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House Plans - Choosing the Right One for You
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Choosing a house plan to meet your lifestyle and needs may seem time consuming or overwhelming, but knowing what to look for can help lead you to success when selecting house plans for your new home.
When choosing your house plan natural surroundings, lot size and resale value need to be taken into consideration prior to purchasing. House plan considerations: Living Needs and Family Lifestyles Every family and lifestyle requires different needs and wants from a home. For example, retirees may want to consider a smaller one floor living home, giving thought to the future; where as a growing family needs to think about more space, and future expansion. Before choosing a house plan we suggest that you ask your self a number of lifestyle and living needs questions. Are you a newlywed with plans to start a family? How many children? Is there adequate room? Will you need guest rooms for overnight guests? What about additional living space in the future to possibly care for elderly parents or grandchildren? Do you want a formal dinning room and traditional living room for large formal entertaining, or do you prefer small relaxed family get-togethers? When choosing a property and house plan keep in mind its flexibility for future expansion. Think about the time you presently spend in certain rooms in your home and why. Some families like to have the kitchen as the hub for daily family gatherings and require a large sunny eat in kitchen with lots of space, possibly even opening to a family room with fireplace and lots of comfy furniture. How much privacy do you need and where do you need it? Most new home owners prefer home plans with more privacy in the master bedroom and personal living spaces; others might need privacy in a home office space or library. Another important consideration is how much privacy would you want and need from other occupants and neighbors. If privacy is important to you consider a house plan with an L or U shape. These types of floor plans can provide you with more privacy when building on urban or suburban lots. Check your house plan for placement of windows to see if they will provide adequate privacy from your neighbor's windows and yards. Consider how you plan to utilize your outdoor yard space; see whether your house plan features decks, patios, porches or pools and whether they meet your needs for privacy. Landscaping, lot type and location can play an important factor in how much privacy your outdoor spaces will have. House plan work space considerations Where would you prefer the laundry room to be located? Do you have special interests that might require additional space or rooms to enjoy them? Do you require a large workroom for messy or noisy projects? Do you enjoy gardening? You might want to include a mud room or utility room with a half-bath, for quick and easy cleanup. Are you a “pack-rat” who needs lots of attic or storage space to store your treasures? Furnishings and Aesthetics Will your new home plan work with your current or new furniture arrangements and furniture styles? Carefully consider the seating areas and how furniture placement will affect the overall feel of the room. Do you want two separate seating areas or one larger conversation area? How will the room flow into other rooms? Current furniture should be measured to determine if there will be adequate walking space of at least 3 feet around and clearance for doors to open. Will the height of your furniture block windows? Do you have enough wall space for art work? Take into consideration natural light and lighting placement. House plans and outdoor living The geographical and natural landscaping features of your lot can have a large impact on the style of home plan you will need to choose. Therefore, while choosing a house plan, consider whether your lot space will provide a lawn area for outdoor games and sports or if you will need to reserve enough lot space to include pools, interesting landscaping or gardens. If you've already purchased your building lots you will need to consider these factors and tailor the house plan that you choose to meet those needs and requirements. |
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