Home Cliches: Home is Where the Heart is, But When is a House a Home?

There's a cliché that asserts that “home is where the heart is”. This may be true, but high sentiment aside, sometimes home is simply a place where you can relax on the couch and sleep, even as the children wreak havoc around you.

Let's break into a second cliché, and see what it is that makes a house a home. When asked this, people will likely answer with a great variety of requirements that would turn a structure into a good home: love, family, good people, happy memories, and so forth. Yes, there are probably as many definitions of “home” as there are people, and each would depend on what that person values the most.

Some would say that a home should protect those within—from nature, the weather, and any person or creature that has cause to do you harm. Others will claim that a good home must also nurture family relationships, and that regardless of where you live, be it a cramped apartment or a mansion, what's important is the interactions between those who live there. Finally, there are those who would say a place—even one without a roof, doors, or windows—where you are content is home.

The Anatomy of an Awesome Home

When asked for their idea of the perfect house, most people will be able to answer at the drop of a hat. This is probably because many of us have spent countless hours imagining where we'd like to live and what amenities our dream abode will have. Here are a few more things to consider when it comes to building an awesome home:

A Great Kitchen

Everyone loves good food, and a big, organized kitchen is where you get a chance to make it. A lot of houses have these tiny, cramped kitchens where you can barely fry an egg let alone make a gourmet meal. Realize your full master chef potential with an amazing kitchen.

A Big Garage

For all of you who enjoy tinkering with your car—or cars—the garage would definitely be your haven. With all the tools and vehicles you'd be working with, you'd need a big space to house it all, and that's what a big garage is for. You can even store loads of other stuff in it aside from just tools and equipment.

A Lovely Deck

Finally, where will you and your friends relax, grill some eats, and hang out on weekends if not on your very own deck? A dream home would simply be incomplete without one.

A dream home starts as just that, a dream. But dreams can become reality, especially if you have custom home builders by your side.

Mind the Seams: Protecting Corners and Valleys During Construction

Window corners and roof valleys, or basically any place where the continuity cuts off, are bound to be more prone to penetration. These places should have maximum protection because they offer an easier route to the deeper parts of the house. Custom home builders take note of the valleys and corners of every structure, often equipping them with the necessary protective materials. This is especially important when the house is under construction and the weather is being uncooperative.

Some of the protective measures employed during construction are only used until the builders can install more permanent solutions. Construction has to go on despite the sun and rain (of course, storms or calamities are a different thing), because the longer it takes to build a house, the costlier the project becomes. However, you can't dictate the weather, which is why it pays to be defensive.

When building a home or making renovations, always look out for corners and valleys, especially if they'll be directly affected by the project. Don't provide the elements with an entry point to wreak havoc inside your home. Invest in protective solutions to keep the house off-limits to moisture; otherwise, you run the risk of dealing with more problems than you can imagine.

Custom Homes Pave the Way for Housing in the Future

Data from the US Census Bureau reveals that around 56,000 houses were sold in the Midwest last February 2013. This is perhaps in response to the area's relatively poor real estate sales, with Minnesota currently identified as having the worst rental rates. While conventional home building techniques are still the norm throughout most of the country, a lot more people who can afford it now opt for custom-made houses.

Custom homes have the obvious of advantage of being constructed entirely according to the homeowner's specifications. Even small details like the placement of electrical sockets are often left in the hands of the homeowner. Consequently, custom homes are usually pricier than generic “stock houses” since the former incorporates high-quality building materials and additional home features such as landscaping, specialized air ventilation, efficient roofing systems, and many more.

Meanwhile, many builders are also convinced that custom homes provide the perfect testing ground for future home technologies such as “green roofs” (i.e. roofs that incorporate actual living plants). Some houses even have so-called smart home features that allow people to control lighting fixtures, appliances, and security systems using their smartphones. Custom home builders also encourage the use of recyclable and sustainable materials to help save the environment.