As you’re planning to build your new home, you may be considering designing your own house plan. Perhaps you’re having trouble finding an existing plan that fits your family’s needs, or maybe you can’t afford to work with an architect.

While creating a building plan may seem like a straightforward task, it’s actually quite complicated. Before you start drawing up your own house plans, it’s important to take an honest look at several factors, from your knowledge of construction to your ability to draw.

Sketching Your Own Building Plans

One method for creating your own building plans is to simply sketch them by hand, using a pencil, pen, some large pieces of paper (graph paper helps you draw to scale), a ruler and a large flat surface. While the tools you need are quite basic, drawing a complete set of plans by hand is not an easy task, particularly if you are not familiar with architecture or construction, or have poor drawing skills.

You will need to develop a complete set of building plans, including a floor plan, elevation drawings, detail drawings and a foundation plan, and you’ll need to submit your building plans to an inspector for review. Upon review, the inspector may require professionally drawn plans.

Software for a DIY Building Plan

If your drawing skills are limited, a number of software programs can help you create a building plan for your new home. Free options, like Google SketchUp, as well as more elaborate programs such as Punch! Software (one of the best-selling home design programs in the United States), can help you visualize and design your dream home with just the click of a mouse.

Whichever option you choose, you should be aware that it is difficult for an amateur to replicate the skills of a trained architect or designer. However, if you are interested in designing your own home, you may be able to find a building designer or draftsperson willing to work with you to draw up house plans. In this situation, you would provide a rough sketch of the building plan, and your draftsperson would help you to fill in the details.

Pros and Cons

If you’re thinking about creating your own building plan, it’s important to consider the pros and cons. Some advantages of a DIY building plan include:

• Lower costs
• Satisfaction in knowing the house is truly “your vision.”

However, creating your own building plan also has some potential disadvantages, such as:

• Danger of poorly designed interior spaces, such as public areas with poor traffic flow or an oddly laid out kitchen.
• Lack of knowledge of construction and building codes may complicate the process.
• Risk of making amateurish, and costly, mistakes.