irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Great pics!
Were there only FCBs at this private showing?
Were there only FCBs at this private showing?
Las Ventanas Plans 2+3 vs. Maricopa Plans 1+2
- Thread starter ps99472
- Start date
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Seems to me that these would better compare against Sonoma and I think the Plan 1 Maricopa beats Sonoma's Plan 1 because of the den/room downstairs. Plan 2s might be a draw and the Sonoma Plan 3 wins for me because of the upstairs laundry (heh).
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Yeah... walk-in pantry, upstairs laundry (w/ sink) and enclosed shower rule.
I don't see why they couldn't have put a short wall on the one side of that shower.
I don't see why they couldn't have put a short wall on the one side of that shower.
ps99472
New member
I wish I had more shots of the Master Bedrooms.. but it was quite hectic with my 2 year old trying to touch everything (still paint dust everywhere). One thing I noticed is that the Phase 1 plan 2's are all 3 bedrooms with no option to change to 4 bedrooms. One of the plan 1's has the option to turn the den into a bedroom 4. So you're paying for extra upgrades with no choice and no bedroom 4. That's a dealbreaker for me. I'll probably wait for phase 2.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
I actually prefer the den option over the bedroom as it's more open (double doors) and has more interior space (no closet).
Unless you want someone to permanently sleep there, you could still use it as a guest room by putting in a sleeper sofa (they don't need a closet) and there is still the downstairs shower. Since most of the new Irvine homes don't have a separate living room, having a separate downstairs area for either an office, additional TV room, music room (FCBs need to put their piano and violins somewhere) or kid area is sensible.
Unless you want someone to permanently sleep there, you could still use it as a guest room by putting in a sleeper sofa (they don't need a closet) and there is still the downstairs shower. Since most of the new Irvine homes don't have a separate living room, having a separate downstairs area for either an office, additional TV room, music room (FCBs need to put their piano and violins somewhere) or kid area is sensible.
ucla bruin
New member
irvinehomeowner said:
Agreed. I too prefer the den to be used as an office and/or music room. Would like to see how big the great room really is, from the picture, it looked a little small?
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
The good thing about the den option is if you ever have to resell, like many listings I see, you advertise it as 4-br and just say the downstairs bedroom is being used as a den.
The only thing you have to add is a closet and it qualifies as a bedroom.
Don't you have to pay IrvPac for the option to make it a 4th br?
The only thing you have to add is a closet and it qualifies as a bedroom.
Don't you have to pay IrvPac for the option to make it a 4th br?
ps99472
New member
irvinehomeowner said:
There probably is a cost to go with the bedroom option. But if it's not to outrageous, I'll probably go for it.
A 4th bedroom can still function as music or play room. I just worry if I leave as a den, it would be a dealbreaker for buyers if I decide to sell in the future. I would hate to go with contractors for adding doors and closets down the line.
usctrojancpa
Well-known member
You'd be surprised how much cheaper you can get that conversion done with an outside contractor versus doing it through the builder. It's not rocket science nor open heart surgeory to put in a closet or change out a door, it's painless...trust me.ps99472 said:
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
I understand.
I used to think the same but with these new Great Room plans, that extra living space downstairs adds value to me more as a den. When you go to sell... if you advertise and stage it as a 4th br (use a standing wardrobe as a closet), people will perceive it as a 4th br (and you can always work some deal out to pay for a real conversion).
I guess you should configure it to how useful you want it for you... worry about resale later. If you don't mind the extra cost, sounds like it should be better for you to configure it as a 4th BR.
For us, it's just another living space, in the two homes we've had a downstairs BR (including our current one), it's never had a bed in it (and the downstairs shower/bathtub is rarely used too).
I used to think the same but with these new Great Room plans, that extra living space downstairs adds value to me more as a den. When you go to sell... if you advertise and stage it as a 4th br (use a standing wardrobe as a closet), people will perceive it as a 4th br (and you can always work some deal out to pay for a real conversion).
I guess you should configure it to how useful you want it for you... worry about resale later. If you don't mind the extra cost, sounds like it should be better for you to configure it as a 4th BR.
For us, it's just another living space, in the two homes we've had a downstairs BR (including our current one), it's never had a bed in it (and the downstairs shower/bathtub is rarely used too).
ps99472
New member
USC, IHO you put up some good arguments and that's what I appreciate about this board. Seeing from different perspectives and getting feedback is priceless. With that being said, my final argument is that we're too busy(lazy) to worry about a conversion later. Now if the builder charges an arm and a leg, we'll look elsewhere, otherwise we'll pay for convenience.
usctrojancpa
Well-known member
You can thank my dad for passing on all the handyman/upgrade knowledge my way...too bad he didn't pass along the skills of actually being able to get them done myself. hahaps99472 said:
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
Maybe that's a plus for Las Ventanas, the downstairs bedroom in Plans 2/3 are standard.
irvinehomeowner
Well-known member
If the builder is doing it, they'll build it to spec so there really is no extra work other than putting up the extra framing for the closet.
If you leave it as a den, there are two options to add your own closet if you don't want to move the door. The first, like the builder's, adds a closet to the interior wall of the room, the second you either add a large closet to the bath wall of the room or like I show below, add a closet and a desk area:
If you leave it as a den, there are two options to add your own closet if you don't want to move the door. The first, like the builder's, adds a closet to the interior wall of the room, the second you either add a large closet to the bath wall of the room or like I show below, add a closet and a desk area: