyqDW-6vYQYpnxdZfC5R580DIsaF2rZzqJxjYATonh72-MfpR0E/s200/mlp88nnSYv3lF-g2m2aAQxQ.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Once you have an inventory of ideas for your home project, and a professional(s) to help you with design, it's time to point to a captured picture and challenge the professionals with incorporating the idea into your home. Not surprisingly this will insure most of the ideas which have resonated with your soul will end up in the finished product. Remember, just because an architect or designer draws your idea on a piece of paper doesn't mean your builder will actually build it that way! Hang on to your photos for the next step...</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>"Can You Hear Me Now?"</u></b> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_jTKSlgDyR_lv-konIY_KqKBMFH8bFw4J_avgmNB-Psu-IhyphenhyphenIIQL5V6OMoBkLckgTFvGJeMElpw8-hUx5YebnPZfaea1jc1G5SVZMnacBY9wmSguBTRE5JZX5tx7FmD_Xm0ENRMhVYk/s1600/12344047151156616159bionet_human_ear.svg.med.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_jTKSlgDyR_lv-konIY_KqKBMFH8bFw4J_avgmNB-Psu-IhyphenhyphenIIQL5V6OMoBkLckgTFvGJeMElpw8-hUx5YebnPZfaea1jc1G5SVZMnacBY9wmSguBTRE5JZX5tx7FmD_Xm0ENRMhVYk/s200/12344047151156616159bionet_human_ear.svg.med.png" width="127" /></a></div>
Think of your builder as a "put'er-togetherer" of gigantic jigsaw puzzles. Just like any computer, you will need to program him/her with the right information so that your building puzzle turns out just the way you wanted. Enter, the communications process! Your ability to end up with what you want in a home is directly related to the quality of the communications between yourself, the design professionals, and your builder. Interview carefully to make sure your builder has a communications system that translates great ideas into beautiful construction.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhSluNa8KNBD4_imZMBhqD9gVyIPbzM_62B8BPGlcvK7NA_AwlnzBEM2hiKWSRHGJLzV2MtRYShpiimoWpekoLPFYAJhrvf61X1zkFzeGCpfNlNzhpFOm5MLE1rskSJJ_GDreqkcpORQ/s1600/House-fly.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhSluNa8KNBD4_imZMBhqD9gVyIPbzM_62B8BPGlcvK7NA_AwlnzBEM2hiKWSRHGJLzV2MtRYShpiimoWpekoLPFYAJhrvf61X1zkFzeGCpfNlNzhpFOm5MLE1rskSJJ_GDreqkcpORQ/s200/House-fly.png" width="142" /></a></div>
<b><u>Flies Stick to Honey</u></b> The age old expression <i>"...you can catch a lot more flies with honey than you can with vinegar..."</i> reigns supreme in the design/build industry. Exhibiting an "attitude of gratitude" insures everyone associated with your project would rather work on your home instead of someone else's. Through the years I've witnessed extraordinary efforts on the part of professionals, builders, and trade subcontractors, all because the homeowner was being kind and gracious to everyone working on the project.</span></li>
</ol>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
Highly talented people consistently turn out beautiful projects. Experience has taught them what looks good, and what doesn't. While you may think it expensive to hire talent, you haven't seen "expensive" until you have to tear out something that's either made wrong, or ugly! </span><br />
<ol>
</ol>
Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-48843704651155435982015-06-06T05:10:00.000-07:002015-06-07T17:44:49.250-07:00The Builder's Beauty Contest<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"></span><br />
<h1 class="entry-title" style="font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><u>Editors Note:</u> My very talented friend and designer Courtney Price asked me to write this piece for her lifestyle blog, <i><a href="http://CourtneyPrice.com/">CourtneyPrice.com</a></i> after hearing of "The Builder's Beauty Contest" from her client who had read my book, <span id="goog_949031785"></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/UnHinged-Homebuilders-Secrets-Saving-Money/dp/1484154541/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433592104&sr=8-1&keywords=unhinged+a+homebuilders+secrets+for+saving+time+and+money">Un-HINGED - A Homebuilder's Secrets for Saving Time and Money</a><span id="goog_949031786"></span>. I asked if I could borrow it back for inclusion in Build Your Nest. </span></h1>
<h1 class="entry-title" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">
The Builder’s Beauty Contest</span></h1>
<div class="post-info" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -5px;">
<span class="date published time" title="2015-03-23T17:47:22+00:00">March 23, 2015</span> By <span class="author vcard"><span class="fn"><a href="http://www.courtneyprice.com/author/courtneyprice/" rel="author" style="color: #0d72c7; text-decoration: none;">Courtney Price</a></span></span></div>
<div class="entry-content" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<a href="http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/BuildersBeautyContest1.jpg" style="color: #0d72c7; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Thinking about building or remodeling? Don't be fooled by the Builder's Beauty Contest, protect yourself with these tools on www.CourtneyPrice.com" class="aligncenter wp-image-17287 size-full" src="http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/BuildersBeautyContest1.jpg" height="593" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="580" /></a></div>
<h3 style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">
Reality check: Beware of the lowest bid…</span></h3>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">For many people, the home is the biggest investment. When building one’s dream home or remodeling an existing house, one can easily get caught in the snare of the numbers game with multiple bids. Misleading contractors have been known to say or do whatever it takes to get the job, encumbering the homeowner with devastating financial consequences. To discuss this topic and offer guidance, I have invited a highly respected Dallas contractor with a strong moral compass and decades of experience to decode the bidding wars in this special guest post. </span> Bob Hoebeke is all about communication with his clients; his honesty and transparency have built a solid base of repeat clients with stunning homes. Please welcome Bob:<span id="more-17111"></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Do you hear that angry, snarling, gnashing of teeth behind you in the Starbuck’s line while you’re ordering your <em>“quad Venti, no whip, cinnamon dulce latte?”</em> It could very well be the sound of an angry homeowner who has invested inordinate amounts of time, energy and money in building or remodeling their home only to have their dreams shattered through financial mismanagement, deceit, gross incompetence, cover-up or just plain stupidity on the part of their builder. Unfortunately, even for the wealthiest of homeowners, there are no do-overs.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">More often than not the scenario described above happens because of the <strong style="font-weight: bold;">“Builder’s Beauty Contest.”</strong> Well-intentioned architects, seeking the best pricing for your home, submit plans to multiple builders. The age-old myth embraced by many is, more bidders means more competition, and more competition means a lower project price. But the reality is substantially different.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<a href="http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/elevation.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img alt="planning to build or remodel? read about the Builders Beauty Contest first on www.CourtneyPrice.com" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-17281" src="http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/elevation.jpg" height="293" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="580" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">With stiff competition and the desire to secure the work, each builder will competitively price what they see as the parts and pieces of the project and begin to shape a budget story they believe the architect and owner <em>will want to hear</em>. But there are <span style="text-decoration: underline;">thousands</span> of pieces to a building or remodeling project. As the builder bids, some pieces will be missed, others will be substituted, many will be camouflaged in other cost centers (site work, landscaping, interior furnishings and after market finishes etc.), and still others will be allowanced with expense caps so low they become meaningless (you can’t buy much of a potty for $50). Builders have to <strong style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">win</span></strong> so many will lie, cheat and even steal for a signed contract. Herein lies the problem.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<a href="http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SigningContract.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img alt="know what you are getting into before you build or remodel your dream home on www.CourtneyPrice.com" class="aligncenter wp-image-17273 size-full" src="http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SigningContract.jpg" height="249" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="580" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">
</div>
<div class="tm-tweet-clear" style="zoom: 1;">
</div>
<div class="tm-click-to-tweet" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 30px; padding-top: 15px; position: relative; zoom: 1;">
<div class="tm-ctt-text" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/share?text=%22The+truth+is+always+easier-+so+you+don%27t+have+to+defend+your+bid+every+step+of+the+way+through+the...&via=CourtneyMPrice&related=CourtneyMPrice&url=http://www.courtneyprice.com/the-builders-beauty-contest/" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 100; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">“The truth is always easier- so you don’t have to defend your bid every step of the way through the…</span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<a class="tm-ctt-btn" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=%22The+truth+is+always+easier-+so+you+don%27t+have+to+defend+your+bid+every+step+of+the+way+through+the...&via=CourtneyMPrice&related=CourtneyMPrice&url=http://www.courtneyprice.com/the-builders-beauty-contest/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/plugins/click-to-tweet-by-todaymade/assets/img/twitter-little-bird.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #999999; display: block; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">CLICK TO TWEET</span></a></div>
<div class="tm-ctt-tip">
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Since final results of a competitive bid bear little resemblance to what actual costs will be when the project is completed, more often than not the awarding of the contract goes to who can tell the best story. Usually the prettiest story wins – it’s </span><strong style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">The Builder’s Beauty Contest!</strong></span></div>
<h3 style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">
Several ways to help you avoid The Builder’s Beauty Contest:</span></h3>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Interviewing multiple builders and hiring integrity and chemistry:</span><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">On a material to material, and labor to labor basis, there won’t be much difference between builders if they are bidding like quantity, so hire who you like and work together on price.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Evaluate a builder’s project administration plan and review cost control mechanisms as well as the builder’s communication skills.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Ask for, and check references:</span><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Who were the builder’s last five clients and what are they saying about your candidate?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">How long has the builder employed his trades or subcontractors? Frequent line-up changes often point to instability.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Ask for supplier references (lumber, concrete, plumbing, flooring, cabinets, etc.) and find out if he’s paying his bills on time.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">See some of his work – both finished, and under construction:</span><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Are all the parts and pieces there? Do joints fit tightly? Are things well thought out?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Do the finishes meet your expectations?</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Is the job under construction neat, organized, and clean?</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Smart builders will competitively bid <strong style="font-weight: bold;"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">only </span></em></strong>commodities (lumber,sheetrock, fixtures, etc.) :</span><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">New, and unfamiliar labor means training and mistakes. A smart builder will not want someone they don’t know “practicing” on your home.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Basic safety rules – why take a chance on putting unfamiliar labor in the same home with a client when unsure of the laborer’s past?</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Don’t get sold a bill of goods. Let all the poising, primping, and posturing associated with the Builder’s Beauty Contest be saved for someone else’s project. Make a great decision and have yourself some fun as you build the home of your dreams-</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">-Bob Hoebeke</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/UnHINGED-Homebuilders-Secrets-Saving-Money-ebook/dp/B00CLYJK8Q/?tag=widgetsamazon-20" style="text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Unhinged, your manual for remodels or new builds - on www.CourtneyPrice.com" class="aligncenter wp-image-17283 size-full" src="http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Unhinged.jpg" height="580" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="374" /></a>Our guest contributor is a published author with a must-read book for anybody who is building or remodeling. The Builder’s Beauty Contest is included in this book but there is so much more. Unhinged is an organizational tool that places you in the center of the process along with your contractor and design team, rather than being managed by your contractor. See more about and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/UnHINGED-Homebuilders-Secrets-Saving-Money-ebook/dp/B00CLYJK8Q/?tag=widgetsamazon-20" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">order your copy of Unhinged </a>here.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">
</div>
<div class="tm-tweet-clear" style="zoom: 1;">
</div>
<div class="tm-click-to-tweet" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 30px; padding-top: 15px; position: relative; zoom: 1;">
<div class="tm-ctt-text" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Demystify+the+building%2Fremodeling+process+with+%40BobHoebeke%27s+book%3A+Unhinged&via=CourtneyMPrice&related=CourtneyMPrice&url=http://www.courtneyprice.com/the-builders-beauty-contest/" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: 100; letter-spacing: 0.05em; line-height: 33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Demystify the building/remodeling process with @BobHoebeke’s book: Unhinged</span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<a class="tm-ctt-btn" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=Demystify+the+building%2Fremodeling+process+with+%40BobHoebeke%27s+book%3A+Unhinged&via=CourtneyMPrice&related=CourtneyMPrice&url=http://www.courtneyprice.com/the-builders-beauty-contest/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/plugins/click-to-tweet-by-todaymade/assets/img/twitter-little-bird.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #999999; display: block; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">CLICK TO TWEET</span></a></div>
<div class="tm-ctt-tip">
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<a href="http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hoebekebuilders.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img alt="Hoebeke Builders Dallas TX on courtneyprice.com" class="aligncenter wp-image-17280 size-full" src="http://www.courtneyprice.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hoebekebuilders.jpg" height="387" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="580" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">For the tech savvy- Bob Hoebeke has also created an APP: <strong style="font-weight: bold;">BuildCHX</strong> – check it out if: 1) you plan to build or remodel 2) you are a designer 3) you want to make sense of the giant jigsaw puzzle of the custom construction process 4) you want to keep your new-build or remodel on time and within budget. <strong style="font-weight: bold;">BuildCHX</strong> offers a linear chronological sequence that will prevent the common delays associated with selections. We all know how costly delays are – this app keeps you a step ahead at all times.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Want more? Bob has a<a href="http://dallasbuilder.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> blog</a>… full of sage pointers, observations, advice, a link to project photos- great content.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;">
<strong style="font-weight: bold;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">If you found this article useful, please recommend it and share it with your friends.</span></em></strong></div>
</div>
Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-55165789183239208702014-03-27T12:38:00.001-07:002014-03-27T12:38:47.084-07:00Hot Dogs and Houses<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEhYUXE3gTNIgOUFrzzfGU4-uphHVTXCJvuuhism-e1C7Ax-7DJrNvCIylXc3X9mGi9R_BcOCOHoy0ByKxhmlrxJ8BvQCQhXVYkA9PnWeBKumDa2Q8zk1BJKZ64ieTVjkJKZo7lmt4WA/s1600/hot-dog-and-slab-pie-019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEhYUXE3gTNIgOUFrzzfGU4-uphHVTXCJvuuhism-e1C7Ax-7DJrNvCIylXc3X9mGi9R_BcOCOHoy0ByKxhmlrxJ8BvQCQhXVYkA9PnWeBKumDa2Q8zk1BJKZ64ieTVjkJKZo7lmt4WA/s1600/hot-dog-and-slab-pie-019.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy <a href="http://foodnessgracious.com/">FoodnessGracious!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ordering a hot dog packed with all kinds of good stuff, and building or remodeling your home have at least one thing in common - they are both transactions. But the similarities end there. True, you start with a raw product (either the "dog" or an empty lot) and you add things as desired. But one takes literally seconds to produce, and the other months. Therein lies the difference. Production time raises some interesting issues.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zkhKHh73UXj_iWz4k58Nra4DVgb9kgnylGHUeZHZ4mMJ780_iDWe4O_4-LafOUtQiyjUI75bfsILr4m11mxDVyR8Yr-R3LMrIPKx77DZ1E94ztgpjGzKH8o8z0tCxuVy7leipVk4Evk/s1600/hot-dog+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zkhKHh73UXj_iWz4k58Nra4DVgb9kgnylGHUeZHZ4mMJ780_iDWe4O_4-LafOUtQiyjUI75bfsILr4m11mxDVyR8Yr-R3LMrIPKx77DZ1E94ztgpjGzKH8o8z0tCxuVy7leipVk4Evk/s1600/hot-dog+cropped.jpg" height="178" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If building a home were as simple as slapping a dog on a bun, squirtin' and spoonin' some great tasting condiments on it and calling it good, friction between parties involved in the transaction would be absolutely minimal. But time has a way of adding emotion, and emotion sometimes fractures relationships. Performance plays a much larger role in building/remodeling than it does at the hot dog stand. So does cost!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Understanding that it takes longer and costs more to build your home than it does to decorate your "dog," here are some tips for surviving the longer transaction period:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHeu2Vy-zlOEHzgNG2CozJrWPy8uPdwj3XxuKdYxvMU0fL_gLkClB7zMea_cfvgXWoTtK_bxLM2BGffK4y1qjN8T-87LzMMhtl79_wKj4lllobgbPOkzPaqVrNymSueB17gPcHELDpD8/s1600/mccall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHeu2Vy-zlOEHzgNG2CozJrWPy8uPdwj3XxuKdYxvMU0fL_gLkClB7zMea_cfvgXWoTtK_bxLM2BGffK4y1qjN8T-87LzMMhtl79_wKj4lllobgbPOkzPaqVrNymSueB17gPcHELDpD8/s1600/mccall1.jpg" height="183" width="200" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Building a home is like putting together a gigantic size jigsaw puzzle. It's not just dog, bun, mustard, ketsup etc., it thousands of parts which must be put together in a very specific order. Being highly organized helps! Hiring professionals that are highly organized and have a specific administrative plan for putting those pieces together, will cut down on mistakes and improve efficiency.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do your part! Whether it's deciding if its as simple as ketsup, mustard and/or relish, make your housing selections decisively. Remember, construction is like a "big ball" - if it slows down or stops waiting for you to make a decision, it's very hard to get the ball rolling again.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. A positive, fun, engaging personality attracts a lot more attention than negativity. Basic human nature says that we would all rather work for someone who is nice and fun than for an 'ole sour puss!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Hold <i><u>things</u></i> loosely, and <i><u>people</u></i> tightly." A house is a "<b><i>thing</i></b>," but the people putting it together have eternal significance. Focusing on the workers and realizing imperfect people make mistakes ensures that value is placed in areas having eternal significance.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFNOjlbeAzbAqgFV-c30_nmDRkJsjb4R3E9FF8rbcs8CX_f-ueyuZAzrnzHgrr8jaI1run797L_RfWxQIl6daLXZM-3yXWpXjQZFVK561w5qOX6eM7I1_XMUGrbzlN1KMxj7q-jkrAvA/s1600/Casner+Residence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFNOjlbeAzbAqgFV-c30_nmDRkJsjb4R3E9FF8rbcs8CX_f-ueyuZAzrnzHgrr8jaI1run797L_RfWxQIl6daLXZM-3yXWpXjQZFVK561w5qOX6eM7I1_XMUGrbzlN1KMxj7q-jkrAvA/s1600/Casner+Residence.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We all want what we want. Sometimes getting it requires a little bit more time and effort. Next time you order a "dog" just the way you want it, be grateful it's a simple transaction, easily corrected if it falls on the floor!</span></div>
Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-25132344233927370892014-03-13T09:45:00.000-07:002014-03-13T09:45:45.314-07:00Managing Expectations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiET1WE-Jj_oFAKUcfNgUUhDtczvy9_IzR-iPOUxSjSiWsHGhIeD60CncHvF9PBszhUlUhU7xCsINfIyrzYoHdiGVy-42q1afzSJ8DQthdgYGVNkTAkXV3x3sZ5XwxrjZy6CysGa09T8iA/s1600/Unhinged+Final+Ad+Cover+Reduce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiET1WE-Jj_oFAKUcfNgUUhDtczvy9_IzR-iPOUxSjSiWsHGhIeD60CncHvF9PBszhUlUhU7xCsINfIyrzYoHdiGVy-42q1afzSJ8DQthdgYGVNkTAkXV3x3sZ5XwxrjZy6CysGa09T8iA/s1600/Unhinged+Final+Ad+Cover+Reduce.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A call came in recently from an interior designer who is interviewing for a position on the Project Team with a new client of ours. We're big on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/UnHinged-Homebuilders-Secrets-Saving-Money/dp/1484154541">Project Teams</a>! Matter of fact, I've written a whole book on the subject. Time and again the most successful projects in which we have ever been involved all have had a Project Team. There's no substitute for hiring your professionals early in the process, charging them with responsibility and parameters, and managing their creativity. Saves all kinds of time (read: you don't have to "re-do"), and money - promise!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1VL0Run3upIdPBiH5P6o66NlltIkTnO5inO6PBAo-aCCZFzvY9zlzjkoUnSjVEnY6kkYfyTDxjn6bkmKGSPB75OzYjJVOd7ppN12kzn38AxjVQ2HKMIWp_v82HQ2GxAq2U6w3d-vcmU/s1600/Vote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1VL0Run3upIdPBiH5P6o66NlltIkTnO5inO6PBAo-aCCZFzvY9zlzjkoUnSjVEnY6kkYfyTDxjn6bkmKGSPB75OzYjJVOd7ppN12kzn38AxjVQ2HKMIWp_v82HQ2GxAq2U6w3d-vcmU/s1600/Vote.jpg" height="199" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway... before giving our new client a proposal for her services the interior designer wanted to understand how we like to administrate our projects. In other words, what are our <b><i>expectations</i></b>. Huh...imagine that. Someone willing to invest some time in the project BEFORE getting hired to better understand what our needs, desires, and expectations might be! If I get a vote - she's hired!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhur6MUHd3Q8YhOXwDOY3HZ8YHk0CFGLNYKXl2eEVBtv1vFMktitY_1L13sYJK5AMtUMafe9tbuzV8YzTn0RHgRpnUdplq8aDBFFXkw5NMNKcCcYUnF3GgeqXYxhG8i3nXx0XEbwyJaVfw/s1600/Americana+Painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhur6MUHd3Q8YhOXwDOY3HZ8YHk0CFGLNYKXl2eEVBtv1vFMktitY_1L13sYJK5AMtUMafe9tbuzV8YzTn0RHgRpnUdplq8aDBFFXkw5NMNKcCcYUnF3GgeqXYxhG8i3nXx0XEbwyJaVfw/s1600/Americana+Painting.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every client that walks through our office door comes with a full set of expectations. They may not realize it at the time, but sure enough, once we get down to brass tacks those expectations are right there. <i>'Building our home shouldn't take more than 6 months, should it?' 'What does it cost per square foot to build our home - you can do it for $125psf can't you?' 'I'm going to live upstairs while you remodel the downstairs.'</i> Some of the expectations are just as obvious as these while some are much more subtle. <i>'Once the project is under roof we don't expect you will have any weather delays.' 'Surely you won't mind if we provide all of the ceramic tile for our home...' </i>Or even <i>'you'll have someone on-site managing our project at all times, won't you?' </i>Hundreds, maybe even thousands of expectations come with every project. Everyone paints pictures in their mind of how situations will turn out. Without sitting down and hashing it out, a formula for disaster has just been defined!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Builders should all do what our wives want us to do more of anyway - COMMUNICATE! A healthy dose of ANTICIPATION doesn't hurt either. We need to be about the business of trying to understand what our clients <b><i>expect</i></b>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvzn0HKMAUWjVcuYPbKD-xo_daev5Xcun3a6oX_C0MhNho1ir6zPlHwiaVwYw_wuLgwWO70_fWvq2SoD9O3ukB21S7C7BISWy7MULn7qTTpxCWNa1MAP40KBxQRC1k0rwj0KqgwMuKM8/s1600/Country+Picturesque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvzn0HKMAUWjVcuYPbKD-xo_daev5Xcun3a6oX_C0MhNho1ir6zPlHwiaVwYw_wuLgwWO70_fWvq2SoD9O3ukB21S7C7BISWy7MULn7qTTpxCWNa1MAP40KBxQRC1k0rwj0KqgwMuKM8/s1600/Country+Picturesque.jpg" height="156" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Homeowners also share in the responsibilities of communicating and anticipating, yet because they are not seasoned building professionals they often don't know what questions to ask. Not knowing what questions to ask speaks to the heart of building a Project Team. Though unclear about what information may be necessary, most people "know people," and that's precisely what makes up the Project Team. By selecting your architect, builder, interior designer, and landscape architect based on natural chemistry, an advantage will be gained by hiring advocates who will guide you through the oftentimes scenic journey of building or remodeling. These professionals will also help you define your expectations. And not only "define," but shape those expectations into realistic goals for your Project Team. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5dunZqAJlgo15FbjRluKzebuwY2VdYubexBBdwEa_H8pmOM7zOaY5fik8dpPGbY2Ju6M5k3nLebl20vC-00rtTVn-D7x3hz1-1a6Nx7_yszz_G8wTDokrICsDOPES-HWme2E6IlyauU/s1600/12.12.18-mjs-ft-crafty-christmas-present-ideas_9912696_582_388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5dunZqAJlgo15FbjRluKzebuwY2VdYubexBBdwEa_H8pmOM7zOaY5fik8dpPGbY2Ju6M5k3nLebl20vC-00rtTVn-D7x3hz1-1a6Nx7_yszz_G8wTDokrICsDOPES-HWme2E6IlyauU/s1600/12.12.18-mjs-ft-crafty-christmas-present-ideas_9912696_582_388.jpg" height="200" width="169" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know, I know....slowing down to take the time to build a Project Team is like ripping the wrapping paper off a highly anticipated gift only to find out that you must fully assemble it before you truly know what it can do! We don't live in a world that likes to wait on ANYTHING!! So add one more thing to your contrarian list in life - the less project planning you do upfront, the more time energy and money you will spend on your overall project! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-69510655322465502762014-02-19T13:59:00.000-08:002014-02-19T13:59:03.147-08:00Gotcha...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>565</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3224</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Hoebeke Builders, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>26</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>6</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3959</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The old saying goes, "you don't know what you don't know." So when you're building that home of your dreams, or remodeling the one you love, how do you know what you don't know? It's a fair question. In today's highly competitive housing market how do you know you're getting what you paid for when half the stuff you are paying for is covered up?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrhcPFvpkvkqPikerLpAhkhfUxAAIzedjb8jXya-cQrcMBCS4XTcyhLOi1ICB7ld5qln42aGsXHukcdQmicdXg-CTS6etOx_oRYh8RIH_GqMXS1xRG9xfsi5W2oleZddyTakzgr_5wf0/s1600/th.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrhcPFvpkvkqPikerLpAhkhfUxAAIzedjb8jXya-cQrcMBCS4XTcyhLOi1ICB7ld5qln42aGsXHukcdQmicdXg-CTS6etOx_oRYh8RIH_GqMXS1xRG9xfsi5W2oleZddyTakzgr_5wf0/s1600/th.jpeg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Substantiated rumors are floating around town that builders are using apartment grade plumbing on million dollar homes. But how is the consumer supposed to know about the quality of the pipes being installed behind the walls? When your water lines are decomposing or being eaten by bugs five years down the road its really too late to start questioning the integrity of what your builder is using on your job! And trust me, it happens everyday...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTjb6IPb2KL5jW2NSJ6dkun_OClu0zYuPLUrydvHm3iVZKobnGCmbbRzeSo7URcIsMFOl1gG57QsWFe9F9oGFEXobX4QN5MEjy0HZ1JvS_Jwrn-udJ0X00VX6OL6d1WVqECwY3p_pPro/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTjb6IPb2KL5jW2NSJ6dkun_OClu0zYuPLUrydvHm3iVZKobnGCmbbRzeSo7URcIsMFOl1gG57QsWFe9F9oGFEXobX4QN5MEjy0HZ1JvS_Jwrn-udJ0X00VX6OL6d1WVqECwY3p_pPro/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Specifications don't mean anything in residential construction anymore,"</i> groaned one lumberyard vendor recently. Architects may draw it, and structural engineers may specify the materials necessary to make it strong, but some builders are changing lumber grades, product spacing and materials to cheapen costs and improve profit margins. No single construction item is more prone to homeowner deception than lumber. Why? Because ultimately everything is covered up! <i>"Builder are wanting to get through their warranty period </i>(with a homeowner) <i>and that's it - period!"</i> With the abundance of products available to a builder, changing the grading stamp on a ceiling joist, varying the distance between framing members, or even swapping out a specified plywood for OSB (oriented strand board) can make as much as a 10% cost difference in the cost of a framing package. And 10% of the cost of the single largest commodity going in your home can mean thousands of dollars in the builder's pocket!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9anDo9iK7PeMjB8FZ6LsidJAAYrK6NzY66G3CouC2XD6TmZF6R8GKeOZEGt0Tr51k9ixJ65yHP0RNUc02lXULZf8OfwPNH3A1l1ngxdj9LmHyet5iivCx6bRS4lKO4TA1AkGp9MCC81M/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9anDo9iK7PeMjB8FZ6LsidJAAYrK6NzY66G3CouC2XD6TmZF6R8GKeOZEGt0Tr51k9ixJ65yHP0RNUc02lXULZf8OfwPNH3A1l1ngxdj9LmHyet5iivCx6bRS4lKO4TA1AkGp9MCC81M/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" height="173" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On a shorter leash you may not know that the $7,500 allowance your builder gave you for plumbing fixtures needed in your million dollar home will barely do the Master Bath. But you'll figure it out when you go to Ferguson Enterprises to select fixtures for the whole house and spend $25,000! By then the ink will be dry on the contract and it's too late to renegotiate. Can you spell "cost overrun?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In tight economic times where way too many builders are competing for way too few projects, many believe the name of the game is <i>'get the contract signed, and make it up on change orders.'</i> Builders feel they can deal with the fallout later. After all, who doesn't build a house understanding that there will be some cost overruns?!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXyIv65twDirk1Nyg8TcjQQW4VIb4OFfaJm_0bce4jT5RQimZmFpVk7O3PboPZWmlcRKAV2O73X4ZQla549zqGYWEa_i6TO0lJY6kME1WrpjVi620sLESNGF8HxhDMVjMABRSXTeFi2w/s1600/Forest+Hill+Elevation+%234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXyIv65twDirk1Nyg8TcjQQW4VIb4OFfaJm_0bce4jT5RQimZmFpVk7O3PboPZWmlcRKAV2O73X4ZQla549zqGYWEa_i6TO0lJY6kME1WrpjVi620sLESNGF8HxhDMVjMABRSXTeFi2w/s1600/Forest+Hill+Elevation+%234.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recently we were hired to review the specifications for a couple's "dream home" after some problems arose between their builder and the bank. Budgets seemed low, and parts were definitely missing. To be safe we had our guys bid the work. Our estimate was 82% higher than the couple's builder, who, it turns out, had just declared bankruptcy! Forget the dream home, the couple purchased a nice pre-owned and have settled in comfortably.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sensationalism you say...maybe until it's your project, but then it has a way of becoming all too real.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disasters such as these can be avoided. Consider these tips before you build or remodel your next home:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_GfGlZAOJRHcozTYWqrCZZzcCu4mA_SDXOr4YKH7U9VdwIijndmOnLUmUjLnNAHHKNZ_wsafGF5hQiuOW_8UQLUIfp-2kT2DIDvOSC3XQvTPUz2dl0uUyHkEfoQcmmyHrs1sP73IuMs/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_GfGlZAOJRHcozTYWqrCZZzcCu4mA_SDXOr4YKH7U9VdwIijndmOnLUmUjLnNAHHKNZ_wsafGF5hQiuOW_8UQLUIfp-2kT2DIDvOSC3XQvTPUz2dl0uUyHkEfoQcmmyHrs1sP73IuMs/s1600/images-1.jpeg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Build a team of professionals (architect, builder, interior designer, and landscape architect) and empower them with the specific scope of work required. Part of that scope of work needs to be a realistic budget.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Challenge the team to not only work with the parameters you've outlined, but also "value engineer" where possible to produce the same product for less money.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Demand total accountability and absolute transparency by requiring weekly reports detailing each team member's progress. This type of communication ensures that everyone associated with your project is singing off the same sheet of music.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q-6L7TyuVBwQefxw8dUyK1PrRxe2rE-KxYZBdjea7_WtihabxnAnWwx-1PUURHxlVtBeBgQ6FQAM7Si4m89LpOIvqxlQR-7DdTBurhEB1wazqr2vg1FT1L8jzAszGH6tXjv_6_WEIgM/s1600/Unhinged+Final+Ad+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q-6L7TyuVBwQefxw8dUyK1PrRxe2rE-KxYZBdjea7_WtihabxnAnWwx-1PUURHxlVtBeBgQ6FQAM7Si4m89LpOIvqxlQR-7DdTBurhEB1wazqr2vg1FT1L8jzAszGH6tXjv_6_WEIgM/s1600/Unhinged+Final+Ad+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For more practical tips, pick up a copy of my book, <b><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/UnHinged-Homebuilders-Secrets-Saving-Money/dp/1484154541/ref=sr_1_22_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392845528&sr=1-22&keywords=unhinged">UnHinged - A Homebuilder's Secrets for Saving Time & Money </a></u></b>(Amazon), and my app, <b>BuildCHX </b>(iTunes or Google Play).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5S0sEIEp_rXrWxOoF6fyZLRMcl70qtl6R6Fhiv8vhk_8Ef4DT53xiOX99Y2u6L1-rI2BkRNNkUGGrEBoqdvM6W9hdUkSmmbd4cForr69tFF7ZKewL54-KRRn6KXrh9WVPRKrX8FHrTg/s1600/New+App+Icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5S0sEIEp_rXrWxOoF6fyZLRMcl70qtl6R6Fhiv8vhk_8Ef4DT53xiOX99Y2u6L1-rI2BkRNNkUGGrEBoqdvM6W9hdUkSmmbd4cForr69tFF7ZKewL54-KRRn6KXrh9WVPRKrX8FHrTg/s1600/New+App+Icon.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-16888616521220872952013-10-31T12:03:00.000-07:002013-10-31T12:03:01.106-07:00"App-tly Named" BuildCHX(TM)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7d6tjfJAUDmVBZ1-TF9cUZaFH5M8zEUsCODX1zmp-I0XVnd4bEDvpu7ddocQX_3RCkWklzINEaJi2lf62BoBNlWd_i0G2csyD_M8NbvpxSHLgHmt2pz11MfC0cboMuNsk7M5ppDLRwA/s1600/New+App+Icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7d6tjfJAUDmVBZ1-TF9cUZaFH5M8zEUsCODX1zmp-I0XVnd4bEDvpu7ddocQX_3RCkWklzINEaJi2lf62BoBNlWd_i0G2csyD_M8NbvpxSHLgHmt2pz11MfC0cboMuNsk7M5ppDLRwA/s200/New+App+Icon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's all my daughters' fault. Just about the time I finished publishing my homeowner's helpful hints book <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/UnHinged-Homebuilders-Secrets-Saving-Money/dp/1484154541/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383164977&sr=1-1&keywords=unhinged+a+homebuilders+secrets+for+saving+time+and+money">UnHINGED - A Homebuilder's Secrets for Saving Time and Money</a>,</u> the girls sat me down one day and said <i>'Dad, we sure are proud of you for writing a book, but our generation is never going to read it! You must produce an easy to use app which does the same thing.' </i>You've got to be kidding me - after all that work somehow I have to condense the content of the book into a usable building tool for the phone?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SURPRISES are the enemy of all building projects. We wanted to create a transparency for the building process so that homeowners were never left with the two most common jobsite questions, "<i>What happens next,"</i> and <i>"What selections do I need to be making?"</i> So we created an app that helps homeowners through the building process.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The new, one-of-a-kind app, <a href="http://www.hoebekebuilders.com/index.php/buildchx/">BuildCHX </a>allows the user to track the building process through a chronological roadmap of steps necessary to build or remodel a home. Suddenly, magazine clippings are now a thing of the past. The new app also links the building process with idea boards that allow the user to capture and catalog ideas and inspiration for their project. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had the idea that it is one thing to catalog ideas, and another to share them. So, I intentionally built the functionality in BuildCHX to share the idea boards with key members of the building team. I call it "TeamShare." Ideas and photos are also linked to Facebook and Twitter for ease of sharing with friends and family.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIgCJIzoEjgOaw683TTs7zDxzx2xESd8ff-QSpAL_I1cZSuSFpAjxOrb_uKIQBYh10Prj_UfwLa3t8cq3mFf_IqF7sOAvFA6mOftRjIFku5pXByIlnY7cX9YPhjDzC6bRxwQxlAw4qBg/s1600/BuildCHX+iTunes+Screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIgCJIzoEjgOaw683TTs7zDxzx2xESd8ff-QSpAL_I1cZSuSFpAjxOrb_uKIQBYh10Prj_UfwLa3t8cq3mFf_IqF7sOAvFA6mOftRjIFku5pXByIlnY7cX9YPhjDzC6bRxwQxlAw4qBg/s320/BuildCHX+iTunes+Screenshot.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ultimately I had the homeowner in mind when designing this app. However, designers, architects and builders, who all manage multiple projects at one time, have also expressed their interest in using the app to help keep their information straight.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you can imagine, we are excited with the outcome. But what are others saying? Let's follow the early election returns:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Just paid for the app and made some money! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">by Roxy Ryan</span></b></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Times;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We are having our house built and are at the beginning of Step4. Upon reviewing previous steps found a tip we had overlooked. We just saved $275! A "must have" if you're building a house and want to stay on top of things.</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>BuildCHX Review <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">by Cheryl Murff</span></b></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">What a great tool for building or remodeling! This is a must for anyone who wants to glean from a top notch builder!</span></span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Homeowner <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">by Jmaddhill</span></b></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is a great app if you're building or remodeling a house. Tons of practical steps help you organize the building/remodeling process from A to Z. The ability to easily share product choices among a group (homeowner/decorator/builder) is fantastic part of this app! I highly recommend it!</span> </blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The app </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was published on October 17th and is available in the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/buildchx/id722048501?mt=8">iTunes Store</a>. An Android version is due out in late November.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
