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This is it! You’re ready to buy your dream home. How do you know that your new dream home is going to be the best fit for the rest of your life? That’s easy, you build and personalize it with a custom home builder like Tailored Homes. We know that building your dream home can be intimidating, but we’re here to help! There are many decisions when it comes to building your dream home with Tailored Homesbut choosing to build a single-story home design should be an easy one. If you’re not convinced, check out these seven reasons why single-story home designs could be for you.

2. Open Concept Design means bringing family together.

The open concept design of most single-story home designs—also sometimes called ranch plans—means that parents can keep track of their children from one end of the house to the other, while also being able to continue about their daily tasks like laundry and cooking.

The central living space that an open-concept design ranch plan has is also great for family holidays & entertaining. Everyone can enjoy being together and have plenty of space to move around. Everybody is included with this layout, and even if you’re at the dreaded kids’ table, you can still have a conversation with the family around you.

Many people are worried that single-story home designs don’t have as much privacy when friends and family come to visit. At Tailored Homes, we argue that single-floor living offers just as much privacy as two-story home designs. Many times, like in the Laurello, the bedrooms are located down hallways so there are no immediate sightlines into the bedrooms. Additionally, many of our single-story home designs have bedrooms that are in their own separate ‘wing’ of the home. Others, like the Addison, have the master bedroom on one side and the secondary bedrooms on the other side of the house, really maximizing your privacy.

3. Single-floor living is a home that you can grow into. 

Another great reason to choose a single-story home design is that your home will grow with you into your later years. Once the children have left the nest, you might notice that those stairs become more and more daunting. Single-floor living means you don’t have to worry about those stairs because everything you need is right there on the same floor.

All of the single-story home designs that Tailored Homes offers include first-floor laundry rooms. That means you don’t have to worry about getting those heavy laundry baskets up and down the stairs. Some plans, like the Novarra, also have a standard 3-car garage for extra storage if getting to the basement ever becomes a problem.

Don’t forget, if single-floor living is good for your later years, that also means they are great for multi-generational living situations. The great thing about building your dream home is that you can customize your new home to include those extra options! Need an additional suite with an ADA-compliant bathroom so your loved ones can move back home? You can do that with Tailored Homes! Start by meeting with a sales consultant to review your favorite home design and all of our mulit-generational living possibilities.

4. Utility bills tend to be lower with single-floor living.

Energy costs have been soaring. No one wants to move into a new home only to find out that the utility costs are going to be through the roof. Depending on where you build, you could be looking at natural gas, electric, propane, and more to run your home. With a single-floor home design, utility bills tend to be lower because there aren’t as many separate rooms and obstacles to push heat and cool air around. Not to mention, two-story homes tend to lead toward that age-old saying “hot air rises, cold air sinks.” Single-floor home designs don’t have any upper floors to gather that extra heat.

As with any Diyanni Homes build, you’re getting a well-insulated home with energy-efficient windows and brand-new, energy-saving heating and cooling systems. In fact, our homes, exceed current Energy Crafted Home requirements, and they are even tested with thermal imaging equipment to make sure your home has top Home’s in Energy Rating scores (HERs). You won’t have to worry about the cold seeping in or out of your home like you might in an existing home.

5. Single-story home designs maximize square footage.

One thing that many people don’t realize is that stairs can take up a lot of room in the main living areas. Many of our home designs use space outside of the main living space for the stairs to the basement, which saves you up to 100 square feet of prime real estate.

Another feature of ranch plans that many people forget about is the vertical space. While it doesn’t technically count toward your square footage, ceiling height does make a huge difference in the feel of your home. Typically, ceiling heights in most single-floor home designs are 8 feet, but with ranch plans, you have the option to upgrade to 12-foot ceilings. Twelve-foot ceilings can make a huge difference in the natural light that comes into your home and can make your living space feel much bigger than it actually is. You can see how a 12-foot ceiling affects the feel of the home by visiting our Medina Model.

6. Quieter living comes with single-story home designs.

If you’ve ever been in an apartment or a two-story home, you know that people walking on the floor above you can cause a lot of unnecessary noise. With single-story home designs, there are no second floors, no shared walls, and no herds of elephants threatening to come through the ceiling into your home.

7. Ranch plans tend to have easier maintenance than two-story homes.

When you choose one of our homes, you’re already choosing to hit the ground running. New builds are naturally going to be less maintenance for the first few months to years. When you choose to build one of our single-story home designs, you’re choosing a home that most people would say is easier to maintain. Why are single-story home designs easier to maintain?

First, single-floor living means your roof is more accessible. You won’t need to buy a special ladder to clean out your gutters or hang your holiday lights. If there happens to be a storm, and you need to inspect your roof for damage, you don’t have to worry about the height of a two-story roof. Whether you’re putting up your holiday décor or power washing your home, keeping your home in tip-top shape is much easier in single-story home designs because everything is just easier to reach.

Second, your daily home maintenance is easier. We already talked about not having to schlep your heavy laundry up and down the stairs, but you also don’t have to lug your vacuum or go all the way upstairs to put away a child’s toy. In general, single-floor living saves you time and energy.

Choosing One of Diyanni Homes’ Many Single-Story Home Designs

You’ve read all of these benefits of single-floor living, but now what?

List Your Needs and Wants

When you think you’re ready to start finding your dream home, you need to come up with your list of wants and needs. If you’re shopping with a partner, make sure that you both agree on the things that are the most important to you, even though we hope that by building your dream home, you won’t have to compromise on the major features. Remember to consider where you are in life in terms of age and children, and what your future might hold. List the important features you want in your new home, like first-floor laundry, granite countertops, or a luxurious spa bath.

