Should you buy a ready-made plan for constructing your new home?

It depends.
If you have a large lot that doesn’t have restrictive setbacks, then finding
and buying a ready-made plan may work well for you. It’s important to
know that most plans you find in a plan book are designed for specific lot
sizes and regular shaped lots. If your lot is long and narrow and the plan
is designed for a lot that’s narrow and long (just the opposite), you could
have a problem.
Sometimes people will use the “cut-and-paste” method. A couple will
take a plan from a plan book and “cut-and-paste” it to make it fit their lot.
Be careful with this method. Judy was a woman whose cut-and-paste plan
didn’t work out the way she’d planned; it required you to walk through
one bedroom to get to another bedroom.
If you can find a plan that fits on your lot with little or no changes, it
may be a good option for you. However, very few people are completely
happy with a design they find in a plan book without making minor to
major modifications.
If you are thinking of buying a ready-made plan and just shrinking it, it
almost certainly will not work.
Most good, custom-home builders have successfully built homes from
ready-made plans. Typically they purchase the rights for the plan, make
any needed modifications, and proceed to build the house. When making
too many changes to ready-made plans, you may end up paying for a
brand new set. Be realistic and make changes during your first couple of
meetings and then let them go to work (price/speed).
Be aware that ready-made plans are copyrighted. Your builder can
purchase the rights for the plan, but be sure this step is not overlooked.
You can get in real trouble down the road if you shortcut this step.
For people who don’t choose a standard plan, some builders offer a
complete design/build package. Usually this process starts by evaluating
the shape of the lot; it’s important to take into account its positive and
negative features. The builder then takes the homeowner’s completed
list of their prioritized needs and wants and begins the design process. At
your initial meeting with the builder, it’s an important step to review the
design and to ensure the designer and homeowner have a complete and thorough understanding of needs, wants, and budget. Once the builder has
clearly identified your objectives, he can work with the designer to create
a unique, quality, custom home—the home of your dreams.
As a builder, I’ve found that it doesn’t necessarily cost any more (and
often we’ve discovered cost savings) by first focusing on and designing
what our homeowners most need while also taking into account what
they want. In doing so, we’ve found great success because the process
allows us to optimize the conditions of the specific and unique lot instead
of having to work from an existing design by enlarging or shrinking areas
in the home.
With clear objectives and a good plan, you can focus your energy and
resources on your unique needs for your new home.

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