Choosing the right house plan.

How do you choose and develop a house plan?

The most important thing about choosing your home design is for owner builders to do their homework prior to final selection of a residential designer, stock plan service, or architect.

Here are some issues to consider as you choose:

• Decide the level of service you need.
  
  In deciding the level of service you need, develop realistic expectations of what stock drawings versus custom drawings will provide. A stock drawing will be quick and inexpensive, but may not meet all your design needs. A custom drawing will take longer to develop and is more expensive, but may be better suited to your needs. A hybrid of these two choices is to purchase stock drawings, then make minor changes adapting the design to your site and life style.
• Develop a budget for residential design services.
  
  Stock drawings may cost $400 to $1,200 for a set of eight, duplicate copies of a stock design. On a square footage basis, a residential designer may charge $1.00 to $3.00 per square foot of floor space to render a permit-ready design. A licensed and certified architect may charge from 2% to 15% of gross hard costs of construction in order to provide a detailed set of construction documents plus full architectural services. Hourly fees vary widely.
• Determine if the residential design firm specializes in a style.
  
  Architects are trained to ask questions and research factors required to design a project. Residential designers are similarly trained but are certified by a different accrediting agency. Or, if a stock drawing exists which is suited to your site criteria and your family's life style, this may also prove satisfactory. The most important aspect of design work is one's ability to think through the entire design/build process understanding the interdependence of all factors, and how this interdependence affects decision making no matter what style you’re choosing.

 

         

 

• Discuss references for previous jobs similar to your project.
  
  When considering references provided by a residential designer or architect, remember that only references which will provide a favorable response will be given. What you'll be seeking won't be the architects or designer’s favorable referrals as much as previous jobs similar to your project. Without that specialized knowledge, a residential designer may struggle when s/he tries to create an original design or force a stock drawing into a situation in which there's incompatibility.
• Define what will be accomplished and how you'll proceed.
  
  The building you commission and construct will likely be the most expensive purchase you'll ever make. It's prudent to make sure whoever designs your residence is an expert in more than just putting pieces together. You'll want somebody who can fit your building to you like a fine suit of clothes. A house, in particular, is a very personal artifact. It will become a member of your family.

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