MODIFY YOUR HOME DESIGN TO GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT AND SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS

Hundreds of thousands of houses have been built based upon pre-drawn house plans. However, one thing is certain: the vast majority of homeowners made changes to the plan while building the home. Some of these changes may have been very minor while others represented substantial modifications. If you are interested in making changes to a plan you've found, we here at The Plan Collection hope to help you determine the best route to modify that house plan.

If you have really minor modifications...

By far the simplest and least expensive to make modifications to a house plan is through a technique called "redlining." While called blueprints, all plans today are printed on white paper with blue or black line lettering. As a result, notations can be made easily on the paper using a pencil, pen, or redline pen to indicate minor modifications.

Redlining is not suitable for major changes, but it will work for the majority of minor changes. Examples of minor modifications using redlining include:
-- Moving or resizing a door or a window
-- Changing exterior finishes
-- Changing interior fixtures or cabinet layouts
-- Removing a chimney or fireplace
-- Shifting interior partitions that have no effect on structural supports

Any sort of redlining is best done by an experienced contractor who is familiar with local building codes. Certain building authorities will not accept redlined blueprints so it is best to check with your local building officials first. While redlining can be done on any set of construction drawings, we recommend the reproducible master for redlining purposes so you can make the changes once and then make additional copies as you see fit.

I have more significant changes and want to do them locally...

If you are contemplating more significant changes and would like to have a local designer or your builder do the changes for you, then you should consider purchasing the reproducible master or the CAD file for that house plan. If your builder is willing and able to make the modifications to the plan, then this is often the quickest and least expensive option. If you prefer to work with a local designer, the CAD (computer aided drafting) file is often the best bang for the buck as it will save you time and money working with the local designer. Most knowledgeable designers today are very familiar with CAD but be sure to check first.

Some examples of more significant modfications that require either a reproducible master or CAD file and the assistance of a professional designer or experienced builder include:
-- Adding a room, garage or porch
-- Changing the foundation types if not available with the basic plan packages
-- Significant interior layout modifications
-- Adapting a plan to meet local codes or engineering requirements

Have our designer team make your modifications...

If you have found a plan on our site and would like to have our designer team help you with your modifications, just click on the "Modify this Plan" button on the plan details page to itemize your changes and submit a request for a free quote.

MODIFICATIONS FAQ

Helpful information on some of the most common questions we receive regarding house plan modifications:

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Can my changes be made?

Most modifications are feasible. We do find, however, some requests related to significantly “shrinking” the size of a house cannot be made while keeping the plan’s layout feasible. For example, national guidelines and local building codes require hallways, door entrances and staircases to have a constant width. As a result, sometimes it is not possible reduce the size of a house to the extent desired.

How much will it cost?

All modifications done by our design team will still require the purchase of either a reproducible master or CAD file. Typically, modification fees range from $700 - $1,200 (plus the cost of the reproducible master or CAD file), but modification fees can vary based upon the extent of the modifications requested. Free quote requests are usually completed within two business days.

How long will it take?

This will depend upon the number and type of changes needed. Typically, once you and the designer have agreed upon the changes to be made to the home plan, the designer can implement those changes in five to seven business days.

What is the process?

The first step is finding the house design that meets most of your needs. The second is having a clear plan in mind. This will help you understand the impact of your changes for your new design. Then go to the “customize” tab on our plan details page and submit the specifics of your changes so we can quickly respond with a quote.

What if I just want the house plan in reverse?

Fortunately, many of our designs come with an option to purchase a plan in a right reading reverse or mirror option. If you find a house that does not come with either option, a modification can be made. The normal costs would be the price of a CAD file plus an additional $150-$250 in modification fees.

Can I change the foundation option?

Yes, it is possible. Many of our plans come with options to purchase different foundations. If you find a house that does not come with foundation option you need, please let us know. Sometimes foundation options have been recently added by the designer but our system has not yet been updated to reflect the new foundations. If the foundation is not available, the typical cost would be the price of a CAD file plus an additional $150-$250 in modification fees

What if I want a completely custom home plan?

We work with a large network of very talented designers and architects. We will be more than happy to put you in contact with someone in your local area. Submit a request for a custom home design