House Plans

[wct097]

We haven't settled on a plan yet. Have a few that we've looked at that we like, but nothing definitive.

This is our criteria:

* 2000-2400 sq-ft
* 3br, 2.5ba
* Bonus room or office
* Main level master
* Open concept, to an extent. No desire for a formal living room or dining room.
* Well appointed master ensuite
* Decent sized front porch
* Brick or stone exterior, possibly mix of siding and brick/stone
* 2-3 car attached garage
* Basement
* Screened rear porch/deck
* 1, 1.5, or 2 story
* No split-level or split foyer layouts

This is one we kicked around a bit. I really like the layout and the mud/coat room. Not crazy about the exterior finish on the pictured build.

Plan W16860WG Mountain, Luxury, Craftsman, Cottage, Northwest House Plans Home Designs

 

[Road Head]

I like it, but all the bumpouts and complicated roof lines will make that extremely expensive to build. But if you are going to live there for a long time, go for it.

 

[miwico]

Damn, nice place.

 

[Schnervel]

and I might put an offer on this place

3304 POTTERTON DR, Falls Church, VA 22044

 

[Road Head]

My sister bought plans for this house, she wanted to build on my mom's property. 1700 sq feet and the first bid she got was nearly $300k, and did not include any landscaping, driveway, or anything else external. The next was close to the same.

Plan W16807WG Mountain, Narrow Lot, Cottage, Vacation, Corner Lot, European House Plans Home Designs

 

[BobKid]

This was one of our favorite plans, but it too was going to be expensive to build

Plan W46008HC Mountain, Hill Country, Country, Premium Collection, Vacation, Photo Gallery House Plans Home Designs

 

[BobKid]

and I might put an offer on this place

3304 POTTERTON DR, Falls Church, VA 22044

No door straight into the backyard would freak me out. And the wiring/piping in the utility area looks DIY and out of place with the rest of their finishing. Makes me wonder what they just covered over under all the spackle and paint.

And I would have thought a garage would be almost mandatory up there.

 

[abqtj]

This was one of our favorite plans, but it too was going to be expensive to build

Plan W46008HC Mountain, Hill Country, Country, Premium Collection, Vacation, Photo Gallery House Plans Home Designs

That's a giant two-bedroom house!

 

[Justin]

That's a giant two-bedroom house!

At his age, too many bedrooms would kill him on the move-in ****-in-every-room-a-thon.

 

[Schnervel]

wiring/piping in the utility area looks DIY and out of place with the rest of their finishing. Makes me wonder what they just covered over under all the spackle and paint.

And I would have thought a garage would be almost mandatory up there.

It is interesting that there is no coax or phone jacks anywhere in the house. We have a call into the contractor (via the real estate agent) to figure out why. Other than that, I thought the wiring looked fine. The panel is new.

Garages are a luxury in the DC area.

 

[BobKid]

At his age, too many bedrooms would kill him on the move-in ****-in-every-room-a-thon.

Almost got the new 4 bdrm place christened here

 

[Ardvark]

and I might put an offer on this place

3304 POTTERTON DR, Falls Church, VA 22044

That's $179000 house up here

 

[Schnervel]

That's $179000 house up here

Yeah, well... not here.

 

[wct097]

I like it, but all the bumpouts and complicated roof lines will make that extremely expensive to build. But if you are going to live there for a long time, go for it.

My first thought as well. The builder I talked to has a guy that can draw up custom plans from something like this. I'd probably look to simplify the lines a bit to cut down on costs. Square it up and remove needless bumpouts.

 

[abqtj]

$650k minimum

 

[BobKid]

$650k minimum

Lowest bids we got to build were all above $185/ft2. Worst was a green builder who wanted $225/ft2+ for SIPs.

Don't know how the production builders are selling spec houses for $110/ft2 including the land. Just know I wouldn't want to look behind the drywall to see how well they're built for that much of a difference.

 

[wct097]

My sister bought plans for this house, she wanted to build on my mom's property. 1700 sq feet and the first bid she got was nearly $300k, and did not include any landscaping, driveway, or anything else external. The next was close to the same.

Plan W16807WG Mountain, Narrow Lot, Cottage, Vacation, Corner Lot, European House Plans Home Designs

That's basically the mirror image of the plan I linked. I haven't heard back from the builder I talked to in regards to the plan I linked, but he did say that for ~2k sq-ft with basement, garage, and the level of trim we discussed that I should budget for about $300k.

 

[abqtj]

That's basically the mirror image of the plan I linked. I haven't heard back from the builder I talked to in regards to the plan I linked, but he did say that for ~2k sq-ft with basement, garage, and the level of trim we discussed that I should budget for about $300k.

I'd be shocked beyond belief if that comes in around $300k.

 

[Road Head]

That's basically the mirror image of the plan I linked. I haven't heard back from the builder I talked to in regards to the plan I linked, but he did say that for ~2k sq-ft with basement, garage, and the level of trim we discussed that I should budget for about $300k.

The first builder told my sister that it would be close to $200k to build the house, so she bought the plans. Then he bid it, and almost $300k. Assholes. I think they just make shit up. Your plan is bigger and nicer, and adding a basement...Im betting you end up with a quote between $375k and $450k, depending on exactly what they put in for landscaping, driveways, etc.

I'd be shocked beyond belief if that comes in around $300k.

x2.

 

[Justin]

Most builders are miserably shitty at their chosen profession.