By Mike Merisko
Choosing The Right House Plan
Everybody would like to live in a mansion or a sprawling ranchbut there are many factors to consider when choosing a houseplan. There are also a few pitfalls that can be avoided by doingyour homework and making the right choices.
Before you commit to buying a stock or custom house plan, youshould know how much of a house you can afford to build. A goodplace to get this information would be the bank that you mightuse to get your loan from.
Once you know what your budget is, you can determine how muchhouse you can afford and pick a house plan that fits thatbudget. One way to accomplish this is to call severalhomebuilding contractors in your area. Ask them what thebuilding costs per square foot are. Not all contractors arewilling to volunteer this information, but you will find enoughof them that are willing to help at the prospect of gaining acustomer.
With this information you will be able to determine the squarefootage of a house plan you can afford. If your budget is$200,000 and the cost per square foot is $100, then a 2,000square foot home is in your budget($200,000/$100= 2,000).
Another consideration is the size of the lot you intend onbuilding your home. You don't want to invest in a blueprint fora house that won't fit on your lot. Check with your municipalityor county on the distances you must have between the buildingand the lot lines. Most have rules on how much backyard you musthave and how much your house must be set back from the street orbuilding line.
Some towns and subdivisions also have what are called covenants.These are rules that dictate what you can and cannot build. Someof these covenants might include the minimum square footagehouse you can build, brick or frame construction, minimum roofpitch, and types of building materials you are allowed to use.
These are some of the important things you must consider.Building a new home the biggest investment you'll ever make.Doing a little homework will keep you from getting an unwantedsurprise and wasting time and money on a plan you can't use.
(c) 2005 Mike Merisko www.sawkerfs.com
Article Source: www.ArticlesBase.com
