| "> | | | | designing a home than meets the eye. If you are not |
| What's the value of a good architect? Everyone | | | | experienced or trained, you can invest a lot of time |
| knows that architects design homes and buildings. | | | | just to find out that you need to have everything |
| But, if you're building a home, should you pay an | | | | redone by a professional. |
| architect or just buy a house plan that has already | | | | Good design includes things like; structural integrity, |
| been designed? I will answer these and other | | | | materials selection, code requirements, aesthetic |
| questions here. | | | | appeal, traffic flow, lighting, views, and natures |
| These are the most common questions I get about | | | | influence just to name a few. |
| house plans and architects: | | | | Is an Architect Prepared House Plan a Must? |
| | | | The short answer is usually not. The decision could be |
| 1. Can I just buy some existing house plans and save | | | | taken out of your hands, however. In the USA for |
| money? | | | | instance, there are several states that will not |
| 2. Can I design my own home? | | | | approve plans created out of their state. Similarly, |
| 3. Do I really need an architect to design my house? | | | | Home Owners Associations may require all plans be |
| 4. Can I afford an architect? | | | | designed by their list of architects. Always check |
| There's more to a set of house plans than the | | | | before you buy home plans online or from a catalog. |
| lay-out and the look of the home. When you hire an | | | | How Much Does an Architect Cost? |
| architect, you're getting licensing, training, and | | | | The cost of using design professionals varies greatly. |
| experience that can help you create something | | | | Their experience, reputation, and geographic location |
| uniquely yours and in line with local building practices. | | | | will factor in. Also, you may find different professional |
| What Do You Really Want? | | | | levels for these designers. For instance, a residential |
| The first thing to think about is what you're after | | | | designer is a lesser designation than an architect and |
| and how you plan to go about it. Are you building a | | | | therefore usually less costly. |
| stick built home from scratch? Or, are you going to | | | | Knowing first what you really want is key. If you plan |
| build a log home or some form of kit or packaged | | | | to build a high end custom home with a unique look |
| home? Will you be building with alternative building | | | | that reflects your lifestyle and provides the ambiance |
| materials like SIP panels or insulated concrete forms? | | | | you are looking for, spending tens of thousands of |
| Also, the size and complexity of the home is critical. | | | | dollars (or more) may be well worth the money. On |
| A simple, small home is vastly different from a large | | | | the other hand, you can get a get a good design for |
| home full of custom features. You must also know | | | | several hundred to a few thousand dollars. |
| your Home Owners Association rules. | | | | Getting Started |
| Let's take the above questions one by one: | | | | You'll want to interview your choices. It's best to get |
| Buying Existing House Plans | | | | a referral if you can but, however you find your |
| There is a huge business in selling stock house plans. | | | | options, be sure to have exploratory meetings to |
| Some of these are designed by renowned home | | | | see how they work and if their style and charges fit |
| designers. In some cases, there is certainly nothing | | | | your needs. |
| wrong or inferior about using one of these plans to | | | | Do you have very specific ideas you want them to |
| build your home. | | | | incorporate? Are you a blank slate? Sometimes it can |
| Building with packaged homes generally utilizes this | | | | be best to give them a minimal framework of what |
| method. You will not have a truly custom home, but | | | | you want and let them create. Other times, especially |
| you will likely pay quite a bit less to get your set of | | | | if you want to keep your costs down, give them as |
| plans. Be certain that your Home Owners Association | | | | much input as you can at the beginning so they |
| or your local building authorities don't have | | | | know what you want. |
| requirements that preclude you from going this route. | | | | Finally |
| Designing Your Own Home | | | | The value of a good architect that understands the |
| Have you created your own design? For some, their | | | | marketplace and your desires cannot be overstated. |
| home building dream includes actually drawing their | | | | You're likely to benefit from a higher value home as |
| own plans. I must caution you here. There is more to | | | | well as a home that you'll really be happy with. |