Buying Stock Plans For Building Your Home; The Pros And Cons
“Stock Plans” are building plans which you can order from a magazine, catalog or website. Some builders offer stock plans, as well. Though not custom designed for you, homes built from stock plans can be very nice and quite appealing.
However, given the time and expense of building a home (which is a custom process by its nature) many would never consider anything but custom plans designed uniquely for them or by them. Never the less, stock plans can certainly be enticing and have definite value.
Here are some of the pros and cons of purchasing stock plans:
Pros:
- The cost of stock plans can be rather reasonable – at least at first. You’ll find prices in the thousand dollar range or less. There is usually a listing which shows the plans and their costs. When you have chosen a plan the purchasing process is easy. You simply choose the form and the quantity needed:
- Stock plans can save time in selecting a home. Since the designs are done and there for your review, you can select quickly and save time. Usually the plans are displayed as floor plans and exterior views. Depending on the catalog you may get just one front view, and sometimes you’ll be able to see a few other views to help you understand the design. It’s a mail-order solution. Mail-order items have been part of our culture for a long time – from mail-order brides, to mail order kit-houses from Sears.
- You get to review a variety of design viewpoints when looking at stock plans. Besides being stimulating it can cause you to consider “new” ideas that you likely have not considered before.
- Stock plans catalogs can get you thinking. They can start the imagination as you review the wide variety of plans. This can really be a great beginning, if nothing else, for the exploration of new ideas.
Cons:
- Stock plans are usually not ready for permitting. If submitted for permits without additional actions they will likely be rejected.
- Many permitting agencies now are requiring an Engineer’s or Architect’s seal (which looks like the notary seal you’ve probably seen). It is advisable that you check with your local building department before purchasing any set of plans. These professional stamps (plan certifications) are not as easy as going out and finding someone to stamp them. Professional Engineers and/or Architects will usually require re-draw or, at least, revisions and additional information and clarifications to bring the plans up to a standard that they are willing to stamp. Fees can range widely but you should definitely check this out in your area. This will also add time to the process.
- Revisions are nearly inevitable. Few are willing to build a custom home, even from non-custom plans, without at least changing a few things. This, too, can be expensive. Some stock plans suppliers do offer this service but at substantial cost of money and time. Usually you will have to hire a draftsman or a professional engineer or architect.
- Stock-Plans are reused plans which have been built numerous times before. To some, this is a negative factor.
- Stock plans are designed for mass-appeal, like cars and other consumer goods. This is beneficial for factory created goods because its the only way there can be duplication of efforts which save us money. But home building is quite different from manufacturing in a factory. Home building is done stick by stick in the field. It is always custom. Some would consider using a mass market home plan for a custom building job would be like custom building car and ending up with a Ford Taurus. What’s the point?
- Homes in our country have a wide variety of needs specific to the area. Stock plans try to adapt themselves to all these area. Areas of the country have snow requirements, basements, high winds, earthquakes, cold and hot temperatures as well as many other factors that are unique to each. Also certain types of building systems will be prominent in certain areas. Generic plans can’t cover all the possibilities. You will also find that the local tradesmen can easily identify the stock plans and sometimes ready themselves for problems – though increasing their prices.
Local builders’ stock plans will usually side step many of these problems. They will generally be ready for permits and will be recognized locally. You combine this with the builder’s ability to have the plans modified for you and this can work quite well. They may not be entirely custom, but still be an excellent way to begin.
In summary, stock plans are valuable for study and education and are fertile source of ideas. They, however, will likely turn out not as inexpensive as you first think, or as quick, and certainly will not be something designed exclusively for you.
Having a professional working for and with you to develop a custom design based upon your ideas, your notions, and various ideas you have collected from many sources, as well as his or her experienced creativity will allow you to take full advantage the truly custom nature of building a home.
Home building is the last industry where the products (homes) are truly custom. Consider that a custom design is the best way to take full advantage of this great opportunity.
Getting a customized and engineered plan is easier and less expensive than you think. To learn more about Custom Luxury Home Design by visit Ken Risley at the Engineer Designer website.
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