Habitations, LLC

07/07/2025

Ah, the argument of the ages. Not really. It’s pretty well accepted as a projection tool. However, the real question is how accurate is this method? Truthfully, there is a science to it. At the same time, there is a pretty broad range of variables, inherent latitude and more than a pinch of SWAGing. There have been several estimates of how many components are in the “average” house. The number floats somewhere around 3 to 5 thousand. That’s a pretty big number and doesn’t represent necessarily how many “pieces” there are. It’s complicated. So, how can we track average costs per square foot? Very carefully. It’s tedious on a good day. As a designer, we have a unique advantage of working with multiple builders on projects we have originated. We have the ability to see how different builders price the same project in a competitive environment. Everyone receives the same plans so their pricing is based on the exact same criteria. We’ll talk about actual construction costs at another time. For now, we’re looking for a platform that can help you assess if your budget is realistic or not. Reade more...

07/03/2025

From my last posting, you should have gathered your thoughts, collected documents, established a budget and ordered or prepared to order a survey. Boring! I know. Although building is actually pretty fun and exciting, it has a lot of boring. It’s important stuff but not remotely fun or exciting. However, now we ‘re getting to the fun part. It’s time to seek a DESIGNER. I made that all caps because you need this tattoo-ed on your mind’s map to project success. In previous postings I’ve discussed how the internet leads you directly to builders. This is not in YOUR best interest. Works out dandy for the builder though. Please understand that I am not ‘dissing’ builders or labeling them as bad people. Quite the contrary. I was one for 27 years. Marketing is just that. Marketing. Seeking out projects to build. This is about your control of the process. Read More....

06/30/2025

I’m certain I’ve spent enough time discussing what the current outlook is for housing. It has been a little dark, sorry. In my defense, I’m just the messenger. It’s funny; I see lots of blogs in the industry calling attention to realities that are not new. Stuff that we as designers have been seeing for a while. Like I said, we’re the canaries in the mine. Things are looking pretty difficult. However, we must forge ahead. For now we operate under the premise that nothing lasts forever! Read more...

Before any remodel, assess your budget, financing options, and personal limits—because just because you can, doesn’t always mean you should.

06/25/2025

I’ve committed to writing these installments as a measure to try and help people navigate an uncertain and complex housing market and industry. I feel the situation is critical and knowledge is the pavement for a path through this unprecedented time. However, there comes a time when we must pause from our endeavors to simply sit quietly, and reflect. Memorial Day is one of those gifted opportunities. I came into the office today for some quiet time and frankly to “catch up” on work. As if we ever really catch up. The “quiet” part is where my grand plan took a hard turn. It is Memorial Day. Today, work is irrelevant. Today is a day for me to remember my privileges and obligations made possible by so many others. Read more...

Memorial Day reminds us to pause, reflect, and honor those who served, many of whom carry visible and invisible scars from their sacrifice.

06/16/2025

At this point, it’s safe to say that a lot of folks in the residential building industry may not be thrilled with my observations. It’s not like I’m the only person crying foul. Some don’t fully understand and see my comments as a personal assault. Others recognize that they are, in fact, an assault! Both are effectively true. In the South we have an old adage, “a hit dog hollers!” Basically, if the shoe fits… A little pedestrian but wise nonetheless. Essentially, if you are trying to succeed in the industry while being a positive force that addresses the health of the industry, I laud you. Doing it right is always hard. Construction, as a business, isn’t a cake walk. It’s evident you can see past the end of your nose. Just like farmers, we have to manage the field. My extended family had a farm in the Carolinas. I remember a few hundred acres broken into equal plots. One plot was always rotated with alfalfa that would be plowed under to enrich the soil. No crop. Smart thinkin’. Keep the ground that feeds you healthy for tomorrow. The practice actually reduced costs for fertilizer and other chemicals and improved margins at sale. Unfortunately, another philosophy is to support the land by artificial means. Use chemicals and costly fertilizers to maximize yield and increase profits. Besides just exhausting the soil, one downside is a lesser quality product. Tomatoes that taste like cardboard for example. Remember, every solution breeds new problems. Read More...

If consumers can't sustainably afford your services, your business model is broken—change is urgent for the health of the industry and the economy.

06/13/2025

My mission in writing these tedious reads is to empower you, the homeowner. To guide you in how to protect your home as the primary investment in your future and your country. Like I’ve said, a golden ticket. If I’m wrong, then why is private equity aggressively harvesting all that they can and significantly diluting public ownership? I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m a veteran in the industry. I’m not perfect but I am extremely observant. I’ve carefully watched what has happened to the housing industry but moreover, I’ve tried to determine why. This is important when trying to assist in repairing something while staving off the same breakdown later. Read more....

The design-build trend may promise convenience, but only skilled, independent designers can safeguard your investment and guide you wisely.

06/12/2025

Greetings again my intrepid homeowners! Right about now, things probably seem a little restrictive. Mostly because they are. You’re not nuts. Especially when considering what I laid out in my last installment. Our economic system is struggling with some foreseeable conditions that now scream for attention. (Like they weren’t before!) I won’t even attempt to address the causes of our current fiscal reality other than those things impacting housing. Partly because this is the industry that feeds my family (transparently self-serving) and it’s the industry that touches virtually everyone next to food and clothing. The symptoms of the systemic breakdown in the housing market are reflected in essentially every dwelling type from multifamily to single-family housing in all income strata. Outrageous costs and diminishing values. Read more...

The housing market is tough, but smart homeowners can protect their equity through renovation, planning, and a long-term view of real value.

06/04/2025

A path forward

In a shifting housing market, renovating your current home may be the smartest way to grow equity and meet your evolving family needs.

05/27/2025

State of the Canary

This one is a little long but completes the stage for our future insights into your homestead. Please read this one to the end. It’s 1,200 words that matter. Have some coffee and dig in.
Well, it is my hope that the “canary” metaphor took root. Furthermore, the idea that I’m one of your canaries. To that end, how am I doing? Good question; because how I’m doin’ correlates pretty well with how you’re doin’. Frankly, I’m grippin’ the perch pretty tight! Justifiably, all of my clients are cautious to say the least. So, this is what we’re seeing right now, uncertainty. Uncertainty is as difficult to navigate as a full blown p**p storm. Uncertainty causes us to hesitate and question our decisions. That causes us to stall progress because we fear a “bad” decision or unforeseen outcome. To Read More....

In today’s uncertain housing climate, homeowners with low-interest mortgages hold a golden ticket—making strategic planning more valuable than ever.

05/15/2025

I am the bookend to an interesting design firm. I say interesting because we are two people with strong personalities that have shared an office for over nine years with minimal meltdowns. Let’s be clear, the meltdowns are mine. Dad is much better at pulling off stoic than me. I am what people describe as passionate. They aren’t wrong. I carry strong opinions about many things. I love fiercely- including my industry. I also struggle to sustain an indoor voice level. Makes me interesting. At least that’s what my husband maintains. Read More...

With a passion for residential design and a millennial’s perspective, she shares insights, struggles, and joys of building homes and building dreams.

05/07/2025

~ Canaries and Bookends

So, I’ve been meaning to start writing a weekly post for ages. Life has kept getting in the way. However, the thing that has been dominating my attention is now the very thing that needs discussion. We’re all sharing in some remarkably uncertain times and I have a vantage I’d like to share. It matters. ....

To keep reading see

Habitations provides full spectrum residential design services with a specialty in renovation and retrofit design for existing homes.