re: Building a house soon, just looking for advice/tips

If you are going custom, design from the inside out. Know the general style and shape you want then Start with how you want your rooms located generalky, but dont put up walls yet. Walls will restrict your design. Then do the kitchen layout and design it. Then connect and design living room. Work out from there. If you are using existing plans, this obviously wont work as existing plans start with walls.

If you design it and pay a draftsman to draw it, the house will reflect that. If you pay an architect, it will look like an architect did it. There is a Huge difference in Both look and price.