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Floor plan and standard features feedback please!

14 years ago

Hi guys

I have just met with a builder and would love some feedback on the floor plan and standard features it includes it will be the Legacy series.

Here are the links

Here is a link that might be useful: Floor Plan

Comments (16)

  • 14 years ago

    Here's the standard features link.
    I am looking at the Legacy build. Let me know what you think!

    Here is a link that might be useful: Legacy Standard features

  • 14 years ago

    It would be helpful for us, if you gave us some information about you, your family, and the way you function in your home.

    For example, I see it is a one level house. Are you a mature couple looking to live out your days? Or, do you have a lot of land, prefer one level living, but have 3 kids? Age of kids? Do you cook often at home, or eat out? Etc.

    My initial comments to you are:
    Will there regularly be people/kids sleeping in both bedrooms 2 and 3? If so, you will find countless times that people on this board are not fond of J/J baths--especially if there are 2 doors to the toilet. If you can figure out a way to get that toilet behind one door (so you don't have to lock 2 doors, and UNLOCK 2 doors) you will be better off. If, however, those rooms will mostly function as office space because you are a retired couple with no kids at home, it isn't a big deal...
    So, info helps.

    Additionally, the kitchen (just glancing) has a barrier island. You will read more about those, and how to avoid them, in the kitchens forum. Whatever plan you choose, take your kitchen layout to the kitchens forum for specific kitchen feedback. They are invaluable.

    The kitchen is also a little far away from the family entrance without anywhere to put things on the way (no place to set groceries as you bring them in from the car until you reach at least the dining room...)

    The nearest coat closet to the foyer is past room 3.

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks Kirkhall!

    We are actually in our early 30's. This will be our first home. No decision on kids yet. We prefer a single story home. We cook at home often.

    Great insight on that J/J bath, we already spoke to the builder about rearranging it with bedroom 2 so it will be in the hallway instead.

  • 14 years ago

    It seems like you should get more in your standards at that price point, at least you do in Columbus, Ohio.

  • 14 years ago

    They are asking 500k for a 3656 sq ft. I already own the lot.

  • 14 years ago

    That does seem high, but it depends on your area.

    One other comment on the layout: I would eliminate, or change the location of the door in the morning room. Having it right there, and open that way really limits what you can actually put in the morning room. Also, if you don't need it, I would probably get rid of that little angle-built wall to make the morning room "round"--it sticks toward the kitchen.

  • 14 years ago

    Couple of ideas:

    If you plan to have guests at any time, you could rearrange the closet from the hallway so it opens into the foyer. That way you could put away guest coats (or your own) near the front door without walking through the great room. (See mockup below.) This also puts the door to BR 3 further from the public spaces of the house.

    I like kirkhall's suggestion for eliminating the angle in the morning room. If you made that a sliding door with the opening toward the lower part of the drawing, you'd still have easy access from the kitchen to the patio (for carrying beverages, or bringing meat to/from a grill) and yet have room for a round table in there.

    Check your kitchen dimensions carefully, especially the aisle in front of the refrigerator. Even counter depth refrigerators stick out farther than the standard counter, and you have to account for handles, door swing, etc. (Plus most ref's require an inch of air space at the back.) Check the specs for whatever fridge you're buying and make sure that it can be pulled all the way out (e.g. for servicing) without removing the doors or moving the island. Definitely post your kitchen plan on the kitchens forum too for the best way to lay it out.

    Unless you need the extra upper cabinet storage, consider making the whole top wall of the kitchen windows, and just use upper cabinets on the right and bottom walls. That would make your kitchen nice and bright, and would be especially great if you have a nice view out the back.

    {{gwi:1406398}}

  • 14 years ago

    I'm not very enthusiastic about the GARAGE with a house attached look. And there is a lot of other "eh" choices as well, such as the shared bath. This would never be a house that I would buy, nor build. It doesn't live well.

    The quote seems pretty pricy as well. I'd pass on this one.

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks for the insight everyone.
    So it seems everyone thinks the quote is high. It comes out to $137 per foot. From trolling all the other posts that seems to be a great price anywhere especially for here in California. Is is nothing but junk? This builder is the million dollar home builder in this area.

  • 14 years ago

    That price per square foot does not strike me as high at all. I believe typical for my area is higher, and I would think CA would be higher than here.

    Make sure that your allowances cover the quality of materials you want (for example, is it builders' grade carpet and low end padding, or something nicer? How about tile, appliances, etc.) Check in person the kind of things you want in your home and the prices, and compare those to our allowances.

    Good luck and congrats as you start your process!

  • 14 years ago

    I think the comments about the price being high have more to do with the level of construction for the cost rather than the actual cost. The price is somewhat high for pretty basic bones and no real systems upgrades. The "upgrades" are Kitchen Crap cabinets and basic Kohler fixtures...not anything really that pricy at all. It's just a mediocre box with a bit of shiny gold leaf to distract someone into thinking they are purchasing a "custom" home.

  • 14 years ago

    I was one who said the price seemed high. On the website you provided it says the Legacy series include homes priced from 900K-1.5mil, if I'm reading it correctly. The price you're getting doesn't seem as overpriced but it still seems high.

    You need to check out the finishes, such as the level of granite. I found the standard granites for my build very limited, very common, and very boring. I ended up spending an extra 3k on granite for the kitchen because none of the standards would get me the look I wanted. So, before you sign anything, I'd shop around for what you know you want(faucets, tile, floors, bathroom mirrors, tubs, lighting, etc)price it out, and compare to the level of finishes that a particular builder offers as a standard. I think if I had done this before we signed our contract I would have negotiated better and we wouldn't be spending so much out of pocket. Oh, and one more thing, check out how many recessed lights you get and expect to need twice as many! Figure $100 per can.

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks cbusmomof3
    Yea the price was for the homes built on their golf course lot. I have selected my counters floors bathrooms etc.. I will be meeting with them to go over in detail what the costs for what I want would be. I am more concerned about the quality of the build like the 2x6 walls and the insulation etc.. Is that what I should be looking for? 2x6 exterior walls and R19 insulation on the exterior walls? We are in Central California.

  • 14 years ago

    Flooring is a very important part of a home and you have provided very useful information here. Thanks.

  • 14 years ago

    Regarding that Jack and Jill bath, I always hated them, too, BUT ... during our build we've been renting a townhouse and the upstairs has two bedrooms and a MODIFIED J&J bath, and we love it. The only thing shared is the shower/tub. Each person has their own sink and toilet - privacy with their own personal toilets and they can spread out with their toiletries. It's not a huge savings but a savings nonetheless, both in fixtures and square footage. Even when my kids' rooms become guest rooms here in a couple of years, we think our guests will really appreciate the privacy.

    Had I not lived with this bath arrangement I wouldn't have seen how genius it is.

  • 14 years ago

    I think this is a great floor plan, it does have a lot of garage from the front, but if you are on a city sized lot, that is to be expected. You could always amend the shape so that it is side entry if you would like.

    I agree with paying close attention to the measurements of the fridge, and also not putting any upper cabinets along the wall where the sink is. If you need extra space put a floor to ceiling pantry around the fridge.

    As for the price, I am also building in California, and it is lower than anything I have been quoted!