Our Process

Choosing a Design

Identifying your needs is the first step in choosing a home design or design for a major remodeling project.

Getting Started: Evaluate your lifestyle

First, write down your needs. Try to be as open and truthful with yourself as possible. Ask yourself what you expect from your new home or remodel. Hopefully, you will recognize that these needs are personal requirements.

Considerations in this area include space requirements -- the amount of space and the type of space you need -- taking into account anticipated changes in your family's size and needs.

• Will you need to accommodate aging parents or a growing family?
• Will you need a home office to fit your future job plans?
• Do you plan to live in your new home after retirement?
• Is there a possibility that a child will return home after college?
• Do you have the space to accommodate an elderly, ill or disabled person?

As for today's needs, does your lifestyle demand more space for entertaining?

• Do you need separate entertainment areas for adults and kids, or are distinct divisions no longer necessary?
• How do you feel about a Great Room that opens the entertainment area to the cooking and dining regions?
• Do you prefer a country kitchen, where cooking, casual meals and informal entertaining are combined in one space?

In establishing goals for your new home, you also need to evaluate the importance that you place on impressing others. Perhaps you entertain regularly for business or need a house that is a statement of your hard-earned status in life. These considerations could influence your personal requirements and lead to different choices.

If you are less concerned with the perceptions of others than you are with personal gratification, then let your instincts be the guide. You may need to search deeply to strike a balance between personal needs and making a statement.

Budgets

One of the subjects that your program must address is budget. A few words of caution, here: leave ample dollars for landscaping and furnishings; an under-furnished, unlandscaped new home can be a real disappointment.

Also allow for cost overages; a minimum of 10 percent added to the total cost is recommended in order to cover the unforeseen changes, additions and upgrades that usually occur.

Size Choices

The size of the home you build is the most important factor in determining the cost. You can determine the average cost per square foot for new homes in your area by calling a local Realtor. Multiply the square footage of the home that you wish to build by the average cost per square foot to determine a general cost.

If you find yourself staring at a grand total that is far beyond your budget, you'll have to scale down the design or choose a new one. If it's close to your budget, you can probably adjust some of the options, extras and finish materials to make sure you stay within budget.

Developing a budget and calculating costs will take a bit of time and research, but it is a step that you cannot ignore.

Style Choices

You also need to decide the exterior style of your new home. Many people know what they want, but if you are unsure, don't worry. It is simply what appeals to you.

Exterior designs are very regional and this should be kept in mind; most people prefer for their home to harmonize with the community, so choose appropriate designs for your region. If you choose to be unique, it could affect your resale value.

Adapted from “Tips on Choosing a Home Design” by licensed architect Jerold Axelrod.