Pre-drawn house plans are those that are drawn by architects or home designers and then offered for sale, unlike those that are drawn for an individual, with input from the customer. While this method may be a great idea, there are definite benefits to purchasing pre-drawn house plans. Architects and home designers that do custom home designing also do a lot of their own designs, and it is these plans that are offered for sale They are adept at making plans that utilize available space to the best possible advantage, and at laying out a floor plan to optimize curb appeal.
Custom designing of your home can take months to be completed and is extremely expensive, often up to ten times the cost of predawn or stock house plans. Using custom drawn plans can delay the construction of your home by many weeks There are dozens of home styles and literally thousands of plans to choose from, so you can be sure to find the home of your dreams.
If you find a house plan that you love, but want to make minor changes, most companies can have their designers do that for you, at an additional fee. It is also possible to have your plans reversed, for instance, if your breakfast nook faces west but the view from the north side of your lot is more attractive, you can reverse it. Many of the sites selling house plans will allow you to see a reversed view, of houses you might want to build.
Another service provided by the companies that design and sell house plans, is one that allows you to estimate the cost for building a particular house in your area of the country. The South is the least expensive area to build in and the West has the highest cost .The national average is somewhere in between.
There are dozens of house plan styles for you to browse and hundreds in each category, from A-Frame to Victorian, , from small to large, you can find the right home for your family. There are magazines, books and web sites galore that you can search
Beach houses, are small one story homes, raised above the ground, and usually have an open floor plan, with a lot of windows, to get a good view of the yard.. A low end Beach house with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, kitchen and Great room would cost, about $74,000.00 to build, according to the national average, and about $15,000.00 more in the west and $8000.00 less in the south. These little houses make great vacation retreats and are also suitable as a starter home or retirement home for empty nesters.
Bungalows are 1 to 1and ½ story homes, They often incorporate features of the Craftsman style house, such as natural building materials, exposed rafter ends and gables. They also sometimes borrow features from the Country or Victorian look.A two bedroom, one bath bungalow in the mid-range can be built for between $70,000.00 and 95.000.00, depending on what part of the country you live in. A low-end two bedroom one bath can be built for $52,000 to 70,000. These cute homes are great for newlyweds or retirees
Large front porches, dormers and a roofline that lies parallel to the road are the main distinguishing features of Country homes. Farm house and French Country plans can also be included in this category. Open floor plans are not common to this type of house. A small country home, 576 square feet, with one bath and two bedrooms, can be built for under $60,000.00 can be erected on your site for under $60,000.00. A three bedroom, 1 and ½ baths, will average about $84,000.00 to erect on your site. .
Craftsman style homes are characterized by the use of natural materials like wood or stone for exterior walls, and rock foundations that slope out towards the ground. They may also include dormers, exposed beams, and overhanging eaves. A two bedroom one bath house in the craftsman style will cost between $52,000.00 and $62,000.00 to build a two bedroom, two bath, home with a 2 car garage will run about $96.000.00.
Another popular house plan style is the French Country home. They are similar to Country style in that they feature front porches, dormers and roof- lines that run parallel to the road. A two bedroom, two bathroom house with volume vaulted ceilings, walk in closets, walk in pantry covered rear porch and two car garage can be built for aproximately$112.000.00 to $133.000.00 depending on where you live.
Log homes make the perfect vacation home since they evoke feelings of comfort and peace. These homes come in various styles and sizes. Wood logs are the main construction material,. A one story, two bedroom, one bath, log home, with a covered front porch, will cost about $90,000.00 to build.
Victorian style houses are generally two stories, with steep roof pitches, dormers, octagonal turrets and of course the trademark gingerbread trim. A two story, three bedroom, three baths home of this style, with an open floor plan, and unfinished basement, can be built on your lot for around $100,000.00.
Luxury homes are huge house with at least 3000.sq. ft of living space, they are characterized by large master bedroom suites.1 walk in closets, and extra rooms which can be used as a library, music room, media center or home office to name a few. A three bedroom, two and ½ bath, luxury home with a two car garage with storage space, breakfast nook, and covered front porch .will cost you between $ 180,000.00 and 240,000.
