The Perfect House Plan – Reach House-Plan Heaven – Simply, Effectively, and Quickly

Some people are just dreamers. They have a fascination with homes and home designs. They simply can’t stop their insatiable desire to see as many floor plans and elevations (home exteriors) as possible! I call them recreational home plan searchers. They will likely NEVER build a home.
 
Then there are people who are agonizing over the decisions they must make. They are ready to build but they just can’t find what they want and have no idea what to do. They have taken too long. All the fun of looking at house plans has vanished and they are ready to give up.
 
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE PLAN SEARCHER ARE YOU?
 
Because you’re reading this, you are likely a serious home plan searcher. But, before your searching becomes a chore, take these steps to ensure that you keep it simple, effective, and timely. I will help you avoid the common pitfalls most people fall into when searching house plans.
 
Your simple plan of action.
 
1) Don’t get serious until you have a parcel of land.
 
Looking at floor plans and home styles is great research and a wonderful way to help you decide what you like and dislike. Look at pictures, look at homes for sale, look at new developments. But before getting to serious, you must know where you’re building first.
 
2) Understand the requirements of the neighborhood.
 
There may be official Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions by the Homeowners’ Association or local building authorities. There will also be a style that you will want to follow to fit into the neighborhood to achieve the best value in your home.
 
3) Narrow down your home plan search and prioritize
 
As soon as possible you need to start eliminating styles and floor plans. The process can quickly become overwhelming unless you begin making some hard choices, early on. Consider the neighborhood, your likes and dislikes, your spouse or partners likes and dislikes and narrow down to 3 or 4 styles and lay-outs.
 
4) Start talking to local professionals
 
I don’t want you to go it alone. There will be a lot of important items that you may not fully understand. To help you find out what you don’t know, talk these people as soon as you can:
 

• Interview a few local builders: Since you are planning to build, you should have no problem getting some builders to talk with you. Ask them about their knowledge and experience and pay close attention to how they go about things. 
• Talk with a real estate agent who sells parcels: An active real estate agent who sells buildable lots in your area may know some good contractors who can enlighten you on building practices and costs.
• Make an appointment with an architect: This is important. You may end up using an architect to design your home. Even if not, they can be a wealth of information leading you to an easier and quicker process in selecting the right house plan.

Your goal is education. The sooner you get some help and learn the requirements, the sooner you’ll be able to make some important decisions that will make your house plan search effective. Will you buy a plan? Will you use an architect? If you follow these steps, you’ll know. Take the time to learn.