Home Plan Tips - How to Choose the Perfect Set of House Plans
Article by Carlos Duncan
Building your own home will be one of the most exciting things you ever do in your life. This is one project where you can really put your heart into it. But, selecting your plans has to happen before you build your house. This can be very overwhelming, as there are so many different house plans to choose from.
Believe it or not, picking out the ideal house plan begins with your lot. You may be tempted to pick out your plans first, and then go lot shopping. But remember the old saying in real estate, location, location, location.
Trust me when I tell you, you will have an easier time finding a suitable house plan for the perfect lot. Than you will have finding a suitable lot, in the right location, for your house plan. And as you read through the rest of the house plan choosing tips in this article, you will understand why.
After you have chosen the perfect lot, in the right location for your life style, you can get down to the work of picking out your plans.
The first step, is going to be thinking about your lifestyle. What are your actual requirements?
Do you have or plan on having children. How many? Do you like to entertain? Will you need a formal living or dining area? What about in-laws or guests?
Here in Panama, it is common for foreigners or "expats" to build a second or retirement home. And they always have guests coming to visit from back home in the US, Canada or Europe. They need to have at least one extra bedroom for guests to stay in.
Think about your furnishings. Are you buying all new furniture? Or do you have pieces that are absolutely going to come with you? And don't just think about today; think about the next 5 - 10 years.
You also have to consider how much privacy you want. And where you want it. Maybe you have a gorgeous ocean view, where no one can ever walk in front of you. Can you put in a private soaking tub with a large picture window? Or, does one side of the lot face a public school, where you would rather not wake up to find children watching you through your window?
In addition, the shape of the lot is going to affect your home design. A long and narrow lot will suit a different type of house than a square corner lot.
Equally important, are its views and surrounding area. You want to have the rooms where you spend the most time facing the best views. Also consider your outside living areas in this equation.
Speaking of outside living areas, consider the shape of the lot and how your house fits in. Also think about the other considerations of your house in general. Privacy, sound, etc.
With all of these requirements firmly in your mind, it is time to start browsing through different house plans to figure out your basic layout. The layout should fit all or most of the above criteria.
After the layout is decided on, you can begin to consider interior and exterior finishes. What types of finishes suit the general layout of the house? You don't want to have Victorian style finishes on a Spanish colonial style house.
And remember that while you want your house to stand out, you don't want it to clash with other houses in the neighborhood. You want something that fits in with the overall look.
Building your dream house always starts with the location and the lot. From there, you move on to your requirements and then onto your style wants.
So, consider the general type of house plan that you desire while you are shopping for your lot. But allow yourself a lot of flexibility at this stage.
You can finalize and pick your final house plan later.
Picking your house plans is a thrill for almost anyone. And it is a joy that can be shared with your entire family. If the plans meet your needs, while appealing to your sense of style, your new home will be a source of pride you will be happy to show off to your friends for years to come.
About the Author
Carlos Duncan is the founder of Constructora Cali S.A. a Panama new home builder, remodeling, home inspection and construction management company. Look for them at: http://www.concali.com.