Check it out, leave me a comment and/or write a review. We want to know what you think! Still yearning for more? Us too....stay tuned for future enhancements which will make BuildCHX even better!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-9222349500627256912013-05-10T12:50:00.000-07:002013-05-10T12:50:20.854-07:00Reviving the Greek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-nK7StKYtjhBhIkacYHlk4VcqHQee9naj6yjaKcqw9YikxYt6LIg9Skp_rRbBKJlA0xTs4a37FGP6y2Q9_4yfOXbYNH-_0EdWoCZTHuu8BjBZpjiEXMVaUtM6EHXWsQKOrvV7KlrFU/s1600/Forest+Hill+Elevation+%234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-nK7StKYtjhBhIkacYHlk4VcqHQee9naj6yjaKcqw9YikxYt6LIg9Skp_rRbBKJlA0xTs4a37FGP6y2Q9_4yfOXbYNH-_0EdWoCZTHuu8BjBZpjiEXMVaUtM6EHXWsQKOrvV7KlrFU/s400/Forest+Hill+Elevation+%234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For twenty-eight years Cozy and Mark Palmer dreamed of having a Greek Revival Farmhouse - now they live in one! The Palmers entrusted Hoebeke Builders, Inc. with helping design and build their dreamhouse. Last week they moved in.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl2cqzVpuT-p5q8a_hqTj2CTrP6Odfo0_wJNDI3Im2dKpkRfYXULRy5C02ZgF1wJ9lgtZ9GD6zmZtbxaMJfVGi7RZLotnRsrDcopt2Ad48LxOVV4msJlNCwWwnM-rYmzNlcEVHKJ8MrE/s1600/Forest+Hill+handrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl2cqzVpuT-p5q8a_hqTj2CTrP6Odfo0_wJNDI3Im2dKpkRfYXULRy5C02ZgF1wJ9lgtZ9GD6zmZtbxaMJfVGi7RZLotnRsrDcopt2Ad48LxOVV4msJlNCwWwnM-rYmzNlcEVHKJ8MrE/s320/Forest+Hill+handrail.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To say the process went well would be an understatement. Mark and Cozy were dream clients! Always ready with a picture, or a video, their desires were communicated very simply and clearly. Right down to the highly polished black handrail on the front stairs.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhO1ojX7stVR5sOBcGHO0poAhgQ5iee_DmJEifayjzKsfgV9GLvjz8oK0H7f04xmDiOa1tEfwweZGVy6JcaPrjikzX94G__O6TFONoU4ecpCGORQQ33E50qkZWHa58fnsGCMP-378YRo/s1600/Forest+Hills+Master+sink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhO1ojX7stVR5sOBcGHO0poAhgQ5iee_DmJEifayjzKsfgV9GLvjz8oK0H7f04xmDiOa1tEfwweZGVy6JcaPrjikzX94G__O6TFONoU4ecpCGORQQ33E50qkZWHa58fnsGCMP-378YRo/s200/Forest+Hills+Master+sink.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before our book, <i><u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/UnHinged-Homebuilders-Secrets-Saving-Money/dp/1484154541/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368215045&sr=1-2&keywords=Unhinged+A+homebuilders">UnHINGED - A Homebuilder's Secrets for Saving Time & Money </a></u></i>was...well, UnHinged, the Palmers followed the premise of the book perfectly by building a project team that included: architect Paul Turney, interior designer Rebecca Low, landscape architect Daniel Houchard and his company From The Ground Up, and Hoebeke Builders. Each different discipline performed their work on time, and in concert with the rest of the team. The results are obvious.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's always great to finish a project and walk away with a new set of best friends! Special thanks from my end to the best business partner a guy could ever have, Phillip McCloud, who dogged the details and made a wonderful home S U P E R B! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjp-IqpxpGgq1xJJLoRqCrqyjgyzCqgsQe48pzktqe86Pl_SAm0Wu8FFNeyrbOLJSbUifRnZ1W1q6S_rxcy9BFbGhqNZDqJY2T3eoPo8lkC4lKUkUqw_pEiEDeuL1f0SC65Iq8bhwD0o/s1600/Forest+Hills+West+Elev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjp-IqpxpGgq1xJJLoRqCrqyjgyzCqgsQe48pzktqe86Pl_SAm0Wu8FFNeyrbOLJSbUifRnZ1W1q6S_rxcy9BFbGhqNZDqJY2T3eoPo8lkC4lKUkUqw_pEiEDeuL1f0SC65Iq8bhwD0o/s320/Forest+Hills+West+Elev.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-44521524209424696292013-05-03T13:30:00.000-07:002013-05-03T13:30:37.621-07:00Just Released...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iYnA8-Eq0dIhE974ItEuGWWgvt50znGNqvJwNIMWRwglKb4nNjERzC5nEG0CTfkYLghjd5eWrUQZUF4YSdOW72ntaedjogAu4xXk9w2mPcJUtRn17WWuere_XyRJ6ojip1sRaJs8Q14/s1600/Unhinged_Final_Print%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iYnA8-Eq0dIhE974ItEuGWWgvt50znGNqvJwNIMWRwglKb4nNjERzC5nEG0CTfkYLghjd5eWrUQZUF4YSdOW72ntaedjogAu4xXk9w2mPcJUtRn17WWuere_XyRJ6ojip1sRaJs8Q14/s320/Unhinged_Final_Print%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you follow this blog, <i><u>"Raising the Roof..." </u></i>became <a href="http://www.amazon.com/UnHINGED-Homebuilders-Secrets-Saving-ebook/dp/B00CLYJK8Q/ref=sr_1_76?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367610630&sr=1-76&keywords=unhinged"><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"UnHINGED - A Homebuilder's Secrets for Saving Time and Money."</u> </a>(What in sam hill is he talking about?) The book! Amazon just released that labor of love so often mentioned and described on this blog. After months of writing, editing, re-editing, re-writing, editing some more, formatting (whatever that is), and working on a cover, UnHINGED is finally off my desk.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0GQ_bl8ebeOc60rigmDpdUJ2wj3_RNyQEu141DaFmb4hrtkU3B29rNJsdnQH-r2BeZMGhouub9sNIY3WiTjLBYCslVbm5bCl9BFvUhP0pm3RGkCvVK1Bwx36jvkQUFlXPSbfz64sSRU/s1600/563865_185760311551420_804160147_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0GQ_bl8ebeOc60rigmDpdUJ2wj3_RNyQEu141DaFmb4hrtkU3B29rNJsdnQH-r2BeZMGhouub9sNIY3WiTjLBYCslVbm5bCl9BFvUhP0pm3RGkCvVK1Bwx36jvkQUFlXPSbfz64sSRU/s400/563865_185760311551420_804160147_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So who are we trying to hit? National Association of Homebuilders says that every year in America 305,000 new <i>custom </i>homes (not tract) are built. AND... $191<b><i>billion</i></b> is spent on remodeling. Ahhhhhhh...that's quite a market. So here we go, beating the drum.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEhDGIp8GGkdIGzSauHACUnYzu0ubgQITWwF12ZSi_LkLyCIC4n9EC3yRlQhScqujffBxi74uNxI6B_BMkY30vGMb2A8XB47593pWY-C8w9KCg7Va3TPMvvTXyj1_-v6ripVj-QXRLQw/s1600/P1010019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEhDGIp8GGkdIGzSauHACUnYzu0ubgQITWwF12ZSi_LkLyCIC4n9EC3yRlQhScqujffBxi74uNxI6B_BMkY30vGMb2A8XB47593pWY-C8w9KCg7Va3TPMvvTXyj1_-v6ripVj-QXRLQw/s400/P1010019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">35 years of building homes and working with clients have taught me a thing or two about the building process. Literally hundreds of friends and family have called through the years asking about various aspects of the construction industry. As we have become fond of saying, <i>"you should know what I know..."</i> and now, with UnHINGED you will! The pages are filled with all kinds of time and money saving tips. Would you believe it if I told you that we serve those tips and ideas up with a little bit of humor too?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZ-lfxxSt3nW2eIaENHptsKMHrYLCKGHOq83YUMF85qr3GVO6yBq3Vg9l_Q8eQMui4Wq2t1UCeWea7Id7kkbySBFkG6MIrYkqskAxqG3qUpoIhduJKfL0wk7mXR9i5xFf_gldX04AAvg/s1600/Mute.swan.touchdown.arp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZ-lfxxSt3nW2eIaENHptsKMHrYLCKGHOq83YUMF85qr3GVO6yBq3Vg9l_Q8eQMui4Wq2t1UCeWea7Id7kkbySBFkG6MIrYkqskAxqG3qUpoIhduJKfL0wk7mXR9i5xFf_gldX04AAvg/s400/Mute.swan.touchdown.arp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is this some sort of swan song or something? Shoot <b><i>NO</i></b>! Hoebeke Builders, Inc. is just gettin' goin good! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-86110289059902836912013-02-21T15:56:00.000-08:002013-02-21T15:56:07.468-08:00Practice Makes Perfect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbvayhBAWjnkUUBAj16V7esss8gbjRv6HCxajnl1CQ_HrA6wB38TdylYqDtktqUGYHPhjuOy72wg8-hZ7MyBLKsRYTH9rm0WFWxZdbYNpmNVDi6I3YxjtZ002N2hwAlfK-Vq8je1fF_4/s1600/Asilomar_Beach_Monterey_Peninsula3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbvayhBAWjnkUUBAj16V7esss8gbjRv6HCxajnl1CQ_HrA6wB38TdylYqDtktqUGYHPhjuOy72wg8-hZ7MyBLKsRYTH9rm0WFWxZdbYNpmNVDi6I3YxjtZ002N2hwAlfK-Vq8je1fF_4/s400/Asilomar_Beach_Monterey_Peninsula3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was totally predictable. Just like the waves that crash on the beach of the Monterrey Peninsula, the lure of big profits, and fast easy cash flow has once again washed in a whole new crop of builders! Because Texas has steadfastly refused to implement contractor licensing, anyone can hang out their shingle and start building homes. All it takes is a cell phone and a truck... And everybody in Texas has a cellphone and a truck, right?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaPeyFbE-aj2eabZITNf4HO3VJMysa060XiZHfwu7x0N30JbhM3dFEATxEtWObwk_im6JMw7gBL94Mrgr2Wv8rzObrwwIQ2jxPCzmPHv6r1X4Po8q43ySqh-Wn1GxRxhWIfF4Jug07wU/s1600/new-409-other.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaPeyFbE-aj2eabZITNf4HO3VJMysa060XiZHfwu7x0N30JbhM3dFEATxEtWObwk_im6JMw7gBL94Mrgr2Wv8rzObrwwIQ2jxPCzmPHv6r1X4Po8q43ySqh-Wn1GxRxhWIfF4Jug07wU/s200/new-409-other.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With every downturn in the economy we see overextended "homebuilders" finding themselves short on cash, crashing on the rocks, and washing out to sea. All too often the naive homeowner is left holding the bag. But with every wave that washes out, another economic wave swells, and a whole new crop of builders washes into town. Fortunately this happens less in other areas of the country where wannabe contractors have to apprentice two years under an established builder <b><i>before </i></b>they can even sit for a highly rigorous licensing test. But not in Texas!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We endorse the idea of injecting new, energetic builder blood into the marketplace. But the lack of regulation governing their training puts the unsuspecting homeowner at risk.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivUARdElIEGRIipJEMScBHcu3-EJBenwUF0qvtwTiyZ-zERTrwJNjD8Hw7cmyEn12XBS1JRodA9lWSNv4R0yIH7410uRzDMbrqX6Fw6PLiWy3Ksppeh5yIOLpPa3q2fa7sMVNUP2lnqc/s1600/angrycellphoneuser-e1344000823310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivUARdElIEGRIipJEMScBHcu3-EJBenwUF0qvtwTiyZ-zERTrwJNjD8Hw7cmyEn12XBS1JRodA9lWSNv4R0yIH7410uRzDMbrqX6Fw6PLiWy3Ksppeh5yIOLpPa3q2fa7sMVNUP2lnqc/s1600/angrycellphoneuser-e1344000823310.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Years ago crops of new builders at least tried to make an effort to learn something about the homebuilding business by taggin' along with the subcontractors and watching, or sometimes even working, with those that have practiced a craft for years. Now we have "cellphone" builders that know nothing of the minutia of building homes -they drive around in their truck all day barking orders at the subs by phone. Sadly it's left up to the subs to try and figure out how to get the houses built. The grand loser? <b><i>Why the homeowner of course!</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIy3-XXHGAtPS8khh2ilNPnKDJJqGqwkmxrm9386buohzwNnNORrWvK3tfIhIfkJAQtWVZGkGa__NYc_jCdcTUKeSRgS25zvjjacu9GXqMk5wDHAzhwnSca7C8uuY37vxaEvQYwllSn4/s1600/tumblr_ll1pz1yWqk1qgb7tk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIy3-XXHGAtPS8khh2ilNPnKDJJqGqwkmxrm9386buohzwNnNORrWvK3tfIhIfkJAQtWVZGkGa__NYc_jCdcTUKeSRgS25zvjjacu9GXqMk5wDHAzhwnSca7C8uuY37vxaEvQYwllSn4/s320/tumblr_ll1pz1yWqk1qgb7tk.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What most other states have figured out is that there are thousands of little bitty nuiances to the homebuilding business that need to be learned to protect the homeowner. Ahhhhh...that's called "experience!" Thousands of little 'tricks of the trade' need to be learned before a high quality product can be produced. For example did you know that:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The maximum clear span of a 2 x 12 without significant deflection is 18'?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or, that ions of dissimilar metals (two or more) used together most often results in one of the metals eating the other metal? This can happen in just a year or two - not good for water intrusion!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or, that paint and stain rags left in a heap will ignite due to "spontaneous combustion," and fire travels at a rate of 17 feet/second?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or, that compressive strength of a concrete pier depends not only on the strength of the bearing rock, but also on the "skin friction" of the pier walls?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or, that brick is an inhibitor of rain and snow moisture but the porosity of the brick and mortar requires that metal flashings extend all the way through the brick and up the exterior wall?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or, that the standard backset (distance between the edge of the door and the center of the knob) of door hardware is 2 3/8" - not suitable when the doors have 3 1/2" stiles (vertical members) and you are trying to get the knob in the middle of the door.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or, that lacquer and lacquer products are highly flameable and cannot be used around any live electrical source that isn't fully contained? (Read: blow your house up!)</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2-4Ye_C52BeYi1ZJtkINfMY9QXeeeJb666a4h7gpXNEV2fhFsQ9zlaAP-igjbC00p43ElUDZXSN9Ly-Qr57XNb8SQJoq8ghlHCl_8aaUvQ4OES_7jh9Ny0ZLQgQA1H0lr9LPfrhDwvw/s1600/photo-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2-4Ye_C52BeYi1ZJtkINfMY9QXeeeJb666a4h7gpXNEV2fhFsQ9zlaAP-igjbC00p43ElUDZXSN9Ly-Qr57XNb8SQJoq8ghlHCl_8aaUvQ4OES_7jh9Ny0ZLQgQA1H0lr9LPfrhDwvw/s400/photo-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And on...and on...and on... The point is<b><i> practice makes perfect!</i></b> Is there really any substitute for experience? How can a guy just starting out in the homebuilding business, that doesn't have the benefit of either an apprenticeship, or rigorous testing, and hasn't done his time in the trenches of experience, qualify to undertake the construction of probably the single largest purchase a family will ever make? Maybe the better question is "would you really want to live in a house built by a guy just cutting his teeth?"</span></div>
Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-42234925005118671452013-01-31T11:28:00.000-08:002013-01-31T11:28:00.480-08:00A Platform to Argue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPStakJiEgLE6WJno8XMYoEvQdTbcJcifxK7WO_6fOkeNrjK6klpLOH90EUuPtZNACY2t6ac9DFR-N_DbW_MUgk5nDwCMeR90XH7SpXYrHuIBwK4oHXsXnDhQzM1QOcOg4LDSo99_MBg/s1600/IMG_1716-Medium1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPStakJiEgLE6WJno8XMYoEvQdTbcJcifxK7WO_6fOkeNrjK6klpLOH90EUuPtZNACY2t6ac9DFR-N_DbW_MUgk5nDwCMeR90XH7SpXYrHuIBwK4oHXsXnDhQzM1QOcOg4LDSo99_MBg/s400/IMG_1716-Medium1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An armored truck took out the rear quarter panel of my truck a few months back. No one was hurt and the armored truck company quickly referred me to their insurance company to get the damage repaired. <b><i>"Let the games begin!"</i></b> After a few months of chasing my tail trying to get the truck fixed, I went back the other day to the armored truck company (couldn't get any satisfaction with the insurance company) and reminded them that this was their problem, not mine, and they needed to send someone over with a rent car to pick up my truck and take it in to have it repaired. No matter that I was stopped at a red light when I got hit, both the armored truck company, and the insurance company made getting it fixed my problem. Today, they brought me my rent car!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmH9tPDSdCiRB3WL5l2J3fNnrC7C09m7sJJjKLf9X-SebGyMVtemJXsx80iMfvmfLlTlxz9dmuTYFOJ4gzoxIhGBtnNvDVuPfRs6BpWSIMf0d85HWyGEhtXtSKPp2XLQAg6XmiowYMpp4/s1600/irc_6729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmH9tPDSdCiRB3WL5l2J3fNnrC7C09m7sJJjKLf9X-SebGyMVtemJXsx80iMfvmfLlTlxz9dmuTYFOJ4gzoxIhGBtnNvDVuPfRs6BpWSIMf0d85HWyGEhtXtSKPp2XLQAg6XmiowYMpp4/s320/irc_6729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This most recent foray into the wonderful world of insurance comes on the heels of no less than three really good insurance fights last year! WHY WON'T THESE PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND HONOR THEIR CONTRACT/POLICY?? Simple: Shareholders.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytAMnh5N_4gsIOhjtDyApL6MU_ToXJ-I9dCMnCEIIaCUsYs2OdmBU3OxtFxRKlicHtgRNm4bi65DQPndWOI2izAS_578GglA3_wmlxaPq24rUgRNvcxUlXH-zTajQR9C-H4tkkWObLA8/s1600/newSqueezedOrange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytAMnh5N_4gsIOhjtDyApL6MU_ToXJ-I9dCMnCEIIaCUsYs2OdmBU3OxtFxRKlicHtgRNm4bi65DQPndWOI2izAS_578GglA3_wmlxaPq24rUgRNvcxUlXH-zTajQR9C-H4tkkWObLA8/s200/newSqueezedOrange.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">More and more there is talk in this country of a revolution. I'm convinced the revolution most probably will start over insurance and insurance companies. Rampant deception caused by excessively conservative policy interpretation has been inflamed by shareholder greed as they demand greater return on their investments. Who gets squeezed? You and I do! The more policies that are sold, and the more money insurance companies can take in translates to higher profit margins <b><i><u>if </u></i></b> the company can weasel you out of benefits. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7D8eL9itmaFbQNVbQxAiFmEg4-8qRA9Tl1Gka7XiA-dPB8lOR3KwaFSriusEqWHwvPWxgWX6lA_zMOsIbPUACV2DGaH8ZQt5yQiVSvvMk3ERppHHwdpNkzLZgR1wF_6kZEfAJMtW6do/s1600/outsiders_250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7D8eL9itmaFbQNVbQxAiFmEg4-8qRA9Tl1Gka7XiA-dPB8lOR3KwaFSriusEqWHwvPWxgWX6lA_zMOsIbPUACV2DGaH8ZQt5yQiVSvvMk3ERppHHwdpNkzLZgR1wF_6kZEfAJMtW6do/s1600/outsiders_250.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Everyone knows that you have to have insurance. But when you buy protection, what do you really have?<i> <b><u>A platform to argue </u></b></i>with the company that sold you the policy. Most likely they won't honor the face value language written in the policy. Congratulations, you've just invested your hard earned money to buy a place at the negotiation table.<i> "Well the policy really doesn't say that, we interpret that phrase to mean this instead!"</i> And on it goes.... If you don't like it, your Big Protective Brother's attitude is <i>'go ahead and sue me - we've got more money than you do, and we'll bleed you to death.'</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_KHQ_qT-zIcV71Q4HuRgfBT_R6JABuFlVgSNQbSN_heC9QLUdSg-NUZAemEnjTe0hXZyZLrOAdyYWiAkLT-RQ-N1Pdq0EkFLZlZrE5JTcdJOzj5hDPJv0H_cdB_lkTwTxoaWPMAbdy4/s1600/original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_KHQ_qT-zIcV71Q4HuRgfBT_R6JABuFlVgSNQbSN_heC9QLUdSg-NUZAemEnjTe0hXZyZLrOAdyYWiAkLT-RQ-N1Pdq0EkFLZlZrE5JTcdJOzj5hDPJv0H_cdB_lkTwTxoaWPMAbdy4/s400/original.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maybe it makes sense to hire an insurance attorney to read every policy <i><b>before</b></i> purchase so that all of the loopholes can be exposed. Do you suppose Big Protection will negotiate out the inconsistencies that are discovered? Good luck with that fight!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-83027605816436977462012-12-23T15:07:00.000-08:002012-12-23T15:07:11.607-08:00Cleanin' Out, Straightening Up....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the end of a long, and very productive year it's time to clean the office out and straighten it up for the new year. One of the projects sitting on my desk for months has been a stack of CD's just beggin' me to open them up and glean the low hanging fruit of ideas, largely ignored, from projects long ago. Just like at the end of a wonderful fireworks show when the pyrotechnic experts send up whatever is remaining in the box, in no particular order, here are some of the pictures captured from those old CD's... Fasten your seatbelt, here we go! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbOemYzgcqLJ6TmxZkaAYR9QvWA0XFx008U56Utx6mFVzBI3gaxicKYzGSUTti4SnTjsSKUn7XddZY-jn-D_74TpKGCBv2Ipdwbqf4vJkKFU0r32XpgvKqnVu_r_DuNIFRqPGztLsGOs/s1600/Quite+a+Skylight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbOemYzgcqLJ6TmxZkaAYR9QvWA0XFx008U56Utx6mFVzBI3gaxicKYzGSUTti4SnTjsSKUn7XddZY-jn-D_74TpKGCBv2Ipdwbqf4vJkKFU0r32XpgvKqnVu_r_DuNIFRqPGztLsGOs/s200/Quite+a+Skylight.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPNVl8grHvyWK-tvhCH9nvCXWSXz1cyzGNJZ8yLTL2yhMUp512TQmFzHBnfU8saYa69pGcX5OKg43Ki-BIhES_sn-ld2iXl2GM89JJWGhL5rwN5BUg1fzbS3AAkmEEkhpaEUzjCcVvHY/s1600/Balcony+Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="26" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPNVl8grHvyWK-tvhCH9nvCXWSXz1cyzGNJZ8yLTL2yhMUp512TQmFzHBnfU8saYa69pGcX5OKg43Ki-BIhES_sn-ld2iXl2GM89JJWGhL5rwN5BUg1fzbS3AAkmEEkhpaEUzjCcVvHY/s320/Balcony+Detail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GQQGWZisuJS9WcHTjkONhbvoxgYT6JUsFK6-KSYxnDFKjAbpstKLqGWAHMdZzvcAbbGsEk_1JXD9j4Shc23b-_Gv8lJMqRHidVtsV-xf955oxKSeX7ZQ5Pmf6tPQHRcE1dDyer9hJ6c/s1600/Staircase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GQQGWZisuJS9WcHTjkONhbvoxgYT6JUsFK6-KSYxnDFKjAbpstKLqGWAHMdZzvcAbbGsEk_1JXD9j4Shc23b-_Gv8lJMqRHidVtsV-xf955oxKSeX7ZQ5Pmf6tPQHRcE1dDyer9hJ6c/s640/Staircase.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFCBDnQCz7UtiKhiKDgBZpWGVyfltTXUbrTIhqt0S8MbCzp7_4myu2wFVN5GbgZuhuYPVucH7GXHnQ9Hhv3jVQhyphenhyphenV_S2lASVsmwbI7Vtdqg50qGlJdetkc5kAJxlYb9JczA4uLipKSRk/s1600/Img0286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFCBDnQCz7UtiKhiKDgBZpWGVyfltTXUbrTIhqt0S8MbCzp7_4myu2wFVN5GbgZuhuYPVucH7GXHnQ9Hhv3jVQhyphenhyphenV_S2lASVsmwbI7Vtdqg50qGlJdetkc5kAJxlYb9JczA4uLipKSRk/s320/Img0286.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvO2w_nIm-7xA0UV15PEnYSWtyLNRWo8eqCwnJ24SHyy3J5pqH-_nCwpebZBER5jpiXt3qebD7s5o-0rHDF4S4lJxPu5RyCuOIxrfjOll0Awu0PDBCb3tOrvX_JCVWo9j_3a-XHb_W9Y/s1600/Img0267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvO2w_nIm-7xA0UV15PEnYSWtyLNRWo8eqCwnJ24SHyy3J5pqH-_nCwpebZBER5jpiXt3qebD7s5o-0rHDF4S4lJxPu5RyCuOIxrfjOll0Awu0PDBCb3tOrvX_JCVWo9j_3a-XHb_W9Y/s400/Img0267.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHh4uoRnFp1AURk5Q5tFpbq0HxKqQeeCVSQFpbbPQ5jNbk-2dDkLuxzwWpONa3Ym7lCqTBYzK5K5g6tl-jvd6eIktu4349nFlDE7e4YPBJh0HizMtTOO0dR5j1H7bNklxH1O_keB6L-0/s1600/Beautiful+Balconies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHh4uoRnFp1AURk5Q5tFpbq0HxKqQeeCVSQFpbbPQ5jNbk-2dDkLuxzwWpONa3Ym7lCqTBYzK5K5g6tl-jvd6eIktu4349nFlDE7e4YPBJh0HizMtTOO0dR5j1H7bNklxH1O_keB6L-0/s200/Beautiful+Balconies.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSTCWMnnm7aNrrKJThfPMuxh4PVM-kWIT_PjhBTKRJlY65XUASb02g6BB8h4rSb1A-gBS8E-lbxwsvhiLIbiSB04GLPzDoTDpYnR9l2aXzJ3yj8t6HM4tmhrnSsPHhpofd5XV5Cx-als/s1600/Beautiful+Bathrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSTCWMnnm7aNrrKJThfPMuxh4PVM-kWIT_PjhBTKRJlY65XUASb02g6BB8h4rSb1A-gBS8E-lbxwsvhiLIbiSB04GLPzDoTDpYnR9l2aXzJ3yj8t6HM4tmhrnSsPHhpofd5XV5Cx-als/s400/Beautiful+Bathrooms.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRbfhxxQM9HMxamJRmU-SbPbafH_46rhBcfP6S2-PCKxgxtGqcPz50C5TaAFUtg80effPBNJKroRIwrwevqRt2F33E0LDuctyKdxx1YKE3gY3ZD_2SMcbx-u4BrqdizGzDZapGo-cbwk/s1600/Elegant+Entries+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRbfhxxQM9HMxamJRmU-SbPbafH_46rhBcfP6S2-PCKxgxtGqcPz50C5TaAFUtg80effPBNJKroRIwrwevqRt2F33E0LDuctyKdxx1YKE3gY3ZD_2SMcbx-u4BrqdizGzDZapGo-cbwk/s200/Elegant+Entries+3.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCx2yRKV9uOcoXOfn36gkcYJ9pcQbXMxbLyplhb8q9_kBm5KDAiiKgI3oYAwO-01I7ihW5P2k33oSvEItqR3-SMCf-ACVmOWPDJ8mqhN8p6WKwpztWGECUADPC3w3o-vbYGswRin2ZXM/s1600/Devine+Dining+Rooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCx2yRKV9uOcoXOfn36gkcYJ9pcQbXMxbLyplhb8q9_kBm5KDAiiKgI3oYAwO-01I7ihW5P2k33oSvEItqR3-SMCf-ACVmOWPDJ8mqhN8p6WKwpztWGECUADPC3w3o-vbYGswRin2ZXM/s400/Devine+Dining+Rooms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx0RRgbuOY-XWzjDOEbXOlg7eXytuS5_3Qo5Au2aAiOnzUkL3dGuP2IbJGFJ_AwzOifjt_tStvEq1EjJo0dIRodhl1u-LPrnStuOThTqUl_rIHenNmiGe3ZD6C6nnWM2iUklH3H6ZHTM/s1600/Amazing+Elevations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx0RRgbuOY-XWzjDOEbXOlg7eXytuS5_3Qo5Au2aAiOnzUkL3dGuP2IbJGFJ_AwzOifjt_tStvEq1EjJo0dIRodhl1u-LPrnStuOThTqUl_rIHenNmiGe3ZD6C6nnWM2iUklH3H6ZHTM/s320/Amazing+Elevations.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnqL00LiNyAluHqo3o23ePGPv9tJjToMEDNzNPMkQBaAB-3M9zRcuXKJcvQHsYRsUqFs1n4Ny-6t6NDeigXqDTikjiZnHlpJlvpDYB6E5U0siuzCQwLRCOLqKc399L2PrLXno74y0s6A/s1600/Elegant+Entries+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnqL00LiNyAluHqo3o23ePGPv9tJjToMEDNzNPMkQBaAB-3M9zRcuXKJcvQHsYRsUqFs1n4Ny-6t6NDeigXqDTikjiZnHlpJlvpDYB6E5U0siuzCQwLRCOLqKc399L2PrLXno74y0s6A/s200/Elegant+Entries+2.jpg" width="162" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyZi0SPqm8O2HsnndqNH5n6-DSq_2FJ9PXalgha_72MXaviFboSBwE-PYkm8yoiMCcjWDJOK021mHXzpuhRLjw8lqnPkr005gn0zgVsAo1sqvXmb6Q3QxHhbcO5TkrnpGV7SQh7z7XjM/s1600/Magnificent+Master+Shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyZi0SPqm8O2HsnndqNH5n6-DSq_2FJ9PXalgha_72MXaviFboSBwE-PYkm8yoiMCcjWDJOK021mHXzpuhRLjw8lqnPkr005gn0zgVsAo1sqvXmb6Q3QxHhbcO5TkrnpGV7SQh7z7XjM/s400/Magnificent+Master+Shower.