There are dozens of other house plan style categories, such as A-Frames, Mission, Contemporary, Southwest, and Tudor to name just a few. A web search for house plans yields a mind blowing number of searchable sites. Most of these allow you to search for house plans, by style, number of bedrooms, baths, with or without a garage, or by sq. ft. of living space.
Keep in mind that the estimate price to build, doesn't include the price of the plans, any changes you make to the plans or building permit fees. Despite these fees, Building your new home from pre-drawn plans will be cheaper and probably faster than having your home plans custom drawn.
About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for home buyers and consumers on purchasing a variety of unique house plans which includes cottage plans, beach house plans, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information
Been shopping for antique clocks lately?It's strange that when something... Read More
A Complete manual on how to install a Ceiling Fan... Read More
Let's talk about repairing broken glass in an aluminum frame... Read More
Remember the old Calgon commercial-"Take me away Calgon!" There's only... Read More
Did you know that over 50% of women now run... Read More
Circuit Breakers are devices that stop the electrical current of... Read More
Buying a new mattress is a daunting task that few... Read More
Wall ovens, available in electric and gas forms, are best... Read More
It doesn't sound like a particularly interesting topic, however a... Read More
There are just a few important things to know and... Read More
When most people think about an air conditioner filter, it... Read More
The bed represents the beginning and ending of life. In... Read More
The trend for enhancing your patio is to create an... Read More
If the sliding glass doors in your home are more... Read More
The cost of energy is on the rise, so if... Read More
So you've scraped and saved, now you've finally gotten together... Read More
This report is about taking a house and restoring it... Read More
Bathrooms aren't just about the basics but are about the... Read More
If your clothes are getting moist and musty, and stretched... Read More
I broke my promise to myself and stripped wallpaper again.... Read More
Last year, we bought this big ol' 1887 house. We... Read More
Since the introduction of laminate flooring into the US in... Read More
Some DIY Maintence will put Used tools back in Main... Read More
A swimming pool with attached spa has just been installed... Read More
If you are looking for unique seating inside or out,... Read More
High quality residential and commercial mailboxes are available in styles... Read More
1. Shutters have proper louver tensionThe shutters louvers should be... Read More
Hardwood flooring has a timeless air of qualityHardwood floors have... Read More
One of the first steps in building a log home... Read More
When one thinks of the many factors that affect the... Read More
Many homeowners find it necessary to invest in a waterproofing... Read More
A drill press, also known as a pillar drill, is... Read More
Would you like to add a personal touch to your... Read More
Newcomers to the world of log homes will notice that... Read More
Kitchen cabinets reflect the heart and soul of the homeowner.... Read More
One of the first steps in building a log home... Read More
If you just love that rustic look, and are finally... Read More
You have found the perfect lot on which to build... Read More
1. Do I really need an air purifier in my... Read More
Are your beautiful hardwood floors not so beautiful anymore? Maybe... Read More
Many of us avoid home improvement projects due to their... Read More
Your mailbox is not simply a receptacle for your mail;... Read More
In addition to causing destruction, water damage also has an... Read More
1. Shutters have proper louver tensionThe shutters louvers should be... Read More
A child's dream backyard includes a play structure complete with... Read More
Feng Shui (pronounced Foong Shway or Fung Shoy) is the... Read More
Hello, my name is John Rocco.I grew up around the... Read More
Do you know that formaldehyde, a colorless, pungent-smelling gas can... Read More
The Holy Grail of distributed audio; unlimited zones and unlimited... Read More
When trying to decide if Interior Design is right for... Read More
When one thinks of the many factors that affect the... Read More
A miter saw, also known as a "chop saw," is... Read More
With the varied availability of swimming pool equipment and designs,... Read More
You have found an apartment you like and you are... Read More
If you are thinking of remodeling your bathroom and redoing... Read More
Everyone can use more organization in their lives (except those... Read More
When the old lamp from my children's room was turning... Read More
These days, finding advice or guides to interior design is... Read More
Before talking to any contractors the first thing to do... Read More
Babies, babies, babies-yes the topic of this article is based... Read More
Don't you just love the design of some of these... Read More
How many of you have experienced this situation? As the... Read More
Fresh water is essential to our health and comfort. Not... Read More
In some areas right now, the weather is ideal for... Read More
Some of the most common mistakes to avoid made by... Read More
Because colors have tremendous emotional impact, understanding how color affects... Read More
Home Improvement |