As a community member of Chamblee, we are always honored to have our words woven into the tapestry of this magazine. We take the privilege with great sincerity, always working diligently to create articles which dovetail into the monthly theme while (hopefully) bringing some poignance or education to the reader. I must admit, this month’s theme gave me a challenge I could not seem to rise above. I grappled with how to create prose around the ‘Gentlemen’s Issue.’ To weave an interesting essay which focuses on the expansion of homes to create a man centered space; the ever-popular Man Cave. The more I deliberated on the task, I realized I struggled because of the current climate of things. My concept was a puff piece (at best) and tone deaf.
The current reality is that home acquisition cost is the highest it has ever been in this market. Construction costs are elevated and unpredictable. The market feels unstable. These factors create uncertainty. It’s understandable. That’s not where the article ends; it is where it begins.
This unprecedented set of circumstances brings about some unanswerable questions, to be frank. Said questions leave homeowners paralyzed; unclear of which decision is the best to move forward with. I can say, with certainty, this cannot last forever. Moreover, if you own a home in this wonderful community, you’ve already made a great decision. Rest assured; you will continue to make good decisions.
How do we move forward when we are mired down by this unpredictability? We plan. We find the pieces of the puzzle we have control over within the disorder. As a homeowner looking to make modifications to your homestead, you have more control than you realize. First and foremost, you have what we call a “Golden Ticket.” You own a parcel of land in a community you love. A place that has your favorite restaurants, a neighborhood you adore, a community where you want to raise your kids (or dogs) in. Your family has entrenched roots, creating a history. This is invaluable.
Second, you have control. You can say “No” to circumstances or pricing that doesn’t work for you and your family. You can wait. You can use your patience and thoughtfulness to your advantage.
Let’s be honest, sometimes waiting is the last thing we want to do. I have a nine-year-old, whom is my greatest sidekick. Through the course of his precious life thus far, I have had to teach him patience by example. I say this because not only is it a difficult concept to instill in an emerging personality, but it's tough for me as a grown adult. When you’re looking to expand your home for desperately needed extra space to breathe, patience may feel like torture some days. This endurance, though temporarily painful, will prove invaluable.
Nevertheless, this perseverance of restraint doesn’t mean doing nothing. During this time, you can plan. You can begin gathering data needed to engage with a designer. You can engage an architect, designing the expansion you will have in the future. You can meet with banks to see what your options are. You can gather bids from builders once your plans are complete, gathering realistic ideas of costs. You have control. You will meet your goals, even if the timeline may differ from what you originally thought.
The market may feel unclear, but your goals aren’t. Your ability to prepare for more certain times is concrete. As I stated before, you have made good decisions for your family so far, you will continue to do so.