I am proud to be called an "oldie."

This year, the first contract home I built in 1985 came up for resale. Those same first owners contacted my wife, Betty, to market their home. That really made me feel good that our relationship had lasted over all these years.

So, I decided to take a look and see how the home had "matured." It was a step into the past to the design features popular in the mid-80’s-a sunken living room, textured 8’ ceilings and small closets and baths. But what was most important to me (and to the seller) was that in 20+ years, there had been few, if any, problems with the home. The home might have been an "oldie," but it sure was still a "goodie." The original Trane HVAC unit still works and keeps the house very comfortable. The windows, doors and trim are still in good condition. The floors are still level and there are no cracks in the drywall.

Why so sound after 20+ years? It’s a combination of what we did back then during the building process and what the owners have done since.

• We made sure the house was square, level and strong.
• We selected building materials with tested reputations and good warranties.
• We used more lumber during framing than required by code.
• We correctly sized heating and A/C units for the house.
• We properly flashed the roof and windows to keep the home dry for years to come.

The owners conducted annual inspections and performed routine maintenance as needed to keep the home in good repair.

Many new companies have entered the building market. New materials have been developed. There are more product choices now than ever to select from with many price levels. New processes allow us to improve the function of the home. We research new products continually but we only introduce those that we are sure will improve the home and add value for our homeowners.

But new is only better if the old concepts of not taking shortcuts and building it right the first time are in place. You may remember the phrase "All things old are new again." Could be-but I wouldn’t place any bets on water soaked plywood subflooring, avocado green appliances or "rock and post" foundations making a huge comeback!

Happy reading!

Jim Beard