Custom Design

DO YOU ALSO DO COMMERCIAL PROJECTS?
At this time we do not provide plans for any commercial spaces. We enjoy and put all our focus on residential projects.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO OUR INITIAL MEETING?
To make full use of the consultation please come prepared to discuss your budget, goals and needs, at your initial consultation. All of these issues are essential in determining what kind of project is structurally and financially feasible.

When we meet meet you, we will assess how we can best contribute to your project. At that meeting we will run through what will be involved from the early stages of developing a design to its construction.

WILL I NEED ANYTHING ELSE TO APPLY FOR A BUILDING PERMIT?
Our plans will require a third party structural engineer to provide their own plans, geotechnical report(s), and possibly an energy design compliant with the current step code.

We have a list of professionals that we can recommend to you.

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN THE PLANS ARE COMPLETE?
You will receive a digital version (PDF) and a minimum of 3 printed copies (24” x 36”) of your architectural plans.

CAN I RE-USE A PLAN?
No, your plan is solely for the build of 1 house on the designated property specified prior to commencing the project.

CAN A PLAN BE CONVERTED TO METRIC?
All plans are designed using Imperial measurements (feet and inches) as we are based in North America. But the short answer - yes, all plans can be changed to metric.

 

HOW LONG DOES THE DESIGN PROCESS TAKE?
Depending on the complexity of your project we will explain how long each stage will take and set targets for their completion. On average, our projects take anywhere from 2-6 months.

HOW INVOLVED CAN I GET?
In essence, as much as you would like to. Any successful project is a result of a good working relationship and collaboration between a client and designer. We aim to guide and enable Clients to take as much involvement as they would like.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I NEED TO GET STARTED WITH THE DESIGN?
Yes, you are responsible for providing the necessary documents needed to begin the project. Depending on your project, you may need reports, surveys, existing blueprints, etc. We will provide you a list of the things we require.

DO YOU MAKE SITE VISITS?
Yes! We love checking up on local projects and seeing it all come to life. We make periodic visits during stages and can be there if you have any questions throughout.

If you are located over 1 hour from our office and a site visit is needed, additional travel fees may occur.

DO I GET A CAD VERSION?
No, since they could be altered we do not give out the CAD files or any other working files.

 
 

House Plans

CAN I MAKE CHANGES TO A STOCK PLAN?
Absolutely! Please contact us using the form on the specific plan’s page. We’ll contact you to discuss the changes you’re looking to have done and give you an estimate for the work required to make those changes.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO CUSTOMIZE MY PLAN?
Plan modification pricing varies depending on the size of your house and the complexity of the design. Contact us for a quote, it’s quick, easy and free. Remember: you can use an eraser on the drafting table or a sledgehammer on the job site.

CAN I RE-USE A PLAN?
With your house plan purchase, you are licensed to use our house plans to build (1) home at the designated address specified prior to purchase.

CAN I VIEW MORE PHOTOS OF A PARTICULAR PLAN?
If the plan you like does not have photos displayed, or a limited amount, it is likely we have not been able to get photographs yet. Please put in your request and we will try and make it happen as soon as possible.

WHAT IS YOUR REFUND POLICY?
Because of the digital nature of our products, they cannot be returned and are non-refundable once delivered. Be sure to do all your research prior to ordering plans so that you end up with a house plan (and home) that you love.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR CHANGES?
Prior to purchasing a plan, contact us for an estimate on the changes you’d like done. If you’re happy with the estimate, purchase the plan on our website. We will email you for your information (to be added to the plans) and our Design Service Agreement. Once signed, we will get your project onto the schedule and start working with you. Payment for the plans with changes will be due prior to delivering the plans.

HOW DO I GET MY PLANS ONCE THEY’RE PURCHASED?
Once you purchase a house plan on our website, we will email you for your information (to be added to the plans) and our Design Service Agreement. Once signed, we will email you your house plan. If you’ve purchased a plan, and haven’t received an email yet, please contact us.

