HOW TO LOOK FOR HOME PLANS:

FIRST - SEARCH FOR A GOOD FLOOR PLAN -  IGNORE THE FRONT ELEVATIONS

• TALK TO A BUILDER OR TWO IN YOUR AREA TO FIND OUT WHAT THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION IS IN YOUR AREA.

• DECIDE, WITH THE HELP OF YOUR BANKER, WHAT YOUR TOTAL BUDGET IS (ROUGHLY).  

• NEXT CALCULATE HOW LARGE A HOUSE YOU CAN AFFORD TO BUILD GIVEN YOUR MONEY DOWN AND LOAN.  DON'T FORGET TO CONSIDER THE PRICE OF A LOT.

• NOW BEGIN TO LOOK FOR A PLAN.  IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A LOT, MAKE SURE TO KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL "FOOTPRINT" CAN BE.  THE "FOOTPRINT" OF THE HOUSE IS THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE HOUSE INCLUDING ALL COVERED AREAS IN REGARDS TO THE "BUILDABLE" ARE OF YOUR LOT.  ALL LOTS HAVE EASEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES, WATER DRAINAGE, SIDEWALKS OR OTHER SPECIAL CONDITIONS.  A FINAL-RECORDED PLAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE LOT DEVELOPER.  

• IMAGINE YOURSELF WALKING IN THROUGH THE HOME'S FLOOR PLAN FROM THE FRONT DOOR AS A GUEST WOULD. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

• BE SURE TO NOTICE NOTES ABOUT THE PLAN SUCH AS VAULTED CEILINGS, PLANT LEDGES, ART NICHES, ETC.

• NEXT, IMAGINE YOURSELF COMING HOME FROM A LONG DAY OF WORK AND GROCERY SHOPPING.  YOU ARE ENTERING THE HOME THROUGH THE GARAGE ENTRANCE CARRYING YOUR LAPTOP BAG, CELL PHONE, MAIL AND A FEW BAGS OF GROCERIES.  NOW WALK (IN YOUR MIND) FROM THE GARAGE DOOR TO THE KITCHEN WHERE YOU CAN SET A FEW THINGS DOWN.  HOW FAR DO YOU HAVE TO GO WITH ALL THOSE THINGS . . . NOW HOW FAR IS IT TO WHERE YOU STOW YOUR COMPUTER, HANG YOUR JACKET, SLIP OFF YOUR SHOES . . . NOW THE DOG NEEDS TO BE LET OUT, IS THE BACK DOOR CLOSE?  NEED TO FEED THE PETS, IS THERE A PLACE TO KEEP DOG FOOD OR WILL YOU BE TRIPPING OVER THE DOG'S WATER DISH? 

• NOW ASK YOURSELF THINGS LIKE:

•      ARE THE SECONDARY BEDROOMS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE MASTER (IF YOU HAVE LITTLE ONES)?

•     ARE THE SECONDARY BEDROOMS FAR ENOUGH AWAY (FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH TEENAGERS)?

•     ARE THERE ENOUGH CLOSETS FOR COATS, PANTRY ITEMS, FOLDING TABLE, VACUUM, CHRISTMAS CANDLES?

•     ARE THE BEDROOMS LARGE ENOUGH FOR MY FURNITURE AND ARE THE CLOSETS BIG ENOUGH?

•     DOES THE FLOOR PLAN HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS?

•      DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL NEEDS WHICH ARE NOT INCLUDED IN WHAT SEEMS TO BE A GREAT PLAN FOR YOU?

•      DOES THIS FLOOR PLAN PROVIDE SPACE FOR OUR GUESTS?

•      IS THERE A PLACE FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY, A BONUS ROOM OR PLAYROOM?

•      IS THERE A PLACE FOR THE ADULTS - MEDIA ROOM - COMPUTER ROOM - OFFICE OR LIBRARY?

ONCE YOU THINK YOU'VE FOUND A FLOOR PLAN THAT COULD WORK FOR YOU, MAKE A LIST OF THINGS THAT MAY NEED TO CHANGE.

NOW, LOOK AT THE ELEVATIONS OF THE FLOOR PLANS YOU'VE SELECTED. 

