NationStates Jolt Archive

So, recently I've been looking at floor plans of houses on the internet. I've been looking at ranch style house with 2 bedrooms, an office space, two car garage, and a basement. The basement is going to be man's central *nods*. Anyways, it's going to be a small house because whoever I end up with will know that I don't want children and she (hopefully) won't want children either. So far this is my favorite floor plan.

http://www.houseplans.com/plans/mf/320-328mf-1400.gif

The best thing I like about this floor plan is even though this is a small house, you still have spacious room, it doesn't look cramp like other small houses do, and plus, you get a Walk in Closet in the Master bedroom, and the floor plan actually calls for a stair to the basement. I also like the bar area, but I'll probably just put a stereo system there.

So, has anyone else been looking at floor plans of houses?

you need to modify your plan, you have to go through the bathroom in the master to get to the closet, when you and your sig other are getting ready for a night on the town she won't want to traipse through while you are using the facilities just to get her shoes, also, the moisture from the shower will ruin her clothes...

I love looking at house plans, I always find flaws though. Picky picky me.

you need to modify your plan, you have to go through the bathroom in the master to get to the closet, when you and your sig other are getting ready for a night on the town she won't want to traipse through while you are using the facilities just to get her shoes, also, the moisture from the shower will ruin her clothes...

I love looking at house plans, I always find flaws though. Picky picky me.

Yea, that is the only fault I can find with this plan. Other than that I like it. I wonder if you can move the WIC up to the upper-left hand corner of the house, and push the bathroom back a bit.

There is no bathtub in the master bathroom. Most master bedroom suites have both a bath and a shower.

Also, you have a lot of plumbing against exterior walls. This could be problematic in terms of having pipes freeze, etc. but it will also use up more energy as the water would be cooled or heated by outside temperatures. You laso have the plumbing spread out to three different parts of the house. If you centralised it, you could reduce the amount of piping substantially. Unless you feel like paying more for the same plumbing services....

The masonry for your chimney will act to draw heat out of your house in the winter. Also, if you do light a fire in there, you will radiate a lot of heat out to the exterior. It would be better to have the fireplace more centrally located.

Why do you have only one window in the master bedroom, and why is it in the corner?

There is no bathtub in the master bathroom. Most master bedroom suites have both a bath and a shower.

Also, you have a lot of plumbing against exterior walls. This could be problematic in terms of having pipes freeze, etc. but it will also use up more energy as the water would be cooled or heated by outside temperatures. You laso have the plumbing spread out to three different parts of the house. If you centralised it, you could reduce the amount of piping substantially. Unless you feel like paying more for the same plumbing services....

The masonry for your chimney will act to draw heat out of your house in the winter. Also, if you do light a fire in there, you will radiate a lot of heat out to the exterior. It would be better to have the fireplace more centrally located.

Why do you have only one window in the master bedroom, and why is it in the corner?

Ok, this is not my plans, I didn't make them myself. I got them from this website.

http://www.houseplans.com

Nope, but I have been looking at houses (well flats mostly) recently. And yes, it is amazing how, dependant on layout, the same floor space can seem bigger or smaller.`

And then you have the really really wierd floor layouts that look give you a Tardis effect, although this tends to be in the older houses (seems like most places around where I live were either built turn of the century or earlier or in the last 10 years) where the outside bears absolutely no relation to the inside.

I made the plans for a house, then spotted loads of problems.

There was no bathroom downstairs.

There was no study, only a library.

There weren't nearly enough bedrooms for the servants and Children.

There were no halls, so the servants would always be under my feet!

Back to the drawing board.

On the above plan:

I don't like the idea of an internal garage. If Cars increase in size (and they will) you're stuck with a big room that is is of no use. Turn it into a study come Library and then have an outside garage separate from the rest of the house.

I love gazing at house plans! It was months before anyone else in my family saw the computer after we got The Sims a few years back...

Now that I am all grown up (Ha!) and actually approaching the age where I might forseeably buy a place, I enjoy plan-perusing even more.

Personally, I do not think I would go for yours. I happen to be one of those crazy environmentalist anti-car nuts, so a garage is not high on my list. I could not find the plans of the exact place I want, but the 'Haliburton' model at this site (http://www.qualityhomes.ca/plans/index_cottage.html) is quite similar, except it lacks the basement of the other plan. Since the plan I like includes more bedrooms in the cellar, I would probably turn the one on the ground floor into an office, or games room, or something else like that. Optimally I would switch the staircase to a spiral one, and maybe add a firepole, too.

