Before You Buy House Plans

You will find thousands of stock building plans in hefty catalogs which include floor plans and elevation drawings. If you see a house you like, you can order complete construction drawings.

Many house plan publishers have Web sites with powerful search engines to help you find plans for the size and style you seek. Here are some favorites.

Do you prefer the old, traditional styles? Why not look at the original building plans used in days gone by? These plans won't have the detailed specifications you need to construct your home, but they are a good starting place for recreating historic designs.

Even if you can't draw a straight line, you can use these computer programs to create floor plans and 3-D views for your dream house.

Most homeowners who purchase stock plans find that they need to make a few alterations. Sometimes, the stock plan is merely a starting point for creating an original design. Who do you hire?