More Winter in Minnesota

More snow and an extension of winter with another snowstorm. For now, I don't mind it. I've said before that it is tough to beat the coziness of a log home in the winter. Add falling snow in a wooded setting and it is even better. Anyways, snow or no snow, the spring building season is getting closer by the day. Last weekend was the Lake Home and Cabin show in Minneapolis. The show was very well attended and quite a few people talking about building in 2011. A lot of questions regarding log home packages and prices, building schedules and how to get going on plans.

A few weeks ago an email came in from someone that found my log home website through google. It was an inquiry that was a first for me. The email asked if we would be interested in restoring a full log home that had partially burned from a chimney fire. It was close to home so I drove over to take a look. It is unreal what the homeowners went through but they all made it out safe and got their pets out as well. The house could be saved but one full log wall will have to be taken down and about a third of the roof system was beyond repair. The logs were delivered last week and it is a very interesting project to be part of. I believe the fact that the home was built with full log helped slow the spread of the fire which in turn saved the house.

As you are researching log home companies, dealers and going over plans keep in mind the package is only part of your log home equation. Wild River Log Homes who builds log homes in Minnesota reminds us that the build costs, well and septic are other parts of the budget as well. Too many people get caught up in the package and "forget" about the other factors that will be involved which in turn impact the total price. No two log home packages are the same so it is up to you to determine why the prices range so far between them. Some include exterior doors and windows and some don't. Also, if you are contacting dealers representing log home companies are they full time dealers? Quite a few in the log home business are part time dealers. Can you reach them during business hours? Will they be around during construction or at least reachable in case jobsite issues flare up? It is a long term relationship between you, the log home company and/or the dealer. You need to be comfortable with all involved and they need to be reachable when needed.