Edit: From your site, I like this plan (http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=3801), although it clearly needs some more windows along the back wall in the living room and master bedroom.

I don't like the idea of an internal garage. If Cars increase in size (and they will) you're stuck with a big room that is is of no use. Turn it into a study come Library and then have an outside garage separate from the rest of the house.
Really? You'd look at, say, a Honda Fit and a 1959 Caddy and say that cars are going to get too big for garages? Especially with gas prices increasing and preference is going towards fuel efficiency? You can still fit a Suburban in most garages, you think cars will get bigger than that? What are you basing that on?

Earthships (http://www.earthship.net/) for me, baby! Funky design, sustainability, love it, love it, love it.
http://www.earthship.net/modules/gallery/albums/Buildings/cstm_shell_plan.jpg
I just kind of picked this one at random, I don't know that the Nautilus design is my favorite.

Really? You'd look at, say, a Honda Fit and a 1959 Caddy and say that cars are going to get too big for garages? Especially with gas prices increasing and preference is going towards fuel efficiency? You can still fit a Suburban in most garages, you think cars will get bigger than that? What are you basing that on?



The houses round my way built with garages for 1930s cars (and up to the 1950s) all have garages too small for modern cars.

The houses round my way built with garages for 1930s cars (and up to the 1950s) all have garages too small for modern cars.

Given the size of a 30's Packard, or Stutz, or Maxwell, or even a Model A compared to a modern car I find that remarkable. While I drive a van now, my previous car could fit in the trunk of one of those monstrosities. And certainly the metal hulks of the 50s, the aforemention Caddy could launch planes off its trunk, much less its enormous hood.

I know Europe, post-War, went for micro cars but I can't see building trends shrinking that quickly, really.

Are you sure these aren't actually stables? Or, perhaps even more likely, it's not the garage that's too small for the car but too full of crap to allow for a car as well?

The best thing I like about this floor plan is even though this is a small house, you still have spacious room, it doesn't look cramp like other small houses do If you take into consideration the square footage of the rooms..they really are not all that big. An 11x10 bedroom?! You would be lucky to fit a twin bed and dresser in there.

you need to modify your plan, you have to go through the bathroom in the master to get to the closet, when you and your sig other are getting ready for a night on the town she won't want to traipse through while you are using the facilities just to get her shoes, also, the moisture from the shower will ruin her clothes...
It looks like the sink is outside of the actual toilet area (which is separated by a door). So you wouldn't actually be going into the bathroom and seeing something...unless he leaves the door open.

I wonder if you can move the WIC up to the upper-left hand corner of the house, and push the bathroom back a bit. You would be making the bedroom even smaller by doing that. Id say get rid of the master bath altogether, knock out that wall and just use the bathroom that is RIGHT BESIDE it.

After buying, and building more than a few houses, trust me when I say: Find a good architect and work with him/her to get a house that you REALLY want. A bit more expensive, but well worth it.

I've decided that I'll have to buy land and build a home myself. Something smallish, which is apparently out of style. Every house I've seen seems to be 2-3 bedrooms. Seems a waste of space to me, why have a room you don't plan to ever use?

If you take into consideration the square footage of the rooms..they really are not all that big. An 11x10 bedroom?! You would be lucky to fit a twin bed and dresser in there. I'm fair sure that's larger than my current bedroom. Fairly close though. Plenty of space!

Given the size of a 30's Packard, or Stutz, or Maxwell, or even a Model A compared to a modern car I find that remarkable. While I drive a van now, my previous car could fit in the trunk of one of those monstrosities. And certainly the metal hulks of the 50s, the aforemention Caddy could launch planes off its trunk, much less its enormous hood.

I know Europe, post-War, went for micro cars but I can't see building trends shrinking that quickly, really.

Are you sure these aren't actually stables? Or, perhaps even more likely, it's not the garage that's too small for the car but too full of crap to allow for a car as well?

Britain never did big cars. The garages are early garages, a car from the London to Brighton run is the only thing that could go in one of them with lots of room left over!!!

...Earthships (http://www.earthship.net/) for me, baby! Funky design, sustainability, love it, love it, love it....I just kind of picked this one at random, I don't know that the Nautilus design is my favorite.

That looks more like a design philosophy than a house style. You could easily build such a thing yourself. However...

After buying, and building more than a few houses, trust me when I say: Find a good architect and work with him/her to get a house that you REALLY want. A bit more expensive, but well worth it.

