Why not rent it?

Looks like it has heated slabs in the garage. I have the insulation under the slab and the tubes in the concrete downstairs in my garage but don't have a heater hooked to it yet.

Tom,
Appreciate your expert analysis of what you can see in the photos.
I am of the feeling that if the home comes back on the market, I may have a second chance to buy it. If so, one of the first projects I'd get started on is commissioning my own architectural firm, in improving the exterior's front entryway facade. Your input was/is valuable to me. If I had as many lifelong friends in Omaha, trained as architects, as I do attorneys, I'd have no problem securing an architect! Ha! In fact, our neighbor in Omaha was employed by Leo Daly Architects, and did design work on his own home, as he did for another neighbor.

When I first noticed this home by driving past it 15+ years ago, I was drawn with curiosity of whether it was a commercial building, or, a unique residence. The massive, custom garage coach door, with the Prevost coach's rear end in view, threw me off. Because of the custom paint job on the Prevost, I quickly realized it was probably a residence.

The initial reaction I had to viewing the sales photograph of the home, was that it resembled a schoolhouse from yesteryear - or, a Government office building. It certainly is of befuddling design!

Once again, thank you for the assessment(s)!

Nah, more like








https://movietvtechgeeks.com/wp-cont...es-400x240.jpg

The design at least on the front elevation is really strange. At least to me. As soon as I saw the picture I though it might be a good building to convert into medical offices.

Sometimes a minor exterior change of a façade can help a lot. Possibly not in this case. May take a substantial front wing.

Strange some large trees are not present either. Another thing if I were to buy this place to rent out as a residential unit. I would not do it as for that kind of rent expected. I would at least expect it to look like a home. Making it hard if not impossible to find a tennant. This buildings future may be something other than residential. Tough though if it is fixed use by local zoning regulations.

I would try to find the original architect and have a talk with him. There is little chance it was built from stock plans.

Why the unbalanced glazing design? The preliminary drawings must have looked as bad as the finished product. Maybe the client called too many components of the design. A Spanish tile roof might help a little. Although the structure may not be heavy enough to enable it. It could take a raised seam copper roof though.

Unbalanced designs are an everyday build and if done tastefully can work well. The bottom line is pretty much accept it as is or spend a substantial amount of money.

This I know is a hard cruel evaluation. It to me is just what it is. No matter who would want to buy it. Perhaps my vision is not what it normally is right now. I just do not see any easy substantial improvement. On the other hand I might just be having a bad day.

They have heat pumps for water heaters now.


Possibly cheapest operating costs and cleanest operation. About a third of the cost in operation of electrical resistance type heaters. Or maybe natural gas is cheap enough where you are. I have heated garage floors with oil fired water heaters years ago. Oil became so expensive I pulled all our oil fired hot water heaters.

Heated garage floors? You guys need to live in warmer climes...

Not at all. Flame away. I think your perceptions are cogent.

It occurred to me this morning that the residence was conceptually built around not making the 55' X 20' X 20'' RV garage, not look out of place. If that can be made to make sense in the home's design. Well, what it did was make a commercial sized rectangular box of the residence. Because, from the outside, one would never know of the outsized garage under roof, except for the massive, commercial design garage door. I think it got away from them, whether they realize it or not. Just my .02.

When my kids were small we had a saying as we drove along and saw an awkwardly designed builting...."We don't need no stinking Architect!"

I said it for a while then the kids started doing it too....at least the youngest did. She is an Architect now.;)

That's funnier than hell! :bowrofl::bowrofl:

Is she a successful architect?

I was acutely aware of my Dad's comments on lots, buildings and homes as we would drive through Omaha in our family car. All the way up to the year he passed, come to think of it.

He would talk about several life's issues, challenges and choices as we would spend time together. The rental properties he and my Mom built and owned were topical for 3 decades in conversation. Always a lesson with the drive.

None of my brothers or I pursued building or design, but I took everything in that he would say in relationship to design and finances.

My daughter graduated from Ball State (My alma mater too) about 5 years ago. She has been working for a mid sized firm here since in Lafayette and studying for her licensing test. She is married and has a one year old who the Mrs. watches two days a week. I can hear him babbling right now.

They bought a small story and a half historic home in a historic neighborhood that is ten minutes walk from my house.;)

I'd say she is successful in her profession and in her life so far. She has been the lead architect on a number of projects and done well with it apparently.

Her pleasant, youthful appearance belies a mental toughness beyond her years.;)

That's top-notch success indeed. The rigors of spouse, toddler, FT (fulltime) work - and the pressures of the upcoming licensing exam!

Thanks Skid! I'm very proud of her.

She's experiencing a tremendous amount of ongoing success and what her hard work is resulting in.

Back to the home - the frontal view is 100% symmetrical. Total sameness!

Perhaps there's no shame in symmetry, but is there an airtight safety for the architect, in shall we say "not taking any design chances" on its' frontal view?

How about constructing a portico (covered) front drive to break it up? There's a massive front lawn, so there's plenty of space to work with. .....

Your thoughts?

the secret to being a tolal suck up is lots of mucus apparently. eeeeeew.