Avid A Vision In Design

Most people know that architectural home plans are used to design and build new homes.  But did you know these same types of drawings are used in remodeling projects, too?   Many homeowners and professional remodelers skip this important phase in home renovation and end up with projects that cost two or three times more than initially planned.  To stay within your budget and ensure you get the best results from your home remodeling, create a detailed renovation plan before any construction begins.

Most people start a remodeling project with a call to a professional contractor.  The contractor comes to your house and walks around the property while you attempt to describe your vision in detail.  After a few calculations, the contractor presents you with a total project estimate.  This leads to a period of negotiations that eventually ends with some formal agreement.  Then construction begins.  As the first sledge hammer crashes into the interior drywall, you wonder if the contractor envisions the project exactly like you do.   You will soon find out and by then, it may be too late.     

From the initial planning to the final clean up, you and your remodeling contractor should work from the same set of detailed renovation plans created by a qualified renovation designer.  This ensures your contractor understands the scope of work required to meet your needs and desires.  Moreover, it empowers you to make intelligent decisions throughout the project.   You can easily compare quotes from multiple contractors because each company is bidding on the same project with the same material list.  You can make changes to the plan and see how it will affect the final cost.  You can even purchase the materials directly from the supplier and eliminate the hidden markup embedded in every quote.  With this type of power in your hands, the labor and material savings you enjoy will more than make up for the cost of the plans.             

Renovation plans show detailed dimensional layouts of the existing structure, a final rendered depiction of the future structure and the steps needed to complete the construction.  Renovation plans are scaled architectural line drawings printed on large sheets of paper and may include full color computer renderings of the proposed project.   

Many home builders - challenged by the recent economic downturn - are using remodeling projects to subsidize their struggling home building business.  Many of these builders are enjoying the added profit margins, too.  In fact one local home builder stated “I love home remodeling projects.  I quote the job at $30,000 and I end up billing them $90!” 

Renovation plans put the power in your hands.  Whether it is a kitchen remodel, home addition or adding an apartment above a garage, a good plan is the first step to a successful project that stays within your budget.  On your next remodeling job, be sure to empower yourself with a complete renovation plan from a qualified renovation designer.

Tags: design, home building, home construction, home plans, House Plans, new design, new home, new home design, remodeling, renovation

This entry was posted on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 8:17 am and is filed under House Plans.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. No Comments. Leave trackback from your own site.

Building a new home can be one of the most exciting events of your life.    Designing the right space, on the perfect property, in the ideal neighborhood is the epitome of the American dream.  But this dream can quickly turn to nightmare without proper construction site and labor management.  If left in the hands of your builder, your new home could end up costing you a fortune in wasted time and materials.  A complete and detailed set of home plans will empower you to make the right decisions throughout the project and maintain control over all material expenses and labor charges.

Building a new home involves a complex set of tasks, performed by a number of unrelated subcontractors working toward a common goal.  If the tasks are not coordinated, the labor is not managed and the goal is not well defined, the entire process will turn to chaos and the final results will be less than satisfying.  A complete and comprehensive set of construction documents (aka blue prints or house plans) is the ideal tool to organize and manger your home building project.  Home plans include a full color rendering of the future home, side and rear elevations detailing the exterior materials required, foundation details, a sophisticated roof plan and a dimensional floor plan that is concise and clear.  Advanced plan sets should include material lists, assembly guides and virtual models that ensure the home is built properly and efficiently.   

Most people think of home plans as merely the wall layout of the home.  Though these drawings are vital in defining the living spaces and traffic flow, foundation and roof plans are the most important documents of any plan set.  Proper foundation and roof design ensures the structure is safe, sound and dependable.  Very detailed and sophisticated foundation and roof plans can actually reduce the cost of home construction by removing waste and confusion from typical trial-and-error contractors at the jobsite. 

Many floor plans available through online retailers barely address roof and foundation design.  In fact many online plans leave the task of foundation and roof design to the builder.  Unless the builder is willing to create new foundation and roof plans from the online purchased floor plan, you will be unable to maintain control of your home construction.  More importantly, you will be unable to ensure the home is sound and stable.    

Every building and structure ever built by humans started with a plan.  From Stonehenge to the Egyptian Pyramids all successful projects started with a plan.  Those buildings that stand the test of time, started with really good plans.  If you are contemplating building a home, be sure you are in control of the project and have a good plan.  A good understanding every aspect of home construction is vital to keeping your costs low and building the house of your dreams.  Every building project begins with a plan, but not all plans are good plans.  A comprehensive set of construction documents is the first step to making your dreams come true.

Tags: blue prints, building, floor plans, home building, home construction, home plans, House Plans, new construction

This entry was posted on Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 8:08 am and is filed under House Plans.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. No Comments. Leave trackback from your own site.

By Scott Lee McElyea

Over the last several years, the housing industry has become more and more unstable. However, even in the most challenging of economic times, the home builders that maximize all of their networking resources and skills are the ones that will not only survive when business is challenging, but thrive into the future.

Creating a lucrative network is much easier than you might think. Join trade associations such as the National Association of Home Builders.  Most of the members in this association will be your competition, however, this association will give your business credibility, while also giving you key insight as to what your competition is doing. Other networking opportunities include business groups like the Chamber of Commerce or the Small Business Association. (more…)

Tags: home builder, home building

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 at 10:11 am and is filed under Marketing.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. No Comments. Leave trackback from your own site.