人生中總有一些時刻，讓人覺得即使白駒過隙，仍然值得一再回味。對我而言，最自豪的事，莫過於曾經親手打造了一座我的「夢中情屋」。

那是一幢超過七千平方英尺的百萬房子。從買地、找建築師設計、與營造商溝通，到監工、挑選建材，每一步都是我和孩子的爸爸一手參與。房子落成的那一刻，我心裡真切地覺得：這是我一生最驕傲的作品。即使後來因孩子上大學、孩子的爸外地工作而高價出售，我仍將房子的照片高掛在現居小屋的客廳牆上。因為曾經住過那樣的家，我已心滿意足，不再因眼前的空間大小而感到遺憾。

更令我自豪的是，這間房子最後是我自己以房地產經紀人的身份賣掉的，沒有透過別的大牌房地產經紀人，因此大筆佣金也由我自己賺到。那種「親手締造、親手圓滿」的成就感，無可比擬。

回想當年的蓋屋過程，歷時十五個月，真可比懷胎十月。

在繪製藍圖的階段，就像計劃懷孕般，滿懷對未來的憧憬。我和孩子的爸希望有一個「宮廷式」的雙邊旋轉樓梯作為家中的靈魂，因此從這個意象出發，不斷與建築師修改設計。那時我們幾乎成了藍圖的專家──跑書店、逛圖書館、拜訪樣本屋，看到喜歡的元素就記錄、影印、拍照，再交由建築師調整。前前後後修改了十次，才完成最滿意的版本。

等到動土開工，就像懷孕初期：既期待又焦慮。白天跑工地，晚上查資料，深怕被營造商以外行話唬弄。幸而我們監工仔細，才能及時發現一些偷工減料的苗頭，逼得他們依約修正。

施工後期，卻是最折磨人的時候。因為房子已完成九成，但油漆與地毯卻一拖再拖，營造商把人力調去新工地，只派零星工人敷衍。我們眼巴巴地看著房子「幾乎完成卻不能入住」。最後還得請律師寫信威脅，才在晚了半年的情況下交屋。那一刻，我終於理解為什麼有人說，蓋房子需要的不只是錢，更是耐心與決心。

這段經歷，讓我學會許多課堂外的知識。比如，合約細節要寫得清清楚楚，從大到廚房櫃子、花崗岩材質，小到門把是「空心」還是「實心」，都必須列明。不然日後變更，營造商便有藉口加價。

我也明白了所謂「津貼」(Allowance) 的陷阱──營造商給你一筆預算，表面上看似足夠，但一旦你挑的東西超過額度，差額就得自己補。我們事先做足功課，到賣場調查價錢，把喜歡的花崗岩型號寫入合約，才得以控制成本，避免不必要的糾紛。連營造商都驚訝，說我們是少數能把預算與最終成本控制得幾乎一致的業主。

此外，監工還能帶來意想不到的靈感。例如主臥浴室原設計用牆隔開，顯得狹小陰暗。後來臨時改成大片玻璃，整體空間瞬間明亮寬敞。那種邊施工邊雕琢的過程，就像藝術品的最後修飾，讓家更接近心中的理想。

有人說，蓋房子會減肥。我和孩子的爸就是最佳見證。十五個月裡，我們每天忙於跑工地、挑材料、和師傅討價還價，體重各自減了好幾磅。雖然辛苦，卻是甜蜜的代價。

新居落成的第二天早晨，我推開窗，看著陽光灑在庭院的草地上，心中浮現一種「夢裡成真」的感覺。所有奔波、爭執、等待、焦慮，都在那一刻煙消雲散，只剩下滿滿的喜悅。

如今，那棟房子雖已售出，但它留下的故事與經歷，卻成了我生命中最寶貴的資產。它不只是磚瓦組成的建築，而是我夢想、智慧與毅力的結晶。

當我坐在現在的小客廳裡，抬頭看著牆上掛著的我夢中情屋的放大照片，我依然覺得驕傲和滿足，因為我曾經住過一座自己親手設計的家。

這段蓋屋的經歷，不僅讓我體驗到「從無到有」的創造快樂，也讓我更懂得欣賞每一處建築的細節。

如今回首，我更深深體會到，不論人生住在多大的房子裡，心中曾經擁有的那份滿足與成就，才是最真實的幸福。

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What I Am Proudest of in My Life?

