Does the cookie cutter effect bother you? (Summerville, Awendaw: for sale, city hall) - Charleston - North Charleston - Mt. Pleasant - Summerville - Goose Creek - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

Al G · 07-03-2012, 10:36 PM

I think what you need is a house designer or an architect, check the yellow pages. You get what you pay for.

dmlarue1 · 07-04-2012, 12:23 AM

I don't like cookie cutter...I don't mind if the homes have a same theme but are all a little different, but would prefer neighborhoods where the homes are all different. I also really hate postage size lots. I've seen people rave over one subdivision, but when my husband and I visited last time we hated that the lots were so small. We like to garden (my husband would love an 1/2 acre if he could have it, but I like to live in a neighborhood..so we make do). I think the problem is that with the south booming with so many relocating..it's cheaper for developer to build same house over and over....and people buy them because they only have so many alternative choices and/or they like the options they get with a newer home. Other parts of the country are either already overdeveloped with older homes that aren't as cookie cutter (but not always..my mom lives in neighborhood of mill homes which are all same) or never needed those new developments because they are losing population (no use building it if you can't sell it). For us we are trying to be as frugal as possible, so if a cookie cutter home is all we can find in our budget, that's what we'll get. I'd rather be financially secure than have too much debt.

Maryjane55us · 07-04-2012, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joyeaux

MJ,
Do you have a question or are you looking for employment?
I read your post as a comment ... ?

I did have a question in the title, but I could have worded it better. I should have said, I'm looking for a builder that doesn't build the same basic plan over and over. As Moneil said, I've been looking for a long time and so I really notice it more than the average person. Sorry for the commentary.

Maryjane55us · 07-04-2012, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmlarue1

I don't like cookie cutter...I don't mind if the homes have a same theme but are all a little different, but would prefer neighborhoods where the homes are all different. I also really hate postage size lots. I've seen people rave over one subdivision, but when my husband and I visited last time we hated that the lots were so small. We like to garden (my husband would love an 1/2 acre if he could have it, but I like to live in a neighborhood..so we make do). I think the problem is that with the south booming with so many relocating..it's cheaper for developer to build same house over and over....and people buy them because they only have so many alternative choices and/or they like the options they get with a newer home. Other parts of the country are either already overdeveloped with older homes that aren't as cookie cutter (but not always..my mom lives in neighborhood of mill homes which are all same) or never needed those new developments because they are losing population (no use building it if you can't sell it). For us we are trying to be as frugal as possible, so if a cookie cutter home is all we can find in our budget, that's what we'll get. I'd rather be financially secure than have too much debt.

We have the same complaint with tiny tree-less lots.. no privacy. We'd prefer a private yard to garden in (at least a half acre or more) but don't want to go back into deep debt just to get what we want at this stage in life, so it doesn't look like we'll be moving there. Also, we have a grown special needs son that lives in a specialty apartment and that makes it more difficult than if it were just the two of us.

Yes, as someone mentioned, we probably need a custom builder but without the custom cost. Hard to find one that does smaller homes without all the bells and whistles. I'm asking for too much for that area, it seems.

moneill · 07-04-2012, 06:02 AM

Most developers don't build houses. Developers sell lots to builders who build houses. Sometimes in a subdivision the reason you see the same plan over and over is because that is what the customers have asked for. When there is only one builder in the subdivision, the cookie cutter effect is really noticeable.

Seaside in some areas is very 'cookie cutter'. The exact same house, slightly different elevation. We chose NOT to buy there because of that. However, I have lived in subdivisions where my floor plan was built on other lots, not on my street but the same house. That didn't bother me at all.

I have a postage size lot now. We have had a bigger yard with lots of room for gardening but as I'm getting older it is getting physically harder to do as much so I'm glad to have a bit of a garden around the house and not much more.

moneill · 07-04-2012, 06:05 AM

After all these years, I probably would venture away from Mt. Pleasant if I can't find the right lot/house at the right price. You probably have seen it all (I know after 3 years we saw as much as I needed to know that I could find what i was looking for).

Maryjane55us · 07-04-2012, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneill

Nope cookie cutter effect doesn't bother me. I have lived in that kind of home and loved it and now live in a custom home and love it.

You haven't found what you are looking for. I know you have been looking for some time. It is difficult to find a compromise. Very few of us have exactly what we want, I would bet most of us have made some trade offs. Sometimes it's price, sometimes its size, or location and sometimes it is because of our spouse. Hang in-- you will know when it is the right place!

I was hoping no one would remember my previous housing woes..

But thanks for the encouragement, Moneill. We actually have bid on three homes and lost to cash buyers or bidding wars. So, we did at least try to compromise. Maybe it was a good thing we lost out, because something better might await us.

The house we're in now was a "spec" (copy) of a house I'd seen in several other neighborhoods in town, but on a 2 acre lot with huge trees and 200ft between neighbors; and no one builder developed the area. Other than some personal additions, I was never in love with the house, so I do know I'll never completely get what I want.

The hardest part is "sticker shock".. We're coming from NC, not NY

TealDreamer · 07-04-2012, 07:59 AM

True. That's why we bought an older (12 years old) home that was custom built. No other house like it in our neighborhood. We absolutely love it.

The all look the same on the inside too, to me that isn't gorgeous it is boring....

Robynn · 07-04-2012, 08:30 AM

I love cookie cutter houses and chain restaurants.

Have you looked at John's Island?

moneill · 07-04-2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maryjane55us

I was hoping no one would remember my previous housing woes..

But thanks for the encouragement, Moneill. We actually have bid on three homes and lost to cash buyers or bidding wars. So, we did at least try to compromise. Maybe it was a good thing we lost out, because something better might await us.

That's the right attitude -- the right home just hasn't turned up yet. Wishing you good luck.