5 Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing A Floor Plan For Your Dream Home

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development predicts a demand for 26, 200 new homes in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Housing Market Area during its forecast period between April 1, 2015 and April 1, 2018. If you are looking to build your home in Tampa, this is probably a good time with the state’s economy experiencing a boom. Getting in touch with a reputed Tampa home builder should be the first thing on your to-do list. Next comes choosing the right floor plan. It is very easy to get swayed by the many things that you can do with your new house. The trick is to be realistic about your needs and budget and to avoid committing the most common floor plan mistakes. If you want to know what these are, read the following:

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1. Assuming that You Understand All Architectural Drawings

While discussing the floor plan with the builder, you will be required to analyze the architectural sketches. For professional on-your-lot builders, this is a cakewalk. However, for a non-technical person, the layout, symbols, glossary, and arrangement are often hard to comprehend. So, stop assuming that you know what every window, doorknob, staircase, and door swing looks like on the plan. Instead of assuming, ask your builder questions about any particular sign or symbol that you do not understand.

2. Not Considering Your Living Needs

The greatest blunder home buyers commit while picking out a floor plan is that they forget how a senior member of their family with chronic pain may find it difficult to climb the long flight of stairs. They may also forget to inquire whether the kid’s playroom is too close to the kitchen. That’s why you must always consider your living and lifestyle needs when choosing a floor plan. Consult your builder about what you want. A double-story villa or a single-story house? Would you like to have an open floor plan or separate rooms with more privacy?

3. Taking No Notice of Your Home’s Orientation

Your newly-built home must sit in the right direction on your lot. Therefore, not considering the orientation of your property is one of the greatest mistakes when choosing a floor plan. A professionally designed plan will factor in the east, west, north, or south positioning of your home to ensure that your property receives sufficient natural light and fresh air. The bedrooms should be full south open to make the hot Florida summers bearable. Living rooms, on the contrary, must face the north.

4. Stop Assuming that Room Sizes Will Fit Your Needs

Not understanding the dimensions of the rooms is another mistake you must avoid when choosing a plan. Study the measurements carefully and determine whether your king-size bed will fit into the finished bedroom. Take measurements of all your existing furniture and walking area before deciding on the final size of a room. It will help you understand how much space you will actually need with all the furnishings once your home is complete. If you want some additional area, inform your builder that you will require more space in the floor plan. If possible, the developer will accommodate your request.

5. Forgetting about the Safety of Your Children

Kid’s safety should be your top priority when selecting an ideal floor plan for your growing family. Stairs with low railings, open balconies, or an enclosed glass shower may be perfect for adult members of the family, but not for a family with kids.

A Tampa home builder can design your dream home only when he knows your needs. Professional developers will walk you through the possible drawbacks of floor plans, and come up with a design which is perfect for your family’s safety and lifestyle requirements.