Finding the Right House Plans and Designs for Your Needs

According to a survey by Zillow, 75% of recent homebuyers are experiencing regret over their home purchase. Ranging from location disappointment to unexpected, costly repairs, these new homeowners wish they spent more time house planning.

We’re here to help keep you out of that category. Before you buy or build, we have a few suggestions to get you started. Read now to find out what to consider for your house plans and designs!

Develop a Budget

For building or renovating a new home, you should know that the average cost to build is $150 per square foot. With supply chain issues still a factor today, you need to prepare for the price per square foot to be even higher than that, around $200.

When choosing your home plans and residential home design, understand that you need to have already decided what square footage you can afford. This will help you filter through plans faster or give you an idea of where to start if you are designing it yourself.

If you are selling your current home to be able to pay for your new build, have a good estimation of what money you’ll receive from selling. Check out Selling.House if you’d like a cash offer!

If you are building a new home on undeveloped land that you have acquired, there are extra lines you need to add to your budget spreadsheet. The land has to be cleared, soil testing needs to be done, and utilities will need to be run to your home.

These are just a few of the added expenses. You have to thoroughly do your research about building on your own land as there are many hidden costs for which you’re unprepared.

Assess Your Needs

Choose about three things that you can’t or don’t want to live without, and then look for plans that include those. Here are a few key things to consider when house planning and designing:

• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms
• Ranch or stories
• Basement or slab
• Garage or Carport

Choosing the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need for you or your family will also help you decide on the square footage of your home build. There are certain requirements for rooms to be considered a bedroom, which is why square footage and bedrooms go hand in hand.

Ranch homes keep everything on one floor, which is ideal for people who have trouble climbing stairs or want to be close to their children’s bedrooms. However, ranch homes can be more expensive to build than two stories because of their spread. They require more materials for foundation and roofing.

Think about your family, what rooms you’ll use most often, and what you enjoy doing. If you have a big family that you want to host holidays for, an open floor plan may suit you well! If you prefer more traditional dining, let that guide you to four-walled rooms instead.

Finalize Your House Plans and Designs

Once you’ve assessed your budget and needs, you’re well on your way to finalizing your house plans and designs and getting your perfect home. Unless you’re building a new home with an unlimited budget, there are probably compromises to be made. Just keep your top three things in place and take your time until you get them.

Best wishes on your home journey! For more articles like this, continue reading articles from our home section.