Celebrating Togetherness – Multi-Generational Design Solutions

by Paul Foresman | Feb 15, 2021 | HER Home

Arloene moved in with her adult son after falling and breaking her hip. Tom moved in with his adult daughter after his wife passed away and the loneliness was just too much. Lori and her young son moved back in with her parents when her marriage didn’t work out. Jeanne dreamed of sharing their home so that her children would grow up and really get to know her aging parents. Lois and Roger, on a fixed income and with a home that was paid for but in need of repairs, had a lot to offer their son’s family who enjoyed a good, steady income, yet wasn’t able to stash much away for a down payment on a home of their own.

“In 2016, a record 64 million people, or 20% of the U.S. population, lived with multiple generations under one roof.” – PEW Research Center. In 1980, the same study showed that number was just 12% of the U.S. population, and in light of the Coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, the number is surely even higher today. In light of the growing popularity, we present this two-part series on multi-generational home design.

Along with its 2-car garage version (plan #42229 at just 42-feet wide) the Cedar Glen II (plan #42369 3-car) is Design Basics’ most popular multi-generational home plan. In fact, the Cedar Glens are Design Basics’ best-selling of all of our home plans over the last couple years! The two full, main-floor bedroom suites accommodate both adult generations nicely, with secondary bedrooms upstairs for the kids/grandkids. Togetherness is assured with this plan’s open entertaining area, yet all of the bedrooms are split apart for the privacy we each need, too. Also contributing to the home’s attractiveness is its cost. Many families choose to live as multi-generational households out of a desire to pool their financial resources. With a straightforward foundation, streamlined structural layout, and simple gable rooflines, this value-engineered design is also cost-efficient to build.

Note: All plans shown feature interior passage doors that are at least 32”-wide and the option of a no-step entry at the front door as well as from the garage for enhanced accessibility.

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Bedroom locations are one of the most important determinants of finding the right multi-generational home design. Ranch plans such as the Kinney Farm, (#42462), place all of the bedrooms on the home’s main floor. Solitude in this design is maximized by the positioning of all three bedrooms. With so many windows, the socializing area of this home lifts the spirit. Gatherings are further enhanced with the availability of the 16-foot covered deck/patio or use this space to simply relax and appreciate nature.

Alternately, some multi-generational households are looking for one of the suites on the first floor, and another suite upstairs, such as in the Dillon Park (plan #42477). The older generation, typically choosing the main floor suite, is mostly spared daily treks up and down the stairs. With only one main floor suite, such layouts can provide more generous gathering areas while still controlling the home’s overall width and depth. Denoted in this plan as a Family Lounge, buyers favoring one of the suites on the second floor have also expressed interest in a convenient upstairs area for game playing, reading, study, or just enjoying time to themselves.

Some home designs offer excellent potential for meeting the desires of multi-generational buyers. As originally designed, the 1,994 square foot, 3-bedroom Windsor Cottage (plan #42226) is a 2-story home with 3-car tandem garage. But in lieu of the deep tandem garage stall, it can be built with a private first-floor suite – as shown in the Windsor Cottage (plan #42226-4 Bed), coming in at 2,272 finished square feet.

While these designs have proven popular with many of our customers, some buyers are looking for both the shared living areas AND a private living area for the second suite – a design amenity we look at closer in our next post.

For more resources on thoughtful design and products:

View other articles on our blog
Browse our Her Home™ Magazine
Thoughtful Design Concepts

It’s Time! Join Design Basics at the NAHB IBSx Virtual Experience

by Paul Foresman | Feb 10, 2021 | Company News

The International Builders Show is open! And for the 34^th time in the last 35 years, Design Basics is debuting new home designs and more at the NAHB’s premier event for home building professionals.

In addition to showcasing brand-new and top-selling home plans, Design Basics premiered videos within its virtual exhibit booth, introduced Evolving Home Design II, the company’s hot-off-the-press home plan publication, and launched the newly-expanded Neighborhood In A Box® turnkey solution for builders and land developers.

Tuesday’s live, in-booth virtual presentations included Carl Cuozzo, Senior Designer, demonstrating how Design Basics’ home plan makeover service can revitalize older designs; as well as Paul Foresman discussing the many ways builders benefit from the company’s Builder-Centric preferred customer program.

