House --er, HOME for the Holidays!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 1:44PM a book review by Gary Struthers
House, by Tracy Kidder, 1985, published by Mariner Books.
I always thought this should be required reading for anyone considering building a new home from scratch, or for that matter undertaking a sizable addition or remodel. In fact, I have given this book as a gift to several friends over the years! If you are thinking of taking on such a project, it’s a good read. The book can be a bit dry and somewhat slow, but well worth the time. It follows a couple who hire an architect (now very well known) to design their first home. The book is unbiased in covering the entire process of the design and the construction of the home from all perspectives -- the homeowners’, the architect’s, and the contractor’s.
What is worth taking away from this read, and understanding if you are going to brave a renovation, is that it is a process. While you are in the midst of a home remodel it can seem like a very long process. You should be very comfortable with the people you are working with; they will be intimately involved in your life for a period of time. For most people, cost is the single largest factor in selecting an architect or a contractor, and that is reasonable. Just behind that should be the relationship you have with the people you are inviting into your life. Think of it this way: ‘I am inviting someone to come and live in my house for several months; I will see them every day.’
I think the other important thing to take away from the book is that it is not a perfect process. No set of architectural documents answers every question that will arise -- it is a physical impossibility. Particularly in a remodel project (though a remodel is not the story line of this book), so many variables arise when you start a remodel project that are unpredictable. Be ready to be part of the process, and plan for contingencies; Most homeowners see opportunities during the process to add or change things, so make sure your budget allows for this. Good architects and contractors are versed in the give-and-take nature of the process. If you are comfortable with the people working with you, you will survive the undertaking and enjoy the benefits of the project for years to come.
Reader Comments (1)
Very informative. I agree with the statement of inviting people into your life.