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Find the Home Plan that Fits Your Lifestyle

August 7, 2014

One of the most exciting times in your life can be choosing a new home! From what city you will live in to which neighborhood you decide to raise your family in – the right home is a major decision. To choose the best floor plan for your family, you must first determine how the home fits your lifestyle. From the size and shape, to where the rooms are located in adjacent to each other can make or break your home experience. Before you get overwhelmed, look at these effective ways to choose the right floor plan for your home. 1. Decide what size of home will best suit your family. Every family doesn’t need a sprawling estate and every family won’t feel comfortable in a small two bedroom home. Choosing a floor plan first should start with how large a home will fit your lifestyle. Assess how many bedrooms you will require for your family and how many bathrooms are enough for you and visiting guests. The size of your home should be the first consideration. 2. Choose a floor plan based on your design style Everyone homeowner has their own design style and choosing a floor plan that meets your needs is essential. Are you more traditional and prefer a compartmentalized floor plan where walls separate rooms (Like The Heritage plan) or do you have a more modern style where an open floor plan concept would suit your needs better? (Like The Chesapeake plan) Think of your furnishings and how you will decorate your home when choosing a floor plan. Flowing and coordinated colors are most important when designing an open floor plan – so keep this mind when choosing a floor plan style. 3. How much yard do you need? Families with children and pets often need room to roam, so larger lots provide the space. However, with larger lots come more maintenance. Find the right balance of space you want and yard maintenance that is acceptable to you. 4. Understand what the pros and cons are of your floor plan There isn’t a perfect floor plan. There will always be pros and cons and you will need to decide your priorities and what can you learn to live with or without. A large great room window that lets in gorgeous natural light may also make your energy cooling and heating bills higher. A floor plan that is open and spacious could make it hard to concentrate in your adjacent home office as your kids are watching TV in the living room. Think about that "car wash" shower and how cold it will be in the winter.  Would Grant's King Spa Shower give you all the benefits without the cold draft?   Weigh the pros and cons when looking for the right floor plan.  Click here to see all of Grant's exclusive floor plans. 5. Make your decision based on the floor plan, not the finishes When choosing a floor plan ensure you are basing your decision on how the home flows and feels functional for your daily activities. Don’t get wowed by the upgraded floors, countertops and appliances in the model home, imagine the home in a “stripped down” state and form your opinion from there. A floor plan shouldn’t feel good because of the nice hardwood that could go in the great room, it should feel right because the great room is a welcoming room off of the kitchen and foyer area for guests and family members. 6. Ask a Grant & Co. Sales Consultant or the Grant Design Studio Consultant for guidance While you may know what you want in your future home, Grant’s Design Studio Consultant and our Sales Consultants could help you consider factors that aren’t tangible to the eye and touch. Factors such as energy savings/costs, possible affordability of mortgage payments, location to local resources like schools, churches and stores, and maintenance experience are all factors that a professional can give their guidance on. 7. Trust your instincts on what “feels” right when choosing a floor plan All of us have the ability to “feel” when a space feels comfortable and able to fit their needs. Take these instincts into consideration when touring different floor plans. You will be surprised how many styles of plans there are to choose from. A family with small children may love the ability for the master bedroom to be housed amongst the other bedrooms. On the other hand, a family with teenagers could prefer for the master bedroom to be separated by public spaces such as the living room and kitchen instead. Listen to what speaks to you when choosing a plan. 8. Know your budgetary limits before choosing a floor plan Let’s face it; there is always the fantasy side of us that wants to go bigger and better than our wildest dreams. Before getting your heart set on one type of floor plan – know what the costs are associated with the layout. Ask your Grant & Co. Sales Consultant to help you determine costs as you narrow down to the floor plan that fits within your budget.