Modifications, Part 1
One of the first questions you should ask yourself if you are thinking about modifying a set of house plans is:
Are my Modifications Feasible?
As a general rule when it comes to modifying house plans, anything is possible. An experienced draftsman can usually make any change you can imagine, but there are a few issues to keep in mind.
The first and most common issue we run into with modifications is when people don't have a clear idea of what they want. If you are thinking about modifications, you should always have a plan. Where does a draftsman even begin when his only instructions are "reduce the home by 3,500 square feet" or "we need 5 bedrooms instead of 3". We at The Plan Collection are more than happy to discuss your modification options with you, but we need you to have a plan first. If you want to reduce the square footage, we need to know where you want to take it from. If you want to add an additional bedroom or two, we need to know where you want to put them.
Secondly, you need to be aware that your floor plan modifications can change the way the home looks. Every time you move an exterior wall, you invariably end up changing the roofline as well. You also need to keep in mind that sometimes two windows that were once evenly spaced are now unbalanced. Most of the time, these are rather small differences that can easily be remedied, but you really should be mindful of the effects your modifications might have. Try to get in the habit of visualizing your changes and how they will affect the rest of the home. (Especially keep in mind the roof and windows.)
The third issue to consider is cost. Most modification specialists charge $75-$85 per hour for their services. If you aren't careful, your modifications can easily cost more than $2,000 above and beyond the cost of the house plans themselves. If you have some changes in mind, call or email us with your list of desired changes (click here for our contact info). We can normally get you an accurate quote within a day or two. The main thing to remember is to keep it simple.
Modifying a set of house plans is a great way to get exactly what you want in your dream home. It is usually a very simple and easy process, but if you can run into some big problems if you aren't careful. Just remember the three suggestions we've just discussed:
- Always have a plan
- Get in the habit of Visualizing your changes
- Keep it simple
By following these simple guidelines you can rest assured that your modifications are indeed feasible and that you are well on your way to building your dream home!
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