And may well be less expensive in the long run, as reduced maintenance and energy costs would eventually pay back the initial investment of hiring a professional.

So, recently I've been looking at floor plans of houses on the internet. I've been looking at ranch style house with 2 bedrooms, an office space, two car garage, and a basement. The basement is going to be man's central *nods*. Anyways, it's going to be a small house because whoever I end up with will know that I don't want children and she (hopefully) won't want children either. So far this is my favorite floor plan.


There's a way to make sure that NEVER happens, you know... Some say it's even reversible.

As far as the house goes, think log cabin and tin roof. Those are some materials that will last forever.

You also want a much bigger garage. Two cars in that space is just too tight to even open the doors. You need about 27 feet wide by about 30 feet deep for a decent 2 car garage. Get BIG doors so you can park a truck or a boat in there, too.

And don't forget to have a decent attic and STAIRS to the attic. Those little ladders aren't all that useful when you (your wife) decides that the end table and the chair next to it need to be put up there. Build a staircase to the attic.

There's a way to make sure that NEVER happens, you know... Some say it's even reversible.

As far as the house goes, think log cabin and tin roof. Those are some materials that will last forever.

You also want a much bigger garage. Two cars in that space is just too tight to even open the doors. You need about 27 feet wide by about 30 feet deep for a decent 2 car garage. Get BIG doors so you can park a truck or a boat in there, too.

And don't forget to have a decent attic and STAIRS to the attic. Those little ladders aren't all that useful when you (your wife) decides that the end table and the chair next to it need to be put up there. Build a staircase to the attic.
Couldn't you have one of those collapsing ladders instead of a staircase?
This would probably be easier to install and cheaper.
Then again i know little of making houses, wouldn't mind living in one though.

Couldn't you have one of those collapsing ladders instead of a staircase?
This would probably be easier to install and cheaper.
Then again i know little of making houses, wouldn't mind living in one though.
Yes. They cost about $150 and take a couple hours to put in. BUT... The hole that they fit through is about 22 inches by 54 inches, half a meter by a meter and a quarter, roughly.

I didn't make up the example about putting an end table and armchair in the attic through one of these little accessways. It's darned hard for some things and impossible for others.

On the other hand, I grew up in an old farm house. We had a set of real stairs that led to the attic. You entered the attic through a real door. There was no limit to what we could put up there -- more than just the Christmas decorations and such, much more.

I've never had the luxury of starting with plans on a house I've lived in, but if I did, be sure that my attic would be more like the old farm house attic than the modern hell-hole.

Well I did some more searching, this time I took out the second bathroom. Mainly because comon, no children and we'll only use the guest room for when we have...guest. So maybe taking it out will give us some more room. This is the plan I like the best.

http://www.houseplans.com/plans/mf/70-229mf-1883.gif

http://www.houseplans.com/plans/re/70-229re-1883.jpg

The only problem I have is the basement is not underground. If I go with this plan, I hope to convert the wood deck into a patio and have the basement submerged.

you need to modify your plan, you have to go through the bathroom in the master to get to the closet, when you and your sig other are getting ready for a night on the town she won't want to traipse through while you are using the facilities just to get her shoes, also, the moisture from the shower will ruin her clothes...
This is a fairly common "feature" in modern homes.

I don't see how it's a good idea, either.

I have looked at literally thousands of house plans. The wife and I finally built a home to stay last year. We went with a Courtyard design. Reminds us of Morocco Riads. We ended up with 3150 sq ft home with a central courtyard. We have had parties during decent weather and everyone loves the design.

I suggest any home you build you should pay special attention to the kitchen and the master bathrooms. These two items are the biggest selling points of a home. We have a huge master bath with a walk in shower for two. Also a nice jacuzzi tub in the corner. Our kitchen was built for a chef to be able to use and enjoy. Both of those rooms were expensive but I believe it will truly be the selling qualities of the house when we move.

This is a fairly common "feature" in modern homes.

I don't see how it's a good idea, either.

I think it will probably go out of style where possible. For the reason Smunkee pointed out is why it is a bad design. We have a separate walk in closet from the bathroom. It works out much better.

There's a way to make sure that NEVER happens, you know... Some say it's even reversible.

As far as the house goes, think log cabin and tin roof. Those are some materials that will last forever.

You also want a much bigger garage. Two cars in that space is just too tight to even open the doors. You need about 27 feet wide by about 30 feet deep for a decent 2 car garage. Get BIG doors so you can park a truck or a boat in there, too.

