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Lifestyle Considerations

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There are numerous questions you should ask yourself when choosing a house plan to best accommodate your needs. Do you have several family members or out-of-town friends you expect to visit you? You should choose a house plan with at least one additional bedroom to serve as a guest room. Do you enjoy formal entertaining? You will want to make sure you house plan has a separate dining room. Do you have small children? You might like an open floor plan that allows you to work in the kitchen, while still keeping an eye on a baby in the family room.

Do you do any work from home? Make sure your house plan allows extra space to set up a home office. Do you have a lot of possessions in storage? Plan for a large attic or basement and plenty of closets. Do you like indoor/outdoor living? Add on a screen-in porch or large deck to your house plan. Are you a gourmet cook? Add some extra square footage to the kitchen.

Consider the furniture you already own. Do you plan to take it with you to your new home? Make sure you measure each piece carefully and plan for how it will fit in the floor plan of your house. If you want to place an armoire in a certain nook and later discover it doesn't fit, you will have a problem. You generally need at least 36 inches around seating pieces to allow for walking room. You also need adequate clearance for swinging doors.

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