Online house plans, accuracy?

[Timothy]

Any problems with plans ordered online or are they reasonably accurate out of the box, refering to estimated cost per location and dimensions once for construction. I'm in the San Juaqian Valley and have been offered the financial backing to build a spec home so I thought I'd do some research. Homes here are selling faster than they are being built.

[Rich]

I've never bought any plans online but I would treat them like any other set of plans I receive - double and triple check to make sure the dimensions close.. then go up to the roofline and make sure that it's right - check the pitches and make sure the heel heights close out.
I would imagine they're about as good as any set I get from any other architect nowadays :)

[Timothy]

I'm not sure how much faith I'll have in somone that I'll never meet and will never step foot on the project site. Thing is that there is obviosly going to be alot of time and money in having the plans drawn myself considering they could end up as good or bad as the ones I get online. Then theres the fact that I'm sure I'll have to take them to an engineer in the area to have changes made so they meet local and state codes so I can get that silly stamp. :wink: Guess I'm gonna have to sit down and do the math (time vs money). :( Anyways, I don't mean to carry on. I'm just thinking out load. :? Thanks once again for your input.

[grumpydasmurf]

I've never seen a set of plans WITHOUT errors. We are all human.

[steeler28546]

I built a Don Gardner home plan in Coastal NC and it was pretty close. I would recommend having a PE review and stamp it before construction starts. This is alot cheaper than hiring an architect!

[bkrahmer]

IMO, PEs are just another rubber-stamp. I paid good money for plans from a 'professional home designer/builder' in CO, for a house I will probably never build. It was stamped by an engineer, and they both missed the fact that the roof pitches and roofline profiles completely disagree. 2 heads may be better than 1 sometimes, but not always...

[Pokey]

i'm sceptical of online plan sources due to the fact that they are not designed with constrution practices and codes that are typical to the area you may be working in. For example i have gotten in a few plans that were purchased online that show block walls on a footing. I can tell you that in the 8 years i have lived in st louis i have seen one foundation coustructed from block. Just a small example but i would think an archetect that is framiliar with your area would be the best choice.

[rabadger]

So on line plans. Good Luck! Every set of on line purchased plans I have seen have to be modified to fit equipment, and ducts. People do not realize the cost involved to have a designer relocate the walls so you can vent a 40 gallon water heater to code. If you want to inmpress people with your first spec home get it done right. See www.HVAC-consult.com