Tips on How to Compare Home Floor Plans

Whether you want to build a luxury or log home, chances are you have attempted to compare floor plans on websites. One of the more difficult aspects of selecting floor plans is trying to imagine the interior of the home. But you can save time and avoid costly mistakes when you learn how to compare home floor plans with the following tips.

Compare Floor Plans by Need

It is a good idea for home buyers and builders to set priorities before comparing floor plans, according to Buildwisely.com, a company that specializes in home plans. List your required features, such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Amend the list to include lifestyle considerations. If you prefer casual living, jot down an eat-in kitchen or kitchen-hearth combo. Inversely, if you desire separate living and entertaining spaces, include a formal dining room. Don't forget to add features that are necessities in many homes, such as a home theater or an office.

Consider the terrain of the home site when you compare floor plans. Of course, a sloping lot will have different design considerations than those of a flat parcel. But listing the dimensions of the lot will help you maintain focus on a house that is feasible.

Find Floor Plans to Compare

There are hundreds of websites that sell home plans, and most include a search function. Google the terms "floor plans," "home plans" or "house plans." You will find a variety of sites that allow you to find and compare home designs by style, square footage, number of floors and just about anything on your list.

When you spot an appealing home, print off copies, and bookmark the site so that you can compare floor plans later. But be aware many sites feature variations of the same floor plan.

Virtual Marketing Concepts boasts one of the largest collections online, with over 30,000 floor plans, supplied by the nation's oldest housing plan broker, Garling House at Familyhomeplans.com, and one of the leading independent websites at Coolhouseplans.com. Save time sifting through repeats. Make notes of any websites or partner sites that you visit to compare home plans.

Evaluate the Floor Plans

A search for floor plans returns plans based on criteria set by the home builder, yet the results may not be relevant. A search for a home with a kitchen and a garage may yield plans where the kitchen is located on the opposite side of the house. This is a design flaw that is tough on the homeowner and the floor too. That's why it is important to compare the layout of floor plans carefully.

Check the location of every room throughout the home. "Each room should fit perfectly together...like the pieces of a puzzle," according to Buildwisely.com. Look for problematic traffic patterns and privacy issues when you compare homes.

The central living area that grew popular in the nineties is a great example. Home buyers were sold on the vast, open feel of the Great Room, only to realize the terrific upkeep such a space required later. The cathedral ceiling made changing lights a chore and painting a hazard. Not to mention, there was no place to park a girl scout or insurance salesman in a jiff. Guests walked several feet from the entry into a space that refused to wear clutter well.

Hence newer floor plans feature multiple living areas to address these issues, and it is something worth considering as you compare house plans.

Compare the Use of Space

Home buyers need to look at how the space is used, especially when building a custom home. Compare the use of space versus the cost. Construction costs for a new home range from $105 to $120 per square foot, according to the US Census Bureau. That means it will cost homebuilders $10,500 to $12,000 dollars for every 100 square feet of wasted space.

With the additional cost, homebuilders have reason to ask if the space is functional. When you compare floor plans, determine whether that mysterious spot at the top of the stairs - the lounge or study nook - is really maximizing the use of space. Or is it just a costly catchall?

Adequate storage is another point of comparison. As families grow and get more stuff, more storage space is necessary. How do the floor plans compare in terms of closet and basement space?

Compare the Rooms of Floor Plans

A home buyer needs to narrow the list of floor plans by examining each room. Check the dimensions when you compare house plans. The space needs to be large enough to accommodate furnishings and serve its intended purpose. For example, the angled wall is an exciting trend, but it also poses a challenge for furniture placement. Think about it: can a laundry room the size of a closet really get the job done?

Don't forget to compare sources of light, such as windows and skylights. This is especially true of rooms adjacent to covered porches or patios. If such is the case, you will want to compare rooms that let in more light with windows on two sides.

Compare Expandable Floor Plans

Your needs may change over time, and an addition may be necessary in the future. So be sure to compare home plans that allow for expansion. Many floor plans include optional rooms. These rooms appear in the plan with invisible walls (dotted lines) and are intended to be finished at a later date.

Since buying a home is one of the most important investments you can make in a lifetime, do your homework. If you take the time to compare plans using the tips above, you will avoid costly modifications and save money in the long run.