Simple enough question - I'm gonna build a 6 bedroom (maybe 5 with a "mother in law" suite separate) house in the next 2 years. Anyone have a suggestion for websites of plans? I've googled and gone through a few websites that sell home plans but have found very few (read as 1) plans that might work with some modification. Has anyone ever worked with an architect to have a truly custom home designed/built? Any suggestions or info about price ranges for architects? Thanks - my needs are somewhat unique so cookie cutter designs aren't really doing it for me.

 

www.coolhouseplans.com is pretty good for inspiration. However, I suggest taking in a copy of the previews they show on the website into an architect and having them modified/created exactly the way you want them. Having an architect design the plans makes it easy for all of the subs, for the plans are generally done very well (if your architect knows what they're doing).

Are you building it yourself (general-ing it out?) Good luck!

 

architect.

 

there's two shows on DIY you should checkout too... Home IQ and Dream House, both follow building a custom home from start to finish (over multiple episodes). They've got me itching to build my own place.

Can't afford land/builders around here though.

 

Dream House might be on FINE Living network... I

 

Whoever you decide to go with try to do it soon I heard lumber cost is on a quick rise

 

Actually, lumber price had been down.

And Canada had been trying to eliminate some pest infestation--so they are cutting down a lot more trees trying to eliminate the pest and replant.

 

Everything I've read indicates all time highs for lumber costs.

Even if not, even if they're just "rebounding" from a low... lumber is really expensive right now compared to this time last year. $50+ for a sheet of interior grade plywood is retarded.

 

^^Price actually has came down, but still expensive.

http://www.randomlengths.com/base.as...Random_Lengths

 

I've been to coolhouseplans, houseplans.com (the one that might actually work), and homeplans.com - it's looking more and more like a full out custom job. I won't be doing anything except watching the building and paying for it - I have no contractor type experience and with something of this magnitude I can't afford a screw up. Anyone know a ball park figure for an architect? Do they charge based on time it takes to design or square feet of the project or what? Thanks.

I am hoping that the materials market calms down a bit before I do this - concrete was really expensive there for a while too.

 

Gpump,


Try this one: http://digitalcanal.com/

Customized plan at $0.40 per sq. ft.

 

i guess "everything i've read" was during that 4Q 05 spike those charts show. didn't realize it could rise and fall soo rapidly

 

I would use a plan you like as a starting point, but definitely go for an architect. That way you can make all the changes you want, and do them right the first time.

Can't help you much other then that. Our home was semi-custom... meaning we bought from a builder's existing floorplans, but we were allowed to make personal changes to it. Our next house will probably be custom built, but that's several years down the road, so we haven't even started investigating yet....

 

I want to build one also, but I can't afford to buy sufficient land to separate the 2 enough for my own liking..


A friend of mine gave me a shitload of books with plans in them and I am sure I can find one that will suit me just fine. Lumber is expensive here in Memphis since we are so close to the gulf coast and that's where the majority of it has gone the past few months obviously.

 

I think you should go to an architect and tell him or her the specs, like how big you want the house, rooms, bathroom, and etc. He or she will show you different plans with the specs you want and you can pick one and modify it.

really? when my parents had the house built 2 years ago, lumber went up 40%.

 

It's tough in the Northeast... Unless you buy a lot in the middle of nowhere and hope a community develops around your lot...

I was looking at some stuff in eastern CT (next to the RI border). Lot was cheap, but there wasn't much around it...

I'm kinda spoiled, as I grew up in a city, with local businesses within walking distance...

Even in the Burb I live in, there is a mall a 1 1/2 miles away with a sears, walmart, etc...

 

I'm leaning the same way... I like the layout of my current house (single story ranch/bungalow), but I'd like to add a second story and make the rooms bigger. Back when my house was built (1964), they didn't make the living room, bedrooms as big as I'd like...

My plan would be pretty easy for a architect to draw...

But, with land prices the way there are in my area now, It would cost me almost twice to buy just the land then it did for me buy my house (on a lot already).

One of these days, I'm going to really have to start thinking about where I want to retire... Might be in the house I'm in now