what makes a house a home?
113866
Love, a sense of belonging, and a remote control (Not necessarily in that order).
86801
Hello Kenna’s mum. Ah the joys of having children and losing one’s identity into them… \n\nI’m going to assume that, as you use the word ‘home’ rather than ‘house’, you are looking at something in which to live rather than to turn a profit. In which case, I think the single biggest FOR is that you will have a home onto which you have indelibly stamped your personality if you choose a doer upper over something already complete. Pretty well everything else can be both a FOR and AGAINST depending on whom you are. And that’s the key. If you understand what you’re buying and can correctly judge the amount of work needed on a doer upper you can make very large savings. But you have to be good at budgeting and sticking to a budget; you have to really enjoy creating something from nothing (which includes the finishing detail – so many people can do 95% of something and then get bored); can you manage others (contractors, trade people, your partner?); do you have the time available for the commitment?; can you live in the middle of a building site for several months?; are you both fully committed to the same vision? These questions have to be addressed. If the answers are yes then you will embark on an adventure that will be both financially and spiritually satisfying. If the answer is no, you risk emotional turmoil and financial disaster. \n\nSo you have to look honestly at yourself and your partner. Is renovating a house really you? And to what extent can you maintain your interest/calmness/partnership if things start to get sticky? A lot of doer uppers require only superficial work and so that type of property is quite easy for anyone with a limited amount of creativity and stickability. I am always amazed by how limited the average person’s ability is to see what a run down but fundamentally sound property could be. They don’t see beyond what is, to envisage how, with often minimal effort, something can be transformed into a highly desirable home. So, which are you? Is one of you creative and the other practical? That’s the combination needed. If you’re creative or both practical that can often be a problem. Some time ago my partner and I bought a house for way below its true value because no one else seemed to see what we saw. We fell in love with it, knocked down a wall, stripped down woodwork, repainted everything else, fitted a new kitchen etc etc but kept the essence of the house intact. Most of the work I was able to do myself because I’m quite practical and my wife is highly creative and ‘visionary’, but contractors are always needed for some of the more technical things (and they are unbelievably frustrating). When we had finished, everyone who thought we were mad when we started, couldn’t praise the place enough. When we reluctantly sold (very reluctantly – maybe that’s an AGAINST – your emotional investment is huge) because of the need to move elsewhere, we doubled our money. Since then we have built our own home, but that’s a whole different story \n\nFrom your profile you seem to be very busy. Dedicated to an 11 month old child and a wonderfully rewarding vocation. Unless your partner can take on the lion’s share of the doer upper project, you’re going to have to drop the ‘busy’ and simply become super…mum  On the other hand, if the doer upper is a long term project and you’re the sort of couple that aren’t looking for a house from the pages of ‘House and Garden’ in the short term, then go for the doer upper – it can be a wonderful bonding exercise. But keep a very tight rein on those purse strings. And, if you haven’t already seen it, go rent out the movie – The Money Pit. It’s really funny but oh how true to life!!! Johno
16940
I would buy a house. I would do this because I would love to own my own home and would make sure it is medium size( nothing fancy) with lots of trees and maybe a big yard that I could let my dogs run free in.
928315
To me it means a house built to suit the owner. Such as a house built for someone in a wheel chair. All the right counter heights, width of doorways & such.
840825
A home, money, and a car.\n\nCoach
66123
I sell new homes for a living and I would say an older one.  But make sure you get a GOOD home inspector and warranty to ensure that everything is okay on/in the property and building.
255018
It depends to start a home like this you would have to incorporate in as a non profit organization and then you would have to go through the steps of establishing it as such, for details on how to incorporate a non profit organization look up the Foundation Center via Yahoo! and it will give you insight on that. Once you have establish your home the department of children and families inspect it to make sure that meets their criteria and requirements. And it also depends on the age of the people you are looking to provide housing for.
1154141
It's hard to answer the way you've put the question (asking how many live in the home).\n\n60-65% of families in the US have both parents working.
846753
Modular homes are great! They go up pretty quickly too and you still get to do all the customizations! My friend had put up a modular home just recently and it took about 2-3 months just to finish it and it looks absoulutely gorgeous! It is worth it in my opinion. It is built quicker than putting up a house piece by piece in about 7-8 months.
1105716
I would love that!!!\n\nMy wish list for my house is (in order of necessity):\n\n1.  New drive way/stabilize foundation in back porch.\n2.  New front doors (with windows)\n3.  New entrance (foia).\n4.  New stairways.\n5.  Walk in closet for the master bedroom.\n6.  Vaulted ceilings.\n7.  New doors/closets for the whole house.\n8.  Re-do Kitchen (cabinets ... appliances ... floor)\n\nA good designer ... A Good Designer ... A GOOD DESIGNER!!!\nOMG, I have little to no talent in this area ... it sucks!!!\n\nOuch ... my bank account hurts just thinking about it!!!
203022
You can't be sure that a house will appreciate at all.  There is always  the possibility that a house could depreciate.\n\nIt's going to depend on several factors, including location.  How much you pay for the house will also have an effect.  If you pay too much, you won't stand to gain from the appreciation in home values that an area might gain.\n\nGo to the link below.  You can choose your city and state, and view the average appreciation for your area.
881412
losing my children.  I am not as great a housekeeper as I'd like, although my children are happy.  So the house is sometime sacrificed.  Oh well.  I also have a disease that can be disabling.  Maybe that's why my house can be cumbersome.  But I try not to focus on it.\n\nHave a lovely day!
1022191
depends. What kind of house? How many stories is it currently? What is the material? What is the foundation? Can the house support another level? Does it need additional support for the weight? How much square footage? Do existing structural supports need to moved? \n\nAnd why is this in the computer section? I could see if you're asking about Autocad, but you're not.
163132
A single-family home is a separate dwelling in which only members of a single family live. This is in contrast to apartment complexes, condominiums, duplexes, or terrace houses in which several families live in the same structure. It can also be called detached home.\n\nSingle-family homes are found mostly in suburbs, exurbs, and in rural areas. Large, inner city neighborhoods are so densely populated that there is generally not room for houses devoted to just a single family. Among the wealthy industralized nations, single family homes are most common in the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
221657
If u r making u r own house: Change as per vastu rules.\nIf u already own such a house: Make some structural changes.\nIf u r staying in such a rented house: No problems if u dont stay there for more than 5 years.\nIf u r buying such a house: See if u can make some changes.\nThe best option is to buy or build something called a Studio in the US or West. A studio is nothing but an empty flat without any walls. So u can make wooden walls and make changes as and when you like. For example if you are attracted to Vastu now, so u make u r studio wooden walls like what vastu says. Then after some years if u feel like using Fengsui then change the wooden walls!!!!
249798
contentment with the home front
1048212
They give you the basics, like the materials stacked at the site are the basics for a house.  It is up to you to make them a house you would like to live in.