 

CAN A PLAN BE CONVERTED TO METRIC?
All plans are designed using Imperial measurements (feet and inches) as we are based in North America. But the short answer - yes, all plans can be changed to metric.

DO I GET A CAD VERSION?
No, since they could be altered we do not give out the CAD files or any other working files.

ARE YOUR STOCK PLANS READY TO SUBMIT TO MY BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR PERMITTING?
Every county is different. Our plans are designed to BCBC 2018 standards and contain enough information to build a home, but they may not include all of the information that your local authority requires. Prior to application for a building permit or the start of actual construction, we strongly advise that you consult your local building official to verify what you will need to submit for your building permit.

WHY SHOULD I BUY A STOCK HOUSE PLAN VS. A CUSTOM PLAN?

  1. You can achieve cost savings of up to 90% over custom house plans. It may take hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to design a home from scratch. A ready-made plan saves you time and money - and can be modified to suit your needs.

  2. Many pre-drawn plans have been previously built, and most have had the construction problems resolved. This translates into far fewer design headaches and reduced labor costs for you at the time of building your plan.

  3. When working with a ready-made house plan, final cost estimates are more accurate because details, such as generating a materials list (check availability), are already taken into account. Savvy customers dedicate most of their budget towards high-quality building materials and home amenities, instead of losing the bulk of their budget to engage an expensive architect to design, re-design, and prepare working drawings for contractor bids - only to learn that the cost of building the house exceeds their budget.

  4. Ready-made house plans have the same high-quality design specs as custom plans, because many plans were originally created as custom plans by skilled architects and home designers.

  5. Speedy delivery of your plans - within a few days, instead of a few months, you'll have your construction documents in hand.

  6. Whichever your decision - stock or custom - the right house plan is waiting for you!

 

Consulting

WHO IS IT NOT FOR?
It’s not for you if you’re wanting to DIY your home. We are not here to teach you how to be a jack/jill-of-all-trades and DIY your own home. We are here to support and educate you in becoming the best homeowner that you can be, and that starts with hiring the right team for your project.

HOW MUCH CAN I ACCOMPLISH IN A CONSULTATION?
Our clients are pleasantly surprised that they can get all their questions answered during a consultation and come away from it feeling inspired, full of new ideas, a better understanding of the industry and confident in the next steps to take. Because information is submitted beforehand, your project is understood going into the consultation so she can be naturally very efficient with the time allotted.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A CONSULTATION?
Preparation can be as minimal or thorough as a client feels is necessary to accomplish their goals from the consultation. Prior to the call we will email you a list of items that would be useful to submit prior to the meeting. Some of those items include images of the house or property, inspirational images, plans, and documents like surveys, reports, etc. Anything that you thing would be useful for the questions you’d like answered.

 

DO I NEED TO HIRE YOU FOR DESIGN TO GET A CONSULT?
No. We would just like to support you any way we can.

WHAT TIMEZONES ARE THE CONSULTATIONS DISPLAYED IN?
All consultation times are displayed in your local time zone, so even if Chelsey lives in a different state, or even country, the times are always shown in the timezone you are visiting the site from.

WHAT IF NONE OF THE AVAILABLE DATES/TIMES WORK FOR ME?
I do my best to keep my availability up to date in my calendar, however, if you would like to book further in advance (i.e. months ahead) or none of the listed times work for you, please email us at pottsdesignco@gmail.com and I will do my best to find an alternative time

WHAT IF THE PRICE IS OUT OF MY RANGE?
We understand that 1:1 consultations can be outside of a homeowners price range. Because of this we have created Homeowner HQ, a home project hub and sister company to Potts Design & Co. It’s an online platform that hosts a library of information, group consulting, pre-recorded Q&A’s, 4-1:1 consultations, programs, product and trade recommendations, and so much more. Get access to Chelsey and a retired contractor, skilled carpenter, civil contractor and machine operator. All of this for a very low price. Want to just try it out? Sign up for our Open House. Visit www.homeownerhq.co for more information. 

 

Something Else?

 

STILL NEED TO CONTACT US?

You can do so right here and we will get you all squared away.