The temptation to make lists at this time of year is strong. Logically, I made one for you, but it’s unlike any list you’ve seen before. This list contains complaints rather than resolutions.

An informal online survey we conducted reveals that, apparently, clients are the most annoying part of your job. Frequently mentioned on the list are the way clients undervalue good design, and how they use cost-per-square-foot to compare builders. Here’s the rest of the list:

Pet Peeves in the Custom Home Market
• Having to be a client’s personal therapist
• Subs that don’t call back
• Subs that show up late or not at all
• Dirty job sites
• The bid system
• Cost-per-square-foot comparisons
• Clients who find fault with everything
• Clients who don’t understand cost
• Clients who can’t make decisions
• Client’s with no vision
• Clients who undervalue the planning process
• Clients armed with piles of magazine photos
• Clients who expect you to read minds
• Clients who “draw up” their own home design
• Clients who meddle throughout the entire process
• Clients who don’t value good design
• Builders who don’t understand good design

You might be wondering where this list came from. A few weeks ago, we asked a few architects, designers and builders to tell us what annoys them about doing business in the custom home market. Some answers were submitted via e-mail.

Other pet peeves were posted within the Residential Design & Build social networking group at LinkedIn.com. Complete reader responses can be seen on pages 22 and 24 of the January 2010 issue, so keep your eyes open for it in a few weeks.

Another frequently mentioned pet peeve is a lack of knowledge about good construction and design practices. Architects and builders who don’t educate clients along these lines were called out several times.

Want to share your own pet peeves? send me an e-mail, or, scroll up to the first paragraph of this blog entry, look to the right and click where you see, “Leave a comment” or “Post or view comments.”

A story in USA Today this week details how first-time home buyers prefer smaller homes, mostly because they are more affordable. It also explores how builders are accommodating this trend.

The article states; “The trend cuts across the industry. The median square footage of new homes has dropped 9% from a peak of 2,300 square feet in the third quarter of 2006 to 2,100 square feet in the July-September period this year, according to data from the National Association of Home Builders.”

Smaller homes don’t need to feel smaller. The article mentions a few design tricks to make a home appear larger than it is. These tricks include high ceilings, larger windows and open floor plans.

But I wanted to dig a little deeper into these design ideas, so I called Tony Crasi of The Crasi Company in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, who shared a few with me. Tony will be teaching a very popular class at the International Builders Show in January called Affordable Million Dollar Details.

Here are a few thoughts Tony (pictured above) shared about not only making a home seem bigger, but also how to create more perceived value:

“One thing we do is beef up the walls around openings. Rather than using 2×4s, bump them up to 2×6 or 2×8 to give it beefier, bigger feel.”

Regarding higher ceilings, Tony says: “We don’t go more than 9 ft. because of cost.”

On the topic of exterior scaling, Tony says it’s important not only to match exterior components to the home’s architectural style, but to buy the right-sized components as well. But it all starts with understanding the basics of any architectural style and knowing how to create the right proportions.

Windows, as the article mentions, are key to making smaller homes seem bigger. “We like to have a lot of glass in a little home. It makes it lighter, brighter, and it expands the view to the outside. Frank Lloyd Wright eliminated walls and corners and replaced them with glass to carry the eye outside.

Do you have any design tricks?

Share your thoughts in an e-mail, or, scroll up to the first paragraph of this blog entry, look to the right and click where you see, “Leave a comment” or “Post or view comments.”

I don’t have it in me. I’m not the kind of guy to stick a knife in someone’s back to get ahead. This doesn’t mean I don’t like to succeed; I do, and I have. I’m aggressive when I have to be. I speak my mind while doing my best to not let others run over me. Ultimately I choose to succeed based on my actions alone, not by harming someone else. That’s weak.

As the recession drags on, be strong. Try every trick in your bag. Be aggressive. Be creative. Don’t be surprised, however, to find yourself or others doing things not normally seen during a healthier economy. When backed into a corner, or when facing dwindling resources, humans – and animals – will do almost anything to survive. Just remember you’re not an animal, so don’t act like one. You still need to look at yourself in the mirror every day.

Most likely all of us have had experience with cut-throat competitors. You know who they are, so keep your eye on them. That’s easy. The difficult task is spotting those you don’t expect to stab you in the back – sometimes right in front of your face. Be on guard, because they could be lurking closer than you know.

And if you’re stabbed in the back, be cool. Remove the knife, clean your wound and use your anger to feed a fire in your belly that drives you to succeed by overcoming the actions of weak individuals. Be the bigger person and succeed with pride. You’ll be happier for doing so.

Two years into the Great Recession and I’m staring at a dim bright spot at the end of the tunnel. During this time I have learned and relearned several truths in life and business. Here are a few of them in random order:

- Any action is better than no action.
- Worrying about what you can’t control is a waste of time.
- I can spot good news much easier than I used to.
- I don’t need as much as I want.
- It’s easier to see what’s important at work and at home.
- If I don’t do something, it won’t get done.
- A positive attitude is powerful.

What have you learned?

Share your thoughts in an e-mail, or, scroll up to the first paragraph of this blog entry, look to the right and click where you see, “Leave a comment” or “Post or view comments.”