We know you. Well, anyway . . . we like to think we know you. We're at least pretty sure about one thing: You've got questions. We know that much because here at Homeplans.com we get roughly three times as many questions as a typical catalog company. That's understandable, though—you're not just shopping for a new shirt or a sweater from us—you're looking for your future home. A decision that big usually requires a great deal of budgeting, fact-finding and soul-searching. To help prepare you for the process, we've listed below the answers to some of the more common questions we hear.
Q: How much do blueprints cost?
Q: How much will it cost to build my home?
Q: I've found a plan I like, but there are a couple of things I'd like to change. What can I do?
Q: Do I need to be concerned about building codes?
Q: What if the plan I want doesn't meet my code?
Q: How many sets of blueprints do I really need?
Q: What's a reproducible plan set and when would I need to buy it?
Q: How much do blueprints cost?
A: If you haven't yet found out, you will—very seldom does anything in the home-building industry come cheap. Blueprints, unfortunately, are not the exception to this rule. According to Brad Johnson, President of the Minnesota Society of the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD), "If you were to contract an architect to design your new house, you would be charged anywhere from 4% to 12% of its total cost, depending on the level of involvement of the architect." This means that for your $100,000 custom-drawn new home, you would pay your architect anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000!
Careful homework and smart shopping, however, can save you a good deal of money. You can immediately cut thousands of dollars from your home-building costs by buying your blueprints from a pre-drawn blueprint supplier such as Homeplans.com.
Q: How much will it cost to build my home?
A: Building prices can fluctuate greatly, depending on where you live. Because of this, our best advice is to check with builders or lumberyards in your area. Homeplans.com’s telemarketing department presents one option: "It can help to find out if a material list is available for the plan you're interested in. If it is, you can then purchase that list (at a cost that's much less than buying an entire set of blueprints) and take it to a local builder, who should be able to give you a reasonable estimate of the cost to build the home."
Q: I've found a plan I like, but there are a couple of things I'd like to change. What can I do?
A: It's not unusual for our customers to want to make a few minor changes to their plan; making a room larger, moving a window or adding a bathroom are a few examples. In most cases, we're able to refer you to our team of professional designers, who can make changes to your home plan. The best part? Even after modifying your plans, the total cost of the blueprints will still be far less expensive than if you'd used an architect or designer to design your home from scratch. (Click here for a free plan modification estimate!)
Q: Do I need to be concerned about building codes?
A: The arcane world of building codes can be intimidating and annoying, especially if you haven't been through it before. Each city, it seems, has a different code. "It can make things difficult," says Homeplans.com's product information department. All our plans are designed to meet national building codes, which helps to overcome most problems. But there are going to be times when you'll have to modify a plan to meet your code. You should ask your builder if there are any unusual codes in your area. For additional residential building code information visit: www.iccsafe.org.
Q: What if the plan I want doesn't meet my code?
A: LifeStyle HomeDesign can make design changes to accommodate your building codes. If a seal or stamp is required in your area, you will need to have a local engineer review and revise the plans to accommodate your local building codes. For additional residential building code information visit: www.iccsafe.org.
Q: How many sets of blueprints do I really need?
A: It depends. Some of our customers can get by with just a few sets, while others may need more than twenty. These are, however, the extremes. Typically, you'll need to buy between five and eight sets (one set for you, one or two sets for your builder, one set for city hall, one or two sets for the bank, one for the electrician, one for the plumber, and so on). You may want to ask your builder this question before ordering.
Q: What's a reproducible plan set?
A: There are two things that make a reproducible plan set different from a construction set: 1) A reproducible set is usually printed on erasable paper or a plastic film called mylar and 2) You can legally make changes to the plan and then have copies made. Standard blueprints contain a copyright seal, which make it illegal to make reproductions. When you purchase a reproducible set, you have the ability to legally modify or change the plan. The fact that it is erasable is vital if you need to make changes to a plan using hand drafting techniques. You can have a designer erase what you don't need, draw in the changes you want and then legally make the copies you will need to build your home!
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We encourage you to ask questions, and we constantly educate our representatives so that they can quickly provide informed answers. Ask away! |