The schedule of upcoming in-booth presentations includes:

Home Plan Makeover (Wednesday, 12:00pm Eastern),
Neighborhood In A Box (Wednesday, 2:00pm Eastern),
Woman-Centric Matters! (Thursday, 12:00pm Eastern),
Home Plan Makeover (Thursday, 2:00pm Eastern),

Additionally, a recorded presentation on customizing home plans is available on-demand at the booth.

Booth visitors are able to chat with company representatives and schedule one-on-one meetings with the most appropriate company team members. Attendees can also request a complimentary copy of the printed Evolving Home Design II publication, and save lots of money with the company’s home plan Show Special exclusively for building professionals visiting Design Basics booth.

There’s still time for builders to register and attend the IBSx for free, by clicking on the link below. We hope to see you at the IBSx!

Custom Home Design Basics

by Paul Foresman | Feb 8, 2021 | HER Home

When existing home plans, even with modifications, won’t work for you, it’s time for a custom-designed plan. Several options exist, each with its own benefits. You may be most comfortable working with a local designer across the table, face-to-face. Another advantage can be their knowledge of local building code requirements and plan compliance. And you may meet with your designer at your future homesite if you have a unique or challenging piece of ground. On the downside, local firms may not have the breadth of experience nor knowledge of the design features, amenities, and solutions that you would later regret not having had the opportunity to consider in your new home.

Choosing a national design firm means tapping into to their vast knowledge of design and innovative problem solving derived from their experience working all over the country. Your meetings will likely be online rather than in-person, but these can actually be more convenient than trying to coordinate numerous schedules.

Whereas a pre-drawn plan you can get within a few hours might run $1,000 – $1,500, custom home plan prices range from a low of about $.60 per square foot to as much as 3%-5% of your home’s price and may take a few weeks to a few months to develop. Expect design fees to loosely correlate with the quality of the designs, quality of the final construction drawings, the designer’s experience and creativity, and level of services included. Yes, you likely could save some money on plans by selecting the low-priced draftsperson/designer, but you may end up paying higher construction costs associated with a design, which is not as well-thought out. Simply, at the cheap end, such firms don’t pay high enough wages to attract accomplished design pros. You can expect design fees from talented designers to start about $2 per finished square foot.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Price will be one consideration when selecting your home designer. $1,250 for a pre-drawn plan equals ¼ of 1% of a $500,000 home. At $2/sq. ft., that 2500 sq. ft. home plan would cost $5,000, just 1% of the home’s price. Or a $15,000 plan – 3% of the home’s price – what’s the value of the ideal design, a home that lives the way you want, as compared to spending a little less, but having to live with regrets?

Yes, Her Home™ is published by Design Basics, and admittedly biased. Shaped by decades of customer feedback and input, our firm has been designed around what our customers want and value. There are many fine residential designers, we hope that you will contact us to design your new home!

The accompanying chart can help you think through some of the most important considerations when it comes to selecting who will design your new home. What is the designer’s reputation and what are they known for? How experienced are they with designing homes as compared to other structures? What information/education can they provide, equipping you to make wise, informed decisions and ultimately achieve the home you want AND the best value?

Download a PDF copy to use for your new home designer selection!

For more resources on thoughtful design and products:

View other articles on our blog
Browse our Her Home™ Magazine
Thoughtful Design Concepts

Cover photo: <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/photos/business’>Business photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com</a>

Join Design Basics at the NAHB IBSx Virtual Experience

by Paul Foresman | Feb 1, 2021 | Company News

Design Basics first started participating at the NAHB International Builders’ Show® in 1987, and with the exception of 2009, has exhibited every year. In fact, Design Basics has been recognized as the only home plan design firm to be a part of the IBS “Quarter Century Exhibitor Club.”

In January 2020, Design Basics and more than 1,400 other exhibitors welcomed 65,000 home building professionals to the IBS, which is one of the largest trade shows in the world.

