Tag: budget floorplan

Three Cost Efficient Floor Plans That Are Perfect for Your Next Home

Features

Designing the perfect home can be an extremely costly experience. To get the home of your dreams while staying within your budget, read on to find out how to find a cost-efficient floor plan that meets your every need.

What Makes a Cost-Efficient Floor Plan?

There are several characteristics of a cost-efficient floor plan. Find one that includes the features listed below, and you’ll be sure to stick to your budget.

Simple, Straight Lines

Simple, straight lines are not only pleasing to look at, but they are also incredibly cost-effective. Keep roof lines simple and side and rear walls straight for an elegantly modern exterior with great curb appeal.

A Modest Footprint

Opting for a cozy floor plan with a modern footprint is a great way to keep your home cost-efficient. Homes with modest footprints require less energy to construct, so you’ll save in plenty of areas, such as the foundation and even building materials.

No Offsets in the Foundation

One simple way to cut the cost of your floor plan is to eliminate offsets in the foundation. Though they are common, each foundation offset increases your bill once again. Removing offsets altogether is an easy way to ensure they don’t interfere with your budget.

The Beauty of Value Engineering

Frank Betz Associates’ unique concept of “Value Engineering” gives you yet another way to cut costs. Value Engineering lowers the cost to build your home by eliminating waste with regard to materials. Efficient use of materials means the necessary quantities are lower, and so is your bill.

Three Cost-Efficient Floor Plans from Frank Betz Associates

Frank Betz Associates has the experience and knowledge to help you design a home that is both gorgeous and budget-friendly. Below are three cost-efficient floor plans that are perfect for your next home.

Azalea Park

Azalea Park is a wonderfully cozy cottage that you’ll have no trouble settling into. With a functional design and three bedrooms, your family will be right at home in this modest two-story design. Relax on the screened-in porch and enjoy the natural light that floods the house throughout the day.

Haddington House

Create a place of belonging with a Haddington House floor plan. This modern farmhouse is the epitome of warmth and charm; welcome your guests home from an expansive front porch and entertain for hours in the connected kitchen, dining, and living spaces.

Waterbury Cottage

Sleek and modern, the Waterbury Cottage floor plan is packed with an open floor plan and wide windows to let the sunlight in. Though it features modest square footage, Waterbury Cottage is spacious due to its open spaces and strategic compartmentalization.

Contact Frank Betz Associates today to find the cost-efficient floor plan that’s right for you.

Our Top Family-Friendly House Plans

Custom home design

When your family is growing or the kids are getting older, there comes a point when you just know you need more space — and sooner rather than later. Whether it’s too many hands going in and out of the fridge in a small kitchen, the need for more separation (i.e. peace and quiet) between the primary suite and the other bedrooms, or not enough outdoor space to relax and let the kids run free at the same time, there’s bound to be at least one nagging sticking point about your current home as your family expands.

We get it. That’s why we design house plans that are wide open, spacious on the inside and out, and can comfortably accommodate all your family members now and into the future.

If you’re looking for a new home to that will grow with your family, there are a couple of features you should always look for.

Top Features for Family-Friendly House Plans

Flex Space: Whether you need a dedicated space for homework, a game room for teens, or a serene yoga room for yourself, it’s critical to have a bit (or a lot) of extra space that can be configured in any way you need, and can change in the future.

Open Living Area: One way to make sure growing families spend time together is to have enough space to accommodate everyone in one area. Whether it’s for a sit-down family dinner or a low-key movie night, memories are made when you’re together.

Spacious Primary Suite: Between work and family, you’ve got a lot going on. Hang on to your sanity with a private, spa-like retreat. Whether you prefer your primary bedroom suite to be upstairs or down, it should be large and luxurious so that you get the peace of mind and rest you deserve.

Lots of Storage: With people (especially kids!) come things. Our house plans feature large closets in bedrooms and hallways, spacious and functional laundry rooms, garages with extra space, and second-floor bonus rooms that are perfect as simple storage. Whatever it is that you have, our plans have a place for it.

