Value should be your most important consideration when building a new home. Value is the translation of wants and needs into specific home plans which meet the buyer's lifestyle demands and perform the functions intended for the design areas.

Value is not always the lowest price, but the price must be within the buyer's specified budget. Many times prospective buyers will attempt to judge value comparing the cost per square foot of several homes. The price of a home is determined by many factors, including the individual selections and choices that a buyer makes. In order to make an accurate and fair comparison you must know the costs of all the selections, features and extras. A car's value is not based on a comparison of the cost per tire and neither should a home's value be judged by it's cost per square foot.

Getting the best value for your investment means doing your homework. Value is difficult to measure before your home is built, but you will know if you have received it once your home is completed.

When a builder designs a new home, many factors are taken into consideration. The buyer's budget, the building lot size and location and the buyers' lifestyle needs all will need to be taken into consideration before and during the design and construction phases. Each factor plays an important part in the design of a home, however, the buyer's lifestyle and personal needs generally are the focus of discussion between the builder and the client.

The living area, the service area and the sleeping area are the three major residential areas for planning and design purposes. The living area is where the family relaxes, dines and entertains. The service area includes the garage, basement and utility where the maintenance and servicing functions are performed, and the sleeping area is the area of the home designed for resting.

In order to effectively design a home, the builder must listen to his client's needs and become familiar with their daily lifestyle activities. Each area of a new home should then be designed to meet the clients needs, performing the function needed for the specific area. The basic rule of form following function should always apply.