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64UdI5FCqsMSJPMI_qQpW03v6TQxqNIJCd4JBUOj06PMHkc9n7fpJUmqjO2eyH8ccpoSSWaDrg5HnKeXr8NG64A8KgzmJ3A7t-MahhTXlfJZrQ516bAQvomd4VHx4oQbV2DS4wLw0Msg/s1600/Lucious+Living+Rooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64UdI5FCqsMSJPMI_qQpW03v6TQxqNIJCd4JBUOj06PMHkc9n7fpJUmqjO2eyH8ccpoSSWaDrg5HnKeXr8NG64A8KgzmJ3A7t-MahhTXlfJZrQ516bAQvomd4VHx4oQbV2DS4wLw0Msg/s400/Lucious+Living+Rooms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6b_ytEv7VxpAUWHdNSBavHZDLz3dI0mCdzN2b6IPIuOCSnG5TL4NMWAfOUJPR98lM0MbHs_Q0rLdFO8EpIVmZPmux7xvMIDNHEpFN_UDUNqSPvmt752BQ9I2c1tyayzAkG8kYNC3JI28/s1600/Guest+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6b_ytEv7VxpAUWHdNSBavHZDLz3dI0mCdzN2b6IPIuOCSnG5TL4NMWAfOUJPR98lM0MbHs_Q0rLdFO8EpIVmZPmux7xvMIDNHEpFN_UDUNqSPvmt752BQ9I2c1tyayzAkG8kYNC3JI28/s320/Guest+Room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKQKwi_8lRAStzXUI1gcXXuNAtXotL7vnOAFG5yL79FxPv5CmkTusFO7IdHkFra0gjkWtr0VcHlJRGhhnZqBUOuIqxjzT5cIp8DM8I-EJHyqiYsXpO-C_xymsFo7A4UNE0Vo5JgCS2YQ/s1600/Elegant+Elevation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKQKwi_8lRAStzXUI1gcXXuNAtXotL7vnOAFG5yL79FxPv5CmkTusFO7IdHkFra0gjkWtr0VcHlJRGhhnZqBUOuIqxjzT5cIp8DM8I-EJHyqiYsXpO-C_xymsFo7A4UNE0Vo5JgCS2YQ/s640/Elegant+Elevation.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLy75IGezfqZM_OQg5x9CO30VgocwLLnz9UYgWRIEppRUtJCKovkxr4ga-LIJngUhn7LGyIja2q7dsNbD0xebz8DIDdaWrkXwwBL4l8YNYgnxbBjd0YkW_f1mE3AYnM9WhFAnaMTvIxQ/s1600/Classic+Coat+Closets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLy75IGezfqZM_OQg5x9CO30VgocwLLnz9UYgWRIEppRUtJCKovkxr4ga-LIJngUhn7LGyIja2q7dsNbD0xebz8DIDdaWrkXwwBL4l8YNYgnxbBjd0YkW_f1mE3AYnM9WhFAnaMTvIxQ/s200/Classic+Coat+Closets.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsYjiKIilYCfAQl21uiWOXw47fjuuSHZJ9YBNVlhVct7dRPASedFczkU_MpcrIQ9VZABAoGxjpnD-Gh5Zj4FqT52wB9VLh0GgPUAmHi_iA4jkwXXssmQrrn6SZ6gS4Wkvz3AvDMiZgWA/s1600/Outdoor+Living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsYjiKIilYCfAQl21uiWOXw47fjuuSHZJ9YBNVlhVct7dRPASedFczkU_MpcrIQ9VZABAoGxjpnD-Gh5Zj4FqT52wB9VLh0GgPUAmHi_iA4jkwXXssmQrrn6SZ6gS4Wkvz3AvDMiZgWA/s400/Outdoor+Living.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vDGLRNOVshm5w_FYkFfn7fNItY6DHE9-qkqmXexnzwi-IIjaEos5oy-0KZItTZOBClHtTbr636Xuioipwnb17piRMFIQt3YdkW6OuuVD7xLEbqWX_124E5jzj1pust_iDcs4idBKR5k/s1600/Outdoor+Living+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vDGLRNOVshm5w_FYkFfn7fNItY6DHE9-qkqmXexnzwi-IIjaEos5oy-0KZItTZOBClHtTbr636Xuioipwnb17piRMFIQt3YdkW6OuuVD7xLEbqWX_124E5jzj1pust_iDcs4idBKR5k/s320/Outdoor+Living+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V6JOgrWf1YqMeveP48QiMqww8JSKCqk08dhwOu46x-6-wP-NGeltz1HFRM4EBlJcuw1moyJkCjOV_t8YTTnr-_UxDRidgMrXRvc60G82cfCv-jBhMRHTDOjJ3WTBp5fGgvQZzlAfwL8/s1600/Outdoors:Indoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V6JOgrWf1YqMeveP48QiMqww8JSKCqk08dhwOu46x-6-wP-NGeltz1HFRM4EBlJcuw1moyJkCjOV_t8YTTnr-_UxDRidgMrXRvc60G82cfCv-jBhMRHTDOjJ3WTBp5fGgvQZzlAfwL8/s640/Outdoors:Indoors.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkeHascaEGqhFCAMiJbhZRlf9soSL4X7-UKj-wmab5Ycu06mMQ3jnGBO96oclEPMBQmWEptMzgawhEaMSx65CIlGo7h0gHwmjwJJP-NJvfk3Mk_-XB_-DkkjR-iKFE2Q2zuQrmZO70SU/s1600/Side+Entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkeHascaEGqhFCAMiJbhZRlf9soSL4X7-UKj-wmab5Ycu06mMQ3jnGBO96oclEPMBQmWEptMzgawhEaMSx65CIlGo7h0gHwmjwJJP-NJvfk3Mk_-XB_-DkkjR-iKFE2Q2zuQrmZO70SU/s320/Side+Entrance.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Pg8_kRwqhs-3abo7I0zy9VTldlVoymiRdw8gGiSR-I0swZLHltPe_klvWxYir1MDk5UqBnzkLJyufMON9ecY-PVgrpTaC1Leh7KKjbuhYNZ_7PwjXWOx_AxKQGcwQjdPlPoL7tawdIQ/s1600/Lantern+and+Numbers+Placque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Pg8_kRwqhs-3abo7I0zy9VTldlVoymiRdw8gGiSR-I0swZLHltPe_klvWxYir1MDk5UqBnzkLJyufMON9ecY-PVgrpTaC1Leh7KKjbuhYNZ_7PwjXWOx_AxKQGcwQjdPlPoL7tawdIQ/s320/Lantern+and+Numbers+Placque.jpg" width="100" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Thhaa...That's all Folks! See you next year.</span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-82459252108104903732012-12-07T08:26:00.000-08:002012-12-07T08:26:11.230-08:00Diggin' in the Dirt...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><i>Editors Note</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">: The following is the last in a series of excerpts from my new book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Raising the Roof! A Homebuilder's Secrets to Saving Time and Money</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">. So often homeowners take a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach to the building process.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Raising the Roof! </i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">attempts to re-orient the process so most of the planning occurs upfront, before leaving the architect's office. This piece is a snippet from the section dealing with the necessary "fourth leg" of the Project Team stool, the landscape architect. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px;"></span><br />
<div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px;">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>394</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2246</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Hoebeke Builders, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>18</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2758</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; font-style: italic; line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3-zh5YykmrMF5OwsTRbX-MTLt7UBYMyoaSCB_BDny-bnKzuF_83QoNh8Jb3RVlt9udhz_nXL42MWAouDlK2R3Nk8ndWSTb0reV_OV8lICP-yf6vTLyusybRCa6MkVbdHKrCKDYiECHI/s1600/Lambert's+Courtyard+at+Night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3-zh5YykmrMF5OwsTRbX-MTLt7UBYMyoaSCB_BDny-bnKzuF_83QoNh8Jb3RVlt9udhz_nXL42MWAouDlK2R3Nk8ndWSTb0reV_OV8lICP-yf6vTLyusybRCa6MkVbdHKrCKDYiECHI/s400/Lambert's+Courtyard+at+Night.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; font-style: italic; line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A courtyard at night shows off a
landscape architect’s talent.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; font-style: italic; line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; font-style: italic; line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 150%;">EVERY BLOOMIN’ THING! THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our business may have been the only operation in
North America which actually started and owned a landscape company and never
knew the difference between a bush and a tree! Private Gardens was born in
early 2000, staffed with a talented landscape architect, and organized with the
thought of offering all of our homebuilding clients “curb to curb” design and
construction services. It worked – but then again it didn’t! Our clientele
didn’t want all of the in-house attention afforded them with complete
construction and landscape services. They wanted the little yellow truck in
front of their house known locally as Lambert’s Landscaping. After three years
of beating our heads against the flowerbeds, we closed the business. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoX0DKxOcBkzt4pnQ49wovHzDkw7BLK6C4vfCYnpLN6QKLgeaVvnKGphILag08hRt83ixRbgq_5CV5_TFE8gGURAb1B7Pfp5tJE-_q8GI2va1Q-mM1y0DX-G1KEDRRV48YyGk9l1YWbc/s1600/Lambert's+%22Open+Air+Dining+Room%22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoX0DKxOcBkzt4pnQ49wovHzDkw7BLK6C4vfCYnpLN6QKLgeaVvnKGphILag08hRt83ixRbgq_5CV5_TFE8gGURAb1B7Pfp5tJE-_q8GI2va1Q-mM1y0DX-G1KEDRRV48YyGk9l1YWbc/s400/Lambert's+%22Open+Air+Dining+Room%22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Those three years were very educational. Every
business is unique. We are unique in being able to coordinate and assemble
large pieces of a complex puzzle which people eventually live in. Lambert’s, on
the other hand, is gifted at coordinating “flora” and some “fauna,” making each
property beautiful. Dallas is blessed with a healthy number of fine landscape
architects who work magic in the yard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCF02XarYX3cRUj5Q6nKUDFIq4bzODn7WulLJ4l7MgTdrNp9OnDIimq7iixB34oXHmvYQpqxg3pChbjItEyucg14HgQ4-bQoeQWGSiZczQamMLTKiwRQi8gDaQtWiSeVTtaPWUEJWeNY/s1600/Lambert's+%22Outdoor+Living+Room%22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCF02XarYX3cRUj5Q6nKUDFIq4bzODn7WulLJ4l7MgTdrNp9OnDIimq7iixB34oXHmvYQpqxg3pChbjItEyucg14HgQ4-bQoeQWGSiZczQamMLTKiwRQi8gDaQtWiSeVTtaPWUEJWeNY/s400/Lambert's+%22Outdoor+Living+Room%22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In terms of a four-legged stool supporting the
design and construction of a home, the landscape architect represents the
fourth and final leg of the stool (along with the architect, contractor, and interior
designer). The landscape architect’s discipline is equally as important to the
process as any other. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLxa9c3_NlfSA8lh9LRzweHQFsdP1O3advD9hDDsaDy9eI0XM4LFj0pDt7ErMF7GZ7iOEVdCHhKhV9pk0__KUWAUCBRu8diN7bjCf_WpdtCQatfH-hk4lFhmB7-7Ry9j6v-YXM4-zU08/s1600/Lambert's+Landscape+Courtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLxa9c3_NlfSA8lh9LRzweHQFsdP1O3advD9hDDsaDy9eI0XM4LFj0pDt7ErMF7GZ7iOEVdCHhKhV9pk0__KUWAUCBRu8diN7bjCf_WpdtCQatfH-hk4lFhmB7-7Ry9j6v-YXM4-zU08/s400/Lambert's+Landscape+Courtyard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In a perfect world, a landscape architect would join
the design team at the same time as the three other legs of the stool. Early in
the design process, the Project Team needs enough “hardscape” input (walks,
stone walls and columns, pools, etc.) from the landscape architect, so that preliminary
on-site work can be done at the same time as the home building. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s known ahead of time where stone walls, columns, pools,
and other hardscape features will be located, it is most cost effective to drill, form, and pour those footings while
the house foundation is being constructed. Common sense says if the concrete
trucks and pump jacks have to come back a second time, it ain’t going to be
cheap. Real savings can be realized if all of the disciplines are properly
coordinated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUfbCwScn6DrDVdC-vFnpOi_KxhiUav3o3dsQxui33bT2fBbTHefpH5t01Emln4STEIB72G0UFkI8oyUbnSBFwVW8tEU3ZK3zewey0SmjEt-6Wb6Rg3HLzhqvCbp-j0xAYJ1Q9egulIU/s1600/Lambert's+Feature+Shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUfbCwScn6DrDVdC-vFnpOi_KxhiUav3o3dsQxui33bT2fBbTHefpH5t01Emln4STEIB72G0UFkI8oyUbnSBFwVW8tEU3ZK3zewey0SmjEt-6Wb6Rg3HLzhqvCbp-j0xAYJ1Q9egulIU/s400/Lambert's+Feature+Shot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Softscape,” or planting materials (trees, grass,
and the like), can always be defined later in the building process if the
planting beds are master planned into the overall site design. Think of it in terms
of trim and paint: It’s always easy to worry about the decorative stuff and
colors later, if provisions have been made for those items in the master
planning of the house. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-33127327188156871132012-11-09T18:03:00.000-08:002012-11-09T18:03:49.907-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><i>Editors Note</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">: The following is an excerpt from my new book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Raising the Roof! A Homebuilder's Secrets to Saving Time and Money</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">. So often homeowners take a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach to the building process.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Raising the Roof! </i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">attempts to re-orient the process so most of the planning occurs upfront, before leaving the architect's office. This piece is a snippet from the section dealing with the third of the team members, the interior designer. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px;"></span><br />
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px;">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>5</o:Words>
<o:Characters>29</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Hoebeke Builders, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>35</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_17" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="Book Logo.jpg" style='width:50pt;height:50pt;visibility:visible;
mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/bob/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="Book Logo.jpg"/>
<v:textbox style='mso-rotate-with-shape:t'/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 24px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfMANZk84yWpdzJ40dzS5baU-TmJdMVksMEowOikDfgSj-x_N4SY1HA99lrNKwSJQUgwAO7kjevh0GxuIg73RZi-wS0icI5Deoq4ybMixYvTae739a6VDktYszZcZy80FI3mApwS_AwI/s1600/Book+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfMANZk84yWpdzJ40dzS5baU-TmJdMVksMEowOikDfgSj-x_N4SY1HA99lrNKwSJQUgwAO7kjevh0GxuIg73RZi-wS0icI5Deoq4ybMixYvTae739a6VDktYszZcZy80FI3mApwS_AwI/s200/Book+Logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: small; line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sizzle – The Interior Designers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>214</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1225</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Hoebeke Builders, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>10</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1504</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-7mZWFIlYHpesG-x1_fyls3OKRRzjzyPXgpapS7qPKbl36ZHb1U1UrWd03syt-1hmfkwvdip859AbiGSANi1bRhfGEMy8xG0UNuum6n7ousvr2L0IpL_9jDkg6drkGmVm9EcBC_W0eo/s1600/Belclaire+Guest+Bdrm+Sitting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-7mZWFIlYHpesG-x1_fyls3OKRRzjzyPXgpapS7qPKbl36ZHb1U1UrWd03syt-1hmfkwvdip859AbiGSANi1bRhfGEMy8xG0UNuum6n7ousvr2L0IpL_9jDkg6drkGmVm9EcBC_W0eo/s400/Belclaire+Guest+Bdrm+Sitting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some interior designers absolutely drip with style
and vision for what is truly beautiful, but can’t quite offer the kind of information
the contractor needs to actually get the vision built. There’s an enormous
difference between seeing and understanding beauty, and knowing how to deliver
it to the client. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFYEuBNIpM3mfzGP0mUQ530_HMn9R9tp6R-MWyKLKYjNiW98uDstHHMOnCVLhzcmSCEXH_KAXyBaJ_DMkoUKA4WwePS4yG4hHRi7BbVGeZFk_BBdhjb3h0iRI3kM9aOaw71a8M7a6S_g/s1600/Bordeaux+Boy's+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFYEuBNIpM3mfzGP0mUQ530_HMn9R9tp6R-MWyKLKYjNiW98uDstHHMOnCVLhzcmSCEXH_KAXyBaJ_DMkoUKA4WwePS4yG4hHRi7BbVGeZFk_BBdhjb3h0iRI3kM9aOaw71a8M7a6S_g/s400/Bordeaux+Boy's+Room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It should be as simple as following the American
Society of Interior Designers or ASID professional designation. Anyone with an
ASID behind their name should really know their stuff, right? Unfortunately,
that’s not always the case. Just like the AIA (American Institute of Architect)
designation behind an architect’s name, all the designation really means is they
have advanced schooling in their craft and have interned with another designer
before being allowed ot sit for ASID testing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pUAlrCYWoSax4soLlrNPJ3wIdoC8AkIpoml1EljLEgnvpaTgUOaXHbHJFnl9SGfwVNZFH9sCOjfKCX9j5qfAHW-JshEbWDPJTAoVKd7OCtAn6w-FL9823fcOQ2A6JyGDsQC6D_SErFc/s1600/Bordeaux+Master+Bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pUAlrCYWoSax4soLlrNPJ3wIdoC8AkIpoml1EljLEgnvpaTgUOaXHbHJFnl9SGfwVNZFH9sCOjfKCX9j5qfAHW-JshEbWDPJTAoVKd7OCtAn6w-FL9823fcOQ2A6JyGDsQC6D_SErFc/s400/Bordeaux+Master+Bedroom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But ASID doesn’t always buy “taste” or “vision.” In
fact, some of the best interior designers <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aren’t</i>
ASID. In the construction industry, when it comes to interior designers it’s
apparent that “you either got it, or you don’t.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All the fancy showrooms down in the Design District
of Dallas have a wonderful little sign on their door that says, <i>“To The Trade Only.”</i> The vendors started
putting the sign on the front of their shops to try and wave off everyone who
thought they knew something about design and wanted wholesale pricing. Years
ago the interior design business was “the wild west” before the Design
District’s rules concerning showroom accessibility were instituted.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>169</o:Words>
<o:Characters>967</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Hoebeke Builders, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>8</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1187</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Talent + Information = Success<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk65Mpi1G1ZVGQODYuMAqYnsbP_HkmzK-Zc6C-TZ3A8-bC4UwuzUm9QUyH2OcDbZcU8k_9ZrLBfTGiS3belXt_vMi8GBdMdGDvOytctIAuTG8779uSoUBjJ2jnJC_NidW0DhOgs2-AUho/s1600/Bordeaux+Playroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk65Mpi1G1ZVGQODYuMAqYnsbP_HkmzK-Zc6C-TZ3A8-bC4UwuzUm9QUyH2OcDbZcU8k_9ZrLBfTGiS3belXt_vMi8GBdMdGDvOytctIAuTG8779uSoUBjJ2jnJC_NidW0DhOgs2-AUho/s320/Bordeaux+Playroom.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What a contractor needs most from the design process
is talent and information. Interior designers must be able to communicate with
the contractor (in plain and simple terms), so surprises are minimized. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3rHJ9szUQ4jXTznomTRt6PbzDFOrfGHWSmqkFx9lr04O2FqoJzHRAssEISeHnuvqaoATkkCSMX278CBqjfyGUeoC0gBNUZs4j_8H9yjrPhOjq4D_sOxUpTU9PAUAfxEjr2Lh5cBIRkI/s1600/Maid's+Quarters+Bordeaux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3rHJ9szUQ4jXTznomTRt6PbzDFOrfGHWSmqkFx9lr04O2FqoJzHRAssEISeHnuvqaoATkkCSMX278CBqjfyGUeoC0gBNUZs4j_8H9yjrPhOjq4D_sOxUpTU9PAUAfxEjr2Lh5cBIRkI/s400/Maid's+Quarters+Bordeaux.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -0.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A truly effective interior designer starts his/her
work immediately after joining the Project Team. Shortly after the conceptual
drawings are released to the owner and the team, an interior designer should start
by roughly positioning the client’s furnishings on the plans. Normally, <i>conceptual </i>plans are drawn at 1/8”
= 1’ 0”, so it’s hard to properly
scale furnishings on plans that size. The inventory of furnishings should come
shortly after the interior designer is hired. Surveying what furnishings will
and will not be used in the new home or re-model will provide an inventory
necessary throughout the job. Without the initial furniture layout on the
conceptual plans, it’s conceivable that rooms will be designed that either
don’t accommodate furnishings comfortably or at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-48857288620689256252012-10-16T09:56:00.000-07:002012-10-16T09:56:08.139-07:00Puzzle Masters - The Builders<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><i>Editors Note</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">: The following is an excerpt from my new book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Raising the Roof! A Homebuilder's Secrets to Saving Time and Money</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">. So often homeowners take a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach to the building process.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Raising the Roof! </i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">attempts to re-orient the process so most of the planning occurs upfront, before leaving the architect's office. This piece is a snippet from the section dealing with the second of the Team Members, the builder. Many additional "tricks and tips" can be gleaned from the balance of the text, but you'll just have to wait for the book to be published before you can see the rest of what we're up to!) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCTI5mb27wn942ccT2RqX_fo7rDs6zRIVuTF5esKey6PAO0gUfHUvymLmxOuyGq5KOMnlNkgtNDsQk9sVaRvp8rTV0CB13R2IDJqVbdFyjqe2QhkoOnQgz7QuHR4kVz0RKtRKSb59bLc/s1600/Book+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCTI5mb27wn942ccT2RqX_fo7rDs6zRIVuTF5esKey6PAO0gUfHUvymLmxOuyGq5KOMnlNkgtNDsQk9sVaRvp8rTV0CB13R2IDJqVbdFyjqe2QhkoOnQgz7QuHR4kVz0RKtRKSb59bLc/s200/Book+Logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>401</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2288</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Hoebeke Builders, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>19</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2809</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Puzzle Masters – The Builders<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHPzmofuRnsiWCtAAA8FDgvsFSTim_fprhRA_CP4GRlrAkeXzWRU1MgIIg9zjkCBCsimp1516V_JLePlDSF-sIzWqWNsWzwLqKgm0Vl2RgA_d20ZBjNmHmw2gdKqjHWCH3OBgvBpc0Ic/s1600/architects_729-620x349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHPzmofuRnsiWCtAAA8FDgvsFSTim_fprhRA_CP4GRlrAkeXzWRU1MgIIg9zjkCBCsimp1516V_JLePlDSF-sIzWqWNsWzwLqKgm0Vl2RgA_d20ZBjNmHmw2gdKqjHWCH3OBgvBpc0Ic/s320/architects_729-620x349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On
one hand you have architects that specialize in design but don’t know cost. The
other hand consists of the contractor/builder who doesn’t know design but lives
in the world of cost everyday. Sounds like a marriage made in heaven doesn’t
it? Wrong. Seemingly architects always want to be on the budget and production
committees, and builders want to sneak over to the design committee. The
problem? Each is convinced they know more about the other’s discipline. The
truth? Architects need only to design – and stay away from cost issues; builders
need to specialize in the cost and technique of putting puzzle pieces together,
and stay out of the design.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1OPphZErvZGfK-uX_dZBzdfWtxkpupo7AS4Bk1dm1kdLkrFB9v1kWyjQ4hoWkCI-bU1sVKuN-OMqo4REic477C5OStErUp4LywAL9FQZWNlRgPl4n3KRanG4SkZJSqqplL0JQRanIwI/s1600/puzzle-pieces-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1OPphZErvZGfK-uX_dZBzdfWtxkpupo7AS4Bk1dm1kdLkrFB9v1kWyjQ4hoWkCI-bU1sVKuN-OMqo4REic477C5OStErUp4LywAL9FQZWNlRgPl4n3KRanG4SkZJSqqplL0JQRanIwI/s1600/puzzle-pieces-150x150.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Let’s
sort this out. But before we do, let’s clean up the difference between a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“builder,”</i> and a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“contractor.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the