Here are our top three family-friendly house plans:

Selwyn Park – Designed for Active Families

4 Bedrooms | 3.5 Baths | 3-Car Garage | 2,906 Sq. Ft.

This beautiful home has all the bases covered for an active family of any size. The kitchen and living room are open concept, and flow right into a dedicated dining space that’s flooded with natural light. Whether it’s weekday breakfast or a holiday dinner, meals will always feel special here. The covered back porch extends almost the entire width of the home, providing ample space for outdoor living and play. For holidays and family celebrations, the spacious and completely private guest suite has an attached bath. Upstairs, two additional bedrooms are separated by a central bathroom with dual vanities. The optional bonus room is perfect for playtime, gaming, or kids’ movie nights.

Wood Hollow – Warm and Welcoming

4 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 2,436 Sq. Ft.

This refined farmhouse cottage is reminiscent of a bygone era, but updated with a modern layout and beautiful details that make this floor plan a favorite for today’s families. With its high-pitched roof, board and batten siding, and welcoming front porch, it’s easy to feel like you belong here. The open design is perfect for both busy mornings and relaxing evenings. The first-floor primary suite offers convenience and luxury, while the upstairs bedrooms inspire peace and quiet. A large, optional bonus room can be a recreation area, home gym, or an extra storage space.

Haddington – Classic Style That Delivers

4 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 2-Car Garage | 2,300 Sq. Ft.

A modern farmhouse design that’s a family favorite, the Haddington has everything you’re looking for in a new home. Whether you’re hosting just your immediate family, or guests and relatives for holidays and celebrations, this home is built for any occasion. The elegant foyer opens up into a soaring living room with beamed ceilings, which flows right into the dining area and kitchen, complete with oversized island. Continue with the flow of the home and you’ll find yourself relaxing on a covered back porch with a beautiful vaulted ceiling. Back inside, the first-floor primary suite offers a serene escape, while children and guests occupy themselves upstairs.

If you’re ready to make the leap from a house that just feels “OK” to an extraordinary home that will grow with you for years, explore these three house plans and the many more that Frank Betz Associates offers. This might just be the best move you’ve ever made.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MUDROOM DESIGN

Similar to an airlock on a space station, the mudroom is a vital transition area between the outdoors and indoors. Coming in from outside, it’s a place to take off and store your outerwear and other daily belongings. When leaving your home, it’s the last stop to gear up with the needed essentials. Coming or going, a well-designed mudroom is an essential part of any home.

A heavy traffic area

One of the keys to a properly designed mudroom is making sure it’s located adjacent to the most used entry way. Consider what door your family will be using the most often and that is the place for the mudroom. This is probably the area where everyone’s shoes, boots, gloves, coats, backpacks, keys and hats will live. So, it should be designed into the floorplan according to convenience and easy access to your home’s most popular doorway.

Everything in its place and a place for everything

Accessibility and organization are two very important components to a functional mudroom design.
Built-in shelving and cabinets are nice for storage. While racks and hooks to hang coats and hats make getting in and out of the house more efficient. If there is room for a bench, not only will it provide a comfortable place to sit while removing shoes and boots, but with the right design, the area under the bench can be utilized for storage, as well. Installing a small mirror is also a nice amenity, for a last-minute look before you head out the door.

Size is relative

Beyond location, the size of your mudroom should be determined by the number of people and pets in your home. Remember, with each person comes at least one set of shoes, a coat and hat. And for our
four-legged family members, you’ll need room for a leash and outdoor toys. If there’s space for its own room great, but a mudroom can be designed into a hallway, laundry room or larger closet.

Durable materials

The very definition of a mudroom describes a place where muddy and wet clothing is taken off before entering the rest of the home. It’s there to protect the rest of your home from the outdoor elements. With that, a mudroom should be designed using materials that can handle dirt and moisture. Tile flooring or an easy to clean rug will help keep things tidy. Metal hooks and wire baskets are also moisture resistant features that make for durable storage and organization.