And don't forget to have a decent attic and STAIRS to the attic. Those little ladders aren't all that useful when you (your wife) decides that the end table and the chair next to it need to be put up there. Build a staircase to the attic.

Good points. I think people overlook the fact that they need ample room for all their crap they have accumulated over the years. A two car garage is to small. A two car garage with a workshop area in the back is better. Workshop=storage area for most people. The attic bit I agree that a staircase is far better then a pull down set of stairs. Those things are a nightmare.

Well I did some more searching, this time I took out the second bathroom. Mainly because comon, no children and we'll only use the guest room for when we have...guest. So maybe taking it out will give us some more room. This is the plan I like the best.

The only problem I have is the basement is not underground. If I go with this plan, I hope to convert the wood deck into a patio and have the basement submerged.

you always want 2 bathrooms. if you dont have kids, you can have seperate baths.

the kitchen on both houses doesnt have enough storage space.

a 3rd bedroom is a good idea even if you decide to put it into the basement. easy enough with those nice windows. and another bath downstairs.

If you take into consideration the square footage of the rooms..they really are not all that big. An 11x10 bedroom?! You would be lucky to fit a twin bed and dresser in there.

It looks like the sink is outside of the actual toilet area (which is separated by a door). So you wouldn't actually be going into the bathroom and seeing something...unless he leaves the door open.

You would be making the bedroom even smaller by doing that. Id say get rid of the master bath altogether, knock out that wall and just use the bathroom that is RIGHT BESIDE it.

A master bathroom adds a lot of value to a house. IIRC, the 2 biggest places to invest in are the kitchen and bathrooms (with the master bathroom getting more budgeted to it than a common bathroom).

I've decided that I'll have to buy land and build a home myself. Something smallish, which is apparently out of style. Every house I've seen seems to be 2-3 bedrooms. Seems a waste of space to me, why have a room you don't plan to ever use?

I'm fair sure that's larger than my current bedroom. Fairly close though. Plenty of space!

A 1 bedroom house won't have a great deal of resale value. So if you ever outgrow the house, you could end up stuck with it for a long time, trying to sell it.

I've decided that I'll have to buy land and build a home myself. Something smallish, which is apparently out of style. Every house I've seen seems to be 2-3 bedrooms. Seems a waste of space to me, why have a room you don't plan to ever use?
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses.htm

You have a bathroom, and right next to it a master bathroom (which is actually bigger!). Do you really need a master bath that badly? If not, I'd suggest this shop.

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/931/320328mf1400tt4.gif

I merged the two bathroom spaces into one. Then pulled the walk in closet into the master bedroom. I haven't actually measured, but the master bedroom looks marginally bigger. Unless you have something you would like to place there, you may want to pull the closet wall closer to the door (which would give you a bigger closet). That extra wide bathtub is supposed to be a jacuzzi tub/shower hybrid thing, but I don't know the proper symbol. I pulled the counter across the entire bathroom. This gives you more counter space (which she will like) and another sink (which means you will have one that won't be perpetually full of her girly shit). If I wasn't so lazy (and forgetful), I would have put the door in for the toilet room too.

While I was here, I decided you need a bigger master bedroom window too. The stock one was retardedly small. I'd also suggest ditching the fireplace and messing with the kitchen/stairs to get all the water appliances off the wall.

Where the hell do you guys live where you can buy land and build a house? Jesus.

You have a bathroom, and right next to it a master bathroom (which is actually bigger!). Do you really need a master bath that badly? If not, I'd suggest this shop.

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/931/320328mf1400tt4.gif

I merged the two bathroom spaces into one. Then pulled the walk in closet into the master bedroom. I haven't actually measured, but the master bedroom looks marginally bigger. Unless you have something you would like to place there, you may want to pull the closet wall closer to the door (which would give you a bigger closet). That extra wide bathtub is supposed to be a jacuzzi tub/shower hybrid thing, but I don't know the proper symbol. I pulled the counter across the entire bathroom. This gives you more counter space (which she will like) and another sink (which means you will have one that won't be perpetually full of her girly shit). If I wasn't so lazy (and forgetful), I would have put the door in for the toilet room too.

While I was here, I decided you need a bigger master bedroom window too. The stock one was retardedly small. I'd also suggest ditching the fireplace and messing with the kitchen/stairs to get all the water appliances off the wall.

