Given the popularity of home improvement and DIY shows these days, it seems like there’s nothing we as homeowners can’t do on our own with a little elbow grease. They make everything look so easy, too, whether it’s remodeling a home, flipping a house, or designing one from scratch.
Believe it or not, you can even bypass hiring a licensed architect by purchasing house plans online or in a book at your nearest Barnes & Noble. While this seems incredibly cost-effective on paper, is it the best idea?
The quick answer is no. I realize we are partial to architects here at The ML Group, but most homeowners who buy house plans on their own thinking that they are getting off on a cheap date spend more money in the end than if they’d had an architect customizing the process from the start.
Here are three reasons why:
- Those house plans likely aren’t up to code – Building codes and inspection requirements differ per state and per city. If you give generic house plans to a builder, he’s just going to take them to his preferred architect to ensure everything is up to code.
- It’s impossible to find your exact style and taste in a book – Online plans or those from a book aren’t likely to be exactly what you want. So you end up settling or mixing and matching different plans. Not to mention, if you want a custom home, isn’t choosing a plan from a book or online defeating the purpose?
- The plans might not fit your desired plot of land – Simply put, this would force you to start from scratch, which ultimately, leads to increased costs.
We realize you have a choice when it comes to hiring an architect. Working with experienced architects will ensure your project meets all building requirements and is designed for the way you live.
Give us a call today to discuss ideas for your next custom home.
This blog was written by ML Group and originally published as an article in the January 2019 issue of Argyle Living magazine.