Cottage homes are extremely popular, especially for the growing number of people who are downsizing. With the right cottage house plans, homeowners find themselves in a house with classic charm and appeal. But it important to choose the right house plan in order to be pleased with the final home design.

One of the biggest difficulties is finding a balance between getting good cottage house plans, and not spending fortunes.

In this article I am going to discuss some of the different factors to consider that can help you to get that balance. And also show you exactly how I solved that problem, and the house design system that I ended up using to choose the right plans.

Here are some top factors to consider when choosing cottage house plans:

First, does the plan show all necessary details? An illustration of an appealing house goes only so far. Go beyond the illustration and really look at the blueprints. It might even be worth consulting with an experienced architect to make sure that all aspects are covered and that the particular plan fits with local building codes.

The cottage house plans should note the major and minor details as well as measurements for the outside of the house. The interior floor plans should include information for doors, windows and other features. If the home is to be more than one story, typical of cottage designs, the same attention to detail needs to be covered on the second floor.

Next, do the cottage house plans feature designs that are appealing? First impressions count and the exterior and interior design should not only have curb appeal but fit the homeowners’ visions of their dream home. Having photos clipped from magazines can be helpful in narrowing down the desired look.

Be aware that electrical and other heating and cooling details can’t always be included in the purchased plans because codes and available types of power vary from one state to another. Before choosing a particular plan, make sure that the home builder or general contractor knows how to adapt the plan for all necessary plumbing, heating and electricity.  Most experienced builders can easily do this.

However, it is good to have reassurance about this when choosing the right cottage house plans design.

If possible, have home builders, architects and contractors spend time when choosing cottage house plans. They can provide input about which homes are likely to be most cost-effective in a particular area and which might cause issues on the building site. Some plans are ideal for some areas of the country and particular building sites but not as practical in others. However, there is likely to be the right cottage home to work in nearly any area of the country. It just comes down to selecting the right one.

Don’t forget the major reasons for choosing cottage house plans. If the focus is on downsizing, a home with a small footprint may be most desirable. On the other hand, some want a cottage house look but without sacrificing living space. They aren’t looking to downsize and may even be moving into a larger home. Again, there are plans to fit any desire, from small cottage homes to larger ones with the same charm as tinier homes.

While many plans will include a projected cost breakdown, keep in mind that this may be an average and not tied to any particular area of the country. To avoid unpleasant surprises, be sure to get an itemized cost analysis for your particular state. This is an excellent way to stay on budget and avoid sticker shock. There is no point in signing a contract to build a cottage home without having an idea of the possible costs. There may be optional features which can add to the cost but the prospective homeowner may be able to afford those if working from a realistic cost breakdown in the first place.

My Choice…

I weighed up all of these different options, and found that to commission specialist house plans would cost thousands, and that even many on-the-shelf suppliers were looking to charge sums in high hundreds for plans, which was not ideal.

In the end I ended up checking out this guide which had some great pointers on finding me the right plans, suppliers and layout, and which I can honestly say ended up saving me a lot of money when it came to the build.

It certainly makes life a lot easier when people have already captured many of those design touches, and can show you the best way to go.

Here was my choice for guidance in making my choice of plans >>