Making choices within your budget, lifestyle and design aesthetic

Browsing the Floorplans.com website for your next dream home will be an exciting journey to find a houseplan that will fit within your budget, lifestyle and taste. There will be many decisions to make and hundreds of factors to consider, but they will ultimately guide you to the perfect home for you or your family. The following lists of questions will help you to become familiar with your own wants and needs.

Settling on a Realistic Budget

EVERYONE has a budget. Even if you are a billionaire, you must work within an economic framework to ensure that your money is being spent wisely and that there is money left over at the end of the home buying process. You ARE building your dream home, but you would probably like to leave the house every once in awhile. Don’t become house poor - build within a realistic budget and you will be happy for years to come with the choices you made in the beginning.

Consider These Budget-Oriented Questions:

• Am I paying cash for this home or will I carry a mortgage for the next 30 years?
• How much savings do I have set aside for a down payment, closing costs and to furnish the home once it is built?
• How much do I currently pay in rent or towards a mortgage? Can I afford to increase this number, or am I more comfortable with my current payment?
• If you are currently renting, you must figure in additional expenses for montly maintenance and major repairs that are now your responsibility rather than a landlord’s.
• Research current interest rates and use mortgage calculators to get a ballpark figure of what your montly payments will be for a range of home prices. A lender will ultimately tell you what you can afford, but you should be aware of the costs before beginning this process.
• Factor in mortgage insurance and property taxes, as these will be added to your montly payment. Research tax records online or call your county tax commissioner. This is public information - use it!
• How much “wiggle room” do I have in my budget if construction costs increase or other unforseen factors arise throughout the home buying and building process?

What Kind of Lifestyle Do You Lead?

Behind budget, this is the most important factor to consider when choosing a houseplan from Floorplans.com. Once you have a ballpark figure of the amount of money you can spend on a home, you can work within that framework to choose a house plan that is the right size and style and has all the amenities you hope to have as a homeowner. Of course, you may wish for EVERYTHING on the list below, but realistically you must choose the most important factors that pertain to your lifestyle, and design around those perameters. You will be glad you didn’t unneccessarily spend money on spaces you don’t use, and will be thrilled with those rooms that you enjoy everyday. Your house will become a home because it fits your lifestyle perfectly!

Consider These Lifestyle-Oriented Questions:

• How big is my family? Will children have their own rooms or share with siblings? Will everyone have their own bathroom or will some be shared?
• What lifestage is my family in? Single? Is ours a young family with plans for more children? Are the kids teenagers now, who may need a bit more independence and privacy? Are we emptynesters who want to downsize to a smaller home? Do we need to consider living space for elderly parents?
• Would I prefer a one-story home that is easier to maneuver and more energy efficient, or do I want several levels for the family to spread out and take advantage of added privacy?
• Do I have a formal or informal lifestyle? Should I choose a plan with a formal dining and living room or a more casual plan with a breakfast nook and keeping room near the kitchen?
• Do I spend a great deal of time at home, either working or relaxing with family and friends? Or, do I travel a lot and have numerous outside activities that keep me away from the house?
• Do I enjoy entertaining? Will a formal dining room, entertainment room or abundant outdoor living space be important? Do I need a guestroom?
• Do I spend a great deal of time outdoors? Is it important to me to have porches, decks, an outdoor kitchen, or simply a large yard to enjoy?
• Do I tend to relish quiet time reading or pursuing other in-home hobbies? Do I need a study, keeping room or sitting room to get away?
• How much do I work from home? Will a small desk in the kitchen for paying bills suffice or do I need a large home office?
• How often do I cook meals? Is it important to have a highly functional and beautiful kitchen or would I rather spend money elsewhere?
• How do I tend to use my bathroom? Is it simply a functional space for getting ready, or do I like to relax in a spa-like atmosphere?
• Do I want the master suite to be situated away from the living spaces or on a different floor from the other bedrooms, or do I need to be close to those bedrooms?
• How important are auxiliary rooms such as the laundry, mudroom, pantry and garage? Do I want these rooms to be basic but functional or to be highly efficient and organized?
• How many possessions do I own? Will I need a great deal of storage space in either the attic, basement or garage? How many closets do I need for everyday items?
• Should I choose a floorplan with flex space so the house has room to grow? Will I need another bedroom, office or playroom in the future?
• Do I or anyone in my family have a disability that must be considered when designing my home?
• Do I have pets?

Pinpointing Your Design Style

Once you’ve settled on a realistic budget and considered the needs of your particular lifestyle, the fun begins! Now you can focus on your wants and how to personalize your home. Everyone has a different design aesthetic that is influenced by their history, their surrounding settings, their lifestyle and their plans for the future. Often we don’t even know WHY we like a certain house, piece of furniture or art, but we are drawn to them nonetheless. There are thousands of house plans available in a myriad of shapes and sizes, architectural styles and layout. Browse numerous plans to get an idea of what you like and dislike. Drive around town and notice which homes you are drawn to. Keep a notebook of architectural elements that catch your eye, settings that please you, or aspects of friends homes that you like - at the end of the day you may have a better idea of your own personal style and will be able to narrow your selection of house plans. Floorplans.com has every house plan broken down into an Architectural Style, or search by square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, and even cost to build.

Consider These Design-Oriented Questions:

• Do I like more traditional or comtemporary styles? For example, do my furnishings tend to have curved legs and patterned fabrics or do they have straight legs and solid colors? A few traditional house styles are Colonial, Greek Revival, Victorian and Neoclassical. Some more contemporary styles are Ranch, Modern, Shed and Prairie.
• Or do I have an eclectic mix of styles, possibly with an ethnic flair? You may want to consider a Spanish Revival, Bungalow, Tudor or Mediterranean style home.
• Do I live in a part of the country that has a definitive regional style such as the Southwest? Do I want to design a home inspired by this style?
• For exterior building materials, would I prefer those inspired by nature such as stone, brick, wood siding and shingles or do I want a more industrial feel with glass and metal elements?
• Do I like bold colors, sharp angles or an open concept?
• Do I like subdued tones, curved surfaces or quaint spaces?
• Will my kitchen be cottage, traditional or modern? Cottage kitchens may be painted white and employ beadboard, a farmhouse sink and open cabinets for display of dishes. Traditional kitchens may have paneled, stained wood cabinetry, crown molding and a marble countertop. Modern kitchens tend to have plain, lighter-wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and countertops in a solid color.
• What patterns do I like for textiles such as drapery, upholstery and bedding? Stripes, nature-inspired patterns, textured solids, and graphic designs are just a few choices. Look around your house or a friend’s you admire and notice what you currently have or are drawn to.
• Consider every surface for the material it will be constructed of and finish it will have- floors, cabinets, countertops, walls, doors, windows, and ceilings. These may be hardwood, carpet, vinyl, granite, laminate, or marble, stained wood or painted surfaces.
• Consider appliances and fixtures and the accompanying finish they will have - stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, sinks, faucets, bathtub and shower. These may be black, white, biscuit, stainless steel, nickel, copper, chrome or brass.

Where Will Your Home Be Built?

The size, orientation and setting for your home depends a great deal on the lot it will be built on, as well as the neighborhood it is surrounded by. Before choosing a final house plan, it is wise to know the exact lot your home will be built on.

Consider These Location-Oriented Questions:

• Will my home be built in a rural area, city center, urban neighborhood or suburban neighborhood?
• Is the lot I have picked out wide, narrow, deep, short or oddly shaped? This will greatly affect the size and orientation of the house you pick out. Unless you build on a corner lot is not likely that you will be able to change where the front door is located, but you may be able to pick a plan with the short side facing toward the street to be sited on a narrow urban lot. Or, you may wish to have a rambling façade if your lot is wide.
• What size and style of homes will I be surrounded by? You may or may not want to be the noticed as the new kid on the block, but your neighbors will probably appreciate a home that maintains the integrity of the neighborhood. Consider the implications of building a 7,000 sq ft home next door to a 1,500 sq ft home, or a thorougly Modern home next to a Victorian.
• Are there historic district guidelines or neighborhood ordinances you must consider where you are building this home?
• Think about siting your home on a lot that can take advantage of natural sunlight or shade. This will be especially important if you incorporate green building into the construction.
• Does the lot have a significant grade and in which direction does it slope? Floorplans with a walkout basement must be built into a hillside, with the property sloping down toward the rear.
• Do I plan on building an addition in the future? Am I building on a lot that will accommodate such expansion?

Implementing Green Building Strategies

Your investment in eco-friendly construction will pay off both environmentally and economically, and even the smallest steps will make a difference in your lifestyle. The environmental benefits will be immediate, while it may take a little longer to see a return on your investment, but your family will be living in a healthier home the minute you step over the threshold.

Consider These Green Building Strategies:

• Site your home to take advantage of natural sunlight - this can help with both heating and cooling costs, as well as cut down on the need for artificial lighting throughout the day. If you plan to install solar panels, the slope and orientation of your roof will be extremely important to catch the optimal amount of sunlight.
• Windows can be strategically placed to maximize sunlight as well. Great rooms and other living areas usually have the largest expanse of windows, which allows the entire space to be lit and warmed.
• Build with local materials that can be found within a 500-mile radius. This will cut down on fuel costs for transporting materials and will support your local industry.
• Build with sustainable or recycled materials such as countertops made of recycled glass or compressed paper, jute or wool carpeting, and reclaimed lumber.
• Use paint and other materials that have a low-VOC content. VOC’s are volatile organic compounds that emit harmful chemicals into your home and are present in almost all traditional paint, upholstery and carpeting.
• Install smart systems for HVAC, electrical and plumbing. An example of products available are geothermal heating, which is a continuous system of pipes buried beneath the ground that utilize the warmth of the earth to heat and cool your home. Plumbing architecture can be planned so as not to span long distances, and tankless water heaters cut down on the energy needed to heat a large amount of water. Solar panels provide electricity from the sun.
• Landscape with plants native to your region of the country, as they are naturally accustomed to your climate and will require less care. Also, plant drought-tolerant plants that do not have to be watered frequently, which is a wise choice both economically and environmentally.