How to Choose the Right House Plan

There are just so many criteria to consider when choosing a house plan. In this tip, we want to give you a quick guide how to help you narrow down your choices.

Your Needs and Preferences

Who is going to live in your new house? How will these people use the house?
What hobbies, preferences, special needs, etc. does each of the future residents have? Which of these are must-haves, and which ones are nice-to-haves?
What home social life do you lead? Do you expect to have guests, either overnight guests or for entertaining purposes? Make sure your home plan and your family's social life match.
What are you indoor/outdoor living preferences?

Your Constraints and Limitations

What is your budget? What size can you afford (if you build too big, you will have to cut back drastically on finishes which can cost a lot of money).
- Estimate the construction cost as accurately as possible, especially taking into account the special conditions of your local environment (soil types, local regulations, etc.)
- Get advice from other people who've built a house in the area where you're planning to build.
What are the constraints of the land you're planning to build on? Check for factors such as soil type (could make basements difficult), local regulations and restrictions (easements, height limits, style prescriptions), orientation and placement (where do light/wind come from at different times of day and during different seasons).

Thinking Ahead: Future Considerations

Will your family grow or shrink? Will you have (more) children, or will children leave home in the foreseeable future?
What needs for expanding your home do you anticipate, or how will you repurpose space in your house with changing future occupancy?
Do you plan on living in this house very long-term? If you plan on ever reselling your home (or even if you don't right now), think about the future resale value of your property, such as location, curb appeal, etc.)

Making Modifications

Stock house plans can come very close to your ideal house plan, but often, some level of modification is desired. Depending on how extensive the modifications you want are, they could easily add another $1000-2000 to your house plan expenses. If you want to modify a plan you like, check with an expert if your intended change is feasible and get a cost estimate before actually buying the plans.

Basic Decision Making

In essence, it comes down to "think before you buy". House plans are not cheap, and not refundable, so missteps can be painful. Don't forget that you're the one with the money, so don't be shy to ask for clarification from sellers and cross-check information before spending your hard-earned dollars. Just check with builders, architects, and local officials to see if your plans would get the green light in your area.