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Planning Your Dream Home
By Alison Markham, Broker-Associate, GRI, Realtor® | February 20, 2008
(ARA) – Choosing to build your dream house is a major financial investment. Your home should be your haven, providing both the functionality you need and the atmosphere you want at a price you can afford. To achieve the house of your dreams take the time to plan and evaluate your specific wants and needs before you rush into choosing the final design for your new home.
Building a custom home from scratch rather than choosing a pre-built home gives you the opportunity to create your own unique retreat from the outside world. You’ll have the opportunity to either create your own house plans or modify existing house plans to suit your tastes. Hiring a professional builder or architect can simplify the planning process and ensure that your new home is exactly what you want.
As you’re searching for house plans you’ll want to consider more than just the looks and layout of the rooms. You’ll want to make sure that all the aspects of your home reflect your personality and are thoughtfully designed. For example, if the environment and energy efficiency is important to you, you’ll want to consider the layout of your heating and cooling system, your plumbing system, and your electrical system so that is will be as streamlined, and green, as possible.
Using house plans that have all the hidden systems of your home strategically designed can save you money during the course of your home ownership. Finding a local builder to help plan these systems is always a smart choice. A professional builder will know tricks of the trade that many homeowners might not have considered. For example, creating house plans that have the bathrooms and kitchen located in close proximity to each other can save you lots, not only with the cost of materials, but in what it costs to provide hot water to each room as well.
Considering your daily routines and lifestyle can help you make smart design choices for your custom home plans. Where do you currently spend the majority of your time? Do you find yourself constantly in the kitchen, family room, or living room? Do you need space for a home office? Are you into fitness? An exercise room would be perfect. Perhaps you want to turn your master bedroom into your personal retreat. Whatever your preferences, make sure the house plans you choose accommodates your lifestyle.
You’ll also want to consider the exterior of your house plans in the same way. If you and your family spend a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to make sure there are plans for porches, decks, patios and other structures to give you the function and style you want outdoors as well as inside.
Choosing the architectural style of your home is an important consideration as you review house plans. Again, don’t just settle. Make sure the choice you make suits your tastes and budget.
To get started designing your dream home with local, quality builders and architects visit ReliableRemodeler.com.
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