What’s Included

  • License To Build

  • Exterior Renderings

  • Floor Plan(s)

  • Exterior Elevations

  • Roof Plan

  • Door & Window Schedules

  • Power Plan

  • Lighting Plan

  • Selecting your property first will allow you to ensure that the plan you select will work with the orientation to views, building setbacks, and easements, if applicable.

  • Find the plan that speaks to you and fits your family & lifestyle. Purchase, receive your plans, and make any modifications, if desired.

  • We recommend meeting with 2-3 potential builders with good recommendations and select one that you think you can have a good working relationship with. We recommend tentatively selecting your builder before getting them to work up a full cost estimate. A builder will be more motivated and more thorough if they know they likely have the job,

  • Your builder, or you if you are acting as your own contractor, will solicit quotes from the various sub-contractors, and put together a final estimate. If you are using financing, you will then take this, along with your plans, to your bank for either a one-time or two-time close construction loan.

  • If you live in a municipality, you will likely need to submit your plans to the building department for approval. Your builder can help with this and will usually handle the submittal and permit process. If you’re building yourself, the process is usually relatively simple but you will definitely want to talk to the building department and find out what’s required.
    If your property is outside of the city limits and doesn’t fall under any other jurisdiction, this won’t apply.

  • Once everything is in place, your builder or yourself will mobilize sub-contractors and start building! For a typical house this process will take between 6 and 12 months.

Process

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • Architects are licensed through a state licensing board to practice in their specific state after completing a rigorous set of requirements. For the state of Texas (and typical of most states) this includes a master’s or 5-year bachelor’s degree in architecture, 3,740 hours of professional experience working for a licensed architect, and completion of 6 separate exams.
    There are many competent and talented non-licensed building designers and draftspersons, however there is no licensure process. A typical house is not required to be designed by an architect,

  • You will receive a PDF download of your plans. You can take this to your local print shop for physical copies, and your builder will also be able to make copies as needed for estimating and construction. There is also the option to purchase a PDF + CAD set which can be used to make modifications.

  • The copyright to each plan is retained by the architect. Each plan set includes a non-exclusive license to use the plans for the construction of a single dwelling. Plans are protected under the Federal Copyright Act, Title XVII which the courts have consistently upheld. Plans cannot be used or resold to anyone else (for example, with the sale of a lot).

  • Costs will vary based on plan and your location, as well as foundation type and level of finishes. Experienced builders will be able to give a rough estimate before doing a full quote. Professional cost estimators and online estimating softwares are available as well.
    Generally, depending on the factors mentioned above, as well as the quality and fees of general contractors and sub-contractors, the construction may run between $135 to $200 or more per square foot of conditioned space.

  • Yes - we can provide a mirrored, readable set of plans for an additional fee. Contact us for pricing and details.

  • Our plans are designed to be compliant with the International Residential Code and with standard building practices in the state of Texas. It’s possible that your local jurisdiction may have additional amendments or requirements.
    In addition, if you will be building within the city limits, your local zoning code may have specific material requirements. We recommend speaking to your local building and planning departments to find out whether you will need to make any modifications.

  • All plans include a single build license with the ability to make modifications. We don’t personally offer modifications so we recommend purchasing the PDF + CAD option and working with a local design professional for any changes. The CAD option will be more cost effective for you than asking someone else to redraw the plans from scratch.

  • We don’t include engineered foundation plans. Foundation design is dependent on your local soil and site conditions. We recommend working with a licensed structural engineer and your builder will often have one they already like to use. They will often include this fee in their overall estimate of construction cost.