The Concept

conscious home design?

       Ever wonder what it would be like to own an affordable home that is both new and unique?.........Maybe a second home?.........Or a rental?  We at Lloyd's Land were wondering the same.  While selling acreage to clients we saw a need for a home design that fits different needs. Often a client has purchased a large tract of land for investment and would like an affordable home that is modern, up-to-date, has a small carbon footprint, is affordable, is built to increase in value, and can accommodate family and friends.  Conscious Home Design is making your house cater to your lifestyle, needs, and goals..... not vice versa!  

how does this fit your Financial goals?

     What are your long term financial goals?  Do you want more financial freedom?  Are you looking to acquire long term financial security?  Small home design, done right, can be an integral part of this process.  The individual will experience faster mortgage reduction thus providing more financial freedom. All the while, gaining value in their home faster and leading to the ultimate goal of managing earnings more efficiently for the long term.  This frees one from the "I will work till the end of my life to pay off this mortgage" mentality.  In addition, if you are looking to diversify assets into hard goods, land and small home design are very effective tools.  Purchasing a parcel of land to hold onto for 20 years is a great investment.  Why not have an efficient, affordable home to enjoy while that investment matures?  If both are purchased and built properly, you can watch the land and home increase in value over the years.  This is the true advantage of Conscious Home Design.  

     Lets look into the "typical" home building experience.  Most homes are built on relatively small 0.5 - 2 acre lots and fully maximize the borrowing potential of the owner.  Yes, homes by themselves usually increase in value and are not a bad long term investment.  However, there is a different way to consciously look at the land/home relationship.  Lets look at the following example.  An individual purchases 100 acres of land.  Now lets say that same individual built a Conscious Home Design that is both capable and affordable on said 100 acres.  The total expenditures of both the 100 acres and home in this example could still be below the cost of a typical large home on the afore mentioned 0.5-2 acre lot.  This is the area where a Conscious Home Design really shines.  Let's look into the long term financial opportunities from both home building scenarios.  With the 100 acre lot including the smaller home, you can do any or all of the following: farm the land, harvest timber, sell land to abutters, parcel out smaller house lots, sell the small home entirely and still have ample property for you to build again.  As you can see, multiple opportunities abound and are only limited by your creativity.  What options for financial flexibility are available to the owner of the large home on the 1 acre lot in this example?  Many would agree your only ability for managing long term financial potential is to rent or eventually sell the home and small lot.  This individual has maximized their curb appeal while extremely limiting their ability to diversify their financial opportunities.  Conscious Home Design is a shift from "normal" home building.  Rooted deeply in the belief.....by having less, we really can have far more.        

Evironmentally FRIENDLY?

   In reference to homes, large is not always better.   Over the past 7+ years, America has seen a shift in home design needs as evident on any DIY or HGTV home show. Many customers are wanting to build smaller, more environmentally friendly homes that allow for greater personal flexibility.  This means smaller physical footprints, use of sustainable products, and energy efficient design.  Our designs are approximately 1,500 sq. ft. including the basement.  Though smaller in stature, they comfortably can house a large family year round.   Storage and effective use of space are paramount in their design.  Smaller means less building material cost, as well as less energy expended to heat and cool.   Conscious Home Design is a great way to lower your carbon footprint.  This Conscious Home Design mentality does not stop with just the building structure itself.  Landscaping and its effects on the environment are often an after thought when building.  Large sprawling lawns and extensive shrubbery take both fuel to mow and fertilizer to keep green.  For this reason, the building sites of our models are carefully laid out.  The lots retain much of the original natural surroundings, and the cleared areas are stabilized with local ground mulch.  This eliminates the need to mow and fertilize large unused areas.  In addition, there are no decks that require yearly maintenance.  In their place are maintenance free, pea stone patios.  By building small and conscious, not only are you being environmentally responsible, but you are also freeing up valuable personal time.    

Modern Design?

   When driving through rural Maine, it appears many new homes have become cookie cutter.  We have all seen the many classic Capes and Colonials.  The other obvious design is the the rustic cabin look with log siding, white vinyl windows, and reddish orange stained siding.  These are very capable home designs, but they are not unique.  The goal we set out to achieve was to create unique homes.  Unique in architecture, size, and cost.  In turn, by blending the nuances of Maine, New England culture, and our rural forested woodlands, we have created a series of homes that are both individual and conscious. 

   In Summary

      The largest investment the average American will make is their home.  In order to buy that home requires capital.  This capital is ultimately acquired through our energy, our blood, our sweat, our tears.  The ultimate question is.......what do you want to do with your energy?  Do you want to invest it wisely?  Do you want to give back with that energy?  Do you want more energy to spend with those you love?  Do you want more energy to live, laugh, and enjoy?  This is the shift that Conscious Home Design can bring!  By realizing the thread that homes play in the tapestry of our futures, we can consciously weave the fabric we desire.