Q: How do I customize my house plan?
A: Once you’ve selected your house plan and have an idea of the changes you would like to have implemented, contact us toll-free at 866-301-6571 or complete the online form.

Q: What is the average cost for customizing a plan?
A: Our fees are typically less than 2 percent of construction costs, which provides you with a tremendous savings compared to the national average of 7 percent.

Q: How long does it take to customize a house plan?
A: Depending on the complexity of the changes, the time to complete your project will vary. We provide an estimated turn-around time with your quote.

Q: Can I have this plan with a three-car garage vs. two car?
A: Yes.

Q: Can I get the house plans with a different foundation?
A: Yes.

Q: Do I need to be concerned about building codes?
A: Building codes are standards created to ensure the structural safety of buildings. They are established and enforced by your local government, usually through your city or county's building department. Every state, county, and local municipality has adopted their codes from one of the three nationally recognized building codes: UBC (Uniform Building Code), BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators), and CABO (Council of American Building Officials). The new IRC (International Residential Code) is a combination of the other three. All are very similar in content. However, many regions have additional, more stringent regulations because of extreme weather or geographic conditions. If you live in the earthquake-prone areas of the Pacific Coast or the hurricane risk areas of the East Coast, Gulf Coast, or Nevada, the greater Chicago area, New Jersey, or many parts of New York, be sure to inquire about the specifics of these additional requirements. For additional residential building code information visit: www.iccsafe.org.

Q: What if the plan I want doesn't meet my local building code?
A: We can make design changes to accommodate most building code requirements. If a seal or stamp is required in your area or specific engineering, you will need to have a local engineer or architect review and revise the plans to accommodate your unique building codes. For additional residential building code information visit: www.iccsafe.org.

Q: Do your house plans have all the information I need to get a building permit?
A: Almost, with a few exceptions, depending on where you are building your house. All building departments will require a site plan to show where the house will sit on your property. You might also need beams sized to accommodate roof loads specific to your region. Your homebuilder can usually help you with this. If you are not connecting to a sewer system, you also need a septic design attached to your application. And many areas now require compliance with local energy codes, which is normally a simple form you fill out and attach to your application. In some regions, you also need to ensure that your house plans are in compliance with local codes. Some areas of North America have very strict engineering requirements. For example, earthquake-prone areas of California and the Pacific Coast, hurricane risk areas of the Florida, Gulf, and Carolina coasts, as well as New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and parts of Illinois require review by a local professional. If you are building in these areas, you will most likely need to hire a state-licensed structural engineer to analyze the design and provide additional drawings and calculations required by your building department. If you aren't sure, building departments typically can give you a handout, listing all of the items they require for obtaining a building permit.

Q: Can you do completely custom plans?
A: Yes! For more details, contact us toll free at (866) 301-6571 or via e-mail.

Q: What do the blueprints include?
A: Find out what our stock plans include.