House Plans FAQ – Answers to Your Most Common Design, Purchase & Build Questions

Use the search filters to narrow plans by style, size, bedrooms, bathrooms, garage type, special features, and more. If you do not see the perfect plan, many plans can be customized for a fee. You may also order a modifiable plan and work with a local professional on your changes.

Square footage is calculated using conditioned living space, meaning the heated areas of the home. Porches, patios, screened porches, garages, foundations, and unfinished bonus areas are generally not included. Finished basement living areas may be included when they are designed as livable rooms.

Construction costs vary by location, builder, labor market, site conditions, ceiling heights, material choices, windows, trim, finishes, and the overall economy. For the most accurate estimate, send the PDF plan to local builders and building supply stores for current pricing in your area.

To protect customer privacy, we do not share personal building information from customers who have purchased our plans. If photos are not available for a plan, contact us and we can try to obtain additional images or discuss affordable 2D and 3D rendering options.

Most house plan sets include the basic drawings needed for construction, though exact sheets may vary by designer and plan. Typical plan contents may include:

• Foundation plan, such as crawl, mono, or stem wall foundation, depending on the plan
• Exterior elevations showing all four sides of the home
• Floor plans for each level with rooms, walls, doors, windows, and dimensions
• Original structural sheets and notes when included with that plan
• PDF and CAD files included with every plan purchase

Most plans do not include electrical sheets. Electrical plans can be created starting at $100 per plan.

Once copyrighted house plans have been received, there are no refunds or exchanges. If you decide you cannot build the house you purchased, we may be able to offer a discount on an alternative layout. Please review your lot, budget, local requirements, and plan details before purchasing.

We cannot accept returns or exchanges after plans have been received. However, we may be able to offer a discount on a new plan. Call 1-800-642-8078 to speak with a Plan Advisor.

There is no time limit for beginning construction. Keep your plan files and copyright letter in a safe place so you can access them when you are ready to build.

We recommend starting with the CAD and PDF files included with your plan purchase. You can upload the PDF to a blueprint printing service, such as FedEx Office, and choose pickup, shipping, and binding options. Ground shipping is available within the continental United States, and priority or expedited shipping may also be available. Call 1-800-642-8078 for current pricing.

We currently accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal.

A mirror reverse flips the layout, but text and dimensions may not read normally. A right-reading reverse flips the layout and updates the text, dimensions, and measurements so the plan remains easy to read. We provide right-reading reverse service to help builders and subcontractors avoid mistakes.

Yes, you may print copies for your permitted build, estimating, and coordination process as allowed by your plan purchase/license. Printed copies are helpful for getting accurate quotes from local builders, engineers, and building supply stores.

Customization pricing depends on the size of the house, complexity of the changes, and how many sheets need to be updated. Minor changes may often be handled locally by your builder. Moderate to substantial changes may range from $1,000 to $2,500 or more, depending on the scope.

After you approve the estimate, your Plan Advisor will prepare an invoice or Scope of Work Agreement. Once the agreement is signed and the plan and customization service are purchased, your project can be placed on the schedule.

Yes, kitchen and bathroom changes can be quoted. In many cases, these updates are also commonly handled with your builder, cabinet designer, or interior designer after you receive the plan set.

We do not currently offer fully custom designs from scratch. Our customization service is for plans sold through MyHomeFloorPlans.com.

Many plan adjustments take about one week. Larger plans or more complex modifications can take up to two weeks or more, depending on the scope. This is still usually much faster than creating a custom plan locally.

Depending on the plan, a crawl, mono, or stem wall foundation may be included. We can change the foundation free of charge, but the new foundation will not include structural notes and details. Your local engineer should review and update structural requirements for your site.

Plans are generally designed around national building code standards from the time and location where the plan was originally created. Local updates are not always included. Your area may require site plans, updated structural engineering, MEP plans, energy code compliance, zoning review, or other local code updates. Always consult your local building department before starting your project.

Local requirements may involve snow loads, wind loads, soil conditions, seismic requirements, flood zones, coastal conditions, energy codes, setbacks, height limits, and subdivision or HOA rules. We recommend speaking with a builder, engineer, and local building official before applying for permits or beginning construction.

Some cities and states require a state-licensed architect or engineer to review and seal the plans before permit approval. Heavy rain, snow, earthquakes, coastal conditions, floods, and high wind areas often require additional engineering. Check with your contractor and local building department before submitting plans.

A walkout basement includes exterior doors that open to the outside, typically at the rear or side of the home. Walkout basements work well on sloped lots. Because soil conditions and retaining requirements vary, plans with walkout basements should be reviewed by a local engineer.

The homeowner, builder, and local design professionals are responsible for confirming that the final construction documents meet local building codes, zoning rules, permitting requirements, and any HOA or planning commission conditions. Modifiable plan options are available to help with local requirements.

We recommend getting a current construction take-off from a local building supply store instead of relying on a generic designer material list. Local suppliers can help identify available materials, current pricing, and regional product options. Many quality building supply stores offer take-offs at no additional cost.

A construction take-off is a basic materials list, often in spreadsheet form, that estimates the materials needed for a homebuilding project. It usually includes foundation, rough framing, and other major lock-up materials. Finishes such as appliances, fixtures, cabinets, flooring, tile, and lighting are usually selected separately.

The Construction Guide is a helpful PDF that explains basic construction topics such as foundations, wall assembly, exterior finishes, and other general building concepts. It is designed to help customers better understand the construction process.

We regularly request photos from customers and plan designers and add new images when available. If the plan you like does not have photos, contact a Plan Advisor and we can try to obtain additional images or discuss affordable 2D or 3D rendering options.

Call 1-800-642-8078 or email mark@myhomefloorplans.com. A Plan Advisor can help with plan questions, purchase options, customization, printing, shipping, and next steps.