Whether or not you have purchased a lot around which your custom home plans should be designed, following the tips we’ve compiled below will ensure your custom home designs produce the home of your dreams.
1. Establish excellent communication.
Poor communication can ruin a custom sheet set. For example, if your architect doesn’t really understand what he wants in his custom home designs, he might end up with a custom built home that he doesn’t really enjoy. Alternatively, he might be surprised to see your “custom” plan in a new housing development. (Some architects turn their best custom plans into widely available, generic floor plans.) Avoid both of these unpleasant outcomes by clearly outlining what your custom home plans should include and whether or not you are comfortable with your custom design modified into a universal home plan.
2. Choose a designer with experience working with similar properties.
If you’ve already bought the land for your dream home, make sure your designer has experience working with your property type. For example, while a steeply sloping lot often offers the best views, it also poses unique design challenges.
3. Check that your architect has civil liability insurance.
Accidents happen, which is why insurance was invented. If something goes wrong with your custom home design, liability insurance may cover rebuilding costs or other incidentals. Professional engineers and designers carry insurance to defend their clients against costly mistakes. Make sure your custom home plans come from a designer with liability insurance.
4. Expand the details.
A complete set of custom house plans will include enough information to make construction easy. Contractors need to be able to quickly find details about dimensions, materials, and construction techniques. Unclear floor plans will bring all sorts of problems. Costly mistakes often occur because contractors can’t read or find the necessary details in a set of custom house plans. The last thing you want is a carpenter or plumber guessing what your custom home designs are intended for. Work with an architect who includes many construction details in the house plans.
5. Ensure building code compliance and state certification.
Federal and local building laws are always changing. If your custom home design does not follow these building guidelines, it could be rejected by city officials and you will face more expenses to bring your design “up to date.” Because this is such an important topic, be upfront with your designer about it. Ask how they ensure code compliance and check with past clients to make sure the city approval process went smoothly. One last due diligence step: check that your architect or designer is professionally certified in your state. If any red flags arise during this investigation, select a different architect. Otherwise, you could be left with house plans that can’t actually be built.
6. Select an architect whose style matches yours.
Doctors specialize in body systems; writers specialize in different types of communication; Architects specialize in different styles of design. Make sure your designer has experience producing the type of home you prefer. For example, if you like the Tudor style, you should choose a designer who has produced beautiful custom homes in this design mode. Don’t expect a Frank Lloyd Wright lover to suddenly switch to a Tuscan approach.