By choosing to build from a pre-drawn plan — as opposed to hiring a residential architect to create a custom home — you've already taken a big step toward building a great home at the right price. But not all pre-drawn plans cost the same to build. You can still keep costs down and have a beautiful home by keeping several principles in mind. First, and most obviously, a larger home costs more to build and more to heat, cool, and maintain. That's why you'll find many smaller homes in this collection. You'll also notice homes that have relatively simple footprints, meaning that aren't complicated by lots of unnecessary protrusions like dormers. This can help to keep materials and labor costs down — but keep in mind that selective usage of decorative features like bump-outs can create a stunningly beautiful effect, so there's no need to write them out entirely.