Modify Floor Plans to Fit Your Needs

The good news is that we offer customizable house plans, so you can make many changes to a home plan. Examples of small changes or edits to the layout include adding doors or windows or moving walls that don't hold up the house. Medium changes include house alterations such as making the kitchen larger, adding a room, or changing the foundation. Major modifications to an existing house plan can include increasing the square footage of the house by 15-20% or moving critical, load-bearing walls that support the house.

When changing a house plan, think about what's feasible. If you make a house much smaller, it might not be structurally sound. You also need to follow national rules and local building codes, so modifications to reduce the width of hallways or doorways may not be in compliance. Also, remember that modification fees increase based on the extent of customization required, which should be taken into consideration along with your home building budget.

The cost of modifying a house plan you purchase from The Plan Collection depends on how much you want to change it. Small, relatively straightforward changes cost $500 to $1,000. If you need a bit more done, medium-sized changes can cost in the range of $1,100 to $2,000. Significant, more extensive changes are $2,000 or more. It is important to note that the total cost of a modified house plan is the modification fee plus the cost of the plan (typically the PDF file or CAD file is the required plan purchase).

It's usually cheaper to change a plan that already exists than to create a brand new one. Even though there are costs for making changes, these are often less than the high design/architectural fees and lengthy timeline of starting a plan from scratch.

This will depend upon the number and type of changes needed. Typically, once you and the house designer have agreed upon the changes to be made to the plan, the designer can implement those changes in 2-5 weeks.

You receive a free, no-obligation quote before you purchase anything. Start by finding the house plan that best meets your needs. Share your ideas with us, big or small. Once we receive your request, we match you with the house designer who will be working with you from start to finish. Within a few business days, you'll get your free cost estimate quote. After approving the quote and purchasing the required plan file, you will sign a customization agreement directly with the design professional, who will begin your modifications. Throughout the design process, you will receive one-on-one guidance to ensure the plan meets both your vision and national building standards.

Fortunately, many of our designs come with an option to purchase a plan in a right-reading reverse or mirror (type is backwards) 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 PDF file or CAD file plus an additional $150-$300 in modification fees.

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 the foundation option you need, please let us know. If the foundation is not available, the typical cost would be the price of a PDF file or CAD file plus an additional $150-$300 in modification fees.

Local building rules impact how much you can change things. What must the width of hallways, doorways, and staircases be? Can I add another space to the garage? If I raise the ceilings, will the ridge height of the home be acceptable? All of these questions are likely addressed in your local building codes, be it your state, county, or city/town. Many jurisdictions have adopted model codes, often the International Residential Code (IRC), and adopt it in whole or with modifications. Other municipalities use it as a guide to create their own code. A fast and accurate approach to get answers to your questions and their building code implications is often a professional home builder. An experienced builder will also have a good understanding of the local building department's process and expectations. An alternative approach is to contact your municipal building department directly for answers; however, depending on their backlog, you may find it a time-consuming option.

When you make big changes to your home's structure, like making it more than 20% bigger or moving critical walls that hold up the house, these modifications are considered major and thus expensive. We'll need to make a lot of adjustments to your house plans. Our designers will update the right files for your builders to make sure everything is structurally sound. It's also important that these major changes follow national building rules. Given the widespread differences in local building codes, you should work with your local draftsman or engineer to add municipal building code changes to the plans.

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 design.

We receive countless modification requests only limited by the imagination. That said, here are some of our most common modifications and our trending customizations. Our most common requests include making modifications to the layout of a kitchen or bathroom, adding or removing a non-load-bearing wall, and bumping out part of an exterior wall by 2-3 feet to add space to a room. Trending house plan customizations reflect many homeowners' wish to build their forever home. Ground-floor studies or home offices are modified into optional bedrooms with closet space (for visiting in-laws or aging-in-place). Bonus rooms above the garage are finished with an ensuite bath to be used as an extra bedroom or a game room. Other popular trends in modifications of house plans are driven by empty nesters looking to downsize. Many couples who fall in this category are not ready to give up all the luxuries they've grown accustomed to. Popular modifications include adding more space to primary suites, including bumping out a wall, and reconfiguring the bathroom and walk-in closets for greater spaciousness and mobility.