If you are considering building a home near Iowa City, Iowa, whether it’s custom or not, you need to start with a home plan in mind. At Mills Custom Homes, we begin every relationship with our clients by sitting down and creating a home plan that will cater to the comfort of your family while building a house that works with your budget.
We offer you the chance to peruse a wide selection of home plans or personalize one so that you get the function out of your dream house that you desire. There are a number of steps that must be taken before you and your home designer finalize your plans.
How Many Bedrooms and Bathrooms Will You Need?
Bedrooms and baths generally determine the final size of the home that you are considering. If you are working with a minimal budget, you will want to consider if a bedroom can double as a guest suite, office or playroom. Will the kids share, or do they each need their own space?
Your master bedroom will need at least a three-piece bath included, but when building from the ground up, consider some home plans that feature a spa suite. Bathrooms are one of the more expensive parts of your home. You can include a bath for each bedroom, but remember it will require cleaning, too.
Would You Like to Live in a One or Two-Story Home?
One of the quickest ways to whittle down the number of home plans you are considering is to decide if you prefer a single-floor or multi-story home. If this is your retirement home, consider the convenience and accessibility that a main-floor master suite can provide. However, slim-line stair lifts or even an elevator can maintain two-level living while providing easy access to the upper levels. Upstairs bedrooms also provide additional privacy when you have guests over.
Young families may like that a single-floor home does not have stairs or bannisters for toddlers to encounter.
While many contemporary home designs highlight high rooflines for single-floor designs, that second story will often determine the exterior appearance of the final build.
Would You Prefer Traditional or Contemporary?
While reviewing the home plans available, it’s wise to drive around town and take some photos of homes that appeal to you. Many clients insist that they love traditional homes, but a quick tour may show a preference for Mid-Century or contemporary styles.
Mills Custom Homes is able to build you a home that reflects almost any home style you desire. Many of our customers ask for a country home that includes a large porch and huge front windows. Others wish to live in a home with Mediterranean flair or a Spanish stucco style. Of course, you can still build a traditional Colonial, Cape or raised ranch.
Once you have decided on the overall construction, you can select clapboard, vinyl, brick or stone exteriors to truly build in the curbside appeal that you have always dreamed about.
Would You Like a Connected Garage or Any Outbuildings?
It is easy to overlook the other areas that offer added value and versatility to your home. Many of our home plans available add attached two- and three-car garages. The extra interior parking space is an added bonus for your extra convertible or motorcycle, or it provides a place for your teen to secure his or her car.
You might want extra space for a workshop or for your landscaping equipment. It is possible to take a three-car garage and customize it to include additional electrical service for power tools, a vehicle lift or additional storage for the home.
We are also able to include other outbuildings in your home plans, such as matching sheds, pool house, guest cabins or summer houses in the yard. It is always best to include such add-ons in the original plans to avoid mismatched renovations in the future.
Would You Like Open Concept Living?
Open concept living is one of the most popular concepts in home plans today. What does it really mean? Instead of separate living, dining and kitchen areas, a single open room is constructed with clear sight lines and easy traffic patterns. It can be tempting to sign up for an open concept build, but first make sure that it’s right for you.
Would You Prefer Traditional Living?
Some families prefer the privacy that a separate living or family room can provide. It can offer a quiet space for homework or for enjoying television without the added distraction of conversation in the kitchen. Private dining areas offer extra elegance to dinner parties as they block the bustle of the kitchen.
All that being considered, if you love to host large parties, a home plan with an open great room is fabulous for entertaining large groups of people in a welcoming environment.
Would You Like Any Additional Rooms?
The final area to consider when working on home plans for your custom house from Mills Custom Homes is how you wish to use your home outside of the customary living area.
You may be able to combine some extra rooms to keep your budget and total square footage within reason. For instance, your media room or office can easily be doubled as a guest room. The bonus space set aside as a playroom for the kids could include fold-out couches or trundle beds for extra space for sleepovers and family celebrations.
If you regularly entertain clients, think about adding an extra entrance to your office. Connect the main floor bathroom to the guest room. If a space is destined to be a media room, discuss with your designer about installing all of the needed wiring before the walls go up for a polished final appearance.
When you are ready to discover all of the luxury and amenities that can be added to a standard house plan in Iowa City, Iowa, give us a call at Mills Custom Homes to set up your personal planning meeting. We look forward to helping you create a house that will cater to all of your desires for years in the future.