Free House Plans - A Realistic Perspective

We all like free stuff. However, some products need to meet certain quality standards, and in those cases you do actually get what you pay for. Are free house plans a realistic option as a basis for building your house? First, let's define what free house plans are and what they are not.

Countless websites selling house plans have put their catalogs online, and of course there are also print catalogs of house plans. These plans are are accurate enough to help you make a buying decision, but lack the necessary details that architects and builders need for construction and customization. Some companies advertise free house plans, but in practically all cases, these free offers are merely hooks to get your attention or your email address. The real house plans, the actual blueprints of a house, cost around 400 - 2000 USD, with most ranging between 700 - 1500 USD, depending on the delivery options (hard copies or computer files) and other extras.

Before you buy a house plan, you should make sure that your plan meets your and your family's requirements for a new home as well as local building codes and the limitations of plot on which you want to build. Virtually all purchases of house plans are non-refundable, so choose wisely to avoid wasting money. House plans are not something to buy on impulse, there is simply no rush.

There are alternatives to buying stock plans. You could design your house yourself, but that is not a realistic option for most people, as it requires a lot of skill and time. Another option is to work with a company to create a custom design from scratch. This option is much more expensive than buying stock plans and only suitable for people with the additional cash to spend who require or desire a very individualized design.

While even stock plans cost a decent chunk of money, their price is very moderate considering the total cost of building your home. And if you make sure you only buy a plan once you know that it meets everybody's needs, you will have a one-time, predictable expense.

The main additional expense around house plans you should budget for is any customization to the stock plans you may want. Once again, you should get a green light and clear cost estimates from all involved parties before you buy your plans. That way you won't exactly get free house plans, but at least you will spend as little as possible on your plans.

Free house plans provides practical information for people in the complex process of choosing house plans for their dream homes.