Choose the Right Floor Plan

Buying New or Resale- Choose the RIGHT floor plan for you! I was speaking with a client the other day about the importance of having separate rooms for kitchen, dining, living and family to accommodate all their current furniture even though they had decided to downsize their overall living space. It was then that I was reminded that not all people want that open great room feel that so many people are after. I guess this is why builders offer an array of different floor plans. If you are considering resale you may be limited to just what is currently on the market and have to keep searching for the right home or settle for what is available and make it work. When buying a home if you are looking to buy new you can choose a floor plan that fits your needs because most builders provide a few different choices of floor plans considering that buyer’s tastes differ. Decide with each room what you are looking for so it reflects the lifestyle you are living. Consider whether or not you are interested in a great room for entertaining, or you are more of a formal separate dining and living room plus a family room kind of person. Contemplate where these rooms are located and what purpose they will have for you and your needs. Do you eat regularly at the table or are you considering more of an informal kitchen with a large island that you can place barstools at for every day dining, or does a breakfast nook with a window view appeal more to your senses. Do you cook or bake a lot? Entertain? How much space do you need in your kitchen to be efficient at what you are trying to accomplish? Do you have kids and what are their ages? Are they young kids that want to be where the action is and don’t spend too much time in their own room? Are they teenagers who only want to spend time in their room and need the space to accommodate this? Are they sharing a bathroom? Do you need more than one sink, a separate door for toilet and shower to accommodate them? What about separate entries from each room like a Jack and Jill bathroom can offer. Do you wind down in your master bedroom at night? Or work out in the morning? Do you need extra space to get ready? Or do you just use the bathroom and climb into bed at night with no need for a large master sitting area because you prefer the space be out in your living area? How much time do you spend outdoors? Is the porch or patio a significant size if you are choosing to entertain? Most new builds do not come standard with backyard landscaping. What plans do you have for your backyard? Are the homes you are looking at providing adequate space to fit your needs? Will you buy a house with a pool or put one in? If so you may want to consider the closest bathroom to outside and if there is a separate entrance or what type of flooring will be encroached upon every time someone needs to come inside from the pool, wet and dripping. Make a list. Write down 3 columns, a NEED- (must have) column, a WANT (would make my life a whole lot easier) column and a BONUS (if I had these things I would live here forever) column. Remember this list and your budget may not always mesh. So writing it down and planning ahead might save a lot of stress and headache while shopping for the right home. Also remember to consult with a Realtor that is working for you, not just the builder to help you make the right decision for you, show you the homes that fit your needs and negotiate on your behalf when home shopping and making deals.

Should I remodel my bathroom?

  Your bathroom is often the most used room in your home. It is usually one room that doesn't get remodeled as often as some of the other rooms in your home. It often costs more than most people want to spend on one of the smallest rooms in your house. It can cost a pretty huge chunk of change to get new flooring, switch out old showers and tubs, knock out existing out-of-date tile or change vanities and lighting.
  Bathroom remodels are the most cost-effective (around 75% return) when major fixtures can remain in place, allowing you to focus on flooring, sink, vanity, mirrors, lighting and fresh paint.
Start by making a list of the changes that you would like to see. Price out these changes and give yourself a budget. Change doesn't always mean a huge cost. If this is not a project you want to tackle yourself, consider doing your research and hiring a budget friendly contractor.
  Don't rush yourself. If you are anything like me, when you want a change you want it NOW. This could cost you more than you originally wanted to spend if you are in a hurry. Take your time, do your research and price out and plan your remodel. Make sure to also plan for the unexpected. Especially in some older homes, hidden water damage or slow leaks may arise when you start digging behind your current fixtures, these will need to be corrected and can often cost a little more than you think to restore them properly. Don't plan your project during a peak building time, when contractors are busy their fees often increase. What is your goal for the look of this bathroom, is it the look or the efficiency that you are after?
  Make sure not to skimp on the most important things like faucets- don't buy the cheapest ones buy ones that come with a lifetime warranty, these are what are going to be used the most.
  Studies show the number one WOW currently is the shower, the days of the ever popular Roman/Garden tub are coming to an end. With the busyness of most lifestyles,  people can only count on one hand how many times they actually have taken a bath in that tub. Create a sensual experience- multiple shower heads or rain shower heads are increasingly popular and no longer only million dollar home luxuries. Consult a plumber or contractor to find out how easily this can be done in your space.
  Plan your vanity to have plenty of surface space to put stuff down. It is never efficient if you don't have the space needed to set out all of your things to get ready. Also make sure there is accurate storage for towels and other necessary items. The one thing you probably don't want to do is to run out of the shower down the hall for your towel or bathroom items because there is no place in your bathroom to keep them. If you don't have adequate storage in the bathroom, consider hanging a shelf on the wall or a unit behind your toilet for go-to items.
  Provide plenty of light. If your bathroom doesn't have a window consider adding more lighting to create the illusion that it does.
  Be careful if buying items online. You are never certain a look or finish or shade from a computer picture is what something will look like when it arrives. Considering going to some home improvement stores to view items in person and then researching if you can find those same items online for a reduced cost. Remember though dye lots can vary from batch to batch of certain things, so take this into consideration, especially with tiles or stone.
  Granite is becoming increasingly more popular and has migrated from the kitchen to the bathroom. It holds up well and is a great surface easily cleaned and looks sharp. Porcelain sinks tops have also brought out-of-date bathrooms up to speed.
  Whatever you do my advise is to plan, budget and consider why you are making the changes before you take the leap into any remodel that you are considering on your home. Also, don't forget to ask the advice of your friendly Realtor who can help you plan for the future resale of your home, whether that is in 2 months or 20 years.