Homeowner's FAQs

Because individual property site conditions and requirements are different, by state and within municipalities, there are certain details that can only be obtained locally or created by us based on the location of your project & property.

These tend to include:
• Architectural or Engineering Stamp
• Site Plan design and permit submittal sheet
• Mechanical Drawings (location of HVAC equipment and duct work)
• Plumbing Drawings (drawings showing actual plumbing pipe sizes and locations)
• Energy calculations (specific by state, typically, to meet credit requirements)
• Framing layouts with beam sizes and locations (design intent shown, S.E. stamping required)

Note: Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing design & permits can be B/D (bidder design) by your contractor.
We recommend consulting with a local professional when purchasing a house plan, to determine if there are any additional items not included in our plans that you will need to acquire for permit submittal. We can consult on this for you with your property, parcel #, and jurisdiction location.

Our house plans were designed to meet industry standard building and residential codes at the time they were drawn, for the majority of the U.S., related to national building codes. Many states, counties, or municipalities have their own specific & additional building codes, regulations, and zoning requirements. As a result of the variety of code requirements, we do not guarantee that our plans will meet your local requirements “as-is”. You may be required to make some minor modifications to your house plans with your local builder, engineer, or designer to meet local conditions and requirements.
The purchaser is responsible for ensuring that their plans comply with all applicable building codes and are suitable for a particular building site, including any subdivision or HOA restrictions, before construction begins. Because we have no control over the selection of your builder or other local professionals, we cannot be responsible for the advice or assistance you receive from them, or the methods they use.

Our plans contain sufficient information to build a home, and in most cases will be submittable to a jurisdiction for your home construction permitting needs. However, your local municipality may require additional information in order to receive a permit approval. We strongly advise consulting with a local official to verify what information your building department requires. We are more than capable of assisting with your jurisdiction and any additional drawing requirements, as well as applications and submittals, should you need such assistance. Please CLICK HERE for those typical additional services that we can provide.

In rare cases, a designer may offer a Study Set. The study set may be a full set of plans stamped “Not for Construction'' or a simplified set that includes a floor plan and elevations only. If you are interested in purchasing a study set please contact us to verify availability for a specific plan.

Modifications can be made to any plan. Submit a modification request by clicking the “modify this plan” button below the image gallery of the plan you are interested in. Your request will be reviewed and you will be emailed a quote and timeline to complete the modifications within 1-3 business days. You also have the option to work with a local design professional to make modifications post-purchase. For more information, click here.

We are unable to assist with additions or remodels for existing homes. We recommend working with a local professional for projects of that nature.

Many designers offer alternate framing options for an additional charge. When available, alternative options will be listed under the “Options” menu for each plan. The standard framing type for a specific plan is listed under “plan details”. If the type of framing you would like to use is not listed, we recommend submitting a modification request. In many cases, converting to an alternate framing type is possible. A quote for the wall conversion will be emailed to you in 1-3 business days.

We offer two building license options: single build or unlimited build.
• Single build licenses provide you with legal permission to build your plan one time.
• Unlimited build licenses provide you with legal permission to build your plan an unlimited number of times with no re-use fees.

Yes! If you need to purchase more sets within 60 days of placing your order, we will credit your original purchase and charge the difference in price plus shipping. If you need to order more sets after 60 days from your original purchase, additional charges may be applied.

If you need to revise your order to a different plan set type, change the foundation, or reverse the orientation of the plan, contact us for assistance. Most designers will allow upgrades within one year from the date of your original purchase. We will apply the cost of the previous sale to your upgrade and collect the difference. Some designers charge an administrative fee in addition to the upgrade amount when reissuing a plan.

• PDF: A full set of drawings delivered in a digital format by email with either a single or unlimited build license. The PDF includes a copyright release, giving you legal permission to modify the plans and print additional copies.
• 5 Sets + PDF: 5 printed sets shipped to you, and a full set of drawings delivered by email. Includes copyright release and license to build.
• 5 Sets: 5 printed sets of plans shipped to you. This option does not include a copyright release to allow modifications or printing additional sets.
• CAD: This option will allow local design professionals, structural engineers, and builders to make modifications and code updates to the design. Includes a single or unlimited build license, and a copyright release to modify and print sets. Not all designers use the same CAD program. Contact us to verify the software used for a specific plan.
• PDF Light: A full set of drawings delivered by email, a single build license, and permission to print sets. This option does not include a copyright release to make changes.

