It seems only natural when walking through a builder's model homes to refer to the builder's brochure for guidance on each floor plan. And you see little shapes and boxes off to the side on every single floor plan page, using verbiage such as "optional den", "optional bonus room", "optional master retreat", "optional super-sized family room", just to name a few. Then you realize that you can sort of "substitute" one room for another, and by imagining those little boxes were "cut-outs", superimposing them on the appropriate places on the diagram, you could actually picture some of these options.

For instance, the downstairs bedroom, with the closet removed and double doors added, becomes a den. Ah, but removing one interior wall from that same room opens it to a living area, now making it (voila!) a "super-sized" family room! Welcome to the world of flexible living space. It's what builders lovingly call "architectural options", allowing their buyers to personalize their production (tract) homes to suit their individual needs. The trend has been stepped up in recent years, as buyers scream for more choice in tract home building, wishing to "customize" their home, making it more individual and less "cookie cutter". Builders are answering this need by giving standing orders to their architects to allow as much flexibility as a new house can stand, but, of course, charging the buyer for the option, which makes it a bit more palatable.

Even long-time builders, such as John Laing Homes (est. 1848) recognizes the need to give buyers important choices when designing floor plans. Mark Levens, a California division based sales manager for Laing's homes, beams as he describes the many floor plan options available in their new communities. "Trends in smaller homes seem to encompass the conversion of a tandem garage to a bedroom, workshop, teen room, or office, " says Levens. Home gyms are becoming fashionable, with an entire room dedicated to family fitness. First time homebuyers and recently empty nesters, he added, tend to want a "great room" area as opposed to cut-up formal rooms for living, dining and family activities.

"'Tech Rooms' are the big thing right now. In some of our floor plans we have an option to make one bedroom into a media/computer center, complete with structured wiring, built-in desk space, cabinets and bookshelves. This trend is not going to change," remarks Levens, "as everyone seems to want one special place to work in peace and quiet in their new home."

The types of flexibility offered by new homebuilders reflect the changing needs of some buyers who are also regarded as the "boom" generation. Extended family (aging parents) now can be given private quarters within the family home. Those who consider huge, cathedral ceilings a waste of space can opt for a bonus area in that space instead, replacing the brochure words "open to below" with real living space, but designed to retain a nine foot ceiling height below.

"It's all about choice," concludes Levens. How often are flexible options chosen by new home buyers, ranging in price from approximately $2,000 to $6,000 and more? About half opt for them, according to Levens. Its seems that for the seemingly small difference these enhancements make in their monthly payment, it's not a very tough decision to make when buying a new home. As perennial as is the American desire for choice in just about everything, builders realize flexible floor plans offer buyers "made to fit" options for ever-changing buyer profiles as we enter a new century.

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