• DOES THE ELEVATION LOOK GOOD OR IS IT DATED?

• DO YOU DESIRE TO CHANGE ANY OR ALL OF THE ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS?

• DOES YOUR SUBDIVISION HAVE AN ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE TO APPROVE YOUR POTENTIAL HOME PLAN DESIGN?

• DOES THE PLAN HAVE A PORCH OR TOO MANY PORCHES?

• WILL THIS PLAN NEED AN UPDATE ON THE ELEVATIONS?

IF YOU ANSWERED "YES" TO ANY OF THE ELEVATION QUESTIONS, DON'T WORRY!  BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT IS USUALLY EASIER TO CHANGE AN ELEVATION TO FIT THE FLOOR PLAN THAN IT IS TO CHANGE THE FLOOR PLAN TO FIT AN ELEVATION.

IF YOU FIND A FLOOR PLAN THAT YOU LOVE, BUT HATE THE FRONT, WE CAN FIX IT.  SIMPLY TELL US WHAT YOU WANT THE FRONT TO LOOK LIKE.  WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF THE LOOK YOU ARE AFTER WILL WORK ON THE FLOOR PLAN YOU'VE CHOSEN. 

ROOM NAMES MEAN NOTHING!!!!!

• ARE YOU WANTING A FORMAL DINING ROOM BECAUSE YOU HAVE GRANDMA'S ANTIQUE DINING ROOM TABLE, OR DO YOU REALLY USE A DINING ROOM REGULARLY?  IF YOU DON'T REALLY NEED A FORMAL DINING SPACE, YOU COULD CONVERT IT TO A PLAYROOM FOR TODDLERS, AN OFFICE, A MUSIC STUDIO OR A GUEST BEDROOM ON THE MAIN FLOOR.

• DO YOU NEED A FORMAL LIVING ROOM OR PARLOR, IN ADDITION TO A FAMILY LIVING AREA?  IF THE PLAN YOU'VE CHOSEN HAS ONE, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THAT SPACE, YOU COULD CONVERT IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE PLAN IS MISSING.

• DO YOU KEEP A CLEAN KITCHEN AND WOULD YOU LIKE FOR IT TO BE MORE OPEN TO THE FAMILY ROOM AREA (OFTEN CALLED BY OTHER NAMES, LIKE HEARTH ROOM OR GREAT ROOM).  SOME WALLS CAN BE REMOVED IN THE PLAN PROCESS SO THAT THEY ARE MORE OPEN.

• DO YOU KEEP A "NOT-SO-CLEAN" KITCHEN, BUT STILL DESIRE AN OPEN FEEL - THERE ARE TRICKS TO HIDE SOME CLUTTER, SO DON'T WORRY, IT CAN STILL BE OPEN AND UNEXPECTED GUESTS WON'T SEE THOSE DIRTY GLASSES ON THE COUNTER.

SIZE IS IMPORTANT:  (LOT SIZE)

• IF YOU HAVE A FRONT LOAD GARAGE, YOUR LOT SIZE CAN BE JUST WIDE ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR THE HOUSE (INCLUDING BRICK - IF DESIRED) PLUS THE SIDE EASEMENTS REQUIRED BY YOUR LOCAL CODE DEPARTMENT. 

• IF YOU HAVE A COURT-YARD ENTRY, THERE WILL NEED TO BE AMPLE ROOM FROM FRONT TO BACK TO ALLOW FOR THE PROPER FRONT AND BACK YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS.

• IF YOU WANT A "SIDE-LOAD" OR "END-ENTRY" GARAGE, MEANING THAT THE GARAGE DOOR IS ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOUSE, YOU WILL NEED AT LEAST 25' FOR THE DRIVEWAY TURN-AROUND AREA ON THE GARAGE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.  THIS MAY BE IN ADDITION TO UTILITY EASEMENTS IF YOUR AREA WILL NOT ALLOW A DRIVEWAY TO BE ON TOP OF EASEMENTS. IT IS BEST TO HAVE 30' OR MORE IF POSSIBLE.  REMEMBER, THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF YOUR HOUSE WILL STILL NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE EASEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT SIDE.

HAPPY HUNTING!