Cohousing-L Mailing List: Unit Options

[Mac & Sandy Thomson (ganesh]

Michael Donovan wrote:

> The question I have (without the answers) is how can a cohousing group
> accommodate different needs without driving up the cost of development
> extravagantly? Allowing custom work does not seem to be the solution.

>From all that I've learned, allowing customization definitely does drive up
construction costs.  And it often not only drives up the costs for the
homeowners get the custom work done, but also for the whole project.  That's
because the extra time needed to do all of the custom work slows down the
whole project and a slower project means less efficiency, more financing
charges, and therefore greater cost, which is unfairly borne by all
homeowners rather than just the ones getting the custom work.

We did not allow any custom work and I think it was a very good decision for
us.  What we did instead was to offer a set menu of standards, options, and
upgrades.  Our Design Team did a great job of thoroughly researching what
was available and also getting feedback from members as to what was
important to them.  If an option or upgrade wasn't going to be selected by a
minimum number of households, it wasn't offered.  Conversely, if an option
or upgrade was going to be selected by virtually everyone, it sometimes
became the standard at no extra charge to folks.  For example, we found that
it was as cheap to buy everyone the premium stove rather than having 80% of
the folks buy it and 20% buy the standard because of the quantity discount
available and the extra management required to make sure that everyone got
what they ordered.  So we bought everyone the premium stove at no extra cost
and there was no option or upgrade offered.

Our complete listing of standards, options, and upgrades is still on our
website if you're interested:
http://www.heartwoodcohousing.com/DESSOU.html

The costs to manage variation (options, upgrades, and especially
customizations) should not be underestimated.  Keep it simple.


-- 
Mac Thomson

Heartwood Cohousing
http://www.heartwoodcohousing.com


"Routine is death. There's ways to get rid of that, and that's just take
colder showers or sleep on the floor--just change routine!  Go a different
way home.  And all the people who I grew up with, you know, Bill Graham,
Miles Davis, and John Lee Hooker, I have never seen these people be bored or
predictable or yawning.  They are always either very passionate or very
horny or very holy or all of them at the same time."
           --Carlos Santana
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