home designs I've noticed one thing. Small house plans grow.
"Oh, but I want this, too!" Yep, I've heard it over and over. It can takes real discipline to
keep that evolving house plan small. And working with an architect is not necessarily a
solution! Architects are often eager to design in that pantry, laundry, extra room or whatever
else you suddenly feel you just have to have!
What Do You Really Want in a Home?
You love the advantages of a small home design, right? The idea of saving money while building,
saving energy year after year, and the convenience of keeping that small home neat and tidy are
appealing benefits.
But, what are you willing to give up? You simply can't have the same number of rooms or the
same size rooms, or all the same features you're accustomed to in that larger home. Something
has to give. What do you really want in your home and what are your priorities? It comes down
to, what's a must, and what can go?
That Small House Plan Can Still Work
Once you figure your priorities and settle on what's important and what isn't, a good designer
can work wonders. But, you have to guard against getting "big eyes" and stick to your guns.
And, don't give the architect free reign.
If you know what you want, with clever design and a combination of functions in the home, you
don't have to do without. But, it may not be easy.
The Home Building Coach to the Rescue
I recommend getting yourself a home building coach. Industry professionals often hire
themselves out as a go between ... between you and your other building professionals like
contractors, architects, lenders, engineers, etc. This person can be especially valuable in
helping you devise your strategy concerning the design of your home.
No, the coach won't likely design your home, unless he or she happens to be your architect, but
they'll definitely be able to help you refine your goals and translate them into practical
approaches to help design your perfect small house design.
Get Those Benefits You're After
With the home building coach by your side, you'll have the support to stick to your guns and
create something that stays small, offers all the advantages of the home you want, and provides
style and beauty at the same time.
The small home is making a big comeback. We can point to several reasons for this. Economical
reasons head the list but people are keenly interested in efficiency, environmental
responsibility, and ease of upkeep.
What do you really save by building a small home? Let's look at this logically to see if
building smaller is, in fact, economical.
Small House Plans vs. Bigger House Plans
To be fair, the size of your home is dictated, in part, by the number of people to occupy it.
But, strictly from a standpoint of preferences, there are a few cost advantages for building
bigger.
BUILDING BIGGER HOMES
Larger homes often cost less per square foot to build:
* Contractors are already on the site and on the job and additional work while they're
already there is cheaper
* Bigger doesn't always mean more rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, etc. Simply expanding the
size of rooms is relatively inexpensive
* Materials purchases can cost less per unit, the more you buy and deals for quantity
purchases also help
BUILDING SMALLER HOMES
Building from a small home design house plan has its advantages:
* Shorter building times save interest charges on the construction loan
* Fewer bathrooms, windows, doors, fixtures, and other costly items
* Less expensive home design costs, lower taxes, and smaller permit fees
Comparing the Costs of HomeBuilding
Your small home is likely to cost more per square foot to build if we assume equal quality,
materials, and labor. Ten percent more is typical. So, let's say a 3,000 square foot home will
cost $100 psf for a total of $300,000.
To compare, if a 1500 square foot home can be built for $110 psf, that would cost $165,000.
Obviously, even though the cost per square foot is substantially higher, the overall cost to
build is considerably less. But, there's more to it than the upfront costs to build.
Life-Time Value of Small Home Designs
The lifetime value of a home considers the cost of maintaining the home over the years. Here
are some of the other economical advantages of a small home:
* Smaller homes can be more efficient/less wasteful
* It costs less to heat and cool a small house
* Replacement costs are less
* Utility bills are significantly less
* General maintenance requires less time and money
* It uses fewer natural resources both in construction as well as for your ongoing living
needs
If a small home fits your needs, you should pursue the idea wholeheartedly! For the
do-it-yourself "professional", the choice of a smaller home is a particularly wise one. The
more you can do yourself with friends, the more you'll save and the better off you'll be.
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