Putting together custom home plans is a great source of excitement. You'll want to apply a process to the job, though, and these 6 tips will help you outline and accomplish your goals.
Break Out a Pencil and Some Paper
Before you get crazy about creating professional-looking custom house plans, it's worth just trying to spitball ideas. For example, where do you want the bedrooms to be located? How many bathrooms does your new residence require? Will you be shooting for an open or close floor plan?
Don't be afraid to sketch out competing and even contradictory ideas. The goal is to rough your way through many concepts early so you can see what just isn't going to work. This will reduce the amount of time and money you spend going through ideas with a pro.
Think Long-Term
What does the house need to do 5 or 10 years down the road? A couple that wants to have kids in a few years, for example, should think seriously about custom home plans that include at least one extra bedroom and a play space. Conversely, a retired person planning a two-story house should consider potential aging-in-place solutions like a first-floor bathroom and stairways that are wide enough to accommodate lifts.
Visualize the Property and the Outside of the House
It's easy to get caught up in figuring out how big the kitchen is going to be. You should, however, take some time to think about how the yard will look from the living room. Similarly, it's wise to consider what the house's curb appeal will be.
Care About the Practical Features
The placement of things like gas, water, and electrical lines is very important to the livability of a home. Make sure there will be enough outlets, too. If you depend heavily on internet access, consider wiring the house for networking cables to reduce your dependency on Wi-Fi signals. Think about where HVAC ducts will be placed, also.
Let There Be Light
With the advent of energy-efficient windows, there's no excuse for not having windows that will provide the amount of light you desire. Windows should be lined up to maximize natural light throughout the day, yielding potential cost savings from reduced electrical consumption by light fixtures.
Imagine How You'll Move Around
Look at how different areas will flow into each other. Will it be easy, for example, to get from the front door to the kitchen when you bring in groceries? By looking into the logistics, you will be sure to have a floor plan that makes sense.