terms seem interchangeable, and will be used interchangeably in this book, a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“builder”</i> is someone who builds things
and accepts all the normal risks inherent of the building business <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>and<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</b></u></i>also accepts the economic risks of being able to sell, or not sell
their product in the marketplace. A <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“contractor”</i>
builds things for clients, still shouldering the normal risks of the building
business, but works on a “for hire” basis, thus eliminating <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>most economic risk. Whew…is all of that
clear as mud? If we go way back to the beginning of this book, the builder is
the “businessman,” and the contractor is the “artist.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">By
the very definition of their job description a builder/contractor <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">has </i>to be in cost and budget everyday. (Note:
the title <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Contractor”</i> is derived
from the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“contract”</i> which
everyone knows means lawyers and money must be involved). Whether building for
a specific client or the open market, it’s impossible to build something
without incurring cost. So, with pricing fresh in their mind, the Contractor is
much more likely to know the cost of a pier and beam foundation then the pencil
pushing architect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RF6HaTuK7UQ-8E6eN_s7YaCqmEPntMvVgcOhLIiKb0VEnpftO7khJvgA5wBZnhs_j40NUZf-PVF5AXXhyeF77JCdw-FhB9S5bO9jMlG11Kbudi37OjtLS6V2nLKIkFwKYH48zC7Qt6g/s1600/EARFit-StopGuessing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RF6HaTuK7UQ-8E6eN_s7YaCqmEPntMvVgcOhLIiKb0VEnpftO7khJvgA5wBZnhs_j40NUZf-PVF5AXXhyeF77JCdw-FhB9S5bO9jMlG11Kbudi37OjtLS6V2nLKIkFwKYH48zC7Qt6g/s1600/EARFit-StopGuessing.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But
ignorance doesn’t stop the architect from guessing. Almost every day in Dallas,
Texas you have an architect guessing how much it’s going to cost to build the
magnificent structure he/she has just designed. They’re clueless! (Qualifier:
unless the firm is “design/build” where architecture and construction both come
out of the same office – see the section on Architects). Some of the hardest
deals ever done are projects where the client has hired the architect
independent of the contractor, designed a magnificent home with the architect,
and been told it can be built for say $175 per square foot (exclusive of land).
Just imagine the surprise of the client, and the embarrassment to the architect
when the project prices out at $300 per square foot. ARCHITECTS DON’T KNOW COST
– they think they do, but don’t let ‘em fool ya.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>172</o:Words>
<o:Characters>986</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Hoebeke Builders, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>8</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1210</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfANqlvVh3XpCi0Mmjhospd8WEeVKxq2Rgt0sI9jliZ0SuO1emIvpkuJ15Tx4JUKwNbY9l_33iEHs9MQl2YKruXePIgwShkkWtNQwCC0AKoJ1UAWCyRaacFGvFfR0VRtmqPu6j0oL3v4/s1600/6a00d8341cb2b653ef00e54f9036bb8834-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxfANqlvVh3XpCi0Mmjhospd8WEeVKxq2Rgt0sI9jliZ0SuO1emIvpkuJ15Tx4JUKwNbY9l_33iEHs9MQl2YKruXePIgwShkkWtNQwCC0AKoJ1UAWCyRaacFGvFfR0VRtmqPu6j0oL3v4/s320/6a00d8341cb2b653ef00e54f9036bb8834-800wi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Earlier,
in defining the difference between builders and contractors, the rather unusual
and precarious risks faced by builders everyday were noted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any occupation where people are putting
large objects together; standing on walk boards two stories in the air;
installing roofing on slopes too steep to possibly walk; and playing with
methane gas, to name just a few potential dangers, has inordinate amounts of
risk. Assembling the large pieces necessary to build a home requires hanging in
mid-air on scaffolding (usually walk boards to the framers), and nailing
shingles on a steeply pitched roof while plumbers connect methane gas lines
throughout the structure. The chemicals used in painting have yet to even be
considered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlRmdxUDrZzBt3QkZK_cFwNnD9soIKNNYqF2X-Ogwps8tLl9rZBBG40H1zX9ePWgSsB-YvAh17HE4CL054kvnbYbHAr8bnMs5qJIevktVkBmtOOjl4Aht2zAPJZ7I_yf5PD1ce7adR3Y/s1600/nut-high-resolution_w725_h544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlRmdxUDrZzBt3QkZK_cFwNnD9soIKNNYqF2X-Ogwps8tLl9rZBBG40H1zX9ePWgSsB-YvAh17HE4CL054kvnbYbHAr8bnMs5qJIevktVkBmtOOjl4Aht2zAPJZ7I_yf5PD1ce7adR3Y/s1600/nut-high-resolution_w725_h544.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A natural argument says builders must be nuts to want to build houses.
Some are – “nuts” about the
people, “nuts” about the process, and “nuts” about the finished product.
Building gets in the blood and just won’t go away. Sure, risks can be managed
through incorporating a business and buying all kinds of insurance but my
Father-in-law said it best <i>“…if you’re
going to build big houses, you’re going to have big problems.” </i>Truer words
have never been spoken.</span><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>141</o:Words>
<o:Characters>809</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Hoebeke Builders, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>6</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>993</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-TXOf1n18yHcS7BSRzH8OMG5RBspBHz9srFtl8YAKYv0zpR1LD6jMDnWLVUlh_gBKZSXUW3t6_jkVs9kq5TElFqNShzQS0qenUqf8g4GaKp6tfLr0gRyL32YrySdjUHx1AjrMqjTmSo/s1600/Raw-Material-CCAM---TCCAM-WIRE-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-TXOf1n18yHcS7BSRzH8OMG5RBspBHz9srFtl8YAKYv0zpR1LD6jMDnWLVUlh_gBKZSXUW3t6_jkVs9kq5TElFqNShzQS0qenUqf8g4GaKp6tfLr0gRyL32YrySdjUHx1AjrMqjTmSo/s320/Raw-Material-CCAM---TCCAM-WIRE-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Builders
wish the risks and liabilities were limited to only jobsite related functions.
No way - those risks are too manageable. Add economic risks, downturns in the
economy, international trade regulation risks, raw product price spikes (copper
and gypsum are two prime examples), shortages, client management and relations
risks, even the threat of litigation, and it makes one wonder why anybody would
sign up for being a builder. (I once had a client that was soooo mad they said
their attorney was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘going to sue me until
I bled to death!’</i>) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What’s
the incentive in begging for this kind of potential punishment? Where else can
a person literally conceive an idea one day, start building on it the next, and
end up with something becoming a legacy when long gone? Fourteen months in the
oil and gas business years ago filing files taught me about missing the
spontaneity of the homebuilding business….. (probably didn’t make near the
money, but I’ve had a much better time).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh8jsrGpp0FE2Szt1EzUT8w-xwiK-3LY9DXO_QUplUYXAfgTZqN8dV6GpqbIYzeuZyV4ny3VJcXi8Ap8fto3Czugij6VRAsQ2D6P1P-EcsFvW36ZbhGvmlz0kHEwlCfqRBUN-19BofXI/s1600/Money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh8jsrGpp0FE2Szt1EzUT8w-xwiK-3LY9DXO_QUplUYXAfgTZqN8dV6GpqbIYzeuZyV4ny3VJcXi8Ap8fto3Czugij6VRAsQ2D6P1P-EcsFvW36ZbhGvmlz0kHEwlCfqRBUN-19BofXI/s320/Money.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-24463843374653558172012-09-28T13:11:00.000-07:002012-09-28T13:11:38.061-07:00Divine Design - The Architects<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><i>Editors Note</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">: The following is an excerpt from my new book</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Raising the Roof! A Homebuilder's Secrets to Saving Time and Money</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">. So often homeowners take a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach to the building process.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><b><i>Raising the Roof! </i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">attempts to re-orient the process so most of the planning occurs upfront, before leaving the architect's office. This piece is a snippet from the section dealing with the first of the Team Members, the architect. Many additional "tricks and tips" can be gleaned from the balance of the text, but you'll just have to wait for the book to be published before you can see the rest of what we're up to!) </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWOHjTVnm81iU-RVZfbh7MUZFHkHuf38KDzlSSwD9QA8fvZ7aP3v9nc2a7oDI216J806Bq7bxMnUhkJyTjLqo_2wNkJAVfE42I87awxW4ARsIvkGfwUnME7q5Z2OPkwUgtAsTjm0vgEk/s1600/Auguste_Rodin_-_Penseur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWOHjTVnm81iU-RVZfbh7MUZFHkHuf38KDzlSSwD9QA8fvZ7aP3v9nc2a7oDI216J806Bq7bxMnUhkJyTjLqo_2wNkJAVfE42I87awxW4ARsIvkGfwUnME7q5Z2OPkwUgtAsTjm0vgEk/s320/Auguste_Rodin_-_Penseur.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Divine Design – The
Architects</span></u></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The
“Rock Stars” of the entire building process are the architects. Rightfully so –
with the lengthy educational requirements necessary before being able to
practice, they’ve earned it. But, just because architects have earned rock star
status doesn’t mean they have to act like it. Let’s go back to the original
thought, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“it’s your home, not theirs!”</i>
Therefore, architects should adopt an attitude of helpfulness, trying to
understand the client’s needs and wants while communicating, educating and taking
ideas to the two-dimensional final form known as construction drawings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC55uT3MTtdTnVVROmmSIt6aahOf99lW4o0wG16yzxFNnmqWsAR42da45k5JqjVBDCsnb7BN0oYrDtaU99RzZF9cmbcLUoiIqF-L2WUz4Rwpo-IdQmOvqONd6XiJmHMLlBA8VXLL59Is/s1600/Falling-water-architecture-house-design-by-Frank-Lloyd-Wright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC55uT3MTtdTnVVROmmSIt6aahOf99lW4o0wG16yzxFNnmqWsAR42da45k5JqjVBDCsnb7BN0oYrDtaU99RzZF9cmbcLUoiIqF-L2WUz4Rwpo-IdQmOvqONd6XiJmHMLlBA8VXLL59Is/s400/Falling-water-architecture-house-design-by-Frank-Lloyd-Wright.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank Lloyd Wright's "Falling Waters"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On
a national level America has several prima donna architects who will invoke <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“form over function”</i> architectural
concepts more suited to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">their</i> ideas,
needs, and tastes. Frank Lloyd Wright, of years ago, is one such person. If
living in an art piece was the objective, he was the obvious choice. But “form”
doesn’t always lead to the “function” needed in homes to accommodate the needs
of a family. Many of Wright’s works are immortalized today for their very avant
guard styling, but rarely does one hear about the client that commissioned the
work and/or lived in the house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -.05in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhEk2Z3xjUDNzxYXOCBvtN3Pp-shGbtACM2OXak46gpjOdbKgd8z70QrNXgVdk_SlhCLtgzEzvN0O4mYYcHQAPXJnP7NLtLrmASc8CpZUtlTyhm6KwWLcQiezuDz7IidBko7zV0ntGGc/s1600/Break-the-Code5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhEk2Z3xjUDNzxYXOCBvtN3Pp-shGbtACM2OXak46gpjOdbKgd8z70QrNXgVdk_SlhCLtgzEzvN0O4mYYcHQAPXJnP7NLtLrmASc8CpZUtlTyhm6KwWLcQiezuDz7IidBko7zV0ntGGc/s320/Break-the-Code5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the older, more established cities of America,
the accepted practice is to hire the architect as the first member of the
project team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thoughts and ideas the
owner has about their home are communicated through a programming process most
architects use as a mean of determining the likes and dislikes of the
homeowner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The client’s ability to
get what they truly want in a home is directly related to the architect’s ability
to de-program, or break the code of what is desired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly the architect’s ability to correctly interpret the
desires of the client, coupled with the creativity to solve unique problems
while exhibiting flare in the styling of the home, weigh heavily in the overall
outcome of the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It works
best if large egos are checked at the front door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: -.05in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -.05in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaXFHp3Hin4ePxhN6ut5V-y6CUX8DWOcO8iz2jwxzc9PUa6ugC4Gz3qsTuqMDp5N2y7abeDUxQ5tm2YWg8fuS0leGWgkV1PfiZNELlf_4Cz_jNOooygjabJGb1jPl_LqFCCHyZzBjIe8/s1600/Communication.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaXFHp3Hin4ePxhN6ut5V-y6CUX8DWOcO8iz2jwxzc9PUa6ugC4Gz3qsTuqMDp5N2y7abeDUxQ5tm2YWg8fuS0leGWgkV1PfiZNELlf_4Cz_jNOooygjabJGb1jPl_LqFCCHyZzBjIe8/s320/Communication.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yet, while architects are trained in the art of
design and structure, often their communication skills are lacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ability to accurately communicate a
design rolling around in the head of the client must be accurately “heard” by
the ears of a discerning architect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is why clipping pictures and organizing them by areas of the house
is so important. Through a two-dimensional set of construction drawings
representing the owner’s design objectives, ideas collected from the client’s
pictures will finally become three-dimensional on-site when construction
begins. Often what the owner really wanted gets lost in the mix because the architect
didn’t listen effectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, major changes in the
overall design of the home follow the framing of the walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once a homeowner can actually walk through
their newly framed home, builders will often hear: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“…I didn’t</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know that it was going
to look like that!”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But count
those concerns as an indictment to the overall process as much as to the lack of
communication skills of the architect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Great houses have to be “drawn” out of the client – it simply requires
intense concentration, listening, and communication on the part of both the
owner and architect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9zr5urzORn1Cb4oPMvothZyEUsZbKNNv0Xrab9EtzK4bcVVarT9WIMhWSkWDtI54HZdf7clOCUq0vDu8B1A-XS3kQt-zVjY5OsRB-SM9qlF2XR0SEudhgSsdUzPZE73HO4AvDCDOYw0/s1600/Cropped+Plan+Sepia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9zr5urzORn1Cb4oPMvothZyEUsZbKNNv0Xrab9EtzK4bcVVarT9WIMhWSkWDtI54HZdf7clOCUq0vDu8B1A-XS3kQt-zVjY5OsRB-SM9qlF2XR0SEudhgSsdUzPZE73HO4AvDCDOYw0/s320/Cropped+Plan+Sepia.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: -.05in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A dimensioned floor plan with exterior elevations
of the home represents only the beginning in the production of a set of plans
necessary to build a good home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Often the penny-pinching client will forego purchasing the detail
drawings the architect will produce (for a fee) which drive the uniqueness of
the overall finished product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
has been said that ‘the devil is in the details.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Extra
time and money spent on further definition and explanation set forth in the
accompanying architectural details makes the bare bones “house” a “home”.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgspBXzrnmBQWvyLOaGgiO3BzhcUzJJa4GLSe39-NMdTkcnStW5APIuMj-C3htVjLB06QgiHZfQTKS8dFzk253_GNwjfxfvqhCaTpowlng2XejrWVuCr80V_3AW5PRtY94J-nvZf2J90/s1600/1225327780_5fc77c2451_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgspBXzrnmBQWvyLOaGgiO3BzhcUzJJa4GLSe39-NMdTkcnStW5APIuMj-C3htVjLB06QgiHZfQTKS8dFzk253_GNwjfxfvqhCaTpowlng2XejrWVuCr80V_3AW5PRtY94J-nvZf2J90/s400/1225327780_5fc77c2451_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ahhhhhhh...that's not what we asked for!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-68184799566743291262012-09-14T14:40:00.000-07:002012-09-14T14:40:44.186-07:00Raising the Roof!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>484</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2764</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Hoebeke Builders, Inc.</o:Company>
<o:Lines>23</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3394</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>Editors Note</i>: The following is an excerpt from my new book <b><i>Raising the Roof! A Homebuilder's Secrets to Saving Time and Money</i></b>. Though the blog took the summer off, the writer of the blog didn't - he was busy writing the book. So often homeowners take a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach to the building process. <b><i>Raising the Roof! </i></b>attempts to re-orient the process so most of the planning occurs upfront, before leaving the architect's office. This piece is an overview of the players necessary for the complete planning of any home or remodel. Hopefully this will be as much fun to read, as it was to write!)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b><i><u>Build a Team</u></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1eui5YBqqrHGk4ZAb2eAEmEX53sCm7xKdt-mKiGUnsHCodFcrqq8z4thEBqwwUTF63PPqM__d3EogswPws4Nok0cTSmcCnPfkEjexfGvB41WuqZOE-X0nmQe4vzeZqCkhwzBNyUIp4A/s1600/football-quarterback.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1eui5YBqqrHGk4ZAb2eAEmEX53sCm7xKdt-mKiGUnsHCodFcrqq8z4thEBqwwUTF63PPqM__d3EogswPws4Nok0cTSmcCnPfkEjexfGvB41WuqZOE-X0nmQe4vzeZqCkhwzBNyUIp4A/s1600/football-quarterback.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As
the owner desiring to have a home built or remodeled, it’s your project so you
get to be the quarterback. First, interview prospective team members using the
interviewing suggestions below, and hire integrity, character, experience,
knowledge, and a “can do” spirit. The team must include an architect, builder/contractor,
interior designer (unless you have fabulous taste and proven experience) and a
landscape architect. Just a thought or two about the team members:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaIL-_hnyIhfEGvVyFFSiaWsQqn6LPFozKqqOkN1PLNSq8n135TgJ4eqqNLrEuXnvib1IfqUeL6BTehYxzuG1HtGhjFcwrX208V2rvt9WGhmfqLVDNN4QrdoKMpaNejr9eeUXJMUPabE/s1600/Architectural+Drawings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaIL-_hnyIhfEGvVyFFSiaWsQqn6LPFozKqqOkN1PLNSq8n135TgJ4eqqNLrEuXnvib1IfqUeL6BTehYxzuG1HtGhjFcwrX208V2rvt9WGhmfqLVDNN4QrdoKMpaNejr9eeUXJMUPabE/s1600/Architectural+Drawings.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Architects
</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">are usually creative people
who don’t know, or understand cost. Their discipline is not centered around the
cost of materials or labor. They have been trained in design, proportion,
balance etc. and bring the aesthetic to the project.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qF_VE9w54VxR0Rqhv2_CdYcwO_4eu1fKtieoDinDkeECvk-OeTft5a125a1HEzHoeOBheHHtEvFRSlfOEbMoeWpOeu5aJdc3tnVOwN4CeN7DgqIJJgxnSMIlEHaj7UQbxR9WBt6SOOU/s1600/homebuilder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qF_VE9w54VxR0Rqhv2_CdYcwO_4eu1fKtieoDinDkeECvk-OeTft5a125a1HEzHoeOBheHHtEvFRSlfOEbMoeWpOeu5aJdc3tnVOwN4CeN7DgqIJJgxnSMIlEHaj7UQbxR9WBt6SOOU/s1600/homebuilder.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Builders </span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">know and understand cost. The builder’s discipline
has them working in numbers and budgets all day long, but most don’t really
know design. Assembling both architect and builder in the same room should give
an owner the best of both worlds.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjFwEIFDpL0XmzHL_OvWMTRsKLo1RudFqJ0gPhBvXpvQ0qorOe8qQV8uQn89Vps7HOovFQY69l5B0tyzzvjFBvSgmGpOgh10v5YvvxEYr2GaEgbc4cIj44u7tw7bIBHJtsSkiUkUa8Tc/s1600/copy-of-illustration-of-a-decorator1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjFwEIFDpL0XmzHL_OvWMTRsKLo1RudFqJ0gPhBvXpvQ0qorOe8qQV8uQn89Vps7HOovFQY69l5B0tyzzvjFBvSgmGpOgh10v5YvvxEYr2GaEgbc4cIj44u7tw7bIBHJtsSkiUkUa8Tc/s1600/copy-of-illustration-of-a-decorator1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Interior
Designers</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> usually don’t know
schedule. Most often these are creative people (read: artists) who really know
color, texture, shape, form, and all of the wonderful components necessary for achieving
the “look.” But bringing structure to an interior designer’s world and getting
selections when the building process demands, is like herding cats. Though the
builder and architect can aid in giving structure to the interior designer,
most probably the owner will need to reinforce that the designer is being paid
to be timely in their creativity.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEih58ccEVmtGy8yGIT6AO2UPVCFNrWTjGO0omwLU3NwEEys9ya7G9uxS4_ED49fp0xinq-4Gf513VQ_UT3ty7f6gZUQJDpfrbWM-wVYscRIPJvkFq8Bh-s2umAccFpQWy0cRRGlzrxk8/s1600/Lambert's+Courtyard+at+Night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEih58ccEVmtGy8yGIT6AO2UPVCFNrWTjGO0omwLU3NwEEys9ya7G9uxS4_ED49fp0xinq-4Gf513VQ_UT3ty7f6gZUQJDpfrbWM-wVYscRIPJvkFq8Bh-s2umAccFpQWy0cRRGlzrxk8/s320/Lambert's+Courtyard+at+Night.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Landscape
Architects</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> design and
coordinate all of the outside disciplines and elements necessary for a
beautiful yard. This should happen along with the home design and interiors.
