It's less about the seller and more about the product.

Stock plans are created for a single purpose -- to get you to buy.

Do you feel qualified to judge when a plan is good, and if it fits your building site?

So where will I find GOOD plans for consideration ? I’ve built an architect designed, custom home for myself. My sister wants my help in building a home. Time and budget rule out custom plans.

My sister wants my help

Have your sister join and communicate with the helpers here herself.

It's helpful to know things like her style, size requirements, building site, budget etc.

Many of the plan sites have the same generic plans, others are more specialized.

Isn't any website for plans a "mill"? If it isn't a mill, then it is a failure, right?

Does she have a builder already? They may have their own plans they have used before which at least they can cost estimate easily and make sense for the region.

Many years ago, I built a pretty good house that was a copy of a spec house that the builder had. We cut a lot of money out and some square footage, but it was the same plan. That plan had been done by a local designer/architect firm (meaning the designer did most of the work but his partner was an architect). We paid $2k for the modifications and the permission to use the plan. It was 4k sqft.

We should have added south facing windows as our orientation wasn't the same as the original plan. But it was a typical suburban plot with no real wiggle room for site.

If budget rules out real plans then it should rule out building. Same issue for time. Not everyone (in fact the vast majority) should not build houses. Without a lot of breathing room in both time and money, it is a major stress inducer. Bad for health and marriage.

Southern Living is better than most but doesn't offer CAD drawings. Even if you find a good design in a CAD format, you will need someone to modify and complete the construction documents.

A house project shouldn't begin with a design; tell us the location, lot size, general topography, schedule, budget and availablility of contractors.

If you're not willing to reveal all that information, find a highly recommended builder.

No time and no budget says buy existing, or in a tract builder subdivision.

Define "GOOD".

The best plans are created, not found. If your sister is building a house she may not be able to afford NOT having a house designed for her; after all, it is just a place for her life.

Look at the plans on Southern Living. If you're more budget constrained look at the kits on 84 Lumber.

If you have a contractor and a lenient building official you might be able to markup a set of plan mill PDF drawings but if the official is strict or you intend to bid the project, you probably need CAD files.

Some plan suppliers provide modifications but they are often remote freelance drafters with a laptop and they’re expensive.

If someone knows of an affordable shortcut for professional contract drawings and specifications I’d like to know about it.

If it is a website/business that sells plans, it is a mill type website.

One size may not fit all, but it might fit quite a few. That's the notion behind selling suits on a rack in the clothing store, model homes in large developments (often with pre-priced options) and stock home plans available through a plan service. Depending on the modifications needed to suit the site and the client, they can be a cost-effective alternative to a true custom home design.