Online Help

This page provides information on how to use our website. For other questions, please see frequently asked questions or contact us.

Purchasing

If you need assistance purchasing a house plan, please contact us and we will be happy to assist. If you already know your plan number, search for the plan from the home page and click on the picture of your new home. On the plan detail page select "PURCHASE THIS PLAN" to the right of the rendering.

There are a number of options when purchasing a plan, so we offer this guidance:

Study Set: We offer a one-set plan package so you can study your home in detail. This one set is considered a study set and is marked "not for construction". It is a copyright violation to reproduce blueprints.

5-Set: If you're ready to start the construction process, this 5-set package is the minimum number of blueprint sets you will need. It will require keeping close track of each set so they can be used by multiple subcontractors and tradespeople.

8-Set: For best results in terms of cost, schedule and quality of construction, we recommend you order eight (or more) sets of blueprints. In addition to one set for yourself, other sets of blueprints will be required by your mortgage lender, local building department, general contractor and all subcontractors working on foundation, electrical, plumbing, heating/air conditioning, carpentry work, etc.

Mirror Reverse: Plans can be printed in mirror reverse. These plans are useful when the house would fit your site better if all the rooms were on the opposite side than shown. They are simply a mirror image of the original drawings causing the lettering and dimensions to read backwards. Therefore, when ordering mirror reverse drawings, you must purchase at least one set of right-reading plans.

Right-Reading Reverse: Plans can be printed in reverse. These plans are useful when the house would fit your site better if all the rooms were on the opposite side than shown. They are simply a mirror image of the original drawings. Unlike mirror reverse, the lettering and dimensions are printed correctly and are not backwards.

Material List: Non-returnable. To enhance the quality of our blueprint packages, we offer one of the most precise and thorough material lists in the industry. An accurate and detailed material list can save you a considerable amount of time and money. Our material lists give you the quantity, dimensions, and descriptions of the major building materials necessary to construct your home. You'll get faster and more accurate bids from your contractors and material suppliers and you'll save money by paying for only the materials you need.

Foundation: Foundation choices vary from plan to plan. If your foundation choice is not available with the plan, please check with your builder to see if the foundation can be accommodated. This can be fairly easy to modify during construction.

Please read our Terms of Sale before you make a purchase.

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Shipping and handling rates depend on the products you select to purchase, point of origination, destination, and delivery method.  You will view the shipping charges prior to entering your credit card information.  For simplicity, we do not separate shipping and handling charges.

Typical shipping and handling charges for a plan are:

Rates are subject to change without notice.

Searching

You can perform several searches on our site. From the home page you can search for an individual plan if you know the plan number. Menu options allow you to search by the style of home, most popular homes, and our noted Signature Series plans. Additionally, you can specify your requirements in our primary search page.

You need not make a selection for every search criteria. Search results will simply not be limited by any criteria not completed. Additionally, you can specify up to three priorities for your home. Your search results may be sorted by percent of the criteria matched, best selling homes, total living area square feet, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, and estimated cost to build.

In order to accurately search for estimated cost build, you must supply your zip or postal code.

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Guide to Style

Colonial - A colonial home can be identified by its gambrel roof with narrow or flared overhangs. The roof is typically shingled. The shape of the roof allows for a spacious second story attic. The attic usually has window or shed dormers. Many have one or two porches or a garage on the sides. The house is symmetrical with double-hung windows. The entrance may include a pediment, pilasters or both.

Contemporary - A contemporary home does not follow a particular pattern. The exterior is asymmetrical with walls of different heights and shapes. Window sizes will also vary. The roof is a combination of gable, cross gable, side gable and shed. Roof lines run into one another. The entrance door is usually recessed. The interior may have vaulted ceilings, skylights, combined rooms, and ample use of glass.

Country - A home that is often asymmetrical with more than one-story. The roof is irregular with gables facing several directions. Certain French styles can be identified by steep hip roofs. The front entrance is dominated by a porch, frequently "L" shaped. The plan allows each floor to be independent. There may be one or more arched windows along with double-hung windows. Curved shutters with vertical boards add a country feel. The living room is usually located in front.

Log - Rustic house composed primarily of large pine logs or material made to look like logs.

Luxury - A home with many extra details demanding fine materials and craftsmanship, often large with considerable space for bedrooms, baths, storage, and entertaining areas. May feature extra areas not found in most homes. 

Multi-Family - Building structures featuring two or more distinctive living areas, separated by walls and floors.

Narrow Lot - Home featuring a small footprint with minimal measurements across the front (width) of the house.

Ranch - A ranch is simply a one-story, one-and-a-half story, or split level home. The main living area is several steps above grade. Usually a rear glass door leads to the back area of the lot.

Sunbelt - One or two story house with its roots in Mediterranean, particularly Spanish, architecture. These homes often feature low pitch hip roofs, clay tile roofing, wide eave overhangs, and large first floor windows. Some have an outwardly projected main entrance or a dominant front porch if the entrance is recessed. Balconies and iron railings are frequently found on two-story versions. The exterior siding may be stucco or brick veneer.

Traditional - The roof is generally side gable, but some have front and wing gables. The exterior siding may be shingles, clapboard, vinyl, cedar, aluminum, or brick veneer. The roof is mostly shingles and the windows double-hung.

Tudor - The home is typically more than one story. The exterior siding may be brick, stone or stucco. Chimneys are a prominent feature. The roof is a steep side gable with one or more dominant steep cross gables and may have multiple dormers. Some styles have heavy exposed timbering or dark-colored stucco. Roofing is usually shingles or slate. Windows have diamond muttons.

Vacation/Cottage - The house is used as a secondary or recreational residence. It may be small, offering simple facilities. Windows are typically double hung, but there may be sizable, distinctive windows or sliding glass doors in the front or rear. The roof is shingled or shakes. The house usually features a deck or porch.

Victorian - A Victorian home is typically two or more stories high. It is asymmetrical with an irregular roof having gables facing several directions. A prominent, "L" shaped porch dominates the front entrance. The roof is shingled. Windows are double-hung. The main staircase is located near the front. A second staircase may be located in back by the kitchen. More expensive homes will have detailed exterior scroll work.

Waterfront - The house has large porches and balconies stretching across the entire front or rear. There are ample windows, often large, particularly on the elevation featuring the porch or deck. Two stories are common, but may feature one level. The house may have a pier foundation. Parking may be underneath the home.

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Estimated Cost to Build

Do you have sufficient resources to build your home? Our cost estimator can help you narrow your search to house plans that may fall within your budget. Learn more about the capabilities and limitations of our Estimated Cost to Build.

Building costs are dependent upon your region. Therefore, when you want to search by the Estimated Cost to Build, we require your US zip or Canadian postal code.

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Favorites

You can save any home plans to your favorites. You will be asked to enter an email address. Providing an email address saves your favorites in our database so you can review them any time from any computer. You can still save your favorites without supplying an email address. However, your favorites will be stored on your computer and you may not be able to view them after a period of time, depending on you computer settings.

We periodically purge old records from our database. If you do not use favorites for an extended period of time, we may delete your information.