Keep in mind a few basics about floor plans as you inspect houses. Stand in the entrance and try to imagine yourself going about the daily routine. Consider, for example, a hypothetical trip home with bags of groceries. Where will you park? Will you have to carry the load up stairs? Must you go through the living room? Is there a handy counter near the refrigerator for unloading? If you have an infant and you sleep with your door open, you’ll want to stay within earshot. Many buyers with small children reject floor plans with master bedrooms on a different level than other bedrooms for that reason. In a year or two, though, you may value a private, quiet bedroom. It may be desirable to have the master bedroom separated from the others by a zone of closets, hall, or baths. (The best floor plans incorporate such buffers for all bedrooms.) If the front door opens directly into the living room, a house in colder climates may eventually need an enclosed foyer to shield the occupants and the thermostat from icy blasts. If you don’t like the idea of visitors regularly checking out your living areas from the front door, there is even more of a reason to buy a home with a true entry foyer. Then imagine yourselves in midsummer, eating out on the patio. Will it be easy to serve from the kitchen, without risking spills on the living room carpet en route? Check the kitchen for sufficient counter and cupboard space. Double-check for a place to put things down, not only next to the refrigerator but also at the stove, sink, and dishwasher. Even if you are resigned to a small Pullman kitchen and plan to eat in the dining room, look for enough space in the kitchen for a high chair, a bottled water dispenser, or a stool for a chatty guest. If there is a kitchen island, check out its use as an eating area as well. Make sure there is enough clearance for refrigerator doors to open, room for “help with the dishes,” and enough overhead lighting. Give a house extra points if you don’t have to go through a living room or family room to reach other areas. A dead-end living area makes for better relaxation and tends to stay neat. Check out potential furniture placement in each room. Is there an entire wall of windows and doors, making furniture placement difficult? Can you face your bulkier pieces towards an entertainment wall without blocking traffic? Garages and their dimensions have become extremely important in these days of SUVs, sophisticated recreational toys, and two- or three-car families. They are particularly important for breathing room in home areas where basements are not prevalent, such as the southern and western United States. In many areas, three-car garages are the norm in all but the smallest of new homes, with third stall flexibility giving rise to boat storage, a workshop, a home gym, a bonus room, or, even a third car! Sometimes the storage space for kids’ toys and future garage-sale items is enough of a reason to opt for extra garage space for many home-buyers. Increasingly, municipalities are holding new homebuilders to stricter and stricter guidelines as to the “streetscape” (the look of the neighborhood) of garage-dominant new home communities, encouraging builders to incorporate side-loading, back-loading or recessed garages.
Orientation is also important. Especially in the Sun Belt areas, evaluating where the sun will hit during certain times of the day can mean the difference between faded carpeting, more costly energy use, a swimming pool that sits in the shade most of the day, or the need for solar screens. Look for the convenience of an outside entrance if the home has a basement and see if there is a service door to the garage. An engineer’s inspection can help you evaluate conditions, which is particularly valuable with an older home. But you are the only one who can judge whether a floor plan fits your lifestyle. |
