Simplehome Column
"Keeping it Simple"
Thanks to everyone who has written in with suggestions and questions. We should have several more plans coming up soon to choose from. Keep it up, we really enjoy hearing from people who have visited the site.
Compare our plans with others that you come across. We think you'll find that Simplehome plans are simpler, more efficient, and certainly more interesting than most of the other plans out there. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns about any of our plans. If you see a plan you like, but it doesn't quite work for you, drop us an email and tell us what you'd like to see changed. We'll respond and tell you what it would cost to make those modifications to that particular plan. If you don't see what you want at all (it could happen!), send us a note about that too and we'll tell you about our Custom Design Service and what that costs.
SimpleHome has developed a few strategies in designing the most house for the money we
would like to share. Consider these things when you are looking at a new house, whether
it's a plan or already built.
Don't build what you don't need.
The first rule of saving money on anything is don't buy it if you don't need it. You would
be surprised at the number of different households living in three bedroom houses today
who don't need three bedrooms. It's nice to have extra space for an exercise room or a
home office, but these can be accommodated in other ways. A third bedroom at the end
of the hall will always feel like a third bedroom no matter how much unbedroom-like stuff
you put in it. So how do you get the space you need without overbuilding? Read on.
Plan according to living patterns
If you think about what you do and how you do it, chances are you'll figure out the best
place to do it. In our experience working with people we have found that often the same
activities need to take place in the same general space. The computer alcove is a good
example. Many parents feel the need to be present while the kids are surfing the net, or
doing homework on the computer, or want to be with the family while working at home.
So the alcove off the family living space was developed to accommodate those things. It
is much cheaper than an extra bedroom, and you still have access to your computer when
guests stay overnight!
Incorporate inexpensive space.
About that exercise room...do you need to have finished interior walls and carpet in a
room your going to sweat in? It would be pretty easy to extend a garage, or build an
outdoor room for your activities which don't require a finished space. These kinds of
rooms are much cheaper to build, and can often be done by the homeowner because we
have eliminated the skilled trades. This leads me to my next point...
Consider alternative forms of construction.
There are many forms of construction available today. Some are still aimed at the building
trades, but increasingly new systems are being developed for the self-build market.
Lightweight concrete blocks which fit together make it easy for a someone who is not a
mason to build a wall. Straw bale construction can be built with a bunch of friends and a
little research. Cob construction can be built by the layperson after attending a few
workshops. Also look to other industries for ideas, or recycle old buildings into new
places. Agricultural building systems are often cheaper than traditional house
construction, and can be easily adapted to suit a family. How many converted barns are
there in the world?