Custom Design Service
If you've cannot find a stock plan on WESBRIANTDESIGNS.COM or another site that suits you, even with a few modifications (see our modification service) than you are most likely interested in our Custom Design Service. If you prefer a unique design created specifically for you, from your directions and from what you are envisioning as the "perfect house" then we can accommodate you. We take pride in being able to listen to, and see what your ideas and dreams are, and create a set of working construction plans, that will enable you to make them a reality. With some simple sketches, a scrapbook of magazine clippings, photographs or even a just wish list and a pointed conversation with our draftsman. Soon you will began your journey into the American dream of truly owning "your own" custom home. Our architectural draftsman will work directly with you throughout the entire process. Eliminating any miscommunication of your expectations. You will be involved during the entire process insuring that your priorities are addressed in a satisfactory manor at each stage before continuing on. When the drawing are complete. You will be content in knowing that the end result will be as close as possible to what you had imagined.
What you need to get started on your Custom house plans:
1. There is a $50 quotation fee for our custom design service which can be applied to the cost of your custom house plans if you chose to proceed. The fee includes a printable custom wish list worksheet that you can fill out and fax or email to us. (see sample)
2. Fill out worksheet and fax or email to us. Along with worksheet fax, email or mail any photos, sketches, magazine clippings or anything you might find helpful in portraying what your desires for your home will be (including pictures and/or survey of building site if available). Once we receive your information. Our Architectural draftsman will contact you directly at the number you provide and discuss any remaining questions and concerns with your request. Then we will review your request and contact you with a cost estimate within 3-5 business days. If you have a request involving something not able to be dictated on the worksheet please feel free to Call us at directly 1-877-761-PLAN and we will discuss your request. For an approx. price on services see Price Guidelines
3. After you have received your cost estimate for your custom house plans, simply submit your deposit amount which will be indicated on estimate and fax, email or mail a signed copy of estimate to our office. Our draftsman will began working on your custom house plans.
4. Approx. 5 days after we began we will send you the first draft presentations. These are floor plans which indicate layouts and room sizes only. They will most likely not have a tremendous amount of detail on them depending upon how specific your information packet was. Once you receive these you will need to contact the draftsman and discuss any changes or alterations which need done. Depending upon the extent of changes to be done you will either repeat this process again or if the changes are minimal your draftsman will complete them that day and request your final signed approval of preliminary floor plans.
5. Approx. 5 days after approval of preliminary floor plans we will send you the first draft elevations. These are all four elevations or just the front depending upon how specific your information packet was. Once you receive these you will need to contact the draftsman and discuss any changes or alterations which need done. Depending upon the extent of changes to be done you will either repeat this process again or if the changes are minimal your draftsman will complete them that day and request your final signed approval of elevations.
6. After approval of preliminary elevations your draftsman will began on your final working plans. This will take whatever time is noted on your cost estimate. We will contact you to let you know the working plans are complete. Upon notice of completion via email or fax. You will place order for balance of total payment indicated on cost estimate. Upon receipt We will send you either five complete copies of your custom house plans or a reproducible master that you can use to have copies made locally.
If you have any questions, please call us at 877-761-PLAN. Our expert consultants look forward to assisting you.
Things to Consider
Before requesting custom plans for your house, consider the following: The cost to modify an existing drawing that is somewhat close to what you want may be far less expensive. Even if purchasing the original reproducible from a source other than www.wesbriantdesigns.com. Some changes can be made during construction without modifying the house plan, saving you additional design fees. However, this is dependent on your local building codes and the flexibility of your local building department. Consult with your home builder or local building official to determine whether the changes you want to make are feasible without having the design modified.
Turn Around Time, Payment of Work
Normally it takes 3 to 5 business days to receive a custom plan estimate. After you approve the estimate it normally takes 3 to 5 days to create the preliminary floor plans. After you approve the prelim floor plans, it normally takes 3 to 5 days for preliminary elevations. After you approve the prelim elevations, the final design time to complete drawings can take from 1 to 4 weeks, or more, depending upon the complexity of your project. This will be addressed specifically in you cost estimate.
Because the design process is usually done in three phases and you (the client) are intimately involved throughout the process. It is important to remember that you control a lot of the "tempo" with which your project is being completed. Your level of communication and attention to processing preliminary approvals is paramount in how fast the completed design takes. Also, the more information you can provide initially with the custom wish list worksheet the more accurate the prelims will be to matching your expectations. This will also expedite the overall process.
To begin design work you must pay a custom deposit in the amount noted on you cost estimate (usually 25% total estimate) this generally covers most of preliminary work. The balance of invoice is not due until you are notified that the design work is complete. You must submit payment in full before your product will be shipped to you. If during the course of time in which these drawings are being prepared, you decide not to continue with your project for any reason, then you are still required to pay the cost of labor for the design and the preliminary design work that was performed on your project up until your notification of intention to stop work. This will be invoiced at the rate listed in your cost estimate.
After payments are made you will receive the Reproducible Master to make your own copies of the blueprints. Or if you prefer we will retain the Master and make 5 sets of blueprint copies for you instead. Most people let us retain the master in case they need additional changes or copies later.
