The story behind the home focuses on key elements of history, design, location, and community. When all of these come together, we create a value story that defines your home’s distinctive value, style, and luxury that connects people to the best properties available in any market.

As you know, I am a certified residential specialist proudly serving professionals, military, and foreign service professionals across VA and MD. A common thread when listing or buying homes is the concern over square footage. It’s typically the first thing that sellers want me to know. More often than not buyers will start out with a certain amount of square footage requirement as they search online or among the selections I provide during their search.

Sure, square footage is an important consideration. But, consider this: focus on the floor plan! Take a look at how the square footage of your home is used. In essence, is your floor plan functional? For sellers: If your home boasts a great amount of square footage think about how you use that space now. Then, think about what areas you use a certain way that may be taking away from the layout potential for buyers who walk through. When we meet, I typically walk through the house with potential clients so the floor plan becomes more familiar to me. That way, when we discuss the market analysis I can offer distinct differences–pros and cons–about livability. In the end, it’s easier to connect with those spaces most similar to how you live in your current home.  As you encounter different spaces, you can continue the comforts of current life and imagine better ways to use living areas, new rooms, and indoor and outdoor spaces at your new home. It solidifies the reason behind a move or makes a move happier. You know, “that feeling” you get as soon as you walk through the front door.

Most buyers search tirelessly for “that feeling” which I emphasize is the intangible that the data, numbers, and analysis just can’t do for you. So, the space debate among buyers takes on a unique perspective as we tour your favorite properties. When asked about how much space buyers need or want the response I get most often is a number i.e. 2200, 3000 or more and then the number of beds and baths. Clients narrow down my suggestions and add their own preferred properties to visit. Let me be clear that while the debate starts at the first meeting with a typical response in numbers, it doesn’t really take on true meaning until we actually visit homes and experience a floor plan first hand. For example, do you love or not love your kitchen? Need more cooking or counter space? Look for similar layouts like these from BUILDER magazine. More Kitchen Less Hallways You don’t have to build your own home to find a floor plan that fits your favorite places at home.

I encourage you to think about, talk about, and walk through every inch of space and think about how you live at home. Then, decide which elements of each property reflect your current favorites and connect with your expectations for your new home. When the debate is considered in that context, it tends to be easier to prioritize properties, and rank your preferred properties that have potential to meet and exceed your expectations. Here’s a real life example of a recent listing in Vienna Woods. More Can Be Better

What do you think?

Hopefully, you’ve found some guidance here and some floor plan food for thought ;-). That way, you can decide for yourself as you consider a sale or purchase. Here are some real examples from BUILDER magazine and how space, style, and design make the most of 1600 square feet for the best use of every inch of these 4 house plans.Best Use of 1600 Square Feet

Read this. Then comment. Considering a sale or purchase? Contact Me. The story behind the home connects people with the best properties available. Clients connect with a home’s existing story or they can create their own. I’d love to show you how.