Known for new product introductions and top-notch educational sessions, the IBS offers attendees numerous opportunities to enhance their businesses and the homes they build. Numerous innovations, recognized years later as some of the hottest trends in home building, first debuted at the IBS.

For 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IBS will be 100% virtual. Known this year as the IBSx, even more home builders can attend. Without travel limitations to attend the in-person show, there’s no reason to miss out on the Expo – click here to get your FREE 4-Day Exhibit-Only pass to the 2021 IBSx Virtual Experience (though a paid registration is required if wanting to sit in on the show’s educational sessions).

All attendees can check out the exhibitor virtual booths, and Design Basics is no exception! There, visitors can view our “New for 2021” home plans, our brand new home plan catalog, and more! Our video, Home Design Headaches, will debut in the virtual booth, and visitors can attend any of our virtual sessions on new home design and marketing. In addition to “chatting” online with our staff, our booth visitors can talk with us face-to-face via video calls or schedule an online meeting with the most appropriate member(s) of our team. There is also a money-saving Show Special visitors won’t want to miss!

Just as the Coronavirus has impacted how we live in, design (have you seen our newest design amenity, the Sanctuary Space™?), and build homes, the 2021 IBSx ushers in new opportunities for thriving in these uncertain times. Participating in the IBSx helps keep home building and the NAHB strong, as together we shape the future of American Housing.

Building a New Home – First Things First

by Paul Foresman | Feb 1, 2021 | HER Home

You’re finally going to build a new home – Yay! But where do you start? Find your builder? Contact a real estate agent? Pre-qualify for your mortgage? Find your homesite?

Your specific situation can affect how that question is answered. You may already own a building lot, perhaps the reason you want to move is to reside within a certain school district, or maybe you’ve already established your new home budget. Still, though we may be a bit biased, finding or developing the home plan may be a wise first step, because it has tremendous impact on everything else.

Home plans are like the hub of a bicycle wheel – with all of its spokes connecting you with everyone involved, from the builder and sub-contractors, to lenders, building officials, the developer, and product suppliers. With plans in hand, you can get bids, verify you’re within your budget; secure financing; identify one or more builders who would be a good fit; and ensure that the design meets the architectural guidelines and covenants for where you want to live.

Of course, many things should be considered when selecting or developing your home plans. Does the lot you own or have picked out restrict the home design in any way? For example, some neighborhoods require all masonry finishes on the front. That will affect your home’s cost. Similarly, it does no good to fall in love with a plan that is too wide for your building lot. Using a ballpark “cost per square foot” can help you keep within your budget. After looking at other new construction homes in your area, if you see prices are running around $200 per finished square foot and you have set a budget of $500,000 for your home, that math suggests finding a plan that is about 2,500 square feet or smaller.

Finding or developing your home plan.

This may be easy, as the builder you choose may have a home design you really like. Or, they may have a designer on staff who will design your home as part of the process. But often that’s not the case. Many home buyers start by searching for home plans online. Such online searches can be fun, but with tens of thousands of plans online, this can also be daunting. If you find a pre-drawn home plan that matches what you’re looking for, fantastic! It can be a great value based on their low price, immediate turn-around, and quality construction drawings. For an additional fee, many residential design firms will also modify their pre-drawn plans to incorporate your specific changes that would make the plan perfect for you.

Still, pre-drawn plans may not be the right solution for everyone. Some areas require an engineering stamp or architectural seal on home plans that is typically not available with pre-drawn plans. In such jurisdictions you will need to also find an engineer or architect to review and stamp the plans. Also, a pre-drawn plan may need to be reviewed and possibly modified to ensure compliance with all local codes. It is wise to contact your local building department regarding home plan requirements before buying a home plan. Or you simply may not be able to find an existing home design that looks and lives the way you want.

It may be that working with a design professional to develop a custom home design is your best choice. In our next post we discuss how to choose your designer to achieve the home plan of your dreams!

For more resources on thoughtful design:

Celebrating Togetherness – Multi-Generational Design Solutions

It’s Time! Join Design Basics at the NAHB IBSx Virtual Experience

Custom Home Design Basics

Join Design Basics at the NAHB IBSx Virtual Experience

Building a New Home – First Things First

Finding or developing your home plan.

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