Often times, prospective buyers walk into the model home, see several floorplans featured and don’t know where to begin with figuring out which one best suits their needs. Here are a few ideas to help you sift through all those plans.
Typically when I would see someone looking a bit overwhelmed or confused by all the plans, my first question would be, “What is your favorite room in the house?” I asked because more often than not, this is the area where you are spending a great deal of time and it is going to be very important in your next home. I tried to help shoppers walk through the everyday motions of living and experience how certain plans may or may not work for them. Do you spend the majority of your time in the kitchen and family room? Do you spoil yourself with lots of time getting ready in the bathroom? Is the Owner’s Suite the one bedroom that has to be perfect? Do you want a basement that is going to be a cozy hiding place or a great party area?
When you start your home shopping, think about how you live – not just the beautiful pictures you see in the magazines or the decorations that can make any model look spectacular. Think about how you entertain – do you entertain frequently and need lots of space in the kitchen and gathering area? When you have guests, is it more formal so you need a great formal dining area or is it usually casual so you need a nice gathering place and a big island that everyone inevitably stands around? Do you like to watch TV while preparing meals and need to be able to place the TV in a spot in the Family Room that you can easily see from the kitchen? How about when you go to bed at night – do you like to watch TV laying in bed so you need to make sure there is enough wall space across from where you might place your bed? And don’t forget the basement…are you planning on buying that pool table you’ve always wanted or finally getting your very own media area? Also, if you’ve already picked out the perfect sofa and entertainment center for your new family room, measure it to make sure it is going to fit!
All of these questions help you figure out if a floorplan is right for you. Focus on what matters and let the small things about a plan that might not be perfect fall by the wayside. If the formal Living Room is small but you never use it anyway, does it really matter?
It’s easy to get caught up in popular trends and the beauty of models, but you and your family are the ones that have to live in the house. Make sure it works for you!
Happy House Hunting!
