The Value of Visualization when Choosing Home Plans

Multi-format visualization is a key asset when choosing home plans. Gone are the days when an architect could pass on one simple set of blueprints. To most effectively communicate their concepts to today’s buyers, home designers now offer varied visualization tools. House plans may be represented in several media, and in two or three dimensions. In this article, we list a few of the formats homebuyers may seek out to truly understand the home plans under consideration. We begin, however, by listing the benefits of having a variety of visualization tools at your disposal as you shop floor plans.

Advantages of Multiple Visualization Tools When Selecting Home Plans

Fewer costly mistakes. There’s a broad cast of characters involved in turning house plans into an actual structure. Plumbers, electricians and a slew of contractors must be able to quickly review and manifest their pieces of the home building puzzle. With many different schematics and models at your disposal, the chances someone will misunderstand the floor plans drops dramatically. This equates to less money wasted on fixing mistakes.

More innovative designs. If architects can better visualize their concepts using multiple visualization tools, they will be more likely to create unique new home plans.

Improved business for developers. No two homeowners think alike. Each of us is a unique combination of learning styles. Some people respond better to video, but they can also comprehend the written word well. Others learn best through face-to-face conversation. Multiple visualization tools appeal to a broader spectrum of learning styles, meaning more people will want to buy your properties because they will be able to visualize them better.

Improved experience for homeowners. On the opposite end of the real estate experience, homebuyers can benefit from seeing multiple representations of their potential dream home. First, this makes for a better understanding of the structure, which is always comforting during the home building process. Second, having a good variety of visualizations empowers homeowners to spot and arrange for design adjustments before construction begins.

Visualization for Home Plans: Drawings, Schematics and 3D Models

While browsing available floor plans, you may notice that different home designers have different methods of conveying important construction information. If you want to fully understand a set of house plans, and if you want to accrue the benefits listed above, look for the following depiction tools:

Exterior elevations plan. An exterior elevations plan shows the rear, sides and front of a house. In this component of home plans, the focus is on exterior materials.

Floor plans. Floor plans communicate the placement of interior and exterior walls, the size of windows and doors, and the electrical layout of the home, among other interior details.

Building sections. Building sections house plans show the vertical aspects of a design, including changes in floor, roof and ceiling height. If any stairs are present in the home design, their dimensions will be indicated in the building section home plans, as well.

Foundation plan. A foundation plan depicts important details about the home’s base. If a crawl space or basement will not be created, the foundation plan will include information on the home’s concrete slab. Foundation house plans also convey important data on the home’s beams, bearing walls, retaining wall information, basic dimensions, footings, pads and concrete walls. Basically, the foundation plan conveys everything a civil engineer needs to know about the design – and since the foundation is one of the most important parts of your house plans, this type of visualization is critical.

Roof plan. A roof plan includes all of the information you and your contractor will need to construct a strong roof for your home. Truss or framing directions, downspouts, vents and gutters are integrated into the roof plan. Additionally, this variety of house plans conveys structural engineering information, specifically the gravity loads used to compute the placement of beams, rafters and posts.

Interior design schematics. Interior design schematics can help consumers imagine different portions of the home design. For instance, if you’re a consummate chef, the kitchen is likely the most important section of your floor plans. Therefore, you might ask an interior designer to sketch what the designed kitchen would look like from different angles. In addition to providing an easy-to-understand depiction of different rooms in your home plans, interior design schematics show details concerning interior materials such as wall treatments.

Three-dimensional models. 3D models quickly convey what the home will look like. Using 3D printing technology, designers can now cost-effectively produce scale models of their floor plans. These models can include true colors, architectural and construction details, and many other labels. Imagine a dollhouse-sized representation of your floor plans – this is what a three-dimensional model looks like. To allow viewers to understand the different parts of the home, real estate models are often constructed in several pieces so the roof, upper stories and other obstructive features may be lifted away to reveal lower levels.

Note: The home shown above is The Seligman House Plan 2443 (rear view).