In the course of my work over the past 23 years, I have had the privilege of touring dozens of newly constructed homes with proud new home owners. During these tours, what surprised me the most was how often the new owners pointed out to me things they didn’t like about their new house. I couldn’t help wondering, “if you don’t like it, why did you build it that way?”

Over time, I came to realize that “buyer’s remorse” can come in all sizes, up to and including a home that you design and build yourself. I have seen how the hundreds of decisions that go into designing and building a new home can become overwhelming, resulting in a new home that is less than perfect in the eyes of the owner.

Here is a small sampling of some of the comments I have heard over the years from new home owners:

• “I only wish this closet door was wider.”
• “This kitchen seems cramped.”
• “I’m not crazy about the fireplace”
• “Does that alcove look centered to you?”
• “The deck is great, but I wish we would have made it more interesting, and I don’t like the railing.”
• “I love the garage, except it’s not deep enough to fit my truck.”
• “Now that we’re done, how hard is it to wire up an A/V system?”
• “This bathroom helps me wake up in the morning . . . the floor is ice cold.”
• “I wish I had planned a place for this stuff.”
• “I could have made this house easier to keep clean.”
• “That’s a waste of good space.”
• “This shower door doesn’t open all the way without hitting the toilet.”
• “My staircase is too steep and too narrow”
• “This hallway seems like a tunnel.”
• “I’m getting some serious ice build up in that corner”

With the goal of eliminating this type of buyer’s remorse, In 2001 I began offering design consulting services to those customers who were still in the planning stages of their building or remodeling project. With my first client, I quickly realized that a talent which I have always taken for granted was actually quite unique and valuable: the ability to study 2-dimensional blue prints and walk through them in my head in 3 dimensions. As strange as this may seem, by studying blue prints, I am able to walk up and down stairs, open and close doors, look around rooms and out windows, and even sit down at the kitchen table. I can sense the feel and flow of a house while it is still in the design phase, offering valuable feedback and suggestions on how to optimize the design while it is still easy and economical to do so. And because I have a thorough knowledge of all phases of construction, I know what is possible and what is impossible when it comes to the design and layout of a house.

To be clear, I’m not an architect, and I’m not an interior designer. But in the process of transforming your vacant parcel of land into the finished and furnished home of your dreams, my design consulting services help you to make the very most of every cubic inch of your investment, eliminating buyer’s remorse and ensuring your 100% satisfaction with the layout and functionality of your new home.

If you are building new or extensively remodeling your home, ask me about design consulting services. I can help you avoid buyer’s remorse and ensure that your finished project meets all of your expectations.


Brian O’Connor
President