Do You Need a Custom House Plan?

Have you been looking for the perfect house toConstruction costs vary with the geography. The
build? Hint, the search would take forever andbest way to determine local costs would be to
you will not be happy with the result. A Customcontact local contractors to determine their
House Plan might be the answer to your questestimated cost per square foot or other method
for the perfect house. Here are a few questionsused for estimates. No one should give you a firm
that you should consider when designing yourbid without seeing the final construction
dream house.documents. Ball park bids will help you reach a
What is A Custom House Plan?realistic budget for you house. And no, you cannot
Custom House Plans are created by the ownerbuild a house cheaper than a licensed, bonded
and designer to the specifications agreed upon bycontractor because you uncle is a carpenter and
the owner, designer, and contractor. This processyour cousin is a plumber.
must be a cooperative effort to achieve the bestSee Your House in 3D.
result.I use software to develop 3D plans for my
Architect & Designers.clients. Many clients have difficulty visualizing floor
Custom House Plans can be completed by anplan information which is 2D. Floor plan detail that
Architect or designer. Architects are professionalsshows size, shape, and circulation is most
in their field and offer design and constructionmeaningful to architects and contractors but
insights resulting from their formal training. Manyleaves many home owners guessing how the
times architects will see relationships that personsstructure will appear when completed. 3D
with less training might miss. Designers, like me,programs, several programs can show the client
can produce house plans that may meet clientperspective views of the inside and outside of the
needs. Architects are responsible, by law, for thehouse.
performance of the structure. Designers haveWhat Size House Do You Need?
only a moral obligation for the resulting structure.Younger clients seem to want more than they
Agreements & Contractsreally need while older clients may want to
Custom House Plans should be defined by writtendownsize their living quarters. Sometimes the
contract or agreement between the client andhouse size, room arrangement, and other design
person producing the plans so thatconsiderations are not known when they walk in
misunderstanding might be reduced or best casemy office. I use a simple two page INTERVIEW
eliminated. The document should identify what thesheet to attempt to force the client to focus and
set of plans will include with price and time line forgive me basic information to start the design
completion. I use a very simple one pageprocess. The interview does not capture
agreement.everything needed but it has been a good ice
Construction Costsbreaker and does gather some useful information.