FOUR QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING AN IDEAL FLOORPLAN FOR YOUR FAMILY

Many homeowners make common mistakes when deciding which floorplan best meets their needs. Ask yourself the following questions to decide which floorplan is ideal for your family’s current and future needs.floor plans for new homes

1. Does this floorplan address most of what we lack in our current home?  Have you found that your laundry room is too tight and a large mudroom would enable you to store all family members’ outdoor wear, sports equipment, etc. and help you get the kids ready to leave more efficiently? Are you tired of lugging laundry up and down the stairs and want a laundry room on the second level to save yourself time and muscle strain? Ascertaining whether or not the new floorplan solves most of the issues related to your current home’s floorplan and size will enable you to choose an ideal layout.

Ponder why you originally considered building a new home. Perhaps you lack ample storage space in your current home or have decided to start working from home and require a private, quiet home office. If you’ve had children since your last move, is your goal to obtain more space for entertainment such as a theatre, game or craft room?

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2. Will this home satisfy our family’s future needs?   It can be challenging to anticipate all of your future needs, however this is a critical step. Two bathrooms may suffice today with no children, or one or two. Consider if you may want to have (more) children and how that would impact your floorplan. Usually, more bathrooms, bedrooms and common areas are ideal for growing families. Today you may work outside of the home, however if you decided to work from home, is there an area within the new floorplan that would enable you to do be productive in terms of its size, location, light, privacy, etc.? If you dream of owning a boat or watercraft, will you need a third or fourth bay in the garage in which to store it?

3. Are there significant changes that must be made to the builder’s designs?  All modifications to builders’ designs typically cost more, however some are relatively easier than others. For example, adding a garage stall, switching a regular picture window for a bay window and adding a closet are not huge impacts to the floorplan. Adding windows and/or changing dimensions or the locations of the rooms, on the other hand, can be extremely costly.

4. After touring the model, am I satisfied with the design without the upgrades?  It’s easy to fall in love with all of the upgrades, decor and staged furniture showcased in model homes, however imagine the flow and function of the floorplan without them. If you are satisfied with the overall layout and can live without the extras, for example extra fireplaces and Carrera marble in the bathrooms, the floorplan is right for you.

Visit one of many Echelon Homes neighborhood communities which all offer a variety of floor plans to meet your family’s needs.

Article by: Jennifer Elkow