Saturday, December 29, 2007

No place like home…

Cottage house…and no place to start building your home than purchasing the right small home design for you. But how can you be sure that the plan you’ve bought really fits your vision? Choosing the right home floor plan can seem as quite complicated – you want it to reflect your personality, consider your budget and including many features you have listed.

Well, there are some tips – following them will make it easier for you choosing the home plan that will later become your home sweet home. I'll startt with couple of tips today, and continue throught week. If you have some tips of your own - I'll be more than glad if you'll share them with me.




  • Your house plan will be build on your land


Yes, I know it's obvious. But many people tend to forget it when they inspect the thousands of home plans in the various websites. Since you can't change your lot to fit your house, your home plan must fit your land in size and shape. Remember’ looking for small lot house plans is You won't build a beach house in the desert so make sure your house style is compatible with its area. Remember that many times, the home plans were designed for specific area and soil type, which doesn't always fit with your lot location. The home plan and the soil where your lot is located must match, especially where foundation plans are concerned. The local building department won't permit you to build your house otherwise. For example, some home plans include basement with no piers at all, assuming the soil can bear the house – this plan will not be approved in a sandy area soil.You should contact homeowners and homebuilders in the area, and consult them for the restrictions of the soil and learn from their experience and mistakes. Remember that any amount of time and money you’re investing in checking and researching before you start building, will save you much more time and money afterwards.

Friday, December 28, 2007

Stock home plan or unique home plan?

Yes, I also had this dilemma before building my home. On the one hand, I told my self, I can save so much money and time, and I sure needed it. Just a year before, my older brother, Jack, and his wife, Jane, started building their amazing cottage house, using designs made by the architect he hired. And as someone that was close enough and was familiar with all the difficulties, the endless meetings with several architects, explaining him all his needs, until finding the right plan. Paying so much money to them for the designs...I just couldn’t afford it. And on the other hand, I wanted my house to be unique. A small unique home – that what I was looking for. But how can you get unique home plan from companies selling stock home plans?Well, the answer is surprising and simple at the same time Since there are hundreds and thousands off home designs, targeting any feature and demand home builders can think of, there is a very small chance that what you think as the best small home plan will be considered unique for another person.