The following questions are asked often. As a way to answer these questions quickly and effectively, we have compiled a list of these common questions and our corresponding answers so you can understand how to proceed with purchasing house plans online.
If you have questions, please read through our FAQ and if you still need some assistance, you can email us by visiting our contact page.
Absolutely! We would love to modify the plan for you. Check out this one page pdf that outlines the basic process. Just send us an email with your ideas.
If you’d rather have a local draftsman or architect handle the changes, that’s allowed—just purchase the plan, and they can make the adjustments for you.
One thing to keep in mind: even if someone else modifies the plan, we still own the design. It’s part of our copyright. It might feel a little strange, but this is how we protect our work from being misused or copied without permission.
It’s part of what sets us apart. Our drawings and design system are worth far more than the cost of a single-build license. We love modifying our own plans—and we believe no one does it better or more affordably. (After all, you wouldn’t take your car to the dentist for a tune-up, right?)
We’ve seen what happens when someone else tries to alter our designs—and it’s rarely an upgrade. Very few can match the level of detail, care, and timeless design you get with an Allison Ramsey house plan. Trust us—you’ll be glad you kept it in the hands of the original designers.
Yes, absolutely. We’re happy to work with your engineer and share our CAD files so they can complete their part of the work. Here’s how it goes:
We’ll just ask that your engineer reach out to us directly. Before we release the file, they’ll need to sign a licensing agreement confirming that the file is for your project only—it can’t be modified or reused for any other purpose. Once that is signed, we’ll send it over.
We’re glad to collaborate—we just want to make sure everything stays protected and above board.
Whew—that’s a lot of questions! But we’ve got you. When it comes to cost, the truth is: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Anyone who tells you otherwise (especially while selling house plans) isn’t being entirely honest. So here’s what we recommend instead:
Start local. Ask a few builders in your area what the typical cost per square foot is for the kind of home you’re hoping to build. That’ll give you a ballpark. Then, head over to our site and look for plans that fit your general needs—especially by square footage at this stage.
Once you’ve found a plan or two you like, purchase a study set. These are 11×17 prints of the floor plans and elevations—not for construction, but perfect for budgeting. Share them with a few builders you’re considering and let them know your expectations for the home—things like flooring, appliances, trim level, and overall finish quality. Ask for a rough budget, not a formal bid, based on their experience building at that level.
If you get feedback from three or four builders, you’ll not only come away with a realistic understanding of costs, but you’ll also have a feel for which builder might be the best fit—without the pressure of competitive bidding.
We’ve been recommending this approach for years, and it works. Once you feel confident in your direction, go ahead and purchase the full plan set and move into final pricing.
And when it’s all said and done—send us photos of your new home. We love seeing how our designs come to life.
When you purchase a plan from us online, we’ll email you a PDF of the full construction documents—ready to use. The beauty of digital? You can print what you need, when you need it. No guessing how many sets to order upfront. Need another copy down the road? Just hit print.
Most builders only need a few full-size prints, and many trades are happy working from 11×17 sheets. We’re glad to print and ship copies if you’d like—but honestly, by the time you pay for printing and shipping, it’s usually quicker and more cost-effective to do it locally.
Our plans are “builder’s sets.” They include general information and specifications, a foundation plan, a roof plan, floor plans, elevations, wall sections, details, and an electrical plan. They do not include structural engineering—that should be done locally to ensure you’re meeting local codes. Every jurisdiction is different.
While it may be true, if you didn’t buy the license to build, it’s illegal. You have to purchase the right to build the house even if someone else draws the plans. What you’re really buying from us isn’t just a set of drawings—it’s the design itself, which is protected intellectual property. The plans are simply the tool we use to communicate how to bring that design to life.
None. We haven’t run blueprints since 1995. We make black and white copies today on a printer. They don’t look as cool, but they’re much easier to read—and that’s what really matters when you’re building a house.
Unfortunately, no. We upload photos as soon as we receive them from clients, but if you don’t see images for the specific plan you’re interested in, it likely means we haven’t received any yet.
In the meantime, we suggest browsing photos from other homes in the same plan family—they often share similar features, and those images can give you a good sense of what to expect.
Probably not—but there is a reason why. Most of our homes are designed for individual clients, so it’s rare that we have model homes open to tour. Every now and then, one might be available—but it’s unlikely to be the specific plan you’re hoping to see.
No we do not. Do you really need one? Typically the builder will work with the supplier to produce this. If you’re planning on building the house yourself we’d recommend you take the plans to a local materials supplier to develop this.