The complete new home sales experience is as important to customer satisfaction as the final product. Consider a homebuilder who supports the complete sales story from beginning to end.  

The story begins by choosing a builder.
You use your mind’s eye to see the end result, and you look for a builder with an extensive portfolio featuring plenty of models with curbside appeal and a collection of attractive communities. It’s a great way to get a clear vision of what your dream home will look like. 

The start of the new home sales story focuses on money matters.
A reputable builder presents you with the complete price. A written contract should have the complete cost broken down into component costs. Perhaps you selected an optional sunroom or media room. You should be able to see the value of these features and expect no money surprises later.

If your builder has a relationship with bank lenders, expect no hassles and great rates. A bank lender familiar with the builder’s policies and pricing will make your financing options crystal clear. Lock in the best rate by using this pre-existing relationship. 

Selecting a Community in Michigan
Building a home is building a command center for your family. Selecting a community, floor plans and costs are most likely front and center on your plate. A more subtle but important side is selecting the right community. The slices of the community pie include the neighborhood, schools, and parks and recreation.  

The Neighborhood: It doesn’t take a good fence to make a good neighbor. 
Selecting a community starts with your neighborhood. You’ll be sharing more than a street. Direct neighbors at the four sides of your home share a property line. Can you see yourself splitting a load of mulch? Or coming to a mutual decision about a teetering tree? 

Even non-adjacent neighbors should be considered when building a home. Their yard cleanliness will be evident to you and your guests. Consider the impact on the re-sale value of your home. What about safety when selecting a community?  A neighborhood watch program and drivers who maintain the speed limit will give you peace of mind. 

Understanding floor plans for new homes stops buyer’s remorse. Did you ever buy something online only to discover it was much different than the picture on the website when it arrived at your door? These floor plan tips help you avoid this mistake on a large investment like your home. 

Square footage is just a piece of the puzzle in floor plans for new homes. 
It’s what you do with the square footage that counts. Anyone who has visited an organizational store or closet company knows efficient use of square footage makes a dramatic impact. Ask your builder to highlight closet and cabinet space, built in bookshelves, mudroom cubbies, and basement storage areas. 

The standard floor plans for new homes become uniquely yours with flexible rooms. 
Consider your lifestyle. Flexible rooms in the standard floor plans for new homes can be turned into sunrooms for reading, home gyms for the health conscious, and office spaces full of electronics for the telecommuter. An upgraded master bath with a Jacuzzi tub is a true luxury for unwinding after a long day. A nursery can become a teenager’s room and eventually a craft room for you as your child grows and moves off to college. 

Technology and mock-ups help you visualize the space.
The good news about using a homebuilder with standard floor plans is experience. The builder generates the floor plan with the help of designers and previous customers. Be confident the standard floor plans work. Expect no issues due to wide enough egresses or ample counter top space.

Ask your builder about opportunities to visualize your floor plan of choice. Walk through display homes and drive through existing communities to see your floor plan in action. You probably guessed there’s an app for visualizing your space. Today’s applications let you see how furniture placement and decorating will work. 

Check out Echelon Homes to see floor plans for new homes vetted through the rigorous real world testing of our happy homeowners. Which one will you make yours? 

You don’t have to be an architect to understand floor plans for new homes. Check out our guide. 

Article by: Jennifer Elkow

Grants for new home buyersIf you’ve chosen an experienced homebuilder, your home construction is in good hands. But there will still be plenty of choices for you from floor plan to community selection.  Consider these basics to save money in your new home construction. 

Upgraded materials may cost less in the long run. 
Chances are you bought inexpensive modular furniture for your college dorm room. Lasting four years was acceptable. It was also less painful when the pieces sustained inevitable dings, drops, and damage during twice-yearly moves between home and school. 

The college concept doesn’t work well when choosing materials for new home construction. Quality materials look nice and showcase your style. Granite counter tops shine in your kitchen and also resist staining and chipping. 

Durable materials require little maintenance and minimal replacement. Fiber cement siding is low maintenance and weather resistant over wood siding. The cheapest options up front often lead to you to pay extra: first for the cheaper option and second for the quality option down the road. It’s a bigger cost in the long run.