Picking the right floor plan

Picking the right floor plan

Choosing a floor plan for your new home is an exciting process. As you start combing through your different options, it is important to know how your family will use the space and how it will fit with your lifestyle. The right floor plan will greatly improve how you experience your new home, and everything from its shape to its style should be accounted for. You might be overwhelmed by your options, but we’re here to help. Here are some essential tips for picking the right floor plan.

Tips for picking the right floor plan

Budget

Most people know what they want their dream home to look like. But before you set your sights on a particular house style or size, find out the cost and set your budget. Meeting with a home builder or contractor can give you a realistic idea of what building your dream home will cost. Armed with reliable information, you can more easily determine what you can afford so you can move forward with your plans. The answers might surprise you, and you may be able to get more home for your buck.

Lifestyle

When you build a new home, you want it to reflect the way you live. You want your new home to make it easy, comfortable, and convenient to do the things you enjoy. That can impact the style (and size) of the home you want. As such, you should choose a plan that fits your lifestyle – rather than try to change your lifestyle to fit a particular plan.

Design style

Every homeowner has their own design style and choosing a floor plan that meets those needs is essential. You must find a floor plan that meets your decorating style. Whether you’re a casual person with large, comfy furniture, or you prefer formal furnishings that may go in a formal dining room or den, how you will ultimately choose to decorate a space will certainly be impacted by your home’s floor plan.

Future plans

Where do you see yourself in five or ten years? Do you intend this home to be your “forever home?” Even if you plan to be in the home for a short while rather than forever, you must look into the future and think about how your life might change. Pick a flexible floor plan that will allow you to use a space in multiple ways. Consider if the floor plan you choose today will be too small or even too large in the future as your life and needs evolve.

Location

Are you looking for urban living or something a bit more suburban? The location of your home may also play a role regarding the type of floor plan you choose. For example, single-family homes that are often a hallmark of suburban living may offer outdoor space for a yard or garden and allow you more space to spread out on a single floor level. Conversely, attached homes like townhomes may give you the same amount of interior space, but that space may be split over a multi-level floor plan. See what’s par for the course within your neighbourhood before choosing a floor plan option over another.

Space needs

How big does your home really need to be? Not everyone needs a huge home. But don’t underestimate your need for space. It’s a common experience for people to move into a new home and think they’ll never run out of space. However, they’ll discover just a few years later that they’re feeling crowded. That can happen if your family grows or your existing children have gotten bigger and want their own space. You may find yourself caring for an older parent. And while it’s never smart to buy more home than you need, it’s much easier and less expensive to expand into existing space than it is to add space later.

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