We had a great experience the last two months: we are thinking of buying a new home, and it is amazing what that process reveals about people.  Now, my wife and daughter-in-law have some specific ideas on how this will all work out.  I have a slightly different idea, but I digress. 

May found the perfect house.  How do I know that?  Because she said she found the perfect house.  OK, possibly this was the third or forth perfect house, but who's counting.  At any rate, I go with her to see the perfect house.  It is beautiful, a ranch with a walk-out basement.  In Colorado, we have basements that are garden level, meaning windows that look out, or walk-out, with a set of doors that open to the back yard.  So this home was all finished upstairs, but the basement was still a big open space with no walls, ready for your personal touches.  So we went to the home, and just by coincidence, the builder himself is showing it to some other folks.  We wait till he gets done, then take a tour with him giving the overview of how incredible the home will be with our stuff in it.  Nice. 

As you may guess, I am concerned about a couple of things.  What kind of heating and air it has, and how much it is listed for.  We walk down into the basement, my wife sees the furnace, it has no label on it, at least that you can see.  It is a builder special, the cheapest thing made.  So my lovely wife turns to him and says, "My husband will have issues with that."  He asked why, she said he likes a first class system, which is true.  The builder made a statement that turned me off completely.  He said that you wanted to spend your money on things you see, not something hidden like a furnace.  Not what I wanted to hear.  So if we can't see it, cheaper is better?