Wow, that actually looks better than the default. I am saving this to my computer, good job Posi :)

A Cheese cake for Posi.

http://www.cookiemadness.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/juniors-cheesecake.jpg

Wow, that actually looks better than the default. I am saving this to my computer, good job Posi :)

A Cheese cake for Posi.

http://www.cookiemadness.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/juniors-cheesecake.jpg

I suggest you get either Photoshop or the Gimp so you can start enforcing your will on these pre-designed houses. It doesn't take much skill. I only used the image selection, scale, and rotate tools along with cut and paste.

Where the hell do you guys live where you can buy land and build a house? Jesus.

Not California.

Where the hell do you guys live where you can buy land and build a house? Jesus.

My parents own close to 13 acres of Land. The land is going to be split between me and my brother when they pass away. I'm thinking about asking for 2 acres of their land after I graduate from college. I'm willing to pay for the land.

Not California.

I'd be a little concerned that I'm a building a house in a place no one else wanted. Then again, I do come from a part of the world where they occasionally sell $200million apartments.

I'd be a little concerned that I'm a building a house in a place no one else wanted. Then again, I do come from a part of the world where they occasionally sell $200million apartments.

I have somewhat the same reaction when people tell me "Oh, and such and such a place you can buy a house for $80k" and I'm always, "Yeah, but then I have to live in such and such...no thanks..." Get what you pay for kind of thing, I guess...

So, recently I've been looking at floor plans of houses on the internet. I've been looking at ranch style house with 2 bedrooms, an office space, two car garage, and a basement. The basement is going to be man's central *nods*. Anyways, it's going to be a small house because whoever I end up with will know that I don't want children and she (hopefully) won't want children either. So far this is my favorite floor plan.

http://www.houseplans.com/plans/mf/320-328mf-1400.gif

The best thing I like about this floor plan is even though this is a small house, you still have spacious room, it doesn't look cramp like other small houses do, and plus, you get a Walk in Closet in the Master bedroom, and the floor plan actually calls for a stair to the basement. I also like the bar area, but I'll probably just put a stereo system there.

So, has anyone else been looking at floor plans of houses?

I would suggest having something a little more open plan. I think it's a little generic, too, and it's not making the best use of space. I'd suggest seeing an architecht to design the house you really want. After all, if you're paying to build a house, you may as well have something you really like. Also, if you care about the kitchen, I'd suggest getting the kitchen designed separately, but don't go for a big company because they'll just screw you around.


you need to modify your plan, you have to go through the bathroom in the master to get to the closet, when you and your sig other are getting ready for a night on the town she won't want to traipse through while you are using the facilities just to get her shoes, also, the moisture from the shower will ruin her clothes...

I love looking at house plans, I always find flaws though. Picky picky me.

I agree.

After buying, and building more than a few houses, trust me when I say: Find a good architect and work with him/her to get a house that you REALLY want. A bit more expensive, but well worth it.

He should get me to design it. :p

He should get me to design it. :p

Aren't you a film studies student? :D

Over a quarter of your available floor space for a garage??
Consider an external car port and live somewhat more spaciously maybe?

Aren't you a film studies student? :D

I sure am, but I work in this industry. I was just kidding though, I can't actually design a house. I could probably design an entertainment unit or maybe a very basic kitchen. I might be able to install it, too, haha. :p

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e115/gracejulia/pics/DG3766.jpg

Where the hell do you guys live where you can buy land and build a house? Jesus.
Where do you live that you _can't_?

Where do you live that you _can't_?

Cities. You know those places with the buildings and the land that's actually being used?

Cities. You know those places with the buildings and the land that's actually being used?
Them's scary places. And just to be argumentative, don't farmers use land?

Them's scary places. And just to be argumentative, don't farmers use land?

Wait, you lot are buying corn fields? This gets worse.

Wait, you lot are buying corn fields? This gets worse.
Worse? Where do you think food comes from? I grew up on a 120 acre dairy farm in Ohio. My wife grew up on a 80 acre farm, in north Georgia. Right now, I rent out 10 acres to a neighbor's farm. So, yes, I suppose I do buy corn fields. At least I have an interest in them.

My point is that land is almost always in use. Not just when it's overbuilt and overcrowded.

My point is that land is almost always in use. Not just when it's overbuilt and overcrowded.

Of course most land is in use, I was using a trope. I meant that when land is available to buy so cheaply it's usually because it's in very limited demand.

Where do you live that you _can't_?

