HOME DESIGN MODIFICATIONS
It’s Easier Than You Might Think, to Have It Your Way One of the biggest advantages of stock home plans is that they are not only affordable, but also changeable. Hopefully, you’ll discover a plan that is perfect just as it is. More likely, however, you’ll find several designs that come close to what you want, but with a little tweaking, would be exactly right.
Home plan modification, in most cases, is an easy, affordable solution to achieving a home design that meets your needs and wants. Any plan can be changed, and almost any change can be made, so don’t ignore plans that aren’t 100% on track with what you’re seeking.
Here are a few of the most commonly requested home plan changes:
- Garage: 2-car, to 3-car (or vice versa) Front-load, to Side-load (or vice versa)
- Foundation: Basement, crawlspace, or slab
- Master Suite: Usually to enlarge and add amenities
How to Modify Your Smaller, Smarter Home Plans from Garlinghouse
Simple modifications to your dream home, including minor non-structural changes and material substitutions, can be made by you and your builder with the consent of your local building official, by marking the changes directly on your blueprints. However, if you are considering making significant changes to your chosen design, we recommend that you use the services of The Garlinghouse Design Staff. We will help take your ideas and turn them into a reality, just the way you want.
Here's our procedure:
Call 800-235-5700 and order your modification estimate. The fee for this estimate is $50. We will review your plan changes and provide you with an estimate to draft your specific modifications before you purchase the vellums. Please note: A vellum must be purchased to modify a home plan design. After you receive your estimate, if you decide to have Garlinghouse do the changes, the $50 estimate fee will be deducted from the cost of your modifications. If, however, you chose to use a different service, the $50 estimate fee is non-refundable. (Note: Personal checks cannot be accepted for the estimate.)
A 75% deposit is required before we begin making the actual modifications to your plans.
Once the design changes have been completed to your vellum plan, a representative will call to inform you that your modified vellum plan is complete and will be shipped as soon as the final payment has been made. For additional information, call us at 1-800-235-5700. Please refer to the Modification Pricing Guide for estimated modification costs.
Reproducible Vellums for Local Modification Ease
If you decide not to use Garlinghouse for your modifications, we recommend that you follow our same procedure of purchasing vellums. You then have the option of using the services of the original designer of the plan, a local professional designer, or an architect to make the modifications.
With a vellum copy of our plans, a design professional can alter the drawings just the way you want, and then you can print as many copies of the modified plans as you need to build your house. And, since you have already started with our complete detailed plans, the cost of those expensive professional services will be significantly less than starting from scratch.
MODIFICATION PRICING GUIDE
Prices for changes will vary depending on the number of modifications requested, the house size, quality of original plan, format provided and method of design used by the original designer. Often, modifications cost around at least $1500, excluding the price of the (hand-drawn or computer generated) vellum.
Please contact us to receive more information on getting an estimate: 1-800-235-5700
