Choosing the Right Floorplan

Choosing the right floorplan is the critical difference between liking your home and loving it. It means more than finding the size that will hold all your stuff; it encompasses the feeling you want your home to convey and declares the flow you will take as you wander through your home for years to come. Knowing what to look for ahead of time, and the significant impact little things like sun direction can have on your satisfaction, can make the difference. We have five tips below to keep in mind when wandering through the model, looking at the various plans, or even choosing your lot.

Size Matters

As much as we’d all like to live in mansions, that isn’t always practical. Think of the amount of space you need for you and your family, but don’t forget to plan for the future. Maybe you only need a single car garage, but you’re tinkering with the idea of buying a second car (or a third). Consider that when looking at the garage. Maybe your kids are little now, so you want to be near their rooms. They will not always be little, however, and for much more of their childhood, we bet you’ll want their room separate from the master suite. How many bathrooms do you need? Does it have enough storage space? (Hint: make sure it has more than enough at this point because you will grow into it. Trust us.) Do you love spending time outdoors, but the yard is the size of a postage stamp? Maybe look for a floorplan that has a little less room inside and little more outside. Do you want to spend more time at home, and fewer late nights at the office? Find a floorplan that has room for a home office. While you can’t plan for every future variable, picture where you want to be, and plan for that. If anything, it’ll be an incentive to make it happen!

Open and Shut Case

A major factor of whether or not a floorplan is right for you is the concept of structured, separated rooms versus and open floorplan. It comes down to a matter of preference, and both designs have their pros and cons. Compartmentalized rooms won’t let in as much cohesive lighting and aren’t great for entertaining. Open floorplans require a flow and coordination to colors and décor that stretch much of the home, and can be noisier than rooms with defined walls. Neither is right, neither is wrong, but you need to know what you want to live with before you choose a plan. Ultimately, your gut is one of the best tools when choosing a floorplan. Go with what feels right, and you’ll rarely go wrong.

While you can’t plan for every future variable, picture where you want to be, and plan for that. If anything, it’ll be an incentive to make it happen!

Looks Can Be Deceiving

A piece of advice: the model home can be misleading. Do not select a floorplan because you liked the look and feel of the model. You may be deceived by the selection of furnishings in that particular model. Maybe you like the cabinetry and countertops of Model A, but the kitchen is closed off from the dining room and you want an open space like in Model B. The bones of Model B are more fitting for your tastes, and (more often than not) you can bring in the countertops and cabinetry of Model A into that home. Look at the bare structure of the home and see if it has the flow you want, not the carpet you like.

Measure Twice, Buy Once

Chances are good much of your furniture in the new home will be left over from your current home. If that is the case, measure everything and then measure the model. You do not want to get into a new floorplan only to find you have to replace your couch. And dining room table. And television. Every television. If you are one of the lucky ones who plans to buy completely new furnishings when you move into your new abode, you still need to measure, or you’ll have the even less-thrilling predicament of returning new furniture and finding new-new pieces. While measuring the floorplan, keep in mind the placement of certain items. If you know where you want to put your couch, is there a place to put the TV opposite it, or will you always binge your streaming service with your head at a 90 degree angle? What looks like a great layout simply might not fit your lifestyle.

Go with what feels right, and you’ll rarely go wrong.

That’s A Lot

The lot you have chosen can also have an impact on the floorplan you choose, or vice versa. If your dream floorplan has north facing windows, keep that in mind when choosing your lot. You’ll be mighty unhappy if your finished home has all the windows you’ve dreamed of – but they all face the south and now your next move will be buying stock in curtain companies. If you’re dreaming of building a pool in a few years, think of the lot’s placement to make sure you’ll have the sun you want when it’s time to lounge by your own private oasis and get that ever-coveted tan. If you already have your lot chosen, just reverse the process: find the floorplan that puts everything where you want it on your lot.

At GCD, we are here to make your home buying process an experience you enjoy. At any point along the buying process, our helpful staff is here to offer assistance, guidance, and a friendly smile. Maybe you know what you want, but you have questions about the intangibles like energy-savings, affordability, local amenities and education. Our expert team is here to clear up all of that confusion and set your anxiety at ease. If you are interested in starting the buying process, reach out to us. We’re here for you!