Whether you are planning a new build or buying existing real estate, if your intention is to rent that home out as an investment, then careful consideration should be given to the layout and finish of the property. A well designed rental home will not only keep your tenants happy and hopefully continuing with their lease, but will make your property desirable to prospective renters when it is back on the rental market. How you approach the design of a rented real estate is often very different than when designing your own home and it is important that the property is planned so that it is ideally suited to its intended market.

A lot of young couples prepare to plan their own home but forget one critical aspect. If they are planning on having children in the future, the home needs to be designed with more than a nursery and a bedroom in mind. These babies are going to grow up into young children and then into older children one day, and it is critical to formulate plans based on this growth.

If you have not been able to find the perfect house on the market and you decide to build on a vacant lot, you'll be faced with a very important decision - choosing a builder. Your builder is someone you are going to have an ongoing relationship with for about 12 months. There will be some bumps in the road as the process unfolds; and you must have an open and frequent line of communication and share a common goal and vision that goes beyond the blueprints for your new home. Start your search by asking your real estate agent for a few referrals. He or she will have local knowledge about area contractors, their reputation and the quality of their work. Once you have some direction, here are a few basic tips to help choose a builder and keep your project on track: