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If you are thinking of designing your own house, here are some tips you might want to consider:
1) Shower stalls should be made wider than in years past. This is because more people are heavier than they used to be.
2) Radiant heat is healthier than the normal forced air heat that is in all new homes today. Radiant heat will increase the value of your home and it is best installed when the house is built.
3) Make sure you put the laundry room on the same floor as all the bedrooms. Many houses have the laundry room on the main floor and the bedrooms upstairs. Who wants to have to carry all the laundry up and down the stairs every time?
4) If you must have the laundry room downstairs and the bedrooms up top, you might consider installing a laundry chute.
5) This is your chance to have all the built in speakers installed exactly where you want them. You might also think about soundproofing some rooms or the whole house.
6) Do you like wine and want a wine cellar? This is your chance to have one built just like you want it.
7) A large entry way is always nice and sets the whole tone for your new house. Make sure you make your entry way large enough to have a nice coat closet and room to greet visitors.
8) Designing your own house gives you the chance to put in higher ceilings. Rooms look and feel larger with higher ceilings and this should always be done if possible.
9) Many new homes now have garages that are not wide enough for SUV's. By designing your own house, you can make sure this does not happen. Also make sure your driveway is wide enough to accommodate any vehicles you might have.
10) If you plan in advance where you will want all your furniture and electrical gadgets to go, you will then be able to insure the right quantity and placement of all electrical outlets. Many times when you move into a new house, you will find the light switches and outlets are not in the places you would like them
11) Make sure you install new CAT5 wiring throughout your house for your computers. All new homes should come with the latest technology or you may have to lower your price when you go to sell the house.
12) Put two sinks in the kitchen instead of one. This is one of the advantages of doing your own house design - you can add a sink like this that would never come in a regular home built by a company builder.
13) Look around at other houses to get a general idea of what you want. We have all driven by a house and said to ourselves "what a cool house, I wish that were mine!". Try to find houses that have features you like so you can get a general idea of what you want. If you do find that cool house somewhere, stop your car and knock on the door. You might be able to let the owner give you a quick tour!
14) Look through as many home books and real estate magazines as you can. Again, this is to get ideas of what you like and don't like. It always helps to see a real picture of something you like rather than just having the idea in your head.
15) Try to get get input from all family members to find out what they might want. By including family members, including the children, you get everyone involved and make everyone feel like they are part of the project. Designing your own house can be great fun if you involve everyone.
16) Once you have a few ideas, you can use an inexpensive 3D computer program to see them on your computer. With today's technology, you can now actually see your ideas come to life in 3D and have a much better idea of what they will look like in real life. Many of these computer software programs can be bought for under $100.00 and saves you from having to pay an architect the big bucks to draw up your house plans.
17) Once you have decided on a house plan, you will need to take it to an architect for some suggestions and modifications. He/she will be able to answer most of your questions that the 3D software could not such as a ballpark figure of costs.
Ultimately, your budget will be an important factor in your every design decision. A professional will be able to help out in this area as he can give you estimates on what things will cost. Professional architects are there to be used and they will help answer all the questions that a piece of computer software cannot. Used together, computer software and a professional architect will be your best choice for designing that house you have always dreamed of.
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