I've been observing a lot of properties lately that were not built to make full advantage of the lot upon which they were built. This upsets the resale value. These said properties are most likely in tract subdivisions. One very conspicuous example is a residence built near the greenbelt space on a dead-end lot. As you drive into the street to the left of the property, directly the cul-de-sac you can see a natural ranchland with a wet weather creek, stunning mature oak trees and native vegetation. A space that is devoted not to be urbanized. It's wholesome Texas Hill Country panorama of the kind one sees in pictures and that you envision appreciating from a back porch rocking chair or swing. It really beats the heck out of looking at a neighbor's house. The person who made the house really did blow it.



Much to my astonishment, the floorplan of this property presents no recognition or orientation toward this wholesome surroundings--none at all. Had I built on this lot, I would have selected a floorplan that permitted the living room and/or kitchen windows to point out onto the open space, and I would have supplemented a large roofed patio from which the native Texas scenery could be appreciated. This property was built without even a roofed patio in back, and the patio itself is a small 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 and the breakfast area would have had the sight of the native Texas panorama, and the master bedroom would be overlooking it, while windows could have been supplemented or shifted to more proper places.

So why in the world would a person build a home on this lot that doesn't make full advantage of this wonderful and peaceful sight? I think when purchasing new homes, people select a floorplan first, then pick the lot on which to place the home (or vice-versa), but they don't always stop and ask themselves whether that home is a fine match for that specific lot. I've also witnessed builder spec houses built with the same lack of thinking as to which floorplan might best make advantage of natural sceneries and/or orientation of the lot.

On the other side, there can as well be negative distinctiveness 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 frontage of the home? Of course not, for the shine of the headlights from vehicles will be seen through your windows. You will surely discover this from you first night after moving in if you don't think of such things ahead of time.

If you're getting ready to build or buy a new home, pay attention to how good the home and the lot you've selected flatter each other. Those houses that ignore this relationship are the houses you should stay away from. Be conscious of the association of the streets and possible intrusion of light from time road traffic to your home. Pay attention to the compass reading of the home, the natural sunlight might either flatter or distress your living space .

Because of these sorts of concerns I scratch lots of candidate houses off the list when previewing houses for purchaser prospects. To make a fine home it makes more than a fine floorplan, this is why these houses that look perfect in Internet pictures and on paper doesn't survive on the first visit. The lot has to have the proper floorplan.