To get the perfect suit, some people will go to a clothier and have a custom suit made to their specifications. But most of us are perfectly happy having alterations made to a quality suit. Design Basics creates dozens of custom home plans every year, but customizing a plan from our existing portfolio of over 2,000 designs will save you considerable time and money as compared with creating a new custom home plan from scratch. Either way, it’s going to be your new home and it should both reflect and reveal you!
The customer liked much of the original plan but did not need two suites on the main floor. We enlarged the bedroom and closet in the front suite by relocating the powder bath and pivoting the dining area. This also created the more expansive kitchen the customer desired. The foundation changed from the original design’s basement to a slab, and the customer gained a larger laundry room. Windows bathe the rear of the home in natural light and built-ins provide added storage in the Great Room. The second floor and exterior design remained relatively unchanged.
This customer was interested in the ultimate Jack and Jill bathroom design shared by Bedrooms 2 and 3. Redesigning that bathroom pushed Bedroom 2 back. Deleting the bathtub in the suite bathroom allowed space for a larger walk-in shower and larger walk-in closet. A larger island with more storage and work surface replaced the original kitchen island design, and a large, covered outdoor living space was added behind the family and dining rooms. Finally, the garage was stretched a little bit wider, while the rest of the exterior remained mostly unchanged.
A large kitchen and big walk-in pantry were priorities of this customer. So, the home was stretched wider through the middle and the staircase shifted over, gaining a window, and allowing for that oversized walk-in pantry along the route from the garage. The kitchen became more of a galley layout with a long island eating bar. In the suite bathroom, the original plan’s bathtub was omitted in favor of a larger shower, more spacious vanity, and private toilet area. The suite’s closet was also re-designed to create a direct connection into the laundry area. A generous outdoor living area was added along the back, part of which is covered. This customer also desired a more Contemporary/Mediterranean style exterior with front porch.
As originally designed.
Modified as per customer’s preferences.
Learn more about our Customized Home Plans and how we can help you modify/customize a plan to meet your needs.
Cost per square foot. Simple to calculate. Seemingly easy to understand. Until you realize what was included in the “cost” differs by builder!
On floor plans, dashed (as opposed to solid) lines often indicate options. In keeping with its focus on affordability, the Rivera Farm (plan #29391) presents several optional design amenities – dashes indicate the option of having transom windows in the entry/along the staircase as well as the option of a fireplace in the family room. And behind the dining area, an optional patio. Photos or renderings may show these amenities, but being options, likely they were not included in the cost that was used to come up with cost per square foot.
Similarly, floor plans may show alternate layouts for the same space. The base Jolene (plan #42334) shows three bedrooms, but also shows re-purposing Bedroom 3 as an office. The addition of stunning French Doors into the office could add thousands of dollars to the price of your home, increasing its cost per square foot.
Sometimes home builders will make purely aesthetic amenities shown on floor plans extra-cost options. Continuing with the Jolene plan there is a boxed ceiling in the owner’s bedroom – that might add $1,000. Ditto with the ceiling detail in the front entry. It adds drama and calls attention to this wider-than-expected space, but it adds cost, which increases cost per square foot.
Unless mandated by codes, builders can elect to build with either 2×4-inch or 2×6-inch exterior walls. Total square footage of the home will be identical, homes built with the 2×4-inch walls will have slightly larger interior rooms. Due to their added insulation, the homes with 2×6-inch walls, will usually be more expensive and therefore have a higher cost per square foot, but will also keep utility costs down and your home more comfortable.
Laminate or stone – what countertop material was included in the cost? Are appliances included? If so, which ones? There’s room for a sink in the laundry room. Was that included? Even if you take the same set of house plans to different home builders, the prices won’t necessarily be comparable. You specify Bruce® Hickory wood floors. Builder A figures the price based on solid wood and Builder B’s pricing was based on engineered wood.
From flooring to lighting to plumbing fixtures and trim work, as you tour most model homes, there are various upgrades shown that are above and beyond the base price used to calculate cost per square foot. It’s the same way in the auto industry. As advertised, the 2020 Lexus ES 350 starts at $39,900. That’s $10.93 per pound. But the ES 350 often tips the scales around $50,000 including options makes it $13.70 per pound.
