The floor plan affects the way you use the space in your home. Carefully analyze the floor plan in terms of your specific needs. A home may be big enough in square footage but may not work well for you and the way you live.
One way to define what you would like in your new home is to write down the pluses and minuses of your present and/or previous home(s). It's a great way to start narrowing down the features you want and identifying those you don't.
Ask yourself the following questions when considering which floor plan is right for you:
Are you married or single?
Do you have children or do you hope to have children in the future? Will each child require a bedroom or will they share rooms?
How many bathrooms are needed?
Do you have parents or in-laws who will live with you?
Do you often have out-of-town guests?
Do you work at home? What are your workspace considerations?
Do you prefer single-story or two-story homes?
If you prefer a two-story, is anyone living with you unable to handle the stairs?
Do you want a basement?
How do you entertain? When you entertain, how many guests do you usually have?
Do you want separate formal and casual spaces for different occasions?
Where will the focal point of your home be? Family room? Kitchen?
Do you prefer an eat-in kitchen, a formal dining room or both?
How much privacy do you need and where do you need it?
What type of laundry facilities do you want?
Do you need a workshop? How much storage space do you need?
Do you want an outside deck, a screened-in porch or a terrace?
Will the floor plan accommodate your furniture?
Does the floor plan allow for enough natural light?
Does the floor plan allow you to take advantage of the best views on your lot?
Keep these general rules in mind:
Good floor plans have a mix of public and private spaces.
Ideally, the family room is not located next to the bedrooms.
Desirable features include plenty of storage space, an attached garage, and easy access to the yard.
The laundry room should be conveniently located.
There should be a bathroom in each level.
The master bedroom should have its own bath.
Open floor plans work well with traffic flow, but also channel noise from one room to another.
Square footage does not always equal usable space.
Make sure the floor plan you have selected works well on the lot you choose. A narrow lot is ideal for home designs that rise up instead of spread out. Scenic or sloping lots may require a home with large panoramic windows and spacious outdoor decks.
If your family spends a lot of time outdoors, you'll want easy access to your yard, patios and decks.
The process of building a home can seem overwhelming, especially to first-time homebuyers. If you ever have a question about the building process, please contact us for assistance.
