Please review my house plan!

15 years ago

Hello all, been lurking for a little while. We've FINALLY gotten a contract on our lot, now we're settling on financing, etc.

We aren't looking to build our dream home, so this house will be around 2000-2100 sq feet. We really like our builder, he built my parent's custom home, so i'm very familiar with him and comfortable. We're working on a fixed budget. He said, to save us money, we can just show him the plan we like off any website and he'll draw the plans for us for a fraction of the cost. So we showed up a plan we like (http://www.coolhouseplans.com/details.html?pid=39160) and he just gave us his first preliminary drawing with a few changes we requested. I have whited out and edited some things i've already wanted changed.

This plan is close, but obviously a little rough at this point. He just faxed it over so its hard to read the dimensions, and there are a few things we are wanting to change. We are meeting with him tomorrow to go over the plan specifically and fine tune some things. He says he can't do the exterior elevations, but the ones from the website will work (we're not really changing anything on the exterior).

So, here is the plan. I know its nothing unique, and a little "spec house-ish", but its what we want/need at this point. And there are some things that need to be fixed (such as I wrote on there, porch needs to be centered, windows centered, etc.). I know its hard to comment on it too much b/c of lack of dimensions, but perhaps just the overall flow and functionality of the house? Thanks all!

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Comments (7)

creek_side
15 years ago
He said, to save us money, we can just show him the plan we like off any website and he'll draw the plans for us for a fraction of the cost.

It sounds like your builder is just redrawing a copyrighted plan with a few changes without paying for the original plans. I'll defer to the attorneys here on the legality of that. I'll also predict that you won't get too many people commenting on the plans, at least not in the manner you hoped for.
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jeffintx
Original Author
15 years ago
Good point, hadn't though of that....
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marthaelena
15 years ago
I agree with Creek Side.
You could end up paying a lot more than what you are actually saving. You will have peace of mind if you just buy the plans. Many designers allow minor changes to the plans that could be done by the GC. I do know that some stock plan sites save the IP of a person that save or copy their plans
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bevangel_i_h8_h0uzz
15 years ago
As an IP attorney, I'm going to chime in here with a link that anyone who is even THINKING about allowing their builder to redraw a copyrighted plan from off the so they can use it without a license should read...

JeffinTx - This is not the kind of thing that most lay people would know about so I'm not knocking you. But your builder OUGHT TO have KNOWN better and it bothers me that he would have suggested this. You might want to ponder this question. If your builder is willing to steal the intellectual property of other to "save you a few dollars," what other kinds of corners will he cut in building your home to save HIMSELF money?

Here is a link that might be useful: Million Dollar Verdicts! Why You Need to Know Who Owns the Copyright to the Construction Documents
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tinycastles
15 years ago
Jeffintx- don't take it personally, the forum is just looking out for your best interest. The house isn't built, the plans were not finalized, so I am assuming no harm no foul. Lesson learned. Just buy the reproducible (and strongly consider hiring a new builder) and you'll be fine. After all, it's a small price to pay to get your dream house....and avoid prosecution.

Good luck on your project:)
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tracey_b
15 years ago
Just curious..... if a builder has already bought a specific set of plans and built the house previously, he can "re-use" the plans again, right?

Thanks!
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creek_side
15 years ago
Custom plans and widely available stock plans almost always are limited to construction of a single house, which means they can't simply be reused. However, a builder can always negotiate with the architect for the purchase of a license to build additional homes.
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