You wouldn’t compare new cars on the basis of cost per pound. Why use cost per square foot to compare new homes, especially when it’s almost impossible to get an “apples for apples” comparison?
Next time: How building lots impact your cost per square foot.
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French Doors Photo by Curtis Adams from Pexels Cover Image: <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/sale’>Sale photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com</a>
You want your home buyers to make changes to your home plans. Let’s face it, you’d love to offer a home plan that’s right for each and every buyer, but realistically you can’t; therefore, you want buyers to make changes so the home design fits their needs. The tweaks buyers want to make are very personal and significant to them – after all, they’re probably spending a little bit more to achieve those changes in order to get the home that’s “just right.”
Home buyers are more committed to you and to their home if they see themselves involved in co-creating it. Prospects who take the time to dive deep into a home design, mentally “moving in,” have pretty much sold themselves on that design and on you as their builder.
Those buyers come to see themselves as “having designed their own home.” Without getting into the legal issues of authorship, copyright, and ownership of the plan, many times the buyers believe they created the resulting home design. They may give you some credit, “Oh, we started with their ‘Amelia’ plan, but we changed it.” This is one time when it’s best to keep your ego at bay.
The buyers believe their version of the plan is “better.” And, it is – for them. This is an opportune time to compliment them on the modifications they directed. Doing so furthers rapport, they come to like you even more and trust that you are the right builder for them.
Who you have modifying the plan matters. Design Basics home plan Construction Licenses allow the builder or other qualified local professional to make changes to our home plans. So, why do so many customers used Design Basics Plan Customization Designers to alter the plans? Quite simply, our Designers do more than just make the requested modifications. They take the time to get to know why the changes are desired and may be able to suggest alternative solutions that achieve the customer’s goals better, and/or more economically. Further, our Designers may recognize and be able to suggest additional opportunities afforded by the desired alterations that the buyers would love!
At Design Basics, we have the tools to help you stand out from other builders:
Today, about 1 in 5 Americans live in Multi-Generational households.
By definition, multi-generational households have at least two adult generations living under the same roof. Traditionally, in-law suites were the design solution – in a pinch, mom and/or dad moved into a secondary bedroom. A secondary bedroom with direct bathroom access is preferable, but better for achieving both independence and togetherness is a home designed with two owner’s suites. Buyers who wish for a little more independence may also prefer a “Casita” layout or their own level of the house. With private access, bedroom suite, laundry, kitchen, and entertaining area, mom can have the ladies over without having to “schedule” the primary entertaining space.
Dual Owner’s Suites. Aging parents…children returning home…widowed siblings…even lifelong friends looking to share a home…American households are changing. This is often out of economic necessity, such as a suddenly single widow(er) or even older couples wanting to split housing costs.
An important consideration for older homeowners, is a no-step entry as well as interior passage doors at least 32″ wide, ensuring this home can welcome visitors of all abilities. You may want to consider zoned heating and cooling for everyone’s comfort. And, while tile continues to be the preferred flooring choice in bathrooms, falls are the leading cause of fatal injury among seniors. Selecting slip-resistant tile flooring just makes sense.
Though the scenarios vary, all involve bringing people together. Beyond the home design aspects, there are lifestyle, social, and financial considerations to work through before choosing such a home. A widower may be looking forward to spending lots of time with his adult daughter, but she is already stretched between her job and family. Your college grad moves back and then you remember how loud those video games are. Your sister doesn’t drive, and all those doctor appointments will make it hard to commit to classes you want to take. The joys of being together can be wonderful, but you’ll want to have discussed and agreed upon certain ground rules for dealing with such issues before they arise.
A couple with young children was looking for “cuddle space.” In another household, it was the need for an upstairs family area for “together time” before bed. Yet another family wanted a larger open study area where the parents would be involved with their kids’ studies.
It could be reading with the kids, board games, crayon artwork masterpieces, or a one-act play. The Family Lounge is a space for time together upstairs. The Sussex (plan #42284) offers a generous family lounge space connecting the three bedroom suites.
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Those buyers come to see themselves as “having designed their own home.” Without getting into the legal issues of authorship, copyright, and ownership of the plan, many times the buyers believe they created the resulting home design. They may give you some credit, “Oh, we started with their ‘Amelia’ plan, but we changed it.” This is one time when it’s best to keep your ego at bay.