There are certain moments in life that remain etched in our memory, moments that define who we are and what we value. For me, one of the proudest achievements of my life was building my very own “dream house.”

It was our Royal Melbourne house which is over 7000 square feet that I and dad created from the ground up.

We bought the land，hired an architect, carefully selected a builder, and oversaw every detail of construction. From the very first sketch of the blueprint to the day we moved in, every brick, every window, every corner bore our personal touch.

To this day, even though we eventually sold it for a good price when you guys left for college and dad worked in Florida , I still keep photos of my dream house hanging in my current tiny living room. It is more than just a picture—it is a reminder that I once lived in the home of my dreams, and that memory gives me peace and pride, even though I now live in a much smaller place.

Another reason this achievement means so much to me is that I sold the house myself. As a licensed realtor, I did not go through a more famous realtor like Susan Coveny. I sold it on my own, earning the good amount of commission that would have otherwise gone to someone else. To me, that sense of independence and accomplishment—building a house and then selling it with my own hands—was priceless.

Looking back, the fifteen months it took to complete the construction felt very much like a pregnancy.

Designing the blueprint was like planning for a baby—full of dreams and expectations. Our vision centered on a grand double staircase in the foyer, a palace-style entryway that symbolized elegance and pride. From that starting point, we worked with the architect to refine the design. We poured countless hours into research: visiting bookstores and libraries, studying architectural magazines, touring model homes, and jotting down every idea we found inspiring. After nearly ten rounds of revisions, we finally had a blueprint that captured our vision perfectly.

When construction began, it was like the early months of pregnancy—filled with both excitement and anxiety. We visited the site constantly, fearful of mistakes or shortcuts. In fact, careful supervision saved us from several costly errors. For example, we noticed that some beams were thinner than what had been specified in the contract, and some support structures were not reinforced as agreed. Because we caught these issues early, they were corrected in time.

But the final stage of construction was the hardest, just like the last weeks before childbirth. Ninety percent of the house was finished, but details such as painting and carpeting dragged on for months. The builder had already received most of the money and began prioritizing other projects, leaving us frustrated and helpless. At one point, the delays stretched so long that we had to hire a lawyer to send a formal letter threatening legal action. Only then did the builder finally hurry up and finish the work—six months later than originally promised.

From this experience, I learned more than I could have ever imagined.

One lesson was the importance of detail in contracts. We specified everything: the brand of windows, the model of bathroom fixtures, the material of the front door, even whether doorknobs should be solid or hollow. By doing so, we avoided endless disputes later.

Another lesson was the hidden risk of “allowances.” Builders often give you a set budget for items like kitchen cabinets, flooring, or countertops, but in reality, the allowance rarely matches what you truly want. For example, granite countertops can range anywhere from $6 to $80 per square foot. If you don’t research prices in advance, you will quickly exceed the budget and be forced to pay more out of pocket. Luckily, we visited showrooms ahead of time, chose our preferred styles, and wrote them into the contract. Even the builder admitted he had never seen homeowners keep the actual cost so close to the original bid.

Supervising construction also gave us the freedom to make improvements along the way. For instance, our master bathroom was originally designed with walls separating the shower and toilet areas, which made the space feel cramped and dark. While building, we decided to replace the walls with large glass panels, transforming the bathroom into a bright, open retreat. These small but thoughtful changes made the house truly unique, a piece of art shaped step by step.

Despite the stress, there was joy in the struggle. Some even joke that building a house makes you lose weight, and in our case, it was true. Both dad and I lost several pounds during those fifteen months from running around construction sites, negotiating with contractors, and making endless decisions.

I still remember the morning after we moved in. I woke up, looked out at the sunlight pouring over the lawn, and felt as if I were living in a dream. All the arguments, delays, and frustrations of the past months faded away. What remained was a sense of pure fulfillment.

Though that house is no longer ours, the memory remains one of my life’s greatest treasures. It was not just a building made of bricks and wood—it was a creation of my imagination, effort, and persistence.

Every time I look at the photo on my wall, I am reminded that I once lived in a place I designed and built with my own hands. That is why, no matter where I live now or in the future, I carry with me a sense of pride that no one can take away.

Building that dream house was more than just constructing a place to live. It was about turning a vision into reality, about discipline, teamwork, and resilience. It taught me to see beyond appearances, to value details, and to appreciate the reward of perseverance.

Most importantly, it gave me a lasting sense of pride—the kind that sustains me no matter how life changes.