09-10-2010, 08:27 AM
We looked at a house similar to the one eric shared. We thought it's be great if we had a teenage or mother-in-law we wanted to isolate from the rest of the civilized household, but for just us, we wondered how much of a pain it would seem to cross the carport (dodging cars and creepy crawlies) every time we wanted a midnight snack. In the end, it seemed too disjointed for us.
I think you're better off building your full-sized house in one swoop, rather than building a "make do" and adding on. Why go through all the hassle of construction twice (not to mention the additional expense). Will you really be happy after you finish the small first phase? To me it seems like how I feel when I replace an oven or put in a new hot water heater - I've spent a whole lot of money and made a lot of mess, but what do I have to show for it?
Another consideration...if you go small and your circumstances change before Phase II is done, how easily will it be to sell the lot with sub-normal housing? If it were me and I had the resources to do it all and be done with it, that's what I would do.
I think you're better off building your full-sized house in one swoop, rather than building a "make do" and adding on. Why go through all the hassle of construction twice (not to mention the additional expense). Will you really be happy after you finish the small first phase? To me it seems like how I feel when I replace an oven or put in a new hot water heater - I've spent a whole lot of money and made a lot of mess, but what do I have to show for it?
Another consideration...if you go small and your circumstances change before Phase II is done, how easily will it be to sell the lot with sub-normal housing? If it were me and I had the resources to do it all and be done with it, that's what I would do.