Choosing the Right House Plan

Finding the perfect plan may be time consuming, but it's key to the success of building your new home. If you're not in love with the final product, even if it's only on paper, you won't be committed to seeing it through to completion. It's important to ask yourself a series of questions that can help you choose a plan that works for you. The answers will provide direction for finding the home you need, not just the home you want.
Begin by asking yourself a series of lifestyle questions.

1. Are you married or single?
2. Do you have small children or will you in the future? If so, will each child require a separate bedroom or will they share rooms?
3. How many bathrooms are necessary to fulfill the day-to-day needs of the family?
4. Do you have parents or in-laws who may be living with you in the future?
5. Do out-of-town visitors often stay overnight? Extended periods?
6. Do you frequently work at home?
7. How often do you entertain? How many guests? How much parking is needed?
8. Do you require separate formal and casual spaces for different occasions?
9. What type of home would be best for resale value if you decided to sell?
10. What type of laundry facility?
11. Workshop and storage space requirements?

Outdoors - if you can't resist the call of the great outdoors, consider a plan with an open porch, a screened porch, a deck, a terrace or some other space that functions as an outdoor living room. Does the plan allow enough lawn area for children to use for outdoor games and sports? If gardening is your passion, consider the benefits of a plan featuring a mudroom near the utility room and a half-bath, for quick and easy cleanup. Or, choose a floor plan that offers multiple outdoor views overlooking the grand landscape or your handiwork in the garden. Finally, the geographical features of your lot, if you've already purchased one, may determine the home best suited to it. A narrow lot usually calls for a design that rises up instead of spreading out. A wide, shallow lot, on the other hand, is perfect for a one-story rambler. A sloping lot offers you the chance to build a home with a daylight (walk-out) basement or an inconspicuous, tuck-under garage. For a scenic lot, you may want a design that offers outdoor spaces like decks or porches providing a panoramic view. Keeping the above factors in mind will help you select the perfect lot for your new home.