Although it is a difficult project, building a home for yourself has never been easier. Technology allows us to access large collections of house plans that have been designed by expert architects. There’s an abundance of options to choose from and anyone’s preferences are met by these providers. If you are interested in purchasing a design, take a look at the following 6 best places to shop for house plans.
6 Best Places To Shop House Plans For Sale
The best place to shop house plans for sale is HousePlans because they have more than 50,000 designs available. However, it’s not the only website on the market.
- Most Popular Provider: HousePlans
- Best For Family Homes: Family Home Plans
- Best Customer Support: HomePlans
1. HousePlans
The leader in this industry has been operating for more than ten years. They offer a wide range of house layouts that are suitable both for big and small budgets. A clean design and easy-to-use interface on their website make it easy for anyone to browse their products regardless of their experience with computers.
One of their strong points is the 5% discount on any house plan if you manage to find a cheaper alternative. This provider is well-known for their reduced prices and they maintain a reputation that’s making them known across the nation. From country farmhouses to modern mansions, you will find what you’re looking for at the most popular house plan provider in the US.
Pros:
- Offers a 5% discount if you manage to find a cheaper price
- More than 50,000 house plans are available
- Most popular provider in the country
Cons:
- A customer complained that the house is 15% larger than needed
- Customer service is not helpful
2. eplans
This traditional provider is undergoing a digitalization phase, conducting most of its business online. The website is optimized for a smooth experience and navigating different categories of house plans is easy and intuitive. You can find cabin styles, southwestern layouts, barndominiums and even house plans with an in-law suite.
Designs for luxurious properties with large heated spaces are available for those with high budgets. If you don’t want to invest a fortune in this project, eplans offers low-budget options and green houses that are designed with energy efficiency in mind, allowing you to save money in the long term.
Pros:
- Operating for 65 years
- Millions of house plans sold
- One of the best-looking websites
Cons:
- Weak social media presence
- Not accredited by the Better Business Bureau
3. Family Home Plans
Operated by Garling House Company, this website is an option worth considering by families who are looking for large properties. With thousands of plans to choose from, this provider has most of its layouts designed with a lot of living space. Just like HousePlans, you will also get a 5% discount if you can find a cheaper price for a specific layout.
While most providers operate strictly in the US, Family Home Plans caters to the European market as well. That’s why you will see a lot of plans that feature the style of the old continent, including French country homes and Scandinavian modern layouts. We were impressed with the experience this provider has, especially when it comes to family homes.
Pros:
- Best place to shop for large house plans
- Special features are included by default
- Customers can customize their house plans
Cons:
- Some customers encountered problems with payment
- Information about materials is not provided
4. HomePlans
While the name is similar to its competitor, HousePlans, the way this business operates is different. Their mission is to make home designs affordable for anyone and you will find many cheap options that offer great value for the money. HomePlans collaborates with featured designers including Studio Ballard and Green Living which are known to be amongst the best in this industry.
We see the potential in this provider but some people might have difficulties trying to navigate the website which could use some improvements. Customer service is highly responsive and they helped us with any questions we had, so feel free to reach out to them if you’re interested in particular details.
Pros:
- Has a lot of affordable options
- Great value for the money
- Customer service is helpful to clients
Cons:
- The website is difficult to navigate
- Photos of layouts are too small to see
5. Architectural Designs
If you have been searching for house plans before, chances are you’ve already visited their website. Architectural Designs is a family-owned business that’s been operating since the 1980s. Clients love this house plan provider because it offers a lot of flexibility. You can customize the layouts and make special requests to their team.
From small cottages to modern A-frames, there are plenty of plans for you to choose from. We like that you can include a basement in most layouts for an additional price, which is a valuable feature for families who want to maximize the storage or heated space.
Pros:
- A family-owned business with a strong reputation
- You can customize the plans and make special requests
- Modifications take only 48 hours to be implemented
Cons:
- Several complaints with delivery issues
- Prices are higher than average
6. The House Designers
Another provider worth considering is The House Designers, which is a fresh name on the market. They serve customers from the US and 56 other countries around the world. While their plans are available online, clients from the US and Canada can choose to receive the layouts in physical format.
There are plenty of house plans to choose from and it’s easy to shuffle through the various categories you are interested in. Customer satisfaction is their main priority and you will always have your questions answered if you contact their team. We love the live chat feature where you can get a reply within minutes.
Pros:
- House plans in physical format for customers in the US and Canada
- The website is very easy to navigate
- The live chat feature connects you with customer service within minutes
Cons:
- Some builders have a hard time working with these plans
- Garages are usually smaller than average
Factors To Consider
House plan providers are in tight competition with each other. Each business has to come up with special features that will keep customers interested. While their strongest selling points are impressive, there are several other basic factors to consider.
Website
Is it easy to navigate their website? You will do most of the research online, and that means several hours spent navigating between categories, comparing house plans and analyzing details. Those who are not surfing the internet often will have a hard time browsing a poorly optimized website.
Customer Support
If you have a question about a specific layout, you should get a clear answer from the provider’s team. Some businesses will let you make special requests and changes to the house plan, but you have to get in contact with one of their agents first. Look through online reviews and find out what this experience was for previous clients.
Specifications
Because home plans are a complex subject, it’s better if you get all the necessary specifications. Your project managers and the builders will make good use of them while they work on your house. If the provider only gives vague details, you won’t be able to match the layout and the result might be different from what you expected.
Why You Should Trust Us
Not every house plan provider can be trusted and we don’t want you to end up working with a business that has a bad reputation. Our team interacted and analyzed all available options before filtering them. While they have their flaws, all 6 providers featured in this article managed to exceed our expectations. This way, you get to collaborate with experts in this industry who are known for their high customer satisfaction.
How Much Do These Plans Cost?
The price for a house plan is heavily influenced by the total living space and the layout itself. For example, a small cottage plan with 800 square feet of living space will cost you around $1,000. Luxurious options are also available where mansions measuring 4,230 square feet are being priced above $4,000.
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