When looking for the perfect home, you may find the one that suits you best is not on the market. You've tried various towns and types of homes but nothing seems to work. Before you begin to get overly frustrated, there's always the option of purchasing land and building your own home. If you decide to build your own home it will be necessary to draw up floor plans so your home will be exactly what you've dreamed of, and can afford.This process can be very long and tedious if you don't know what you are doing. This SYW will attempt to curb any confusion by providing you with the necessary steps to complete the floor plans for your dream home to the best of your ability within a reasonable amount of time.

1. PURCHASE LAND

Before even thinking of the type of house you would like to build, it is important to have land to build it on. It would be wise to consult your bank loan officer or mortgage broker to discuss how much you can afford when purchasing a piece of land for your home. After this discussion takes place and you have an amount in mind there are simple steps to get you through the rest of this process.

1. Make a list of features you want out of the land. This might include how much space you need, privacy, a view, waterfront advantages, etc. Be sure to check the type of soil that the ground is made of as certain types of soil will make construction difficult and more costly.

2. Determine land usage- This includes what you want to place on the land including your house, recreation, garage, etc. Check to ensure that utilities can be easily run to the land. If the utility company must re-route things to make your land habitable it could take a huge chunk out of your budget.

3. Begin your search- Once you've followed through with the previous steps; begin looking for For Sale signs. Drive around areas you would like to live and look for property that is available. You can also search online. Land and Farm has access to available land all over the world. You can also check with a local Realtor to aid you in your search.

4. Purchase land- Once you've found land you would like to build your dream house on, talk to your bank loan officer or mortgage broker and close the deal on your piece of land.

2. FIND A FLOOR PLAN ONLINE

Now that the perfect plot of land to build on has been found and bought, it's time to start thinking about a floor plan for your dream home but your needs must be addressed before your wants at this step. Think practically about your specific living situation. Do you have a large, rambunctious family that will need lots of bedrooms or are you an empty-nester that prefers to have a utility room on the same floor as your kitchen and bedrooms? Hop online and begin to browse for ideas. Below are some helpful links to guide you in the process.

Cleanairgardening.com This site offers plans for a green home that offers comfort and space while minimizing the use of fossil fuels to operate. Drawn by an award-winning architect, these plans allow for spacious living while keeping maintenance costs low.

Pbsmodular.com This site offers a wide variety of floor plans for modular, pre-fabricated homes. If time is of the essence and you don't care to dither with different contractors and sub-contractors, Perhaps a prefab house plan is right for you.

Bambootechnologies.com For homeowners looking for a distinct look that is ecologically friendly, this site offers some very intriguing options. There are many different looks and layouts to choose from and bamboo is a renewable source that is gaining in popularity.

Homeplans.com This site offers a bit of something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a cozy two-bedroom or a stately mansion with vaulted ceilings, this site is a great place to gather ideas and inspiration.

Greathousedesign.net This site has an innovative user interface that you can use to select the features that you want in a home and generates a list of options from your selections. Grab a cup of coffee and let your mouse do all the work while you explore your options and snag ideas from all sorts of different plans.

Loghomelinks.com Always wanted a rustic look with the amenities of a modern home? This site has a wide variety of floor plans for log homes with style. Choose from one-story to split-level floor plans and make that dream a reality.

These are just a few selections to consider. Visit as many sites as you wish and bookmark the ones that you want to revisit in the future.

3. DETERMINE THE SIZE OF YOUR HOUSE.

Once you've purchased the land, determining the size of your house is important before drawing up floor plans. Things to think about when deciding how big you'd like your house to be include:

Cost of construction

Number of stories you want

Number of bedrooms and bathrooms

Closet space

Basement and/or storage space

Kitchen space

Space for living room or recreational area

Areas you plan to spend the most time (these areas tend to take up most of the floor space when designing a floor plan.)

You need to keep in mind the average cost of the homes being built in your area. If you want to include high-end appliances and interiors in your home you may want to design a smaller home.

4. CHOOSE AN ARCHITECT

When trying to find an architect to build your house there are many things to consider. If you are unsure of how to find an architect, you may consult friends who have had their houses built for them to discuss their experience with the architect they used. You can also research architects through local ads in newspapers or various online sources to acquire more information about any architects in your area. The American Institute of Architects has an architect finder on their website.

Sometimes simply opening a phonebook can also give you leads on an architect as well. After researching and finding a potential architect, contact them and see if they are interested in working on your project. Be sure to discuss specific details at that time so they will have an Idea of whether or not they will be able to cater to your needs. Once you've found an available and interested architect, set up an interview with them to discuss potential plans for your house. If you find them to be agreeable to your preference of building style and suitable to build your house, you will want to hire them immediately so they do not get hired by someone else.

5. DISCUSS, DRAW UP AND FINALIZE PLANS WITH YOUR ARCHITECT

After you've found the architect to build your dream house, it's time to draw up the initial floor plans for your home. Refer back to the ideas you generated in step 2 when having this discussion with your architect. Be sure to give the architect the best outline you can so they can draw up plans that will suit your needs and desires the best.

After you've given them time to draw up the first set of plans, sit down with your architect and change the plans as needed to suit your specific needs. Pay attention to details, especially when considering the amount of space per room, location of rooms and the overall layout of your house. Be aware that at this point, changing any of the square footage measurements could cause a shift in the size of your house so consult your architect before doing anything too drastic in that area. After you've approved of and finalized all floor plans for your house, you're ready to start building!

Resources

Land and Farm.com

National Realtor Association

American Institute of Architects