When investing in personal home construction, you have one of two basic options when it comes to the floor plan: a custom floor plan or a stock floor plan. Each of these has pros and cons, and in the end, the choice will be yours.
Pros and Cons of a Custom Floor Plan
The most obvious benefit of opting for a custom home design is that you will be able to design a home that is tailored to your specific needs and wants. You can add your own personal touch to the overall design. In the end, the home is exactly what you had hoped it would be.
A custom floor plan is also beneficial when you need your home to work with a specific lot. For instance, if your lot has certain features or elements like rocky ground or significant sloping, a custom-drawn floor plan is often the best way to go so that these elements can be incorporated into the overall design.
Custom plans will also ensure that you get what you want while meeting all local building codes. No changes will be necessary down the road since everything is designed and built from scratch, as the designer will ensure all codes are adhered to during the development of the custom house plan.
Unfortunately, custom house plans tend to be more time-consuming and expensive. In addition, some people don’t want so many options to choose from when building their home, as it can be very frustrating, making a stock plan easier.
Pros and Cons of a Stock Floor Plan
Although not custom, stock floor plans still offer some level of flexibility. Generally, these stock floor plans can be customized so you can add a touch of your personality.
Because they have been used for home construction across the country hundreds of times (if not more), stock floor plans are of high quality. They have proven that they are functional and structurally sound over and over.
The resale value of stock floor plans is often better than custom floor plans due to the fact that the general public will prefer something popular as opposed to something completely unique.
The overall cost of a stock floor plan is more economical, as the plans have already been drawn. You don’t have to spend meeting after meeting with a custom design team to ensure they are implementing your wishes correctly.
One of the biggest disadvantages to stock floor plans is that they don’t take into account the future. With a custom plan, you can go ahead and add that nursery that you’re hoping to use in the near future, but it can be difficult and costly to do this with a stock plan.
Final Thoughts
While there are benefits to each type of floor plan, custom home design tends to be favored among many. However, the final decision is yours, and it will boil down to your personal preferences and budget.