If You Could Build Your Dream Home, What Would You Add? | LeadingLane Podcast | Ep 82

Ben would tell you his unnecessary item is that I didn't let him build. But now I'm thinking I should have.

What is it?

He wanted a tunnel from the house to the shop.

Okay, that's cool.

I would.

I would be here for that. Like.

Okay, well, when we built that, we were slim budget and he wanted like the, like the culvert type, huge circle type of concrete. And so his thing was, you know, then he wouldn't have to go outside in the winter to get to his tools and man cave or whatever. But now I think that it would be ideal for the state of the world that we're living in, that we would have a little, you know, concrete dome that would have food lined on it. So now he says I should have listened to him.

Welcome to the Leading Lane Podcast for Real Estate Pros by Real Estate Pros with your hosts, Ashley Frederick and Stephen Birch. If you're looking for an honest, authentic, and raw perspective, you found it.

Welcome back, everyone, to the Leading IT Lane Podcast. I think we're going to take things a little bit different today. I feel like there's a lot of negativity in the world on all social medias in general, so we're gonna switch things up and try to do something fun and interesting today. So, Steven boy, picture this, okay? Your dream home drops out of the sky. I don't know where in what location. Maybe you can tell me where. What is one completely unnecessarily, like, unnecessary, but awesome feature that you would want, whether it's a slide to the lower level dungeon of sorts. Tell me what it is.

I think I want an indoor outdoor shower. I want to be able to walk to the outside, like, then be able to have that next to the hot tub in the pool, right? Like, so I can rinse off and. So pretty unnecessary, right? Why do you really need an outdoor shower? And really, let's be realistic. How often am I going to use that? I don't know. I just think it'd be cool.

Okay, that's a simple one. What's a little bit more extreme?

Oh, man, I don't know. I think I've always wanted, like, the hidden room. You kind of said that as far as, like, the. The bookcase. Right, the. But being able to go into, like, this room nobody knew was there. I was in a house before and it actually was downstairs. It was a whiskey room, and so I thought that was really cool. A cigar whiskey room that nobody knew was even there. So. Yeah, I don't know what else? Oh, that one's tough, I think. Another thing, a panic room. I want to be able to like shut the door. Yeah. Full concrete. I envision the door is going to be like this safe door. But it. I watched the movie a long time ago. I think it's called panic Room. I can't remember who the actress was in it, but like they came and invaded the house and had, you know, some food and whatnot in there, but all of the TVs and everything else in there to be able to see the, the security system. So I just always feel like I need a panic room, I guess.

Wasn't that also like the one that. With Sandra. Was it Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts? That one where like the ship comes in.

Yeah, that is. That's with Julia Roberts.

Yeah. I can't think what it's called, but they had like a whole thing in their.

Yeah, their basement.

Do you guys have houses that have full concrete basement rooms?

So, yes, we do have some. Like they're storm. Storm rooms. Right. Horn storm shelters. It just kind of depends on how they're built out and whatnot. But a lot of people do the sealed doors, you know, that are on still like a corner of a house versus doing like in the basement still. But instead of doing a full concrete room, my brother just built his house and his butler pantry is a full concrete and then steel surround butler pantry so that they can go in there during. Because it's only. It's a ranch, so they don't have. Yeah. So if there's a tornado or something, then they have a safe room to go to.

Yeah, we, we think that there are some homes that were built here like in the 3040s that have like bomb shelters. So there's like a part of the room. So I always say that if something happens, I, I think I know where like five of them in town are. But it's just funny how thing people used to build that way and it was full on concrete, no windows, nothing.

There's a missile silo not too far away from here that was for sale that people converted over into like a bomb shelter. Oh, like absolutely insane. I don't, I don't think I could do that like at all. Maybe it was on my land, that's one thing. But I think like this was still just out in the middle of nowhere. You wouldn't even know what was there. So speaking of the tornado shelter, you came across a tornado not too long ago? Yeah, or bad weather.

