Lately, many properties that were not built to really do good from its environment have come to my awareness. This hurts the resale value. Typically these are properties in tract subdivisions. One of the most egregious examples is a property I previewed recently located on a cul-de-sac lot neighboring to devoted greenbelt space. As you go into the street to the left of the home , straight the cul-de-sac you can find a natural ranchland with a wet weather creek, stunning mature oak trees and native vegetation. This is devoted space that will never be urbanized. One of those kind of sceneries one can see in photos, the scenery of pure Texas Hill Country that you imagine admiring them while sitting on a rocking chair at the back of the porch or on a swing. It is way better than looking at a neighbor's house. But whoever built the house sure did blow it.



Much to my amazement, the floorplan of this property presents no recognition or compass reading to this wholesome setting--none at all. Had I constructed on this lot, I would have chosen a floorplan that allowed the living room and/or kitchen windows to point out onto the open space, and I would have added a large covered patio from which the native Texas landscape could be enjoyed. This property was constructed without even a covered patio in back, and the patio itself is a tiny 5'8 foot concrete slab. Upstairs, the master bedroom is on the other part of the home from the open space and presents no view.

If there is none to choose from, the whole floorplan could have been reversed and flipped to the other side, the kitchen as well as the breakfast area would have had the view of the native Texas scenery, and the master bedroom would be overlooking it, while windows could have been added or shifted to more appropriate areas.

So why in the world would someone build a home on this lot that doesn't take full advantage of this wonderful and serene view? In my point of view, individuals would select first a floorplan and then pick a lot to place it on when buying for a new home, although they don't take time to decide whether the home is a fine match for the chosen lot. I've also witnessed builder spec houses constructed with the similar lack of thinking as to which floorplan may best take advantage of natural sceneries and/or compass reading of the lot.

On the other side, there can as well be negative characteristics of a lot that better thinking can mitigate. For example, would you build a home at the 'T' end of a street with the master bedroom windows in the front of the home? Of course not, for the shine of the headlights from vehicles will be seen through your windows. If you don't consider of things like this in advance of time, you will unluckily notice it the first night after you transfer in.

Pay attention to how good both the home and the lot compliment each other if you're prepared to buy or build a new home. Those houses that ignore this relationship are the houses you should stay away from. Be aware of the alignment of the streets and potential interruption of light from time road traffic to your home. observe the compass orientation of the home and whether likely sunlight will compliment or distress your living space.

Because of these sorts of issues I eliminate numerous candidate properties off the list when previewing houses for buyer prospects. Many of these houses will seem perfect on paper and in Internet photos, but they don't survive the first visit because it makes more than a fine floorplan to make a fine home. It has to be the proper floorplan for that lot.