House Plan

Your home is usually the biggest investment purchase that a person will make in their lifetime.  This is why choosing the correct house plan for you is critical if you are having a home built. 

What exactly are house plans?  They are architectural blueprints of the home to be constructed.  Depending on the architect or the plan designer, these house plans can be incredibly detailed, or only a rough sketch designed to give you an overall idea.  There are such plans as stock plans, commonly found with builders.  They have a set number of plans that they work with and you can choose one of these with some custom add ons, if offered.  When you purchase a plot of land within a new community development, you often are only able to choose from the builder's stock plans.  

When deciding on a plan, keep the following things in mind:

Size: This is the first important decision.  You need to have a home large enough to accommodate your family.  Keep in mind how long you plan on being in the home and whether your family will be getting larger or smaller.  It's always a good idea to err on the larger size, as the cost for building a larger home will be less than creating an addition on your home at a later date. 

Lifestyle: Do you entertain a lot?  Are you a budding chef?  Is this home a retreat away from a hectic life?  All of these things will play into your house plans.  If you enjoy cooking, make sure the plans include a kitchen large and well equipped enough for you to work in.  Do you entertain a lot?  Think about a large dining room or outdoor patio area for lots of guests.  Will your home be a personal sanctuary?  Think about creating a private library, or possibly an outdoor sunroom with a spa.  Fitness buff?  Include a workout room in your house plans, with special floors and areas designed to hold your fitness equipment. 

Style: What type of home are you looking for?  A rambling ranch or period Victorian?  Some of these decisions can be made by what appeals to you, or what is practical.  Ranch homes are typically one level, which is great for families with young children or elderly people who might have trouble on stairs.  Some people prefer home styles with more than one floor so the sleeping quarters aren't on street level.  It's all up to you to make sure these are included in your house plans. 

If you aren't working with a builder, you have the opportunity to expand your home plan choices.  Online house plans are very easy to find and much cheaper than going through an architect.  Sites such as houseplans.com let you choose the size and style, as well as any other amenities you would like to add.  You can play around with the plans there, then purchase once you have a layout that you are happy with.  Most sites will also give you an estimated cost to build, which is very important when keeping your budget in mind. 

After selecting your plan, the real excitement begins as your home is built and you see the house plan come to life!