Many of the homes you see may look like exactly what you are looking for – but are they really? One way to find out is to carefully consider what you want in a home. This is a very important first step so let’s consider how to take it.

For the majority of people, budget is a critical element in narrowing down the options. Usually the size of the home, specifically referring to the square footage of living area, is the most influential criteria in establishing the cost of a new home. Also, in most instances, it is cheaper to build up rather than out, assuming the same amount of square footage in either case. For example, sprawling ranches have twice the foundation and roof area than multi-level houses that cover half the ground area. If you are on a limited budget or have small land, you should not decide on a ranch house plan with two master bedrooms after all.

Next, you need to consider the style home you prefer. For example, contemporary house plans are very different than Traditional house plans after all. If you have an infill lot in an existing neighborhood, is the design you prefer compatible with the existing residential architecture? If it is not, will the subdivision allow you to build the house design of your preference?

Consider the site itself. What will it allow you to do and what won’t it allow you to do?

The first consideration in floor plan development is site topography. Slopes, both gentle and steep, affect the home design you choose. If you want a multi-level home with a walk-out basement that appears to be a single-story residence from the street, you need a lot that slopes from front to back. Think about your garage – do you prefer access at street level or a lower level?

Next is orientation, or the direction you want your house to face. Consider the north-south or east-west orientation of the site itself. Will the plan you select give you the opportunity to appreciate sweeping views from the living room? Does the design have a lot of glass on the south side to take advantage of the warmth of the sun during the winter?

Now the tougher part comes with figuring out what you want inside the house to satisfy your lifestyle and needs. This depends quite a bit on where you are in life, such as starting out, parents of toddlers or teens, an empty-nester or retired. For example, a large family with growing children may select a colonial style house plan while retirees may choose from small cottage house plans.

Consider the components of the home. Do you want or need both a family room and a living room or is one large great room sufficient? Do you want or need a breakfast room and a formal dining room? How many bedrooms, full baths and half baths do you need? How much storage do you want? Do you need space for working at home, a workshop or for hobbies?

When your wish list is finished, consider how you want your house to function. In architectural terms, think about spacial relationships and circulation which is the relationship of each of the components to one another.

For example, to deliver groceries conveniently, the kitchen should be directly accessible from the garage. To serve your meals efficiently, the dining room should be adjacent to the kitchen. This principle applies to your entire home so consider the flow from the entry foyer to the living areas, sleeping zones and food preparation areas.

As you review your favorite home plans, think if it’s possible to close off certain spaces to eliminate noise from bothering others. For instance, you may enjoy listening to music and don’t want it drowned out by a blaring television or the dishwasher. Sleeping areas and bathrooms should be remote from your living areas. When you come to terms with the types of rooms and their relationships in your dream house, you can concentrate on the sizes and features for each of those spaces.

If you enjoy cooking and entertaining, you may want a large gourmet kitchen or an outdoor kitchen. For an open, laid-back environment, you may consider a large family room with a fireplace, picture windows and exposed wood beams. The ultimate in relaxed, casual style is an outdoor deck or patio that is accessible from your central living area which may make a single level ranch house plan with front porch appealing.

It is thought provoking and time consuming to decide what you want in your dream house and how it should look, but careful planning will bring a great return on this major investment when it comes to you and your family’s happiness and overall enjoyment at home.