Choosing a floor plan for a new custom home in Howard County can be a difficult and confusing process. With the vast number of variables at play it can be difficult to figure out what layout will work best for you and your family.
The Basics
The two most basic and influential factors that should influence floor plan selection are your price range, and the topography of your lot. Cost is obviously an important factor in the selection of construction materials but also plays a role in choosing a floor plan. A single-story home will be far more expensive than a two-story counterpart with the same functional square-footage, due to the costs of foundation, roofing materials and installation.
The lay of the land should also greatly influence floor plan selection. If your lot slopes to the back, a walkout basement might be in order, while a property with distinctly uneven terrain could call for a split level. It is also worthwhile to take the time to consider any naturally occurring features such as the direction of the morning sun, densely wooded areas, or bodies of water and figure out how best to take advantage of them. Clumps of trees and foliage can be showcased alongside a house, or used to provide privacy by blocking lines of sight.
Learn from Experience
When designing a custom house, experience is often the best teacher. Use homes of friends or houses you have previously lived in to help you figure out what features work best in what environments. Create a list of needs that you want your house to fulfill. It’s important to plan for both family size and function. A house for a family of 5 who enjoy entertaining requires a radically different allotment of space than a home for 2 who spend most of their time going out.
Think about the main areas of the house and their relationships with one another. Should the kitchen open into the dining room or is a table within a large kitchen sufficient for your family’s needs? Do you need room for guests and entertainment or does your family prefer quieter activities? A home theatre can just as easily become a library, or a rec room.
Need help choosing a floor plan that’s right for you? Want a professional opinion? At Cedar Square Homes, we have all the answers to your home planning questions. Don’t hesitate to call us at 410-987-9771, visit the website, or stop in and see us. We’ve been in the home building business for over two decades at Cedar Square Homes. We know what it takes to be one of the best companies in Howard County and we’ll prove it to you. Feel free to contact us for a consultation and to find out a little bit more concerning who we are and what our process is. We’d be delighted to speak with you!