Immediately drawn to #1 since both living and dining areas are windowed. Laundry is unfinished in #2. Finishing that would wipe out the price difference between it and #1. I’m sure there are a lot of other comparison points which will come up in the comments.

First impressions: I would want a finished laundry, so that would eliminate plan #2 for me.

If the development has models, I would tour them and see what kind of vibe I get in each.

They're going to need to know your lifestyle first - do you plan to use the basement, are you single or have kids, or plan on raising kids here, how long do you plan on being here, etc. All of the floorplans look great - they're only slightly different, so there's no way to tell "what works best" if we don't know your lifestyle. For instance, what's the difference in the entryway outside? Does one option offer more privacy and is that important to you? Does one offer a semi-private driveway and that's important? Does one put the master at the street and one doesn't, and does that matter to you? Do you want a separate dining area like option 2, or do you prefer to walk around a dining table like the open concept in option 1? -- those are the kinds of questions you may want to ask yourself...

I agree this is not a decision made with no info as to your lifestyle how many people live there do you entertain a lot. The laundry on the main floor for .A bathroom next to the family room is a must Are these spaces already done or can you make changes>

Whoops, I guess I should add that. I'm going to be a individual home owner (no kids or significant other). I do prefer the seperate dining, only for when I have guess over. The 2nd floor laundry is a plus but tbh, at this point in time, I don't really mind it in the basement. I guess, if you put that all together, #2 might be the best fit but I still like to hear your opinions! Thanks!

Agree we need to know more about you, how many ppl will live in this residence, ages, etc.

For myself?

#1.

Why?

I would prefer to have the kitchen closer to the garage, and it looks like the garage will not dwarf the porch in this floor plan.

Also like the access to the patio door in #1

As a single first time HO, I bought a 2 story walkout basement condo. laundry was hooked up in basement and included a work sink which I loved, to clean paint supplies and wash dirty shoes. Location of laundry kept me fit and I didn't plan to be there forever. What mattered to me was the overall layout. The model I chose had a private driveway. Having a view out the back mattered. Which direction the back faced mattered because when I got home from work, I wanted lots of natural light! So I'd encourage you to think about those things. Do you want to save money for vacations or have a convenient laundry space?

I immediately liked #3 the best and then went back and read your email and saw it was the most expensive...which is typical of choices I make!

Why?

Basement laundry would be a non-starter for me so no to #2.

I like the stairs better in #3 and the fact that there is a window in the kitchen.

I like the kitchen in 3 best, but they all work. I like the airiness of 1. Don’t like 2.

f

1 or 3 would be my vote. Definitely not 2

Thank you everyone! Definitely loved to hear everyone's opinion. I guess a lot of people prefer the 2nd laundry over the separate dining room. I agree all 3 are very similar, with the exception of those 2 the noticeable differences. Maybe it's my first house or whatever but definitely really overthinking this :P

One more point against #2. When you enter, the line of sight in 1 and 3 is toward the window. In 2, you’re looking at the kitchen wall. Assuming the view is worth looking at, I‘d prefer to see it and natural light, rather than a wall, when I come home.

Is this a stand alone or are these units part of a bigger building? If it's a bigger building, it might be worth asking to look at a for plan or ask which one is totally on an outside wall, so you share less walls and possibly have more privacy

I meant *typically on outside (edit features on this app would be lovely)

Just to add, I guess HOUZZ does have everything. I was able to find #2 and #3 in pictures in case people are curious.

#2 https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/minto-show-homes-haven-contemporary-dining-room-ottawa-phvw-vp~113045015

#3 https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/minto-show-homes-monterey-contemporary-dining-room-ottawa-phvw-vp~113046511

Here's a pic of #1 I found

I would have my furniture in #1 arranged quite different than this picture personally.

I personally like the separated dining area, which could be anything you want, and don’t Mind the basement laundry as I’ve never had anything else, plus it’s nice to have the rough work space, as someone said, cleaning boots, cleaning pets, soaking a wash, scouring our plant pots etc. Plus if the washing machine leaks it doesn’t Leak into an overhead area. I’m not a fan of having the dining crammed into a sitting area, but on the other hand, a longer living area may be more flexible if let’s say, you have oversized things. I really don’t like kitchens with no natural light as I use a kitchen all throughout the day and people end up in one a lot I find, but the galley style may be cramped, hard to tell.

If you decide to go with the dining room, plan #3 is the better of the two - foot traffic is only along one edge of the dining room, (#2has foot traffic on two edges) and the kitchen layout is the best of the lot :)

Good luck with your purchase! I’m so excited for you!

Three does seem to be the nicer one, as the stairs do not go directly against the master wall, from what I can tell, and the kitchen is more open.

Think about where you will spend the most time (apart from your bed) and how you would set up that space. Will you have/want a TV in the LR; if so, how would you arrange your furniture in all 3 set ups. The pics of #2 and #3 don't even show a TV (more of a conversational space). Perhaps Family Room is where TV is expected, but are you really going to watch TV on a daily basis that far from kitchen (and your snacks!)

You can always mount one on the wall on a pivot, we had one in the sitting area of our kitchen but had to remove it as son was an insane screen junkie, it was nice while it lasted lol.

No kitchen window in #1. That would be a deal killer for me.

I would choose no. 2 . It seems to have a little better layout. I like having a laundry in the basement. I have had both. Right now, I have a main floor laundry. I much prefer it in the basement. Choosing this plan though, may cost a little extra to have the laundry actually finished, unless you can get them to include that in the purchase price.

All of them a good - I don’t love no kitchen window in #1, and if you went with #2, could you add a laundry chute from the second floor down to the basement? That way you’d only have to carry a basket upstairs at least.

I like #3 the best - best of all three options I think- if it’s comfortable within your budget, it works. If it’s too tight- not worth it!

Have fun!!

Thanks everyone! Defintely take into consideration all your comments! We will be checking out the model homes for Floorplan 2 and 3 this weekend. Floorplan 1 does look great but we are worried that the 19x11 "great room" will feel small when you put in a dining table and 1 sofa (compared to the 24x11 of #3, and the seperate 10x10 + 17x11 of #2).

Think about where the sun is in relation to where you would like that to be and how that relates to which part of the country. you are in. In a temperate climate, the rear of the house should be roughly south.

It is not good to sleep with your head to the north. Have a look at something called The Hartmann grid and find someone to remove it.

The dining areas on two of the plans may not be comfortable because of how they relate to the stairs, much like sitting on a sofa with corridor route behind.