Ep88 - What Are Design Options and Should You Pay for Them When Hiring an Architect?

Ep88 - What Are Design Options and Should You Pay for Them When Hiring an Architect?

From Builder vs. Buyer by birnamdesignco

May 19, 2026 · 1h 5m · Episode 88

About this episode

This episode discusses the implications of offering multiple design options in custom home design and how it can lead to confusion and decision fatigue.

https://stan.store/birnamdesigncoDoes more choice actually lead to a better floor plan—or just more confusion?In this episode, we tackle a controversial topic in custom home design: should homeowners be given multiple schematic floor plan options during the design process? As designers and builders, we explain why we don’t believe endless options lead to better homes—and how too many choices can create decision fatigue, budget issues, delays, and a less focused design.We break down why a well-thought-out design process often works better than presenting 3, 5, or 10 different floor plan concepts, when alternatives do make sense, and how homeowners can give better feedback to end up with a home that truly fits their lifestyle.🎙 In this episode:• Why “more options” isn’t always better• The downside of multiple schematic floor plans• Decision fatigue in home design• How experienced designers narrow in on the right solution• When exploring alternatives actually makes sense• How homeowners can improve the design processIf you’re building a custom home or planning a floor plan, this episode might change the way you think about design decisions.

People in this episode

Host: birnamdesignco

Topics covered

  • custom home design
  • design options
  • decision fatigue
  • floor plan
  • homeowners feedback

Keywords

  • design options
  • floor plan
  • custom home
  • decision fatigue
  • architect

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Stan Store

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