One of the best things about the New Year is that it is a time to start making plans for the spring and summertime. It's especially exciting if we are planning on building a new home. It seems that we have renewed energy to start the building projects as soon as the snow leaves.

This is a great time to be building a new home if you plan on doing the work yourself. Once you have decided that a new home is on your "to do" list, you need to know where to start and what steps can help you get there the quickest.

The first place to start is the basic plan of what you need according to the people who will be living in the house. A good starting plan will have just what your family needs and you can worry about the wants after the needs are assessed. All homes regardless of size should have at least two bathrooms. Single bathroom homes won't easily sell these days.

Ideally, each person should have his or her own room, but sometimes our pocketbook dictates whether we get that or not. A sensible kitchen is a must. Modern kitchens need to have more space than ever before. As a whole, people are wider than ever before and even if you personally aren't losing the battle of the bulge, some prospective buyer further down the road probably will be.

Families have more junk than ever before so they need more space to put it in. We are now seeing very large TV entertainment systems and surround sound packages similar to theaters. That means the family room needs to be bigger than it was only a decade ago.

A full-sized laundry room is a must because almost everyone has a washer and dryer. Two decades ago people would just go to the Laundromat because they didn't have a formal laundry room. It was considered a luxury when older homes were being built.

Many modern homes are being built without dining rooms because the family sitting at the table is now the family in front of the TV or computer. Dining rooms will be much less significant in the future than they are now and were in the past. Besides that, kitchens are bigger with island counters and bars. That is taking the place of dining rooms.

Older homes had libraries built as part of the necessary home components. A person needed a lot more space to study in just a few decades ago. That has all changed with computers. Even the largest Encyclopedia sets are available on DVD's or the Internet so formal library study rooms are no longer needed.

There is also a big change in Living rooms. A living room to us in the west is the same as a formal reception room, salon or parlor. It's a place where you meet your guests, sit down, and talk about things. That is no longer considered a necessity or even a luxury in modern homes.

The simple truth about that is that we as a whole don't entertain guests like we used to. The only guests we invite are good friends and family, which are perfectly comfortable in our family rooms.

Almost all homes need some sort of office or business room. We are more business oriented than ever before. We now build bill-paying rooms. That's a funny thing. A century ago, people would have laughed at that, but in our modern day, we will spend many hours paying bills. An office really is necessary.

After you have decided what you need, then you can decide what you want. That's where it gets fun. Most of the fun extras will also be a selling point, but remember not to overdo the specialty home components, because realtors and bank appraisers when determining the cost of your home if you sell it will overlook most of those extras. Those are considered diminishing returns. A fireplace might be nice for you, but further down the road, they may be considered dirty and hazardous to the environment.

The evolution of homes is ever changing. The difference between homes built thirty years ago and now is dramatic.

Build for the foreseeable future if you can. Your home will have a lot more value. I have mentioned just a few areas of modern changes that should be considered when planning a home. Enjoy your home and planning for it.

Larry Angell is the author of Sweat Equity, building a house at half cost. He runs an instructional website about how to build homes that are strong financial tools, not financial burdens. He counsels low-income families how to obtain affordable housing and reach goals of home ownership.