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How to Save Money on Floor Plans -- without Sacrificing Style
In the midst of the current economic climate, many people find themselves having to get creative when it comes to saving money for building a house. There are several ways that potential buyers can save a surprising amount of money without being forced to skimp on their preferred styles.
Choose your Floor Plan Carefully.
 One of the most obvious yet overlooked saving techniques can be implemented before a builder is even chosen: be sure you already know the sort of house plan you are looking for. If you decide to change plans in the middle of construction, you’ll be faced with paying steep change orders.
Additionally, in searching for a particular plan, always consider the plot of land on which the house will be built and make sure the plan is compatible with the land. When considering a lot for your future home, always consider factors like building permits, electrical hookups and the lay of the land. If the lot and your house are not compatible, you’ll spend enormous amounts of money by simply clearing out trees and leveling the land.
Think Long-Term to Save Money
Another choice to be made in your house plans is the sort of space you want. Many people often neglect the fact that building up—as in a two story house plan—rather than out saves quite a bit of money on roofing and foundation costs. Similarly, you may want to consider building your plan upon a basement. Even by including finished rooms within the basement, the cost is often much less than when building out. Speaking of basements, they can also be quite useful in serving as a storage space. Rather than dropping a load of money for larger and expansive closets or a bonus room, a basement is ideal for storage.
While comparing floor plans, it is always a good idea to look for a cost-efficient design. Many people don’t realize that by simply building a central-level bathroom above your kitchen, you save money on plumbing because the plumber is not forced to run water lines all over your house. Solutions like this seem rather simple and easy to identify, but often go overlooked.
Building Materials
Next, you will want to closely examine your budget for building materials. Shopping for building materials is no different than shopping for groceries or electronics; you always want to look around for the best price in relation to quality. You may want to consider searching material suppliers and outlets for merchandise that is being closed out. Countless cabinets and carpet remnants go to waste each year because many buyers often overlook these economical solutions.
In your search, you may even want to consider reusable materials such as brick, wood and even stone. Not only are you being environmentally conservative by using these materials, but by broadening your search in such a way, you are also increasing the chances that you will find something with vintage value that compliments your house and personality.
Once you feel that you are ready to build, there are several cost-effective substitutions to be considered in the various stages of construction. For instance, while brick is very popular and looks beautiful, it is also very expensive. If you have your heart set on a brick exterior but wish to save some money, you may want to consider using “thin brick”. This brick is roughly 1/3 the thickness and depth of conventional bricks and because of its size differential, it costs much less. Not only is this “thin brick” just as attractive as traditional bricks, but it essentially serves as a covering, much like vinyl siding.
Other Cost-Cutting Measures
Using salvaged or recyclable materials for your kitchen counter; using such reclaimed materials saves money, creates a unique feel for your home and helps the environment.
Choosing cabinets with a modest wood-colored stain rather than painted, glazed or distressed finishes. They basically look the same, but the cost difference is significant.
If your flooring consists of expensive woods like Brazilian Walnut, you can always switch to a simpler wood—such as maple—for your stairways and smaller adjoining rooms. These woods may not be the same grain, but when stained properly, maple can look deceptively like a more expensive wood.
Like any other major purchase, never jump into buying a house—or even the house plans without thinking about these sorts of things. The money you save in the building stages can be used to further enhance your home years down the road.
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