The home-plan business goes back at least 50 years, vastly predating the recent avalanche of direct-mail marketing of all forms of the American Dream.
The plan-book selections range literally from the thousands that come from firms that broker the works of architects and designers from around the country to companies that have whole in-house design staffs to the local architect who has compiled a dozen or so floor plans for certain styles, such as Victorian.
Costs can vary widely too, from perhaps $200 to $750, depending on what is ordered–number of copies, size of the house, whether lists of building materials are included, customized changes, and whether the plans are “erasable” or easily changed by a draftsman.
Such changes are part of the routine, the plan companies say. Not only do the home buyers usually have some personal amendments that they desire, but often local building codes require changes, the plan companies say.
In any case, ask a lot of questions before ordering plans: Most of the companies have staff that specialize in handling telephone inquiries.
This advice also applies to the neophyte computer user, who needs to confirm whether his or her own system meets the requirements of a given CD-ROM. Not all do.