Reproducible Masters and CAD files
We have many customers that purchase either a Reproducible Master or CAD file (a computer file delivered on a CD) that includes a Copyright Release. A Copyright Release gives you permission to change and reproduce the master. You can only make copies of a plan if you buy the Reproducible Master or the CAD file. Regular blueprints cannot be copied because they are protected by federal copyright laws.
Although additional copies can be made from either a Reproducible Master of CAD file the Copyright Release is on assumed for construction of one structure only if the intention is for more than one structure to be built from same drawing, a multi-unit Copyright Release must negotiated please contact our office directly.
About the Custom Wish list Worksheet
After you purchase an estimate, please print and fill out the Custom Wish list worksheet available. You may print the worksheet as many times as you like, but please send it to us only once with final items that you wish to include etc...
It is important you fill out the worksheet as completely as you can. And include as many additional details, sketches, photos etc.. as you think it will take to get an accurate idea of what your desires are. The more information we have the more accurate we can be with our cost as well as our design time. In addition it will just plain make the whole experience more enjoyable. Please be sure to include your name, phone numbers (including fax number if available), email address, plan number, and order code on all correspondence you send to us.
Be aware that additional changes may have to be made after you receive your custom house plans in order to meet your local codes.
We also encourage you to make a copy of the final completed worksheet and your other information submitted for estimate. We will not be returning any information or media you give to us. Once you have made copies you can than scan, email and fax or mail your total package for estimate to CRP Technologies.
Will the plans have all the information I need to get a building permit?
Almost, with a few exceptions, depending on where you are building your house. All building departments will require a site plan to show where the house will sit on your property. You might also need beams sized to accommodate roof loads specific to your region. Your home builder can usually help you with this. If you are not connecting to a sewer system, you also need a septic design attached to your application. And many areas now require compliance with local energy codes, which is normally a simple form you fill out and attach to your application. In some regions, you also need to ensure that your house plans are in compliance with local codes. Some areas of North America have very strict engineering requirements. For example, earthquake-prone areas of California and the Pacific Coast, hurricane risk areas of the Florida, Gulf, and Carolina coasts, as well as New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and parts of Illinois require review by a local professional. If you are building in these areas, you will most likely need to hire a state-licensed structural engineer to analyze the design and provide additional drawings and calculations required by your building department. If you aren’t sure, building departments typically can give you a handout, listing all of the items they require to obtain a building permit. Additionally, stock plans do not have a professional stamp affixed. If your building department requires one, depending upon which state you will be constructing your home in, we may be able to provide you with a engineers seal, at an additional cost, per your request see pricing guide. Also you may hire a local professional with engineering requirements to complete this service for you. This is generally a per/hour fee to review documents, size structural elements and apply seal.
Why do I need to purchase a Reproducible Master in order to have custom drawings made from them?
For three reasons: First, because along with a Reproducible you will also receive a Copyright Release so that whoever is utilizing the initial plan to create your custom plan will have permission from the original designer to alter the drawings. Second, you will be able to make a legal copy of the plans to make whatever changes you may desire right on them to submittal for your estimate of custom plans (It is illegal to make copies of a house plan without a Copyright Release from the original designer). Last, Since CRP Technologies will be performing this work for you it MUST be with the understanding that the information you provide to us is either your original work, ideas, sketches, non-copyrighted works or that you have obtained permission to alter someone else’s design thru means of a release.
Will my home plans come with a seal or stamp?
No. Custom plans do not have a professional stamp affixed. If your building department requires one, they will only accept a stamp from a state-licensed professional where you plan to build. Depending upon which state you will be constructing your home in, we may be able to provide you with a engineers seal, at an additional cost, per your request see pricing guide. Also you may hire a local professional with engineering requirements to complete this service for you. This is generally a per/hour fee to review documents, size structural elements and apply seal.
Do the plans include engineering?
No. If your plans require engineering, depending upon which state you will be constructing your home in, we may be able to provide you with a engineers seal, at an additional cost, per your request see pricing guide. Also you may hire a local professional with engineering requirements to complete this service for you. This is generally a per/hour fee to review documents, size structural elements and apply seal.
Will my custom house plan include a Material List?
No. we can certainly provide you with one, at an additional cost, per your request see pricing guide. Also keep in mind your local lumber yard can usually provide one for you as well typically at no cost if you purchase your lumber from them.
Will my plans conform to my local building code?
All of our house plans are designed to conform to the local codes where the original house was drawn. All building codes in the United States are similar because they meet industry-standard minimums that are based on three nationally recognized standards. Building codes are standards created to ensure the structural safety of buildings. They are established and enforced by your local government, usually through your city or county's building department. Every state, county, and local municipality has adopted their codes from one of the three nationally recognized building codes: UBC (Uniform Building Code), BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators), and CABO (Council of American Building Officials).The new IRC (International Residential Code) is a combination of the other three and is fast becoming the National Standard. All are very similar in content. You may request that your quote include IRC code compliance.
Will the plans include electrical, plumbing & mechanical details?
Location of heating, air-conditioning, duct work & water heaters, Electrical Schematics, (location of lights, plugs & switches) will not usually be shown on plans since local codes and climate as well as homeowners preferences of systems varies. Your builder and subcontractors will help you determine selection and logical placement of equipment. The only plumbing related information that will be on the plans is the location of fixtures such as furnace, sinks, tubs, showers, etc. typically included unless otherwise noted. These additional schematics are usually available for all stock prints if needed please see pricing guide for details