It’s amazing how much overlap there is between the trades needed to build a
home, and the players necessary for creating exterior landscaping. Why not reap
the benefits of the cost efficiency of having the concrete guy pour all of the
footings, pads, piers, and preliminary flatwork necessary for the yard
landscape along with the foundation for the house? Why not have the pool
designed, located and formed before home construction gets in the way and makes
it really expensive to do later? It requires a little forward thinking, but the
savings are dramatic.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There’s an
argument saying <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">structural engineers,
consultants, and lighting designers s</i>hould be added to the team at the
beginning of the process. Too many cooks in the kitchen! The “team” functions
much more efficiently with fewer people. Your builder, architect, interior
designer, and landscape architect should be the core of your Project Team. They
should bring in the other disciplines as necessary to accomplish specific
things which may be needed in your home. Good team members also know where
competent support professionals can be found. Typically these will be
professionals they have worked with before who become valuable additions to the
project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Remember this
process ends up being a “chemistry experiment.” It’s very important that the
owner really likes the people on the Project Team because enormous amounts of
time will be spent with this group. Don’t just hire the market reputation of
someone because everyone in the community is mesmerized by their work. Upon meeting
who the market deems Mr. Wonderful, if there is a personality clash, toss them
back in the pond.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LC51so2uQoMUllihv9Pio_CD4hiRzsYD6JNsCVnLnrwqt4eJRWzqF2cRj1Dt6QFaEoqITGH6AiCKFJ1_DzSwpxX-f2sSrfigqjHWAqehznFpHfUb38bqVTDvBmAlhq00PV1H-T0iPtM/s1600/Pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LC51so2uQoMUllihv9Pio_CD4hiRzsYD6JNsCVnLnrwqt4eJRWzqF2cRj1Dt6QFaEoqITGH6AiCKFJ1_DzSwpxX-f2sSrfigqjHWAqehznFpHfUb38bqVTDvBmAlhq00PV1H-T0iPtM/s320/Pond.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-12483040228269771312012-05-25T14:17:00.000-07:002012-05-25T14:18:44.120-07:00Gone Fishin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrQLD1cU9Xyck72QloZVMDc17Z26GtFRjNBFb5gqhjL_iq9I6DMQ8lc63FvCTH3p9HHUZBmC-CtEr-DDvWpgPI6JHXFhfHsuihAEhh-sP5FA-mYOivtJnO8HBJw2tui2B_mITV57TxcU/s1600/gone+fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrQLD1cU9Xyck72QloZVMDc17Z26GtFRjNBFb5gqhjL_iq9I6DMQ8lc63FvCTH3p9HHUZBmC-CtEr-DDvWpgPI6JHXFhfHsuihAEhh-sP5FA-mYOivtJnO8HBJw2tui2B_mITV57TxcU/s320/gone+fishing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When my daughters convinced me to start this blog last year in March I really didn't think I had much to say. Ahhhhhhhh....that was<b><i> 90 </i></b>posts ago! So, we've solved the problem of <i>'what do I say' </i>to all of you loyal readers. But I have grown envious of these college kids that have the summer off. With creativity waning as I look longingly out the window, I've decided to take a little sabbatical myself. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-t117PiXsmEa2LdB0tU5hVNBHa1VFW6mDCPdCzeDhE7BHdxnV58L65PA0I0m30luwWHluLsnc3EhdNNBAXf4xBkMmbER-CsTQV7w9GnT4HADD-YFOlhmbB-p9kJtWjiCmDr6jj0OE_U/s1600/Pool+Courtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-t117PiXsmEa2LdB0tU5hVNBHa1VFW6mDCPdCzeDhE7BHdxnV58L65PA0I0m30luwWHluLsnc3EhdNNBAXf4xBkMmbER-CsTQV7w9GnT4HADD-YFOlhmbB-p9kJtWjiCmDr6jj0OE_U/s400/Pool+Courtyard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Through the summer I will only be writing when something really important happens, or when I really have something to say. Otherwise, '<b><i>I've gone fishin!'</i></b> (Not really - I plan on being right here!) Actually, a dear friend has encouraged me to write a book about the building process as sort of a "self-help" manual for all of you that might want to have something built one of these days. I'm about a chapter deep already - and wondering again what I really have to say!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGX2tpiyCskQxYZPyTu_Op6QvNljgtkk_UK8RrXImTyzb_lnet3KCKebk9jcgA_Yiz6NU4ncypVka3ynJ5KFa86SmCdN7jnsfbFfmne0q_V44I_68RjlQABYMjtmSjbqg-GQbmf37ooCY/s1600/1330+BEVERLY+LUCAS+TEXAS+PHILLIP+MCCLOUD+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGX2tpiyCskQxYZPyTu_Op6QvNljgtkk_UK8RrXImTyzb_lnet3KCKebk9jcgA_Yiz6NU4ncypVka3ynJ5KFa86SmCdN7jnsfbFfmne0q_V44I_68RjlQABYMjtmSjbqg-GQbmf37ooCY/s400/1330+BEVERLY+LUCAS+TEXAS+PHILLIP+MCCLOUD+004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me leave you for a while with a few pictures of comfortable spaces outside. That oughta cool you off!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYizzYob5cPLkh37WeyZk2B2uD65eDqIiN_0WSq4wTF_zTTBjxRfUKa4tGdpBuH5E0jZ53XKNzkmcvSh_N9UEdFMhxsr_hY4tC5Y35RjOWG6cjZr6-_ewRCXgMXyzorSzdbIqRXv-2EE/s1600/Wedge+Outdoor+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYizzYob5cPLkh37WeyZk2B2uD65eDqIiN_0WSq4wTF_zTTBjxRfUKa4tGdpBuH5E0jZ53XKNzkmcvSh_N9UEdFMhxsr_hY4tC5Y35RjOWG6cjZr6-_ewRCXgMXyzorSzdbIqRXv-2EE/s400/Wedge+Outdoor+Room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-4537962308388619372012-05-10T13:59:00.000-07:002012-05-10T13:59:29.903-07:00Holy Chihuly!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwbyhaxL8ljGIOz70RLt-6hFZqUPX3VZr-DBTkzFxs0w6dYCo8yNXjdYwYPkuwpxmSkIvc1obK510rj_lVeMUkGAVpBOOZ6K40RDrR3ojAkqB9HUk9uCugTjgUWRtGd3AwVfaAG-QJwY/s1600/Chihuly+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwbyhaxL8ljGIOz70RLt-6hFZqUPX3VZr-DBTkzFxs0w6dYCo8yNXjdYwYPkuwpxmSkIvc1obK510rj_lVeMUkGAVpBOOZ6K40RDrR3ojAkqB9HUk9uCugTjgUWRtGd3AwVfaAG-QJwY/s400/Chihuly+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For literally months now I have been bugging you about the <b><i>Chihuly Art Exhibit</i></b> that was coming to the Dallas Arboretum in May. It's here! You will remember that the Arboretum hired us to build <b><i>"Small Houses of Great Artists"</i></b> in conjunction with Chihuly. My business partner Phillip McCloud and I thought our stuff was pretty neat until Dale Chihuly showed up... Rather than give you the "play by play", let's let Chihuly's work write this blog as we share some of the photographs that our Arboretum friend Bill Hurst of <a href="http://www.billhurstphotography.com/">Bill Hurst Photography </a>shared with us - even Bill's work is truly amazing!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDFvj3hOZiEPBrue90-vWNeWYzoX-gNBPTU_mDnkPpowuO8hbZjAgXh3xk45qgajcARodCK6GQeNn2_9ROOgGuJ7Lv-xo88wEUMB_7cHFr2hdkeOM0uSM2SA_EbMvk4STELSmK1hTgyY/s1600/Chihuly+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDFvj3hOZiEPBrue90-vWNeWYzoX-gNBPTU_mDnkPpowuO8hbZjAgXh3xk45qgajcARodCK6GQeNn2_9ROOgGuJ7Lv-xo88wEUMB_7cHFr2hdkeOM0uSM2SA_EbMvk4STELSmK1hTgyY/s400/Chihuly+2.jpg" width="323" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvlupr51h9rLxWYMp_N0Up5LEJtSkEriP6Z8_uzzCnb9kdlvg49reAY0kFvknXVqII_Zlx3zwEo0lZOQlLsdKHELBYwMV1wwHFoJiZzH4Yi69s4VohOqd_vH7LnXUXQlUocnBmEvpzw0/s1600/Chihuly+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvlupr51h9rLxWYMp_N0Up5LEJtSkEriP6Z8_uzzCnb9kdlvg49reAY0kFvknXVqII_Zlx3zwEo0lZOQlLsdKHELBYwMV1wwHFoJiZzH4Yi69s4VohOqd_vH7LnXUXQlUocnBmEvpzw0/s400/Chihuly+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8udTH-Y39lK3drKsb-jCkac-A_6jx-FjOu1kKppiEn-sLcVnaU2F5l8aC4KeaXOhQyKV5hAnncrraVMymuA7pdtchd8oGSVMk44Xm1PLhZ0jXYMZJ6iaOeDOGqz5c0iXpUvhmSO4wAYI/s1600/Chihuly+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8udTH-Y39lK3drKsb-jCkac-A_6jx-FjOu1kKppiEn-sLcVnaU2F5l8aC4KeaXOhQyKV5hAnncrraVMymuA7pdtchd8oGSVMk44Xm1PLhZ0jXYMZJ6iaOeDOGqz5c0iXpUvhmSO4wAYI/s640/Chihuly+4.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unlike other Chihuly Exhibits that have shown around the United States the Arboretum has lit many of the works in the garden. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights will be Chihuly After Dark. Don't miss it!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwkU0KB-14dRvlMlB8Wa8pb57ltVE_PbkImAWnvevPszn3Dsr5sWkJ705lCzzKmAebRFIPmpyshG3NtvZS0HI6Rs1Myc9w4t0Zd4Oi8PGNldxFgzgX-aYYJjfVlPlbgEIHTjraRCMzdE/s1600/Chihuly+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwkU0KB-14dRvlMlB8Wa8pb57ltVE_PbkImAWnvevPszn3Dsr5sWkJ705lCzzKmAebRFIPmpyshG3NtvZS0HI6Rs1Myc9w4t0Zd4Oi8PGNldxFgzgX-aYYJjfVlPlbgEIHTjraRCMzdE/s400/Chihuly+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijx_oqGOaXoE5bAcr9ur-rv0_V2ugmMsJUVq7t7oRn_0sLZ9Jq44iYEoqeI1-S9s8lAmCPURJdWDYMsMBLmET_CMWCAImnxioUGbFfy4Kcb2ZZb9bKNyg-VX-8DFoKGV4FRGZpwSfELY/s1600/Chihuly+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijx_oqGOaXoE5bAcr9ur-rv0_V2ugmMsJUVq7t7oRn_0sLZ9Jq44iYEoqeI1-S9s8lAmCPURJdWDYMsMBLmET_CMWCAImnxioUGbFfy4Kcb2ZZb9bKNyg-VX-8DFoKGV4FRGZpwSfELY/s400/Chihuly+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXHDVBsLZ6hdBY6ftuJqvZbxC9ZICxma37vqT9s5ccFAjRI4SUu67V8ioUDEgtm-ms4wfZ9EaFq8e8WxW95dCbRP445BP0hqy7V4qv4_GCzOifKc4QOauyD5CFkysKwwrlcaxFnFFbe8/s1600/Chihuly+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXHDVBsLZ6hdBY6ftuJqvZbxC9ZICxma37vqT9s5ccFAjRI4SUu67V8ioUDEgtm-ms4wfZ9EaFq8e8WxW95dCbRP445BP0hqy7V4qv4_GCzOifKc4QOauyD5CFkysKwwrlcaxFnFFbe8/s400/Chihuly+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-r-aXHy6zIoMxh70q7yfeKJyFDLySOjRvugvbW3DI61fK8fMdqYO8pqZfTK1qSGqPfabZ9JJiC9l7OQHE-8Avxo0QyJrAWzl1HvXiw4iqpVGhz8lq2dkMZIUBlq9sUdgXbjKIoH2yKk/s1600/Chihuly+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-r-aXHy6zIoMxh70q7yfeKJyFDLySOjRvugvbW3DI61fK8fMdqYO8pqZfTK1qSGqPfabZ9JJiC9l7OQHE-8Avxo0QyJrAWzl1HvXiw4iqpVGhz8lq2dkMZIUBlq9sUdgXbjKIoH2yKk/s400/Chihuly+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Awfully special! Perfect for a great date night with that special person. Of course, you could also run through the Monet "Small House" while you are there....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEysC9CgUcTKSztcVWTJd5GYIlXaQmDGn0bbGez9qJfmy8koMabm21zyNaPZjpOKrGduQeadMUtZpdMFo4c2lRpKII6xwNdha5w47YhDfLTddXRFypXM1wiqb-8NZqO2dMU6kidAdPlI/s1600/Small+Houses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEysC9CgUcTKSztcVWTJd5GYIlXaQmDGn0bbGez9qJfmy8koMabm21zyNaPZjpOKrGduQeadMUtZpdMFo4c2lRpKII6xwNdha5w47YhDfLTddXRFypXM1wiqb-8NZqO2dMU6kidAdPlI/s400/Small+Houses.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-90484276185811259862012-04-26T12:59:00.000-07:002012-04-26T12:59:29.189-07:00'To Bid, or Not To Bid...'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjJ1ASBF5E6Emfh5-a_UqWgXhR-fiebVAiFpabffW6cKjMGgcub9aLGtbdE1goouYOxBtdyps6uKOEpjVnJ2a12znjrTlhszG40UF9Pa0RaquoUWeuC-Y9x_DIU-lS-WsDvhImor_2J0/s1600/best-deal-promise-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjJ1ASBF5E6Emfh5-a_UqWgXhR-fiebVAiFpabffW6cKjMGgcub9aLGtbdE1goouYOxBtdyps6uKOEpjVnJ2a12znjrTlhszG40UF9Pa0RaquoUWeuC-Y9x_DIU-lS-WsDvhImor_2J0/s320/best-deal-promise-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That is the question. Everyone wants the best deal they can possibly get - I understand that. But maybe the <b><i>"best deal" </i></b>doesn't really involve price. Maybe the best deal involves those intangibles like "well built," "cleverly value engineered," or "beautifully detailed."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQXJnPkwDEs7itjGaBYtw4TOmy1uopjnJ94lxlcTopvmwIUVULEigTeiK8JabSg9RVJ_q2S2rLFSr9Av04AqbnTRAjOL_I6iYThKXec2PgM8xt_wI3K1cyaJN7BHkgGFxd06gh5PEc0g/s1600/storybook.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQXJnPkwDEs7itjGaBYtw4TOmy1uopjnJ94lxlcTopvmwIUVULEigTeiK8JabSg9RVJ_q2S2rLFSr9Av04AqbnTRAjOL_I6iYThKXec2PgM8xt_wI3K1cyaJN7BHkgGFxd06gh5PEc0g/s320/storybook.jpg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let me just go ahead and say it:<b><i> a competitive bid format for project pricing on a residential project is not in the best interests of the client! </i></b>Here's why. The bid becomes a "story." All bidders wonder what story the client wants to hear - after all, we all want the work! <i>But the story almost always bears little resemblance to what the project ends up costing, or looking like. </i>Why? Because the client lives in the home represented by the story. This isn't a commercial structure we're talking about here that absolutely has to be built for the lowest possible dollar. This is a<b><i><u> home </u></i></b>that invariably has "creature comforts" that creep back into the building process! Those creature comforts usually cost more that the original bid projections.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd71OePp0vCaRysnZE5dtpeVW3t-omnrDHW5IojyZQng7VAqhW9sVQ0RoIYmsz8XWOdr-gk01WlPmoHFAnLEmb12bLaWpIp034tWNaVTRvEw-AGSSQdbGjxU3T7SZ0d0JNq0lLYRW7wU0/s1600/cutting-corners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd71OePp0vCaRysnZE5dtpeVW3t-omnrDHW5IojyZQng7VAqhW9sVQ0RoIYmsz8XWOdr-gk01WlPmoHFAnLEmb12bLaWpIp034tWNaVTRvEw-AGSSQdbGjxU3T7SZ0d0JNq0lLYRW7wU0/s200/cutting-corners.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because competitive bidders all want to win the business, sometimes they cut corners to bring their overall budget in under their competition. Clearly this is not in the best interests of either the Architect or the Homeowner! Below are some examples taken from a remodel we currently have under construction - inadequate materials used and then covered up for us to find twenty years after the initial construction. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP3-6m_dXmak0glnBh5LxaNtWZUAfMUwkvtzLdKwMtSFbIYvDJOaX_o9N1nFHrOoe_zYfyMppm4NJJzfqjiLbHkcStcXUnZdO8rb7BCcJxr7l6qmKkdIfRWv9v3NIimlvPVsnwQ38xHQ/s1600/P1010037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP3-6m_dXmak0glnBh5LxaNtWZUAfMUwkvtzLdKwMtSFbIYvDJOaX_o9N1nFHrOoe_zYfyMppm4NJJzfqjiLbHkcStcXUnZdO8rb7BCcJxr7l6qmKkdIfRWv9v3NIimlvPVsnwQ38xHQ/s320/P1010037.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No air duct? No Problem! The Builder decided to have the joist space pretend to be the air duct! Ah.. can you spell Code Violation?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYDSx_6i-kiVh8HlMhSDvoExHffOQVIWQKrn_9u0B14IzIhJ8kVl0Gx4imSBdmH0gsafOhLbgt4R3R8ovmCY4vL6BB9SnlSeScwKpE_SmCqAxmXLS5J9LstOrjGpPHMiDVdWV-YhCnJM/s1600/P1010039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYDSx_6i-kiVh8HlMhSDvoExHffOQVIWQKrn_9u0B14IzIhJ8kVl0Gx4imSBdmH0gsafOhLbgt4R3R8ovmCY4vL6BB9SnlSeScwKpE_SmCqAxmXLS5J9LstOrjGpPHMiDVdWV-YhCnJM/s320/P1010039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Maybe if I just cut this flooring out I can get enough return air flow!'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT1eYkoyc-60Xa6IOLKueC20hpFJHXd3TfWeJ_Gg0ZJn8MqiiGEBLMb_sVyeVogXp125Fah_tNiU576P_pzMBXVvid5NsBmyuQ84Rg1fM5RDiGDF01TQj5F3b0_W1Rv6sc_hCysiE_Eg/s1600/P1010038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT1eYkoyc-60Xa6IOLKueC20hpFJHXd3TfWeJ_Gg0ZJn8MqiiGEBLMb_sVyeVogXp125Fah_tNiU576P_pzMBXVvid5NsBmyuQ84Rg1fM5RDiGDF01TQj5F3b0_W1Rv6sc_hCysiE_Eg/s320/P1010038.JPG" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ignored, and undersized structural details cause....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiYEPllCGr0dfNeMSdbQloDJr-47Dn0Df9oSsW4VDaC2_18Rl_cENNX_TqDtSUONIqQ4Kv1S8W0V8iQW4Gtdo2TFPxQsFdW0AMHqqyibg-BINbstJsO3_RmHsIOuqxos8k0My6xZuYmU/s1600/P1010040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiYEPllCGr0dfNeMSdbQloDJr-47Dn0Df9oSsW4VDaC2_18Rl_cENNX_TqDtSUONIqQ4Kv1S8W0V8iQW4Gtdo2TFPxQsFdW0AMHqqyibg-BINbstJsO3_RmHsIOuqxos8k0My6xZuYmU/s320/P1010040.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THIS!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So what is the best way to make sure that you get the <b><i>best deal</i></b> possible? Let's let thirty-four years of experience in the building business make some practical suggestions on how to insure you get the most for your money.</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><u>Build a Team.