All told, the mudroom should be designed for function. It is a place to keep outdoor clothing and any other daily items used outside the home. But just because the mudroom is designed for utility, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be attractive and complement your home. Incorporating the same color pallet and material styles will help weave this room into your home’s established décor. Yes, it is a mudroom, but it can be a beautiful room, as well.

Stick-Built Homes vs. Prefab – What’s the Difference?

There are two main options when deciding to build a new home. These are stick-built and prefab construction. This article will help to clearly illustrate some pros and cons of both. By explaining the differences between stick-built homes and prefab, you will be able to make a better informed decision as you plan the next big step in building your new home.

Quality

Prefab stands for prefabricated. With these homes, machines are doing most of the initial work. Without the human factor, the structural components are often more precise. Everything is measured, cut, and assembled by computers and machines, so the occurrence of errors is drastically reduced. Like stick-built homes, the craftsmanship during the assembly of a prefab home directly affects the end result. Attention to high building standards should be the same for both methods. One point of difference with a stick-built home, is that it allows the new owner to view all steps and materials used.

Your home will be up more quickly with prefab modules

With prefab modular homes, time is not an issue. Once the panels are delivered on site, the basic frame of the home can be put together in under a day. And weather is not a factor when building a prefab home. This enables other teams can get to work on the interior more quickly. However, the foundation measurements must be exact for the prefabricated panels to fit correctly. Unlike stick-built homes, it is very difficult to make in-field adjustments to the panels. Overall, a prefab home can be completed up to a month shorter than a stick-built home.

Costs are actually similar

Often associated with lower quality and cost, modern prefab homes are in line with stick-built homes in both aspects. Initial costs are lower for prefab homes as much of the construction happens in a factory, instead of using manual labor to build on site. One must account for shipping the panels and the costs of special materials.

Variety of design options

This is where the prefab option falls behind stick-built. While there are an ever growing number of prefab design options, a stick-built home design can be completely original. Prefab homes floor plans are often modular in scope, but many allow for highly customized interior and exterior appearances. That may work for most, but there is no comparison to the customizable possibilities when starting a home design from scratch.

The best decision on your new home direction will come from carefully weighing both options. Explore the prefab design options from different manufacturers. If you find one that truly hits the mark, make sure your builder is experienced with this building process. A builder accomplished in prefab building methods can help you feel confident the quality will be on par with a stick-built home. But for true originality, a stick-built home is the way to go. It may take a bit longer, but a one-of-a-kind dream home will be yours.

How much does a new home really cost?

Building a new home can be an appealing and exciting experience. Yet, if it is the first time, few people really know how much work is involved. Not to mention an accurate estimate of the cost. Variable costs that include architectural fees, permit fees, construction costs and the builder’s fee and land costs all need to be considered to formulate the final price tag and to protect your budget.

Before the first nail is driven, you will need to have a good set of architectural drawings. This usually involves hiring an architect or residential designer. The architect or designer will work with the customer to design the home, produce construction documents, aid and assist with product selection and sometimes manage or monitor the construction of the home. Typically, an architect will cost between $7,500 and $30,000. He or she may also charge a percentage of the construction costs or base their fees on a price per square foot. As an alternative, there are many quality pre-designed house plans available through various media outlets by very talented architects and designers.

Land is another major cost consideration. As the population increases in major cities, so has the cost of building lots. In the U.S., a buildable lot averages $85,000.00. This number includes survey and financing costs.

Once the lot is secured, the homeowner needs to factor the builder’s fee. Typically, the builder will charge a 10% to 20 % fee. Though this fee might seem excessive, hiring a builder saves both time and money and minimizes waste. Builders can bring valuable expertise in land selection, preparation of your lot, the construction process, obtaining financing and appropriate material selection. They also bring much needed experience to navigating the complicated permitting and inspection process.

