To Begin:

Gather your list of Must Haves, Inspiration Photos, Land/ Lot Info, Sketches, $350 Deposit

We recommend that you bring some basic information with you to our first meeting. We will need to know where you will be building– on acreage in the country or a specific city lot. We would appreciate it if you could provide as many details about the site as possible. We also recommend that you make a wish list, prioritized if possible, of the things you want in and from your home. Many clients also bring snapshots and magazine pictures to help us visualize a style they like, but while these may be helpful, we cannot do anything that may infringe upon any copyrights. Also, we will ask you if you already have a builder. This is not necessary, but if you were recommended to us by a specific builder, we like to know. You may qualify for the builders’ rate.

A typical wish/need list might look something like this:

• 2000 square feet of living area, min., 2200 sq. ft. maxi
• 3 bedrooms-master to be isolated, and room for king-size bed
• Master bath with 2 sinks, 2 closets, big shower, whirlpool tub
• Hall bath with 2 sinks – if possible, also tub/ shower combo
• A small office (about 10′ x 11′)
• Kitchen with island and breakfast bar, also walk-in pantry
• Nook and Formal Dining Room – we have a 6′ antique hutch
• Utility must have hanging rod, room for freezer, ironing board
• Game room for kids’ TV and computer
• 3 car garage with workbench
• Like English Cottage style with high pitch and arch at porch

Meeting with Us:

Please call for an appointment for your first meeting. We can meet with you at our office between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM, Mondays through Thursdays. We usually book 3 to 5 days ahead, so please call as soon as you know when it will be convenient for you.

In-office consultation time is free, and we usually allow an hour to 90 minutes for each meeting. If you decide you wish us to proceed with preliminary sketches, you will need to put down a deposit of $350.00. This will cover your first sketch and any changes you order before your plan is finalized. This deposit will not be refunded but will be applied to your final bill if the project is finalized within 90 days.

During our first meeting, we will discuss your wants and needs for your family, your budget, and your typical household routine. We will discuss the different types of homes and the features usually included in each style. If you have questions about builders or the building or design process, we will try to answer them as fully as possible. We try to keep up with many of the newest products and innovations for your home. If you have questions about features and products you might want to include in your home, let us know, and we’ll do some research for you.

Preliminary Sketches:            $350 Deposit Required 

Once you have ordered preliminary sketches, we put your name on our work order list. We work on jobs in the order they are received. We usually take 7 to 10 business days to have your first sketch ready. We will do our best to meet your needs and wishes while keeping you within budget. We will email a PDF file of your plan so you can see it immediately.

Next: Your Homework

Review your sketch. If necessary, print it out and mark up any changes you’d like to see. Email or text your changes and notes, and we’ll make those changes until you’re satisfied. We can repeat this process as needed until everything is right.

Most builders can get an approximate bid from our sketches, and they will be able to consult with you and make suggestions for changes or adjustments to your home. Your sketch will include room sizes and basic notes. We will figure your square footage of living area, and that will be noted on the sketch. We will also include an elevation sketch of the front of your home. If your building site is particularly complicated or limiting, we may also provide you with a sketch of your lot with your home placed on it.

You may have questions about changes as you work with your family and/or your builder on your sketch. Just give us a call, and we’ll be happy to help. Changes can often be made over the phone or by text, and new PDF files can be emailed within a day or two. When you are ready to bring your sketch back for changes or to finalize your plan, call for another appointment, and we’ll get you in as soon as possible. You may make changes to your sketches as many times as necessary to achieve the home of your dreams, but our clients often try to make as many changes as needed after the first sketch to cut down on turnaround time. Though we try to expedite sketch changes, it still may require 3 to 7 business days to return sketch changes.

Once a house sketch is ready to finalize, expect it to be generated as a check set in 5 to 7 business days. Once you receive a check set, please examine it carefully for any omissions or additions of notes. All changes should be made BEFORE you ask us to FINALIZE your plan, as any changes made after that will incur additional by-the-hour charges. Please remind your builder of this in case they have any suggestions.

Finalizing Your Plan:                   Balance Due

It would be best if you made ALL CHANGES to your sketch BEFORE you ask us to finalize your plan. Once you order FINAL PLANS, we will complete your plan and get you a copy of your check set. At this time, the balance will be due. Your check-set will be a nearly complete set of plans: Foundation (if needed), Floor Plan, Elevation (all four sides of the home’s exterior), Roof Plan, and Electrical Plan. The final plan will include your Plot (site) Plan and any other required documents. You should spend a little time looking over this check-set copy to make sure we have not missed anything on your plan. If you wish to add notes, like appliance model numbers, flooring or cabinetry notes, finish notes, etc.–this is the time to do it!

Ask your builder to look it over at this time. They have knowledgeable eyes that can see things others might miss. If everything looks correct, We’ll invoice you with your final bill. Once this is paid, we’ll provide you with the entire set of plans that you can take/ send to your favorite printers.

When your home is completed, we recommend that you order a clean, complete set of plans to keep with your family’s important records. This can help if you ever decide to remodel or add on in the future and could add perceived value to your home when it comes time to sell. Please look over our Prices Page for pricing details.
Click here for prices

We accept cash, checks, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, and credit cards through PayPal.