</u></i></b> It's your home, it's your project, so you get to be the quarterback! Interview and hire integrity, character, experience, knowledge and a "can do" spirit as you define the various disciplines necessary to achieve your goal of building or remodeling your home. For sure you will need an Architect, Contractor, Interior Designer (unless you have fabulous taste!), and maybe even a Landscape Architect.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><u>Demand a Well Coordinated Plan.</u></i></b> The best talent in the world, even with the most sterling of intentions won't efficiently design and complete your project without a well coordinated plan! Efficiency is the key - you will save a lot of money by reducing the "fumble factor!"</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><u>Facilitate Strong Communications.</u></i></b> Information is power and really good information, well communicated, is <i><u>really</u></i> powerful! Is there a mechanism in place for strong communication between the various disciplines?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><u>Challenge the Team to Value Engineer.</u></i></b> This is where you will really save the money and get your <b><i>BEST DEAL! </i></b>Almost always there is a different way to achieve the same look or feel for less money. Experience, coordination, and strong communications among the team will put money back in your pocket!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><u>Express your Gratitude.</u></i></b> Team members really respond to a leader who is grateful for their efforts! You catch a whole lot more flys with honey than you do with vinegar!</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But there is one other incidental benefit to following the above prescription: YOU WILL REALLY HAVE A GOOD TIME DOING IT!</span></div>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-75613202493084142732012-04-19T12:05:00.000-07:002012-04-19T12:05:09.158-07:00No More Push-ups...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5U59ioVTaegyeopfmdsmCC02idph2H_ZU09xHXLVrvEQ1X7zUqywrBk0yTGfPQEUpgWocgLk2VftCI_kXsBq6IFivfHBMo5j2E28tPGaSNZGP4Udil5hu3HBnxxRCu_lBbjSiGs8lsk/s1600/429953_315531261841278_100001532198186_888844_1454599689_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5U59ioVTaegyeopfmdsmCC02idph2H_ZU09xHXLVrvEQ1X7zUqywrBk0yTGfPQEUpgWocgLk2VftCI_kXsBq6IFivfHBMo5j2E28tPGaSNZGP4Udil5hu3HBnxxRCu_lBbjSiGs8lsk/s400/429953_315531261841278_100001532198186_888844_1454599689_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That Ole' Black Gumbo Clay - standard issue in North Texas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That ole' black gumbo is our enemy. Looks pretty innocent doesn't it? But with a <b><i>"potential vertical rise"</i></b> of anywhere between 3" and 18" it has the ability to pick foundations up and crack them like a pecan! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Let me put that in english</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - when wet, the soil can heave (expand) anywhere from 3" to 18" larger than the size it is when dry. The engineers tell us that the soil's <b><i>"upward thrust"</i></b> is 10 tons per square foot! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Let me put that in english</b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- in some areas around Dallas that means it can take a ten story building and pick it up off it's foundation supports anywhere between 3" and 18"! No wonder we stay as far away from that ole' black gumbo as we possibly can!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaDBymjXhJ4gmEL9ZBA9ougTnCQiGucv2bNpvlT8kv9jw9G0tCSlXZuM7-f2nUMHEfOc6fBUWqm8S1VvMTkk1H3Zdpg6F4daTySq8WHSslF74Ey-kelpFV_QcH9GYDa31cbZQ7bOsC-o/s1600/556137_334458966615174_100001532198186_941418_472285774_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaDBymjXhJ4gmEL9ZBA9ougTnCQiGucv2bNpvlT8kv9jw9G0tCSlXZuM7-f2nUMHEfOc6fBUWqm8S1VvMTkk1H3Zdpg6F4daTySq8WHSslF74Ey-kelpFV_QcH9GYDa31cbZQ7bOsC-o/s400/556137_334458966615174_100001532198186_941418_472285774_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'You mean I paid all that money for this foundation? How can I live on a bunch of concrete beams?'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sTa6iGJ1eZvlR2kY7jkhshXA8LOpguiMaJwnXmF8NSIi_oNioizIxpONEvIjgAuLz5Hhfml8I8hLGBUTA-gY6Wja0WHTMl6kREuIedQ5_tCe5ywBx0BNlv2DDN8xOJifvu2T4rvQsX8/s1600/cracked_slab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sTa6iGJ1eZvlR2kY7jkhshXA8LOpguiMaJwnXmF8NSIi_oNioizIxpONEvIjgAuLz5Hhfml8I8hLGBUTA-gY6Wja0WHTMl6kREuIedQ5_tCe5ywBx0BNlv2DDN8xOJifvu2T4rvQsX8/s200/cracked_slab.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gumbo is the reason we've only built pier and beam foundations for all these years. Imagine sitting in your Family Room perched above that nasty old Texas clay some 30", completely isolated from the risks and hazards of uplift. Now imagine sitting in your Family Room on a floor that is a rigid concrete slab laying on something akin to rolling marbles. Which do you think will crack first? The worn out joke amongst the building contractors is that concrete is guaranteed to do three things: get hard, turn gray, and CRACK! It's true! But which foundation stands the better chance of not cracking? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVaSzmyHJAPKRuhcivlZcWUd0g0arpGIng35mkuQ_LLMRwmv5zgVTnInxZDty3zMIhbo9Pvm9Am-Y08CfyO_-OpFCfertAsNl-tVJ8fucVb5YkttIUW40SDChJWz-cjfqc6k7ZCJN0FI/s1600/538701_334457676615303_100001532198186_941406_673896100_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVaSzmyHJAPKRuhcivlZcWUd0g0arpGIng35mkuQ_LLMRwmv5zgVTnInxZDty3zMIhbo9Pvm9Am-Y08CfyO_-OpFCfertAsNl-tVJ8fucVb5YkttIUW40SDChJWz-cjfqc6k7ZCJN0FI/s400/538701_334457676615303_100001532198186_941406_673896100_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The almost completed "pier and beam" foundation, ready for the framing members that will span from beam to beam across the waiting piers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ahhhhhh, but we have a dirty little secret! A void carton. Huh...a what? Down at the bottom of every form board we position a cardboard box looking thing called a "void carton" that lives in the bottom of the beam between piers that are drilled down into bedrock. Over time the box carton rots away and leaves a void space. When the gumbo swells, it doesn't have anything on which to push. Genius - pure genius!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQuCb9HWNua0g7MLQ7hD6cjT42C3tbv9WWpA8EsKJUlTvrgLP3RkYVdlGVH8ZmVpFBkQd5_D4GzmnjPckwMIucAmrHRdwSy0qWRpk59KEhHd4YJk-zxTiHCtKvRVKpAjEPxKv9-zdI1c/s1600/2006CasnerRes2_ExtRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQuCb9HWNua0g7MLQ7hD6cjT42C3tbv9WWpA8EsKJUlTvrgLP3RkYVdlGVH8ZmVpFBkQd5_D4GzmnjPckwMIucAmrHRdwSy0qWRpk59KEhHd4YJk-zxTiHCtKvRVKpAjEPxKv9-zdI1c/s400/2006CasnerRes2_ExtRes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sittin' high and sittin' pretty! No "push-ups" for this home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many of our client's consider their homes a work of art! How do you think that would look with a big ole' black gumbo crack running right through the center of the picture?</span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-60394208952630809382012-04-06T10:56:00.000-07:002012-04-06T10:56:28.712-07:00Efficiency Rules!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7xCC-sMuFy7WO6KkSgL-Se5PO5GrI2EOBRlM9WoENegMPBn6bdryMZdFqb37rEqCwgfV75uaiNaBlliCzLYNAZ-9SqPTzfyDiSesPpzSE1H6yU9qXPYU91dr1Ssvdj5qO8c8JZncZME/s1600/efficiency1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7xCC-sMuFy7WO6KkSgL-Se5PO5GrI2EOBRlM9WoENegMPBn6bdryMZdFqb37rEqCwgfV75uaiNaBlliCzLYNAZ-9SqPTzfyDiSesPpzSE1H6yU9qXPYU91dr1Ssvdj5qO8c8JZncZME/s400/efficiency1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Job efficiency wins out every time! I'm convinced that's how we won The Crawford Residence re-model. Apparently two other bidders were cheaper, but Mindy and Carlos recognized through all of the smoke that we knew what needed to be done; had the people to do it; and the ability to get in and out of their lives quickly so that they can get on about the business of living!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfupcXSjJHad_zmndqDoqCIGL4YE8_pSc1MOs3GmucaXxeYlTCBg1TgF3l2L4dSRiHXZxwPywoGMphSqiqF1oJnLjh1q9V5WJgxfeLEbGMAGtWhRg8R_epNP4X0lWmLEKuBN7UpuSO5I/s1600/siteimg_large_226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfupcXSjJHad_zmndqDoqCIGL4YE8_pSc1MOs3GmucaXxeYlTCBg1TgF3l2L4dSRiHXZxwPywoGMphSqiqF1oJnLjh1q9V5WJgxfeLEbGMAGtWhRg8R_epNP4X0lWmLEKuBN7UpuSO5I/s200/siteimg_large_226.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that's what it's all about. We will bring highly skilled, incredibly qualified and gifted craftsmen to every job for the sole purpose of helping our clients do exactly what they want done -<b><i> efficiently</i></b>!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Through the years my business partner Phillip McCloud and I have marveled at contractors who take the cheapest bid regardless of who that subcontractor is! Why would you want to "train" the lowest bidding subcontractor on your client's job? More importantly, why would you want to put someone you don't know in the same house with your client both during the project, and servicing after the sale? Can anyone really afford that sort of liability?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhuvs1Lit15ZybMVFIUQwa3yNbl-BxJqh-0DPR-zYWKoc03-Ywj6yQ86tlowiBHEXsVwVUmG9nYW1oAIURGMt4OFuUDEZL1Ykv3BKxmD7g_gfFxqbluncZuYXF6M7dSkPQgqYQSjx1kk/s1600/bright-idea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhuvs1Lit15ZybMVFIUQwa3yNbl-BxJqh-0DPR-zYWKoc03-Ywj6yQ86tlowiBHEXsVwVUmG9nYW1oAIURGMt4OFuUDEZL1Ykv3BKxmD7g_gfFxqbluncZuYXF6M7dSkPQgqYQSjx1kk/s320/bright-idea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Both Phillip and I have been stopped through the years by clients who<b><i> didn't</i></b> hire us. The story is always the same - <i>'Boy we wished we'd a hired you guys, our project was a DISASTER!!'</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0Q-QJ6yHrzu5D033bI1IOgbqVkB7UkDSDHZki4patUvTUXSRtLWqJCdraG7olZGaE7gfpRbtVISU7rt7z6lgIaYN3JgW3SXpASP-fpgxxT7VqMVsnC1nAIqJLslK9XEQUDoY5T3bQjk/s1600/P1010030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0Q-QJ6yHrzu5D033bI1IOgbqVkB7UkDSDHZki4patUvTUXSRtLWqJCdraG7olZGaE7gfpRbtVISU7rt7z6lgIaYN3JgW3SXpASP-fpgxxT7VqMVsnC1nAIqJLslK9XEQUDoY5T3bQjk/s400/P1010030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We're not gloating. And the "near misses" are always painful to hear. But the more gray I get in my head, the more our clientele seems willing to listen to our story about <b><i><u>efficiency!</u></i></b> Our guys aren't the cheapest - until you have to rip it out and re-do it!</span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-35604664369008871012012-03-28T15:23:00.000-07:002012-03-28T15:23:47.896-07:00Web - a - licious...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7INk3lDYGzDgT42Gpxt_kQoASaG3LMOPvq5Vq0a_YWT8aC8XKc8qs6jZi1KD3Es4w-0fuSSWz_yfwQbE3cFmDWVVUMvE1k_0QTUts1We1zDbeXTECDjGMK74nNF4b_fWwtrNbkyWUXI/s1600/wedge-mb-transom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7INk3lDYGzDgT42Gpxt_kQoASaG3LMOPvq5Vq0a_YWT8aC8XKc8qs6jZi1KD3Es4w-0fuSSWz_yfwQbE3cFmDWVVUMvE1k_0QTUts1We1zDbeXTECDjGMK74nNF4b_fWwtrNbkyWUXI/s400/wedge-mb-transom.jpg" width="367" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8surS_fZzFWV0KX95xxKDOHtmzwAeWthrwVINmSnQbkgmM-sOLJFMqB2egmWo78ZBsDp4WjiI3_yD4ADDVOgRSdRpH4hmFbOyHK1txWH-aNZbzVBDiqJAigeED0KraKU4enEDd5lkI9g/s1600/hoebekelogoheader.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8surS_fZzFWV0KX95xxKDOHtmzwAeWthrwVINmSnQbkgmM-sOLJFMqB2egmWo78ZBsDp4WjiI3_yD4ADDVOgRSdRpH4hmFbOyHK1txWH-aNZbzVBDiqJAigeED0KraKU4enEDd5lkI9g/s400/hoebekelogoheader.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIT38daYLp9oA615ItwQZJ0Ks9P9GVnmbsNd6LUkILzO_pYe1W7f36EyP-VBu8l0gMrx56P9P28Z-GHd5kSrO1SBjFBOKzo4dQupBhAojcRBt2xn0Ru1UV3c9WYb44TaE9UsPnudJrOY/s1600/nav.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIT38daYLp9oA615ItwQZJ0Ks9P9GVnmbsNd6LUkILzO_pYe1W7f36EyP-VBu8l0gMrx56P9P28Z-GHd5kSrO1SBjFBOKzo4dQupBhAojcRBt2xn0Ru1UV3c9WYb44TaE9UsPnudJrOY/s400/nav.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It just had to happen. After nine years of ear shattering crescendo and heavy music loop Hoebeke Builders has changed it's website. Technology and just plain 'ole good ideas change in a matter of nano seconds (whatever that is!), and the Flash driven old site was shop worn. Our range of project capability has also changed with the addition of my business partner Phillip McCloud, but we couldn't easily manipulate the old site to reflect our diverse range.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTI2c-JTYXz1P2YismIq9wAk0X0fqlwW57ku8YE1r5tzY2OdH3jRr2u66Y-x-lv-55CbqSCuX8-nyaxGtsHO_uDcfFvy9ilsqahC2TCZSBbPe0ibB9g7_YDT0ne6_t8YN-5J6pt0-aTU/s1600/1330-beverly-lucas-texas-phillip-mccloud-004_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTI2c-JTYXz1P2YismIq9wAk0X0fqlwW57ku8YE1r5tzY2OdH3jRr2u66Y-x-lv-55CbqSCuX8-nyaxGtsHO_uDcfFvy9ilsqahC2TCZSBbPe0ibB9g7_YDT0ne6_t8YN-5J6pt0-aTU/s400/1330-beverly-lucas-texas-phillip-mccloud-004_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So longtime friend Alan Burks enlisted the services of Will Von Bolton to give us a "facelift." Boy oh boy is it infinitely better! Fresh, clean and very reflective of our capabilities <a href="http://www.hoebekebuilders.com/">www.hoebekebuilders.com</a> is a vast improvement over the heaviness of the old site. Now we have all of the "toys" in one place - <b><i><a href="http://www.hoebekebuilders.com/index.php/new-construction">"New Construction"</a></i></b>; <b><i><a href="http://www.hoebekebuilders.com/index.php/remodel">"Remodeling"</a></i></b>; <b><i><a href="http://www.hoebekebuilders.com/index.php/the-details">"Details"</a></i></b>; even a link to this blog spills out from under one corporate umbrella. <b><i><u>AND,</u></i></b> we can change the site whenever the mood strikes us! Easily. Without working through a WebMaster.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBQDcVIW4eu6BonSWRc-3xdK_fKzDZq7bptS08zGDr1Ga2113L05g6a9VTDYWAhXkuHV5vHmPGrfGYr2w3-S_aI-gJUOCN5hPq9Yl-bPOO_5uD8hCYRUjBw8_LoZmwGBrhX0m-d8isqA/s1600/subpic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBQDcVIW4eu6BonSWRc-3xdK_fKzDZq7bptS08zGDr1Ga2113L05g6a9VTDYWAhXkuHV5vHmPGrfGYr2w3-S_aI-gJUOCN5hPq9Yl-bPOO_5uD8hCYRUjBw8_LoZmwGBrhX0m-d8isqA/s400/subpic6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you know me, and/or read my stuff, you undoubtedly know that I am horribly technologically challenged. How do you keep yourself, and your business fresh, and relevant for a client that's not into stodgy? We hope this new platform allows us to change with the marketplace. But you be our judge - let us know what you think!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLS2FYF6tYgkOo3HqqIeDHkRYepvTxGr639zT-o8NG-WzMcYuKhjJIMG6rQfth0_eBgU0u1I1otS0X1KydoavKn3llpmDcQOrfMNkb6ruN0kMOuDAz2T-bA2-qNC0GgJORORbNeWqOA4/s1600/slide21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLS2FYF6tYgkOo3HqqIeDHkRYepvTxGr639zT-o8NG-WzMcYuKhjJIMG6rQfth0_eBgU0u1I1otS0X1KydoavKn3llpmDcQOrfMNkb6ruN0kMOuDAz2T-bA2-qNC0GgJORORbNeWqOA4/s400/slide21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-19282970324712631482012-03-21T14:13:00.000-07:002012-03-21T14:13:41.593-07:00Ain't Grandkids Fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZDdLomdF75RwHt5r1skZxK6IMW8QZ9CVXwSgrn-DhQQ5OneP4bgHYjHjGitQhQ04er-ABoMk665wn8py-ThawVr1MbagLnQwXok9yQnJHaVoNtEQCVjIV7ugA56Rv8lR2adfjJHHJqI/s1600/P1010014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZDdLomdF75RwHt5r1skZxK6IMW8QZ9CVXwSgrn-DhQQ5OneP4bgHYjHjGitQhQ04er-ABoMk665wn8py-ThawVr1MbagLnQwXok9yQnJHaVoNtEQCVjIV7ugA56Rv8lR2adfjJHHJqI/s400/P1010014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Our oldest Grandchild turned three the other day. Being a grandparent may be one of the few "under-rated" experiences in life! We had a family blowout, and she had a blast!