I live in the city in Australia, and there's no empty land until you get out way way past the suburbs. You practically have to be a millionaire to buy here, let alone buy land and build.

The houses round my way built with garages for 1930s cars (and up to the 1950s) all have garages too small for modern cars.

same here. 1930s house and the garage is way too narrow to put either my peugeot or my dad's volvo in it. hell, my old corsa didn't even fit.

we turned it into den/storage room instead. way useful :)

So, recently I've been looking at floor plans of houses on the internet. I've been looking at ranch style house with 2 bedrooms, an office space, two car garage, and a basement. The basement is going to be man's central *nods*. Anyways, it's going to be a small house because whoever I end up with will know that I don't want children and she (hopefully) won't want children either. So far this is my favorite floor plan.

http://www.houseplans.com/plans/mf/320-328mf-1400.gif

The best thing I like about this floor plan is even though this is a small house, you still have spacious room, it doesn't look cramp like other small houses do, and plus, you get a Walk in Closet in the Master bedroom, and the floor plan actually calls for a stair to the basement. I also like the bar area, but I'll probably just put a stereo system there.

So, has anyone else been looking at floor plans of houses?

well its quite nice... not sure about bungalos though. is that kind of design pretty standard where you are?


i might post my dream design later... i've drawn it but would have to scan it or something

Wait, you lot are buying corn fields? This gets worse.

Your average "corn field" around here sells for about 3k an acre. So yeah, I'll buy a corn field if it has the geography I'm looking for.

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses.htm

I know a guy who lives in a little shed smaller than that. He owns a 3 story farm house with a full basement, but he's in his 70s, rarely hangs around the house and doesn't see why he ought have all that room if he isn't going to use it. Plus he saves a ton not powering it and heating/cooling it. His little shanty is plenty. Ought take some pictures of his setup next time I'm out that way.

Well I did some more searching, this time I took out the second bathroom. Mainly because comon, no children and we'll only use the guest room for when we have...guest. So maybe taking it out will give us some more room. This is the plan I like the best....The only problem I have is the basement is not underground. If I go with this plan, I hope to convert the wood deck into a patio and have the basement submerged.

This one's a bit better, in that the master bathroom and the master closet are two separate rooms. I would still try to add a shower to the master bathroom, and add a powder room, hopefully near the entrance. The kitchen is not laid in an ideal manner, though that can be easily solved.

That's a huge fucking attic. I would strongly suggest against heating and cooling all that space.

If you are going to submerge the basement, you might want to look at local housing laws, as many jurisdictions require windows in all habitable spaces. Sop if you want to have a usable, finished basement, you may not be able to completely submerge it.

Is there a front elevation we can look at? I'm worried that the roof will end up pouring rain and snow in front of the front door.

If you straighten out the 'south' wall of the 2nd bedroom, you'll get more closet space and usable space in the bedroom.

Where are you planning on building this? All of these designs seem to be designed for mild and dry climates. No vestibules or mud-rooms.

After buying, and building more than a few houses, trust me when I say: Find a good architect and work with him/her to get a house that you REALLY want.

WOW! A sane mind!

A bit more expensive, but well worth it.

That's why I married an architect, budget cutting ;)

My parents own close to 13 acres of Land. The land is going to be split between me and my brother when they pass away. I'm thinking about asking for 2 acres of their land after I graduate from college. I'm willing to pay for the land.

What climate you have?

What climate you have?

I live in the South East USA, so it gets about 80, 90 sometimes 100 in the Summer, and in the Winter months it can get down to 40 or 30, sometimes 20. The house will be built on top of a hill near a cliff. There's only 115 feet depth on the land I want. The reason I want to put it there is because I don't want my property to flood when it rains. We get on average rain, sometimes below which explains the drought that we're in.

I live in the South East USA, so it gets about 80, 90 sometimes 100 in the Summer, and in the Winter months it can get down to 40 or 30, sometimes 20. The house will be built on top of a hill near a cliff. There's only 115 feet depth on the land I want. The reason I want to put it there is because I don't want my property to flood when it rains. We get on average rain, sometimes below which explains the drought that we're in.
Because of the indeterminant amounts of rainfall, I've been thinking of ways to use the run-off. We used to have a cistern where I grew up. We caught rainwater and reused it. I see a number of people saving gray water, too, then reusing it for flushing or watering the yard.

There are a number of things you can plan for in terms of energy efficiency when you build -- a very good reason to get an architect and engineer involved early on.