Determining the cost to build a house from a specific plan involves several key factors that can significantly influence the overall price. Here's a breakdown of what to consider:

These tend to include:
1. Size and Complexity: The larger and more complex your design, the higher the cost. This includes the number of stories, the layout, and any unique architectural features.
2. Material Quality: The types of materials you choose for both the exterior and interior can greatly affect the price. High-end finishes and materials will increase costs, while more standard options can be more budget-friendly.
3. Labor Costs: Labor costs vary significantly by location. Urban areas tend to have higher labor rates than rural areas. The current demand for construction services can also affect these costs.
4. Site Preparation: The condition of your building site can impact costs. For example, if the land needs to be cleared or if it requires significant excavation work, this will add to your total expense.
5. Permits and Fees: Don't forget to account for the cost of building permits, impact fees, and any other municipal costs, which vary by location.
6. Additional Features: Extras like landscaping, driveways, patios, and special amenities like pools or outdoor kitchens will add to the base cost of building your home.

To get a more accurate estimate for your specific plan, it's advisable to consult with local builders or a construction cost estimator. They can provide you with a detailed quote based on your plans, desired finishes, and the specifics of your construction site. Remember, it's also wise to allocate a contingency fund, typically 10-20% of the project cost, to cover unexpected expenses during the construction process.

Yes - most plans can be ordered with a readable reverse option. The layout will be flipped and all text and dimensions will be readable. Your order will be filled in reverse orientation only, and the standard format will not be included. Contact us for availability if a readable reverse option is not listed under a plan you would like to purchase.

Many plans offer different foundation options. We recommend consulting with your builder before placing your order to determine which option will best suit your lot and budget. If a plan doesn’t offer the foundation option you need, we recommend submitting a modification request.

The most common foundation options are:
• Slab: Popular on flat lots. They do not allow for any space underneath the home.
• Crawl: Elevates a section of the foundation off the ground, and offers a small amount of access underneath the home for storage and maintenance.
• Basement: Can provide additional living or storage space that is completely or partly below ground.
• Walkout Basement: Typically suited for a rear sloping lot. Walkout basements have doors that lead to the rear exterior of the home, and provide additional living space
• Daylight: Daylight foundations are most commonly chosen for sloping lots, but do not include doors with exterior access.

A List of Materials, or Material Takeoff List, is an inventory of the materials required to build a specific house plan. This can be helpful for estimating cost to build, as well as saving time when ordering materials for a project. Materials lists can only be purchased with a plan set for an additional cost.

Occasionally plans are removed from our website, but may still be available for purchase. If you would like to check the availability of a plan you can no longer find on our website, please contact us.

Due to privacy concerns & legalities, we are unable to share detailed location or contact information for any of our clients’ construction projects of these house plans.

Photos are provided to us voluntarily by clients who would like their homes displayed on our website. Any photos we have are featured in the main image gallery, or in a client album for a plan. If you add a plan to your favorites on our site, you will be notified when we update the gallery.

If you don’t see a specific elevation for a plan on our site, contact us. for availability.

The total heated square footage is displayed on all house plans. This calculation does not include unfinished or optionally finished space, garages, or outdoor living area. You can see a breakdown of square footage for non-heated areas under “plan details” for each specific plan.

All plan purchases are final. No refunds or exchanges. We strongly encourage you to contact us with any questions and ensure you have chosen the best plan to suit your needs prior to purchasing plans.

Plans are priced individually by our designers and architects. If you find a better price elsewhere, we will match it and extend an additional 10% off of the matched price. Price matching is limited to plan purchases within 10 business days of your original order date.

Orders are forwarded to our designers for fulfillment Monday-Friday. Most CAD and PDF orders are delivered digitally within 1-2 business days. We offer a variety of shipping options on printed plan sets.

The copyright to the plan is retained by the original designer. The plan licensed to you cannot be used by or resold to any other individual. For more information on copyright, click here.

If you are interested in having your portfolio represented on our platform, contact us.

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