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0nmas-Z0V7ayclIjJ1knHt4Gw9ml5Egmciu4aOH7vnyjmeZR4K_0B1uiG8oLvJgY4EvMDChuxAYCXJTbQ7kCqnUny_YbVPd83tq81v8NZ9XlXsSzkfL2_rqIb75FA1ZedihjYf2dtkc/s1600/P1010015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0nmas-Z0V7ayclIjJ1knHt4Gw9ml5Egmciu4aOH7vnyjmeZR4K_0B1uiG8oLvJgY4EvMDChuxAYCXJTbQ7kCqnUny_YbVPd83tq81v8NZ9XlXsSzkfL2_rqIb75FA1ZedihjYf2dtkc/s400/P1010015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Shelby and Jake's little girl reveled in all of the attention. The gifts were pretty good too! Of course Dolly and Shelby couldn't do anything just halfway, so our house morphed into one really good party!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cJ3NDRHQI2jsk_oSo_Zuw3_Qj5AyDBLMXRJYyER7Xeknr2jEvMgsBc1wX6GoPUtSHNkFtYauRQKRLwkwRua0PUE6KSmqyi8aDk4mk3LkWzIKcLgfgD2I54nY6ultv-eO6stXMV-jwuA/s1600/P1010023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cJ3NDRHQI2jsk_oSo_Zuw3_Qj5AyDBLMXRJYyER7Xeknr2jEvMgsBc1wX6GoPUtSHNkFtYauRQKRLwkwRua0PUE6KSmqyi8aDk4mk3LkWzIKcLgfgD2I54nY6ultv-eO6stXMV-jwuA/s400/P1010023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The hit of the party was big girl's make-up, also know around here as "puff-puff." As you can see the puff-puff takes immediate precedence over the new shower cap!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2GDtz9RzPsA-o0LiOgSPl4SMZak3qujJHG01V8-7pnucOSBNnGmne_A99W7jrdE6rPnWSUpmS4fJJ4N66HOTcjVBqG2Z0Lg4XcxzPGXbOuaJX4X-71DV2ZOCWzPH8pCekZPKbAZ_qvI/s1600/P1010021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2GDtz9RzPsA-o0LiOgSPl4SMZak3qujJHG01V8-7pnucOSBNnGmne_A99W7jrdE6rPnWSUpmS4fJJ4N66HOTcjVBqG2Z0Lg4XcxzPGXbOuaJX4X-71DV2ZOCWzPH8pCekZPKbAZ_qvI/s400/P1010021.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>Ahhhhhh, now we're all dressed up and ready to go! Just like Mommy, Mama Sissy, and Dolly we've got our make-up on and we are ready to step out on the town!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZVEgtN12GfC545yFE_JP7MSKV8ylnkXduxoBeXgFcsj9p8B6kpoRD5xS59Tx1GlN0-9A_Je4wRGDA4E5eH_MWCaPB1ZmJrcV_z2J2M4jSuWnJnkX9PElL-xNRJH9JZr4vpTO89fJcbE/s1600/P1010013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZVEgtN12GfC545yFE_JP7MSKV8ylnkXduxoBeXgFcsj9p8B6kpoRD5xS59Tx1GlN0-9A_Je4wRGDA4E5eH_MWCaPB1ZmJrcV_z2J2M4jSuWnJnkX9PElL-xNRJH9JZr4vpTO89fJcbE/s400/P1010013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Let's stop and have some Birthday cake and dessert first - need to build up our stamina for tomorrow's shopping!Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-60415203429429835462012-03-07T20:28:00.004-08:002012-03-11T14:16:34.762-07:00"Bloomin' Fun!!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsm9p6791AXCTE-sBfq36LbXtuJplIufKZ0krg6mI5dv29p7vtxw6MOj_lrbbUlwtra4NLOnBYWYNiEGtuFmD-xP2oTkDDY0RAFtPU76nqMkaxjokv1yVeDiuVAFt5UihTeEO-P6XnlU/s1600/IMG_0242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsm9p6791AXCTE-sBfq36LbXtuJplIufKZ0krg6mI5dv29p7vtxw6MOj_lrbbUlwtra4NLOnBYWYNiEGtuFmD-xP2oTkDDY0RAFtPU76nqMkaxjokv1yVeDiuVAFt5UihTeEO-P6XnlU/s400/IMG_0242.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Dallas Blooms,</i></b> and the <b><i>Small Houses of Great Artists</i></b> exhibit took off last weekend like a scalded dog! The Arboretum had over 77,000 people stroll the grounds Saturday and Sunday! My favorite people (my family, and my grandkids!) toured Monday morning to see firsthand Dutch's work. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM9ZfiiupbIHslw3sneQ1NjSuPHX5m-F5cNb49dqHDdh62MLdvjdtQRVoFZdie6GXl8WiluzTzzoggELd0a2dc0v96rKZpueAZ3P1rHY76zQl1oglL3V8aonTIbOWQba23TTFxmKALuI/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM9ZfiiupbIHslw3sneQ1NjSuPHX5m-F5cNb49dqHDdh62MLdvjdtQRVoFZdie6GXl8WiluzTzzoggELd0a2dc0v96rKZpueAZ3P1rHY76zQl1oglL3V8aonTIbOWQba23TTFxmKALuI/s400/IMG_0265.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7xtfO8XVR3sFSwITTieKEBmhXDKtZ6u0GhBgyPKUftGN6GdknMplFZVL9DOC9cXOuKAfVLQ9X1L666rdyfEeA8yRPfhfHrPmhBsms7rSvHXsy0jXaEK44aNJcghUH18zfoszdvNvsBU/s1600/P1010006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7xtfO8XVR3sFSwITTieKEBmhXDKtZ6u0GhBgyPKUftGN6GdknMplFZVL9DOC9cXOuKAfVLQ9X1L666rdyfEeA8yRPfhfHrPmhBsms7rSvHXsy0jXaEK44aNJcghUH18zfoszdvNvsBU/s200/P1010006.JPG" width="166" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Watching our kids, and their kids run, laugh, and play out in the gardens just seems so right. Monday was a beautiful day. Four generations of Hoebeke's were present as my parents made the trip to check out their son's handiwork. The sunshine and fresh air enhanced those beautiful grounds that sit right on White Rock Lake. Needless to say, we are all extremely grateful for the time we can share together - and for our health!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraBLJqUqZWH-RBeNsL_HGFTkmKDTD2mGq-GZgAxmw2b8yMI-SQkRQvbR2417ebSP8hE9fnO8VR5fXDsTi6LFdj_t7XMFXarz53osSCAU4aSx_EURTdnoIZJz7VD9ck2i90DySE5XOpuk/s1600/P1010009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraBLJqUqZWH-RBeNsL_HGFTkmKDTD2mGq-GZgAxmw2b8yMI-SQkRQvbR2417ebSP8hE9fnO8VR5fXDsTi6LFdj_t7XMFXarz53osSCAU4aSx_EURTdnoIZJz7VD9ck2i90DySE5XOpuk/s400/P1010009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Monday was also "Mommie and Me" at the Arboretum. A weekly event that happens each Monday, throngs of moms and their kids - thick as bugs on a bumper, flock to the gardens. The kids love the petting zoo and face painting. The moms love wearing the kids out so they will take a really good nap!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91dKegx2nWDZpbxKNSm6ugOabeb5Fj9xpxNn-iLx4qw64Qiz9vS3hT4yav-RyBZIhgRdUNww2JysaGZFxCAgBCwwqSDGcs4J2O2i6NasslfKR6t7bqw1f0bdAroUZGRnhyL-obhPKXBA/s1600/IMG_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91dKegx2nWDZpbxKNSm6ugOabeb5Fj9xpxNn-iLx4qw64Qiz9vS3hT4yav-RyBZIhgRdUNww2JysaGZFxCAgBCwwqSDGcs4J2O2i6NasslfKR6t7bqw1f0bdAroUZGRnhyL-obhPKXBA/s320/IMG_0224.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-KHFQDI0jhJtLqxShWSdmT2-nA-sXrt3EwiyE5JToILbRVH1Shcmyo-InfTI_-frNadSH5KdxEtGj6R9rL5lq4L9bt0WnQXkOMSIPxxL-VsCnTFlBKRNQDCLEubBxtkuwTMCKhjTP7Q/s1600/IMG_0281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-KHFQDI0jhJtLqxShWSdmT2-nA-sXrt3EwiyE5JToILbRVH1Shcmyo-InfTI_-frNadSH5KdxEtGj6R9rL5lq4L9bt0WnQXkOMSIPxxL-VsCnTFlBKRNQDCLEubBxtkuwTMCKhjTP7Q/s320/IMG_0281.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">McCall, Wells, and Jack (well maybe not Jack - he's only 4 months old!) checked out what Dutch and longtime friend and business partner Phillip McCloud put together. The smiles on their faces suggested that they really liked what they saw!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioP9B6u_YOG_o75jzgM-GR2PIFxiizz5op72e2NcMggkoudu7hIY8Ma5wGw3XD9g6A_g_V0YjY_3UoCLVRmA27zajRLu6woD2o6x-g-ngEr1v3lNbGbizRCLNcE6GX5c_xYtMgGb72Es/s1600/IMG_0295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioP9B6u_YOG_o75jzgM-GR2PIFxiizz5op72e2NcMggkoudu7hIY8Ma5wGw3XD9g6A_g_V0YjY_3UoCLVRmA27zajRLu6woD2o6x-g-ngEr1v3lNbGbizRCLNcE6GX5c_xYtMgGb72Es/s400/IMG_0295.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With over 500,000 tulip bulbs, flowering cherry trees, and azaleas getting ready to bloom, this is a wonderful time of the year to tour the Arboretum. Our exhibit will be there for the playin' through the end of the year. Mark your calendar and come see us!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXYXqmW9JZaWKtghpYubfwvTrTbsKGbenbwuH7H8gi8u9y-_eU2kzftBz-UjYCuPnxRue8wV6idlgzL99yU5iFE8GEGLVA97njLMKrIhbYLh-OQ59od221kZPwTodcN-sGS-k1PRZEZk/s1600/IMG_0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXYXqmW9JZaWKtghpYubfwvTrTbsKGbenbwuH7H8gi8u9y-_eU2kzftBz-UjYCuPnxRue8wV6idlgzL99yU5iFE8GEGLVA97njLMKrIhbYLh-OQ59od221kZPwTodcN-sGS-k1PRZEZk/s640/IMG_0252.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFJteuf5KL0cuwUYd0ZYhwB4xFx4b9NsLpIqovsW_tS_OqHYn9uGALY_5S8H8H-Ymefdjry3QJ8QDKUFy1QGSVAxYEG58vSkq1NBdXPyU1amQl8Ie42QKDbfPQh9HvKGEtJkehrKE0cY/s1600/P1010004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFJteuf5KL0cuwUYd0ZYhwB4xFx4b9NsLpIqovsW_tS_OqHYn9uGALY_5S8H8H-Ymefdjry3QJ8QDKUFy1QGSVAxYEG58vSkq1NBdXPyU1amQl8Ie42QKDbfPQh9HvKGEtJkehrKE0cY/s400/P1010004.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwGo1Bhf-E9Q-Fv98DO3Q2txE5Bh8-OFCgvRNmdCNC_7a-sn1Cdf58Ng-g_AH8gUwP7KRKmglCwSh_jrCm-n0xQxC70gxbV8iSFDZtAzCXK8L73pjDdT3LDk1JRfM2s4Iu7iLWYGfO9A/s1600/IMG_0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwGo1Bhf-E9Q-Fv98DO3Q2txE5Bh8-OFCgvRNmdCNC_7a-sn1Cdf58Ng-g_AH8gUwP7KRKmglCwSh_jrCm-n0xQxC70gxbV8iSFDZtAzCXK8L73pjDdT3LDk1JRfM2s4Iu7iLWYGfO9A/s400/IMG_0270.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>(Editor's Note: The exhibit picked up a wonderful endorsement from the <a href="http://www.cookefam.com/2012/03/dallas-blooms-2012.html">Cooke family</a> at http://www.cookefam.com/2012/03/dallas-blooms-2012.html . It's gratifying to see the Houses "in action" with kids having fun! Rachel Cooke's photography is pretty good too!)</i> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-850685126743997162.post-60626217058324146762012-03-01T17:00:00.000-08:002012-03-01T17:00:01.231-08:00Miles of Smiles!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDt4b3eg6d7wgunJHOtIXmEGSjWRBQU75hCepGfcGtOB31vvjXHx83q1xicnPRTQSClVvuhc4AbqZOIcAaGEmSxjTFaXwCzb04pr7Aa4QoVzljwGek8PdY-cC_-OphJUHTAXo23CbRro/s1600/shutterstock_9204820-5-smiling-kids2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDt4b3eg6d7wgunJHOtIXmEGSjWRBQU75hCepGfcGtOB31vvjXHx83q1xicnPRTQSClVvuhc4AbqZOIcAaGEmSxjTFaXwCzb04pr7Aa4QoVzljwGek8PdY-cC_-OphJUHTAXo23CbRro/s400/shutterstock_9204820-5-smiling-kids2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It's here! <b><i>Dallas Blooms</i></b> at the Arboretum in conjunction with <b><i><a href="http://www.dallasarboretum.org/">"Small Houses of Great Artists!"</a></i></b> (which you and I know from other blogs as the Kid's Playhouses!) is finished and ready for Kids! So how did the final result compare with the original Architect's design? You tell me...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3T-P_efE-IcNDJxYd74Ztj2ceX724yxM5RUHs9bcRnS9-UM_eDPfj_QQUGMibwSgDc8ZEVHCm9ns5Xc-XXNMJuoCUYJBvayMCqv5V2Jv9rViuuUlafd0pLc9xySrGOofxt9W6lfLakA/s1600/Monet+colored+rendering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3T-P_efE-IcNDJxYd74Ztj2ceX724yxM5RUHs9bcRnS9-UM_eDPfj_QQUGMibwSgDc8ZEVHCm9ns5Xc-XXNMJuoCUYJBvayMCqv5V2Jv9rViuuUlafd0pLc9xySrGOofxt9W6lfLakA/s320/Monet+colored+rendering.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Monet" by <a href="http://www.fuscharchitects.com/">Robbie Fusch</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qu3b4Z5T16Wt5pM0Sl6hgFxrI-wFE4voWYKRu0HfsZCpCAeOSc0Q65NANzhY46tUZMSS1g6qLb2z2Vm4HytVmSUDC7klcJKmWNhSn-H1qAZ85XQbTDCQ-L9mXuF__MMzcddrJB9HeqA/s1600/Monet+Feature+Shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qu3b4Z5T16Wt5pM0Sl6hgFxrI-wFE4voWYKRu0HfsZCpCAeOSc0Q65NANzhY46tUZMSS1g6qLb2z2Vm4HytVmSUDC7klcJKmWNhSn-H1qAZ85XQbTDCQ-L9mXuF__MMzcddrJB9HeqA/s400/Monet+Feature+Shot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.billhurstphotography.com/">Bill Hurst Photography</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Phillip McCloud and I had a wonderful time putting this project together! The Arboretum people could not have been nicer, or more gracious - they made our job much easier.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJF25567g9YcYiPwoELVUtj2pECrbz8mRhTYzRb1HWahmCRR6tOLK3Rsta9oyvADrHY4DGemlihRS0LgOWQpg5L9SZcDlpW9u4q6jRvUWwkzELX3SaATSHIp3V0aU90VXG1zRqmeKNEw/s1600/Picasso+House+Model+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJF25567g9YcYiPwoELVUtj2pECrbz8mRhTYzRb1HWahmCRR6tOLK3Rsta9oyvADrHY4DGemlihRS0LgOWQpg5L9SZcDlpW9u4q6jRvUWwkzELX3SaATSHIp3V0aU90VXG1zRqmeKNEw/s320/Picasso+House+Model+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Picasso" by <a href="http://wilsonfuqua.com/">Wilson Fuqua</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAepS9wQ8_7f-ow8pAy0Ld3UyeBnVp_KZNlalDeTAXzvn6A-zesJudsTwEHardvWu6V0Q3Ycq801uVgOkZKjup0dnn5-igpb3aWPyiMNjZRwAbiH96S3suW0kfmZn-VX3wKbKSzVpiomU/s1600/Picasso+Feature+Shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAepS9wQ8_7f-ow8pAy0Ld3UyeBnVp_KZNlalDeTAXzvn6A-zesJudsTwEHardvWu6V0Q3Ycq801uVgOkZKjup0dnn5-igpb3aWPyiMNjZRwAbiH96S3suW0kfmZn-VX3wKbKSzVpiomU/s400/Picasso+Feature+Shot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Bill Hurst Photography</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Of course the four Architects, Robbie Fusch, Wilson Fuqua, Clint Pearson, and Paul Turney turned each Great Artist's habitat into childhood whimsey!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEm6h8ZolwhXFm9GpwUeTSLLUVciCGEo70bPokcp6djZcXsWqtOMtp6VFPHyDq14TcgkVtrdi4dxPlftK2hDViGURFsgME0fTAhj1ioFZHcj7h3ChykvFTuxDboA4lC-YRSGI-cPEL3Q/s1600/OKEEFFE_sketch_color%252811x17%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEm6h8ZolwhXFm9GpwUeTSLLUVciCGEo70bPokcp6djZcXsWqtOMtp6VFPHyDq14TcgkVtrdi4dxPlftK2hDViGURFsgME0fTAhj1ioFZHcj7h3ChykvFTuxDboA4lC-YRSGI-cPEL3Q/s320/OKEEFFE_sketch_color%252811x17%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"O'Keeffe" by <a href="http://www.symmetryarchitects.com/">Clint Pearson</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUa53Dm8SFmVg-ityBegluW0foU_srhfl3eijq7U9IYlZWESxGFclL_mXjU0WDM2tFxl6Titdu6tuYT1A9TUnrfv10gnC4yb0b83o_q4XS_UCIkj5YF65oALg19UByTfWzl-MQV9ccL0/s1600/O%2527Keeffe+Feature+Shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUa53Dm8SFmVg-ityBegluW0foU_srhfl3eijq7U9IYlZWESxGFclL_mXjU0WDM2tFxl6Titdu6tuYT1A9TUnrfv10gnC4yb0b83o_q4XS_UCIkj5YF65oALg19UByTfWzl-MQV9ccL0/s400/O%2527Keeffe+Feature+Shot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Bill Hurst Photography</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And our friend Mona Crider of La Foofaraw and her talented team really dressed the insides of our cottages.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFX75cYJerv6xVlNCMtJ9EBGAJPFlQSp9JHMsxeKrgVGF1Ivgg0pVjyoTEM7qwEPat53AD3i0Eql2YO409oigm64eKSU9Uv5B1wOqWLUGJafwzidtzp6A2Pie_WgzU_kbPR27Q_eABW4/s1600/Seurat+Rendering-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFX75cYJerv6xVlNCMtJ9EBGAJPFlQSp9JHMsxeKrgVGF1Ivgg0pVjyoTEM7qwEPat53AD3i0Eql2YO409oigm64eKSU9Uv5B1wOqWLUGJafwzidtzp6A2Pie_WgzU_kbPR27Q_eABW4/s320/Seurat+Rendering-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Seurat" by Paul Turney</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7BHtx4qB8g6RnGD2E_hwpttlSWJv7LkjEcsJRe1F23CPcuIXzcFfYtxEDrGsniPufifWxGrOeATp4ZKLVDn5X9tW4Af5zg3hi3zuZ0zPMebzXIQi9CG1qyhI-gb78DWKF6ZwOYtnoEw/s1600/Seurat+Feature+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7BHtx4qB8g6RnGD2E_hwpttlSWJv7LkjEcsJRe1F23CPcuIXzcFfYtxEDrGsniPufifWxGrOeATp4ZKLVDn5X9tW4Af5zg3hi3zuZ0zPMebzXIQi9CG1qyhI-gb78DWKF6ZwOYtnoEw/s400/Seurat+Feature+Photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Bill Hurst Photography</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But our deepest gratitude goes to those vendors and subcontractors who wanted to see this project succeed and helped us out of a very tight budget and into all of this kid's splendor!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHwx8wruZlwFkiTfwMNiisWRhEQuh4NLFdAOQ4Jn6S7KllcYUgdUostwiXKwpTKa1Qxgiuxxx9sysKEwK9NVv_J9esDva2JAPZ7XYmLkeix7GJOqBTPH_AcumoRdghcrD5_qYL-tYlLI/s1600/Kids-Playing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHwx8wruZlwFkiTfwMNiisWRhEQuh4NLFdAOQ4Jn6S7KllcYUgdUostwiXKwpTKa1Qxgiuxxx9sysKEwK9NVv_J9esDva2JAPZ7XYmLkeix7GJOqBTPH_AcumoRdghcrD5_qYL-tYlLI/s400/Kids-Playing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So how did <a href="http://hoebekebuilders.com/">Hoebeke Builders</a> do at taking a two dimensional rendering, and making it come to life? Meet the <b><i>Judges!</i></b>Build Your Nesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05604650778593542541noreply@blogger.com1