So I was going to a property like 40 minutes away and it was like Maybe bad weather, maybe not bad weather. And my admin text messaged me that there was a tornado warning. And I was like, what? So then I, like, looked around and the skies were a little greenish. And then I looked at my phone, and it was like this big red dot. And then I called my husband, like, seven times. You know, normally, like, if someone calls you repeatedly, like, you would maybe tend to think that there was something wrong. So then I was thinking that something would happen to me, and then he would see that he had, like, seven missed phone calls, and then he would feel really bad. So then I was like, who else would answer their phone if I called numerous times? I was like, Stephen would. Plus, Stephen lives in Kansas. So I called him in a pure Shannon panic. Obviously picked up after one ring, because I'm sure, like, Ashley never calls me. Why is she called?

It's exactly what it was. I was like, oh, something's wrong, right?

And then, yeah, I had a mini meltdown of what I. What do you do when you are in the middle of nowhere and there is a tornado? And. Right. There's always, like, the misnomer of going under a bridge, which we all know is not. Not a safe thing to do. So he reaffirmed that for me, but more or less it was like, find an open ditch and hunker down. But I just kind of floored it to where I was going, and I was like, well, if someone pulls me over at this point in time, got to the house and went immediately into the basement with the clients that were there waiting for me, and they bought the house. So, I mean, great time. We met in a tornado warning and got to stay in the basement. Yeah. Those are the fun stories people don't tell you about real estate.

Not at all, no. And, you know, out of. I've born and raised in Kansas, and I've never seen a tornado really ever seen a tornado. So we've had them obviously, around us. And I. We've been close, but I've never seen one before.

But, yeah, we had a lot near us when I was little. I don't really remember it, but one took the neighbor's house, neighbor's garage off. But I did see one time in Mexico, like a tornado in the water. So it was like hurricane season.

Isn't that. That's like a water funnel? Water.

Yeah, something like that. But it was. It was crazy to see.

Yeah. Yeah, there we go. Way off topic. So back to you on if you were to drop a house and wild, crazy, unnecessary thing, what would it Be a golf simulator. Ooh.

But I can.

I can feel like you guys would have that already.

Well, we don't, but we've gone to some. I'm sure we could. We'd have. Yeah, that would be. That'd be an excuse for Ben to build again, since he would love to build again. We've gone to some of the parade at Homes in Madison, which is a much larger city than us, and they basically, like, build the basements so that they're, you know, like, that's like a two foot step down, so it doesn't affect the rest of it, but it's like a sunken living room. So you have to have such tall ceilings to be able to swing your club and everything. So I think that that would be great for the winter. I would see us probably doing that, like, nightly. But we would improve my golf game because when I start in, like, April, it takes me till about June to be warmed up for my golf season. So then. Yeah, that's super unnecessary. But I would like that in. If I could rebuild again. I would build, like, that extra pantry, like, behind the kitchen, like, the whole length of the kitchen just to have more room and hide stuff that you use so infrequently.

No, I feel like those are pretty. I mean, maybe the golf simulator. What would. What would be one other thing. The butler pantry. I feel like that's my wonder feel.

Like pools don't do anything for me. Like, I wouldn't give it for me. Like, that would be a given for you. If I was in a tropical location, I would have to have one outside. But, like, some people that have, like, the pools in their house. No, not for me. What else? Maybe, like, a true, like, theater room. So Ben loves movies. Ben could watch a movie every single night of his life.

Yeah.

So I think, like, we had originally thought that, but, like, when the plans all came together, it just didn't work. But, like, the actual, you know, staggered steps down and the huge chairs, and I think that that would be enjoyable for the long winters as well.

Well, I'll tell you, we don't use it very often at all. We have a theater in our house, and I think, like, two times a year, if that. And really it's when kids come over and, like, we're watching football or something, and we can put them in the theater and turn something on.

But there's, you know what Ben would tell you? His unnecessary item is that I didn't let him build that. Now I'm thinking I should have.

What is it?

He Wanted a tunnel from the house to the shop.

Okay, that's cool. I would, I would be here for that. Like.

