One question that we receive almost daily is whether or not the plan package for a specific home design contains everything that a person would need to build in their state.

In most areas of the country, stock house plans will provide everything you need to build, but not necessarily everything you need to obtain a building permit.

In addition to the house plans you order, you may also need the following:

• A site plan that shows where the house is going to be located on your property. 
• Beams sized to accommodate room loads specific to your region. 
• A septic design, unless your lot is served by a sanitary sewer system. 
• Many areas now have area-specific energy codes that have to be followed. This normally involves filling out a simple form providing documentation that your house plans are in compliance. In some regions, there is a second step you will need to take to insure your house plans are in compliance with local codes. Some areas of North America have very strict engineering requirements. Examples of this would be earthquake-prone areas of CA and the Pacific coast, hurricane-risk areas of the Gulf and Eastern seacoast. Even parts of NY, NJ, NV, and IL require review by a local professional. If you are building in these areas, it is most likely you will 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 have a handout they will give you listing all of the items they require to submit for and obtain a building permit. 

Additionally, stock plans do not have a professional stamp attached. If your building department requires one, they will only accept a stamp from a professional licensed in the state where you plan to build. In this case, you will need to take your house plans to a local engineer or architect for review and stamping. It is always a good idea to check with your local city, municipality, and state building authorities to ensure that your home construction will meet all applicable building codes.

Note that your home builder, if you have one, will be able to help you with all of the above.

Read more about what Homeplans.com’s blueprints include.  Then check out common FAQ’s about home plans.

View House Plan HPG-2000-B for an example. Scroll to the bottom of the plan’s “Details” page to see the packages available for that design.

See all of Mark’s house plans at Homeplans.com.

After you find a house plan, the first thing most people need to know is “how much will THIS particular home plan cost to build in MY local area”? Well, this can be a difficult number to ascertain, due to many factors such as: local labor rates, local materials prices, type of foundation used, types of materials used, finish level, local/state/regional building fees, etc.

In most cases, the designer of a plan will be able to provide you with a dollar range, which will be from $X to $X, based on total living square footage of the house and regional cost data. This type of information is usually adequate but fairly inaccurate, especially if you’re building in a particularly expensive/inexpensive area of the country. In addition, these estimates are ONLY based on the total “living” square footage of the house, and do not take into account many other items such as: * Site preparation of any kind * Removal of existing structures * Purchase of the lot * Preparation of the lot * Flatwork (like driveways) * Detached garages or other structures * Landscaping * Modifications to the house plan * Cost to build any unheated space (i.e. carports, patios, porches, any other unheated space) * Any other miscellaneous permits, fees, or associated costs related to obtaining a building permit * Other misc. costs

As such, you may want to look into obtaining a low-cost “Home Building Cost Estimate” to better understand how much YOUR particular house (or one that you’re considering) would cost to build in your LOCAL area. Having a customized cost report like this, is always a good investment, and may save you many thousands as you begin to narrow down your house plan search.

See Mark’s house plans collection at Homeplans.com

If you’re currently in the process of searching for that “perfect” house plan, you’ll already know that there are many home plan options available. Whether you’re searching online or looking through magazines and plan books, the chances are that you can find a stock house plan that closely fits your needs.

If you find a floor plan that is close to what you need, you can almost always have that plan modified by the designer or by a local design professional to fit your specific needs..in your specific area…for your specific lot.

If so, then you’ve just saved thousands of dollars over the cost of having a fully-custom designed set of house plans developed. Stock house plans offer a tremendous value for most families, and its always a good idea to take a look at what’s available before having a custom set designed.

Note: Homeplans.com offers building cost estimates for many of their home plans and also has an in-house team of modifications experts to customize any plan. Get more information at www.homeplans.com.

More rural families and individuals may be able to become homeowners with the help of the Rural Housing Service Programs. The USDA Rural Housing Service has various programs available to aid low- to moderate-income rural residents to purchase, construct, repair, or relocate a dwelling and related facilities. USDA rural housing loan programs allow qualified homebuyers to get loans with minimal closing costs and no downpayment. For additional information on this program, visit the USDA website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

This federal program has become extremely popular over the last few years and is only increasing in prevalence…especially in the Southeastern United States where the vast majority of stock house plans are sold.

Check out our full collection of best-selling house plans that can be certified for FHA and Rural Development loans.

One of Mark’s beautiful country-style home plans: HPG-1800-B