Builder Tip: Analyze Floor Plans

When you walk into a home for the first time, what do you see? The stunning hard wood floors, sparkling granite counter tops, huge walk-in closets and luxurious master bath. If those are what you see then you are missing the bigger picture.

Next time you walk into a home or view a floor plan take a look at the length of hallways, the positioning of coat closets and the location of cable hook-ups. Look at the natural traffic flow through the home and think about what rooms in your home now are used the most and what they are used for.

A home could be 1,800 square feet, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, living and dining rooms with an open kitchen and large walk-in closets. It sounds great, right? Well, when you walk into the home you notice the living room is only 10'x9' yet the walk-in closet in the master bedroom is 10'x10'. Stop and think to yourself, "Once I move-in what will fit my families needs more, a large walk-in closet for my clothes with a smaller living room or a larger living room that will fit my family of five with room to move around with a little less of a walk-in closet."

All of that brings up the point that instead of looking at a floor plan you need to analyze the floor plan. Look at how the square footage is utilized. Where is square footage being lost? Where could square footage be better utilized? Think of the traffic flow through the home, will a sofa have to break up the natural flow of the house just to see the TV? Will the kid's bedroom door hit into the closet door if the closet door is left open? Also think about the resale value. Will this floor plan help to sell your house or turn potential buyers away. All of this needs to be taken into consideration when analyzing floor plans.

Talk about all this with your agent or builder. Bring up all your concerns and make sure all questions are answered before deciding on a home or floor plan. Choose a floor plan or home that will enhance your families home life, and not because the hardwood floors where just finished.

Today's builder tip was brought to you by American Homesmith, one of Southwest Plantation's premiere builders.