So, having worked in an architectural office for four plus years and having been looking for a house to buy for way too long.. I have been working on this list of rules to date by.. it is a work in progress.. but I figured that it will probably never be complete, so I might as well post it as is for comment and criticism.. Feel free to attack it all you want.. but deep down, you know that every single one of these statements is correct.

IFF you feel the need to repost this... please at least attribute me and don't steal it as yours.. that's not very nice.

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Architect's guide to dating:

Height must not exceed surroundings w/ standardly worn heels (+/-) 1 inch (F.V)

Naturally occurring substances are preferred over artificial. Real materials preferred over synthetic varieties.

Maintenance is always an issue. Strive for materials that do not require painting, etc.

Be wary of cracks and crevices that require constant caulking. If your caulk isn't handling the job, they will find one that will.

Be wary of long term leases. Even though they may look good on the outside and feel good on the inside, they will find a way out of the lease, usually at your expense.

Be wary of fixer uppers. When in doubt, look for good "bones."

Similar to restaurants, be wary of pre-existing faults. If one failed just before you, the chances are you will fail too.

If you are into flipping. Remember the rules: Get in and get out QUICKLY with little financial expenditure but much gain.

In order for a project to succeed, remember that it is a team effort. If any one part of the team is hesitant, jump ship! The seed of doubt has been cast.

If you see a jewel and it is single, remember that there is probably some hidden fault that is covered up with a fresh coat of paint.

Be wary of short term leases which appear to be win/win. Verify clean and clear title work.

When doing surveys, do not rely on the surveyor to be correct. Field Verify ALL conditions.

When doing inspections, do not rely on the inspector to be correct. Field Verify ALL conditions.

Just because they tell you that the plumbing exists, someplace, before proceeding too far forward, Field Verify!

Missed progress meetings are a sign of trouble. Never miss one and be extremely diligent of the project progress if the superintendent missed one.

Be leary of lack of schedules. A lack of schedule means that there likely are underlying issues.

Be leary of deadlines. Deadlines cause a lose/lose situation.

Be leary of product reps. They are always trying to sell you thier product over competing ones, regardless of quality.

Houses suck... Finding a good match is sort of like dating.. you view a lot, you get interested in a lot.. but a lot are out of your league, have bad friends (neighbors), have bad bones (structural), dress badly (cosmetic), etc... it is hard to find one that speaks to you..

Well folks, I think I have found one.. or so I hope... I proposed last week, went through negotiations, etc... finishing up financing crap today and should close on the 15th of December... then comes the long term rehab of the house... the cosmetic gutting of the 1960's American ranch and transforming it into something for the 21st Century... I don't have any pics right now.. but let's just say that she is in BAD shape aesthetically... and has a couple of broken bones that need fixing and maybe something viral wrong with her... the house is jacked up.. but it comes down to LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

Apple fanatics amuse me... yes, they make great products... but call it am old bias, I don't necessarily believe the hype or the pricetag.. Yes, I have drooled over the interface of the iPod... Yes, I love the look of the G4.. but I don't want a damn Apple.. even though the interface of OSX is awesome... it's just a unix-based clone...

so, when I got this in an email from my friend Z down in Arizona.. I couldn't help but laugh my arse off.... hope someone else sees some humour in it.

http://www.aboyandhiscomputer.com/show.php?ItemID=2204

Anyone have any experience w/ Dell's 24" widescreen LCD?? The reviews are good.. but I'd like real work knowledge.

Powerball.. I didn't win... we won 9 bucks probably in our office pool, we are reinvesting that money... argh... I wanted moo-la... so much better of a choice! oh well, life goes on.

I have been in the process of house hunting seriously since the beginning of 2005... It all started with looking at a 1985 2 story Victorian that I was in love with but was seriously at the stud level and there was no way to get a conventional loan on it.. That lead to me getting a realtor and fruitless hunting.. had a contract on a nice little 1960's ranch in Liberty back in early June... That house has since come back on the market by the same owners... The contract fell through last time due to issues of them not willing to budge on the price after inspection and discovery of the little nasty bugs in the lower garage wall around some water damage.

Well, the house came back on the market sometime in September.. but it was into Oct. before I looked at it again for fun more than anything.. Hell, I'd already sunk the inspection on it, so what was the big deal?? They hadn't exactly fixed anything.. but they hadn't made it worse either... Monday, I had my realtor begin negotiations on it with them.. basically I am back where I was at before with them... no biggy... it seems that all the houses in Liberty of this vintage all need the same crap done to them.. new windows, new siding, upgrades to the electrical service, etc. I can do this stuff myself.. no problem... the issue is getting them set in concrete on a price as well as set in concrete on a close and possession date.

I signed the paperwork today... tried my best to get them to understand my point of view on it all and hope for the best... 10 months is too long to look, but I am a picky bastard.. I am an architect afterall.. I do have principals and can be as stubborn as a mule... I hate having someone else in control of my life.