Okay, well, when we built that we were slim budget and he wanted like the like the culvert type, huge circle type of concrete. And so his thing was, you know, then he wouldn't have to go outside in the winter to get to his tools and man caver, whatever. But now I think that it would be ideal for the state of the world that we're living in. That we would have a little, you know, concrete dome that would have food lined on it. So now he says I should have listened to him.

Yeah, you know, I, I always say that like if, you know, when we, when we make it big and have all this money, we can have multiple homes like being tropical. But also I will tell you, I don't want to live in a huge city with a single family home. Like I would live in a huge city with a condo. No, no issue there. But like being right next to people all the time. Hell no. I don't want to, I don't want to do that. I need, I need some acreage, I need some space. I need to be, I mean, I want to be able to, I mean growing up we had, you know, four wheelers and motorcycles and all the fun things and not that we wouldn't have all of those all the time, but being able to get on a razor and just, you know, mess around and.

Just do your thing off.

Right. Like um, having a pool. Not people like up at my parents house, like they're, I think they're like three acres away from their next house. And then so you can't hear em, you can't see em, you can't do anything but like it's so secluded. That's exactly what I'm wanting. If we're building here locally, would you.

Ever live on an island?

Describe said island. Do we have, do we have running water? Do we have.

Yeah, you could have running amenities, but you'd more than likely have to take a, like a ferry to get there.

I think I could do that.

Yeah.

I, but I mean like I need water and flushing a toilet. Right? Like we've learned that yes, Costa Rica was probably a stretch to my, my limits. It was great, but that was definitely just a tad. But maybe you cross the line. But honestly, I think Costa Rica is freaking beautiful. I think that's still one. I mean that is the top vacation that I've ever been on of location, house, all of it. So just was not expecting the Non flushing toilet paper that. That one threw me through through a loop. And then maybe the. The scorpion coming through. There's just, you know, minor things, nothing crazy, but no electricity. What was it? There is a. How'd you say it? There's a bang on the island or bang on the mountain or explosion on the mountain. Nothing to worry about.

Nothing to worry about. But that the. But that the lines are down, so you're not gonna be able to go down the hill. You're. You're staying put.

Yeah, and we did. We were not gonna go down.

I was near the end of our vacation, so our food didn't spoil. Etc. But I mean, it makes you, like, right, Like. Yeah, realize. But I had a. I had a tour this week with a candidate and they were originally from Wisconsin, but they lived in New York for their degree. And just talking about, like, the sheer difference of just that. So, like, you know, you come here and there's greenery everywhere. And like when you and I visited, like New York, like the green you see is Central park. And then it's just all. So we've. I feel like we've become very spoiled with land and nature and whatnot. So I think that I would still have to have a good portion of that. But I had a call with Robin this morning. She was talking about how cold it was, and she said it was 71. And then I was like, well, guess what it was this morning. It was 51 here. So I would say that wherever we were to drop a dream home, that would be a second home or whatnot, it would have to be warm 90% of the time.

Yes. But also, like, it's supposed to be 102,3. But the humidity, that's what gets me. So I want tropical. I get it. But maybe, maybe I'm fine with the humidity if we are next to the ocean or. Yeah, like, I'm cool with that too, but the humidity freaking kills me, so I can't do it. And I have a friend that works in concrete. He texts me. He's like, oh, my God, it was hot today. It was. This was yesterday. The day before. And I was like, oh, my God. I know. And then a little bit later, I was like, let me not lie. I was inside all day at my desk. So I feel for you. I'm sorry. Thank you for what you do. No, I cannot do manual labor like that.

Like 88 on like Monday or something. And Ben was working outside the whole day? Yes. And he came home and he was like, I have to take A cold shower. This is miserable. And I was like, man, if that have been me, I'd just been basking the whole day.

I'm here for it. So. All right, so perfect place. Like, if you could throw the dart on the map, where would it land? Where would you want that second home to to be at?

