Houseplans online?

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Did you buy yours online, or do you know anyone who has?

I have been through eplans.com, architecturaldesigns.com, and tonight through coolhouseplans.com. I just don't see exactly the house I have in mind.

I'm looking for a pretty recent design--one that includes a media room.

I am starting to see some of the same plans with completely different outsides on them on the different sites, and they're all beginning to run together.

Can anyone help?

 

[Ava83]

Hi-I did not-but I love the houses at

http://www.frankbetz.com/

 

[720L]

We bought our plan online. I don't remember the website.

 

[mickeysgal]

You've been to all the sites that I know. Can you find one thats close and then work with an architect to modify it to your exact specifications?

 

[Hercules10]

I'm currently looking to build too and to be honest it's best to just contact a architect. Tad more expensive, but you get EXACTLY what you want and you can changes things the way you want them.

 

[Buckalew11]

I am also looking at house plans and going a little nuts. A client told me she found hers at www.dreamhomesource.com

 

[720L]

We changed our plans, the website had an architect you could work with.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I know I can have the changes made, but I just figured I would be able to find it in any of the thousands of available plans out there.

My criteria are:
--2 br up, 2 br down (could have three up), but mbr must be down
--slab
--brick and stone exterior
--media room
--butler's pantry
--office on main floor
--garages cannot have front entry to home

I didn't think my criteria were that odd, and I've been into several model homes that fit those criteria...I just don't see those plans online.

I'll look at some of your suggestions!

Anyone w/more?

 

[bananiem]

We talked to our builder about the changes we wanted to make to our former house plan. He took it to his draftman and aobut 2 meetings later we had it perfect! We didn't have to pay for that service. It was part of the deal of building a custom home with them.

 

[Steffi]

My husband is a home designer. He has worked with many clients who have bought their plans online. When you buy the plans online, you're paying for just the design itself and you'll usually still have to consult with an architect or designer to work with the plans so they'll meet your area's building codes and such. So, many of the jobs he gets are jobs to make working construction documents out of online plans.

To save money, DH recommends to his clients that they do some research, print out some pictures of what they like, and then sit down and brainstorm with him until they come up with the perfect floorplan and elevation for their needs.

 

[Ava83]

I love looking up this kinda stuff...

1. use the living room as an office and the bonus space as a media room and change stucco to brick

http://www.frankbetz.com/homeplans/plan_info.html?pn=888


I actually have to work and will be back.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I love looking up this kinda stuff...

1. use the living room as an office and the bonus space as a media room and change stucco to brick

http://www.frankbetz.com/homeplans/plan_info.html?pn=888


I actually have to work and will be back.

Great first try! That one would almost work...but I didn't give ALL the details...

The square footage should be between 3500 and 4400.
I need an office on the first floor.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

My husband is a home designer. He has worked with many clients who have bought their plans online. When you buy the plans online, you're paying for just the design itself and you'll usually still have to consult with an architect or designer to work with the plans so they'll meet your area's building codes and such. So, many of the jobs he gets are jobs to make working construction documents out of online plans.

To save money, DH recommends to his clients that they do some research, print out some pictures of what they like, and then sit down and brainstorm with him until they come up with the perfect floorplan and elevation for their needs.

Well, we have AutoCad, and we could technically draw the entire design on our own. If I had some sort of checklist for the kind of things people usually put into a house, I could probably work it up well enough that an architect could make the perfect house. However...it seems that architects take months to get plans back to people. Is that the case in your husband's business?

 

[Sandy V.]

Another website that has great houseplans is: http://www.designbasics.com/home/index.asp

 

[Steffi]

Well, we have AutoCad, and we could technically draw the entire design on our own. If I had some sort of checklist for the kind of things people usually put into a house, I could probably work it up well enough that an architect could make the perfect house. However...it seems that architects take months to get plans back to people. Is that the case in your husband's business?

You're right about architects and their time frames. Not to mention that they charge astronomical prices.

DH isn't an architect, he's a draftsman/designer; he finishes his plans quickly (sometimes within a week, if the clients know what they're looking for) and for way less money than architects in the area. His architect friends take themselves very seriously and have the attitude that if they can't make a minimum of $5000 off a project, then they're either not going to bother or will take their sweet time about it.

Drawing it up in AutoCad yourself is a great idea and will save you money and time. You can take your AutoCad files to a local draftsman and get your construction documents drawn up quickly and cheaply.

 

[720L]

Try houseplans.com--and try European house styles--I think they will have your criteria.----the butlers pantry could be added without it being drawn on the plan I think and your office and media room could be made by changing a living room/bedroom to one of those rooms.

 

[MareQ]

I know I can have the changes made, but I just figured I would be able to find it in any of the thousands of available plans out there.

My criteria are:
--2 br up, 2 br down (could have three up), but mbr must be down
--slab
--brick and stone exterior
--media room
--butler's pantry
--office on main floor
--garages cannot have front entry to home

I didn't think my criteria were that odd, and I've been into several model homes that fit those criteria...I just don't see those plans online.

I'll look at some of your suggestions!

Anyone w/more?

http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=20914&st=13

http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=24566&st=13

http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=19627&st=13
http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=4554&st=13

http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=611&st=13

 

[KristiKelly]

Hi-I did not-but I love the houses at

http://www.frankbetz.com/

We have a Frank Betz home. Bought our plans online.

Our house is the Herndon.

We flipped it, added on a few areas, extended the garage width, ended up with close to 2900 sq. ft. I do wish my kitchen & family room were bigger (wider) though.

I really like the designs on this website.

 

[Ava83]

Okay this is fun...here are some more (I am using any bonus rooms as a media room and if it a living room slap on a pair of French Doors and make it a home office.

http://www.frankbetz.com/homeplans/plan_info.html?pn=3944

http://www.frankbetz.com/homeplans/plan_info.html?pn=3941

http://www.frankbetz.com/homeplans/plan_info.html?pn=3950

http://www.frankbetz.com/homeplans/plan_info.html?pn=792

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=20914&st=13

http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=24566&st=13

http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=19627&st=13
http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=4554&st=13

http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=611&st=13

None of these plans have a second bedroom downstairs. I need a room for my mom to move into eventually--she suffers from arthritis.