Designing a Dream Home

Designing your Texas dream home will be one of the most exciting events in your life. Here's how to make sure it results in the perfect home for you.

There are as many styles and types of home as the people who will live in them, and the world of home plan options may seem overwhelming. So to begin, start with the community where you are buying land. Chances are they have rules and covenants that may cover things like minimum home size, exterior construction and appearance, and even acceptable styles of home. The sales staff may have recommendations for designers and builders that have worked well in the community.

Next, determine what you need. For most, it starts with number of bedrooms, size of living areas and special preferences. Do you need a big gourmet kitchen, or an outside cooking area? A room for kids to play or a home theater? Home office space or a workshop? Write down what you absolutely need, and then what you would like should budget allow.

It's a good idea to get mortgage pre-approval; this will set your budget and will let builders know you're ready to go, without financing issues slowing things down.

By now you should have an idea of which builders may be right for you. What do the builders you are considering offer in home plans? Do they only offer a set selection of models, do they have in-house design services, and will they work with plans that you supply?

Start looking at home plans – there are hundreds of sources on the internet for complete home plans, which must be purchased. But you can look at floor plans and renderings of houses to get an idea of what's new in house layout and styles. If there are existing new homes in the community that have caught your eye, ask about their builders and designers, and what the experience was like for those owners. Model homes are also a great way to really get a feel for a house. Browsing design magazines may give you ideas on floor plans and decorating details, too. Keep a folder of things you like.

Working with an architect can be expensive, but it can also ensure you get exactly what you desire. Architects and designers can also alter an existing plan to your specifications.

The biggest trend in home design right now is "green building". This may simply mean energy efficient windows and weather stripping, or may extend to powerful solar systems that actually sell energy back to the utility, resulting in lower or non-existent energy bills. There are water catchment systems that capture rainwater or household grey water for "free" irrigation of gardens and yards. Many of these technologies can add to the purchase price, but may pay for themselves in utility savings and tax credits. As interest in green building grows, more and more purchasers will desire these advances, which can add to your home's value and help with a future sale. It's advisable to seek out builders who are certified by various green programs – you may be glad you did when the Texas summer comes!