Once you have that list, separate it into your needs and wants, and then move on to the next step: figuring out your budget.

Put Together Your Ideal Budget

Budgeting for buying a home can be a challenging process. The thought of building your dream home with a custom home builder can be even more intimidating. When you build your dream home with a custom home builder, you’re able to get more of the wants and needs on your list because everything we build is with you in mind. When trying to come up with your budget, you’ll want to approach this with a couple of things in mind.

First, you should make that decision between a single-story home design and a two-story home design. Single-floor living means everything you need is on one floor, so the footprint of your home will be larger. This means the land you’re putting your home on will also need to be a bit larger. The cost of land is not included in our home prices.

Second, you’ll need to review all of our home designs to find which ones you like the most. Don’t worry if the floorplan isn’t exactly what you’d like to see! You can always customize your home with us to include other options, like a spa bath, additional suite, or additional windows. Once you find two to three home designs you like, take a look at the options and see what’s missing from your wants list. Structural options can range between $1,000-$15,000+ each, depending on the option. Remember to also look at our pricing packages to understand what finishes come with your home. Granite countertops, upgraded flooring, and shiplap walls are all finishes that will have additional costs.

Third, and finally, you have to account for the costs of land improvement. When you purchase the land, you’re going to put your new home on, it will rarely come prepped for building. Depending on the lot you choose, you’ll need to account for utilities, a septic system, land clearing, and more. You’ll need to make sure that you do your due diligence when picking your piece of land. Due diligence includes making sure everything fits, that utilities will be available, that you have access points for your driveway, and more. Typically, we budget around $50,000 to $60,000 for land improvement.

When you’re looking for a home you can afford, we normally work backward. If your total budget is $750,000. We take that $750,000 – $60,000 (land improvement) – $100,000 (land) = $640,000 for your home and options.

Are Single Story Houses Suitable for You?

When it comes to building or purchasing a house, selecting the ideal location and climate-appropriate design is essential. For individuals seeking convenience, simplicity, or a retirement home suitable for elderly cohabitation, a single-story house presents an attractive choice. In this blog post, we will delve into the various advantages and disadvantages of opting for a one-story dwelling.

The Benefits

• Lower construction costs

When working with a limited budget, there’s no need to compromise on your dream home. Embrace the charm of a cozy and compact single-story house. With its simple yet sturdy structure, a single-story home provides an affordable alternative to multi-level constructions. Ideal for new families and individuals with budget constraints, these homes offer a perfect place to call your own. And remember, single-story homes aren’t limited to small sizes.

• Perfect for families with elderly or wheelchair users

Single-story homes offer a range of advantages, particularly for families with elderly members or individuals using wheelchairs. With all rooms and living spaces conveniently located on a single level, concerns about stairs and accidents are eliminated. These homes provide a comfortable environment that promotes freedom and independence for elderly relatives, allowing them to move around with ease. Moreover, wheelchair users can navigate different rooms effortlessly, fostering a sense of self-reliance. Additionally, families with young children can also benefit from single-story homes, providing a safe and worry-free environment without the need to navigate stairs.

• Effortless Furniture Moving

In a single-story home, lifting and lowering heavy pieces becomes a breeze, making it the perfect choice for those with large furniture or individuals living alone. Not only that, but it also minimizes the risk of furniture damage during frequent relocations.

• Convenient Care & Maintenance

Cleaning and maintaining a single-story home is a breeze compared to multi-story houses. It not only saves time but also requires minimal effort. Moreover, when it comes to exterior repairs like roof maintenance or repainting, the convenience factor shines as there’s no need to climb tall staircases to reach upper levels. This significantly reduces the risk of accidents from falls.

• Easy Decoration and Remodeling

Due to the straightforward structure of single-story homes, it is easier to decorate and remodel the living space. If there is ample space available, it becomes more convenient to undertake renovations and modifications.

The Drawbacks

• More Land required if you want more Interior Space

If you desire a spacious interior, it will require a considerably larger land area to construct a single-story house compared to a two-story house. This is to ensure sufficient usable space within the house as per your needs. However, acquiring additional land may increase your land acquisition costs. Moreover, if the available land area is limited, future expansion or remodeling might pose challenges.

• Heat transfer and Ventilation in the house

Due to the proximity of the ceilings or rooms in a single-story home to the roof, heat from the roof directly enters all living spaces. In comparison, in a two-story house, the upper floor absorbs most of the heat from the roof, resulting in higher temperatures during hot seasons. To mitigate this, it is advisable to insulate the ceiling to prevent heat transfer or install heat-reflective panels beneath the roof tiles. Another option is to use roof tiles with heat-reflective properties. Additionally, designing the house with ample openings such as doors and windows allows for better ventilation and airflow.

• Flooding and Moisture Issues

Single-story homes often have a low elevation from the ground, making them susceptible to flooding, particularly in areas prone to frequent flooding. The lack of an upper floor space for relocating appliances and belongings to higher ground increases the risk of damage during flooding incidents. Additionally, the moisture content in the soil can lead to detrimental effects on the structural integrity and aesthetics of the flooring and walls, such as termite infestations and mold growth. This issue can be addressed by constructing the house with an elevated foundation, raising it approximately 0.80-1.20 meters above the ground level, to mitigate these concerns.

• Safety & Security

Occasionally, single-story homes can be susceptible to intrusions by pests, insects, or even burglars, as they have easier access compared to multi-story houses. Therefore, it is advisable to have a sturdy fence surrounding the house, install security devices, and ensure that the house is securely locked at all times, especially when sleeping or when no one is home.