Yeah, you know, it would have to be probably Caribbean ish type area, because, you know, like, which we'll be spending some time there. But, like, Scottsdale is a beautiful area, but they still have cold. It's a little cold. You know, even like when we've been in Mexico over Christmas, like, it was a little cold for me, so probably need to go a little bit more south. But like a St. Lucia or a Aruba or something. Like, I'm sure that there would be a nice little place. I could plop a house down. And then for me always to have a second home, I say that I would want to be able to vrbo it. That's the only way it makes sense for me.

I. I mean, I'm right there with you. I went Caribbean. I went beautiful all the time. Right. I mean, we've been on a lot of places in the Caribbeans, but I think that there's so many other little islands, like Carousel. Like, we went there this last year, and that was beautiful. I don't know if that's necessarily the place for me, but still beautiful. But I. I think it's also too one of the things that, yes, about a home. Get it. But the lifestyle of island life truly is something that we say that we're ready for, or I say, I'm not speaking for you, but I say that I'm ready for it. And then I'm like, what is going on? Why are we moving so slow? Like, where is everybody? Like, why is it taking so long? And I had to constantly remind myself, like, island life, chill.

Island time. I remember we were in Hawaii, and I wanted to go to this little boutique, and there was a thing on the door that said, like, be back later, island time. And I was like, well, I don't know when they're gonna open. They'll be back at some point in time. So, yeah, I think even when we were in Costa Rica, I think it was like a culture change for in America, right? Like, you. You eat, you pay your bill, and you're out, right? So we had eight, and then, like, nobody came. Nobody came. Nobody came. And then, like, we realized that's because they could care less if you stayed there the whole entire evening. They'll come back, they'll fill your drinks. So, yeah, it was just very different.

Than what we're used to, but maybe that was. That helped us have another espresso martini or two after dinner. So. And that was the best espresso martini of our entire lives. And I think now every time that we get together, we're like, we need to try and express a martini to see if anything how it relates hasn't quite matched yet. Nothing has touched it. So. But, yeah, no, I'm here for the. The Caribbean. Let's. Let's make it happen.

I was just gonna say let's do it.

Yeah. And then. And then we can turn into. Is it third home, right? Is the. Yeah, the. That's what we're going to do in. In Scottsdale is. It's called third home. And you're able to enter your property into this exchange with other property owners. So then now you can trade out times for people to be able to stay at your home, and then you have keys to be able to access other properties around the world. And I think it's just another addition to what Airbnb, vrbo, those types of exchanges are on top of. So it can be a great investment.

And the thing with that is it takes away the middleman. Like, it's truly like. Like owner to whoever is renting. And I think that that opens itself to, like, some possibilities down the road, too, of meeting other people. And I think, like, oddest thing for you, like, when you went to.

Yeah.

Book it and it ended up being someone from our, like, franchise. Like, what are the odds of that?

It was actually a. I think a spouse of one of another franchise owner. And it's just totally random that that happened. Wild that. That that worked that way. So, yeah, I'm here for it. It's on. It's still on my list. We're getting to it. We're chunking away slowly but surely. So.

And I think it's just, you know, that's one reason to travel. Like, that's why I always tell people. I encourage people to travel is one, like, you never know who you're not, who you're gonna meet.

Right.

Secondly, like, it's just nice to see how other people live. And sometimes I think you can appreciate where you live more or it gives you better ideas, but makes you a more rounded person. I think to be able to travel and to be able to see things, try new foods, just to see, like, how beautiful the earth actually is. And so, you know, we're always in this, like, hustle to work, work, work. But I think as I've gotten older, I've realized that that's only. It's only worth so much. But, like, time with family and friends and with new experiences, it's definitely worth it because it could all be taken away in a day.

So the only thing I have in my head right now is Rihanna's song, work, work, work, work, work, work, work. When you did that, that's all I could think about. So anything you said afterwards, I did not pay attention. I'm sorry.

That's okay. Travel the world. That's my advice.

I'm here for it. Let's go. So cool. Well, great change of pace. And my challenge to everybody today is get out there and do something kind. Just do some one random act of kindness and start being the difference that this world needs. Cool. Tune in next time. All right. Tune in next time. Thanks for listening. You know the drill. See you then.

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