Next on the list, is materials. Steel prices have increased significantly over the past years: from May 2017 to December 2017, the global steel price has almost doubled. Future prices are predicted to continue growing, considering the recent 25% tariff imposed on steel imports. Costs like drywall average $11,000 while a typical roof goes for $10,000. Other hard material costs that effect framing, and flooring have become costly as well. The choice of exterior finishes such as brick, siding or stucco also have a major effect on the final home price. And let’s not forget about the cost of appliances, cabinets, countertops, windows, doors, interior trim and plumbing and lighting fixtures.

With the recent uptick in the U.S. economy, new home building has increased and this has made labor harder to come by. Skilled labor is needed to prepare the lot for building, pouring foundations, framing, flooring, roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation, drywall, interior trim, painting, lighting, and much more. With demand for this skilled labor, up, so is the cost.

And before you put your pencil down, you’ll also need to figure in landscaping materials, outdoor structures like carports, sheds or barns, decks and porches, patios and the driveway. These and other exterior accessories can quickly add up and exceed your budget if not accounted for in the beginning.

Taking all this into account, the national average for the overall cost of a 2,000 square foot home is around $285,900.00. A typical low price will be approximately $74/square foot to a high price average of $360/square foot depending on location and materials used. Since building a new home may be the purchase of a lifetime, much preparation and planning should go into the cost considerations. Knowing all the variables up front will make the whole building process run more smoothly and successfully.

Choosing A Houseplan

A little neighborly advice for choosing the right house plan.

Building a new home can be an exciting and sometimes daunting experience.
However, deciding to start with a proven and well-crafted house plan is a great first step. Purchasing a house plan will go a long way to making your home building process less stressful and more successful.

To begin with, there are thousands of house plans available. Choosing the right one will make all the difference, not only to fit the needs of you and your family, but the homes marketability if and when you ever choose to sell. With a little planning before you pick a plan, you’ll be on the right path to laying out the welcome mat.

Tried and true considerations for choosing a house plan:

What are your lifestyle needs?

  Do you have a family? If so, how big? You’ll need a certain amount of bedrooms and
  bathrooms. And if there are more children planned or relatives who visit often, you should
  also plan for that additional living space. The interior size needs of your future home is one of
  the most important factors when choosing a house plan.

Chestnut Springs House Plan- Kitchen and Keeping area

What’s your style?

From traditional to contemporary to rustic, there a many different house design styles.

And each style has its own type of house plan. Your furnishings, and neighborhood can also

affect the type of house plan you choose. For example, mid century modern furniture may not
be suited for a traditional farmhouse style home.

Summerlake House Plan – Rustic Elevation

Where will your house live?

In addition to the surrounding neighborhood style, the size and shape of your lot is a major

factor when it comes to choosing a house plan. If you like the outdoors, you’ll need a plan
that allows for outdoor space like a yard, garden, patio, decks or even a pool. A house plan

needs to comfortably fit the lot and the natural surroundings, while addressing additional

uses for your property. Factors such as the width and depth of your lot and whether it’s flat or

sloping will dictate the type of house plan. Also, if privacy is a concern, the right house plan

with the right layout is a must. Nobody wants to their kitchen staring into the neighbor’s

bedroom. And vice versa.

Got space?

   Space and its uses are key when determining which house plan is best. Are you into cooking?
   Then maybe a house plan with a larger kitchen is a must. Will you need a home office,
   storage areas or other special interests that might call for certain space needs? These

usability details need to be considered not only for your enjoyment but future owners.

Taking the time to carefully consider what you want out of your new home is guaranteed to make the whole building process easier. Choosing a house plan that fits these needs, pushes you to think about your house from the inside out. Elements like exterior details and interior finishes are easily adaptable to most house plans and are easier to plan once the floor layout, room count and lot orientation are nailed down. Think of them as the icing on your new, house cake.