A home’s architectural plan may sound like a logical place to save money; after all, starting from scratch requires the time and expertise of professionals. However, because of the way most custom home building is done, customized home plans don’t add considerably to the home design process.
Custom Home Plan vs. a Stock Plan
Although custom home plans cost several thousand dollars to create, a stock plan can end up costing just as much by the time you customize it to fit your specific needs and location. Building from a stock plan and ending up with unused features and/or space in your home wastes money and resources. By design, stock plans are fairly generic in order to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible, and may not fit the needs of your specific lifestyle in the long run.
The Home Design Process
The home design process begins by considering who will be living in the home and identifying their concerns. Do you have small children who, as they grow, will have changing needs over time? Will older people or people with special health considerations be in the home? Do you or will you have pets? Do you do a lot of cooking? How important is entertaining, inside and outside? Do you work at home? These questions take into account much more than just the floor plan. Features such as a kitchen island with pullout cutting boards, a wine bar, or an outdoor seating area around the barbecue can be incorporated while eliminating the space or features you might pay for with a stock plan but never use. In monetary terms, even as little as 100 extra square feet of unused space can cost an additional $12,000 at the national average of $120/square foot.
Modifications to Ensure the Plan Fits Your Lifestyle
Looking at stock home plans can be a way to get some initial ideas on layout and architectural styles, but why limit your options to floor plan A, B or C? The benefit of starting fresh with a custom home builder is that there are no preconceived notions about what’s possible. Experienced design experts suggest options and ideas you may not have seen before or ever considered. A home designed specifically for your lifestyle will be easier to maintain and a more enjoyable place in which to spend time.