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One of the most fun things about looking for a home is browsing floor plans to find the right one for you. You probably have some ideas of what you want. As you browse a DFW builder's floor plans, you most likely will find multiple floor plans that may work for you with a few tweaks here and there. Avoid falling into the trap of clicking your way through many floor plans. Instead, simplify things by asking yourself these five questions.

1.  What's missing from my home now?

While living in their homes, most people think about the things they wish they could change, add, or remove. Make notes of what you wish you had in your home. This list can inform your floor plan decisions. Remember that you can easily change flooring, walls, finishes, and other elements that enhance your home's style. You can't change the number and size of the rooms without turning it into a huge remodeling project. Other things to think about: Is your home too big or too small? Do you need your bedroom to be on the first floor? Do you want an open-floor plan?

1.  What will my life look like in five to 10 years?

What happens down the road doesn't have to be set in stone. However, you can think about the bigger picture. How will your family grow or change? Do you have children? How old are the kids? Are you further along in your career that retirement is a possibility? Answering these questions can guide you in determining how long you plan to stay in your home and adapt the floor plan based on those changes.

1.  What kind of lot do I want?

Do you want to live in the middle of the street? In a cul-de-sac? Or a country-like environment of spread out homes? What kind of back and front yard do you want? Big? Small? Hilly? Flat? Is the lot narrow or wide? Is it deep or shallow? Some floor plans work better on wider lots than others. What about the community? What amenities would you like in yours? Here's help on how to pick your new neighborhood. If you have a lot, you can ask the builder if it'd be possible to build on your lot.

1.  What, if any, floor plan modifications will I need?

Some builders offer option A and B. Some can make changes to meet your requirements. And a few provide floor plans with a lot of flexibility like the ones from Sandlin Homes. You can also ask the builder to change things like remove or add a wall. But if you find that you want a lot of changes to the floor plans you like, then you may want to work with a custom DFW builder.

1.  How will the morning and evening sun affect the home and windows?

Think about the sun and where you want it to shine into the home throughout the day. Consider the windows as the more windows you have, the more it can affect your heating and cooling bills. When you narrow down the list of potential lots and a floor plan, figure out whether the sun will shine brightly in the right places. Ask the builder where the windows will face to take make the most of the great views and block unwanted views. You might be able to change up the windows. Your builder can verify as you want to ensure the changes don't affect the integrity of the home. Shopping for a floor plan can involve a lot of variables. Answering these fives questions will help with the biggest questions. Remember changes and amenities add to the home's price tag. To help you decide what to do, make a list of your must-haves and nice-to-haves. Prioritize the items in each column. And use that to inform your decision. You can browse the Sandlin Homes floor plans by size, square footage, and the number of rooms, beds, baths, cars, and floors. After you select a floor plan, here are 11 questions to ask a DFW builder to make sure they're the right one to build your new home.