Outdoor living provides comfort, relaxation, and enjoyment that’s hard to beat. Fresh smells, cool breezes, and warm sunshine provide the perfect backdrop for dinner parties, morning reading sessions, and laughter with friends and family. While you might be used to having a deck for this purpose, there are benefits to having a patio with a concrete slab instead. Contrary to what you might think, this feature doesn’t have to be drab and boring. 

With an empty nest, you’ve decided it’s time to move into a home that better fits your new lifestyle. The question now is what type of home that is. While the simplicity of moving into an existing home is appealing, you have specific wants and needs for your next home that you don’t want to compromise—and might not be able to find in the limited choices available on the market. 

You could build your custom dream home and get everything you want down to the last detail. However, that means you need to be ready to commit to the work of planning every last detail as well as paying the premium price that comes with a custom build. There is a middle road, however: purchasing a new personalized home. 

As you’re preparing to build your new home, one of the major decisions you’ll need to make is the type of foundation you want for your property. When choosing between a slab and basement foundation, there are several factors to consider. It’s important to evaluate your personal needs and select the design that’s most practical for your lifestyle. Here are a few assessments to help you decide: basement or no basement.

Comparable to the concept of universal design, zero-entry (also called zero-step entry) building principles are used to construct homes that can be accessed without stairs, instead using gentle slopes and minimal thresholds. For homeowners, that means easy entry, reduced risk of injury, and convenient access. Check out these benefits of owning a zero-entry home to help you decide if it’s the right move for you.