When thinking about building a home, you’ll have a head full
of ideas, and a heart full of hopes. How to transfer these ideas
and hopes to paper is the job of an expert blueprint preparer.
Blueprinting is the point at which your home idea goes from
abstract to concrete. The blueprint is often the official point of
starting a home, which can be a daunting prospect. Be
assured, however, that the hardest part might simply be
getting started.
For many, blueprinting can be intimidating because there’s a feeling that they’re making a commitment to a builder or a project. In fact, creating a blueprint is merely putting a home idea on paper, then evaluating the design. Choosing a builder, determining a price of the home and other decisions come later.
Ark Homes’ president Bill Koehne offers this advice: “You don’t need every detail of the home on paper in the beginning, just a general plan to work with. Let it change and evolve with time, thought and new ideas. You’ll feel less pressure if you keep it simple, and still obtain a better designed home by letting the plan develop as you go.”
For instance, first plan where the laundry room should be drawn, and its general size--later decide where to place the washer and dryer, he explained. He recommends meeting with a builder before developing a blueprint.
“If we design a home with a customer, we can more easily accomplish their goals, which, in turn, will make them happier,” he explained.
In designing a blueprint, things to keep in mind include:
the style--ranch, two-story
the size--square footage
the number of beds, baths and additional rooms, such as an office or sewing room
the general layout of rooms, hallways, stairs, etc
Put all these things together, in line with your budget, and you’ve found an excellent place to start.
When choosing a blueprint service, take advantage of an experienced builder, such as Ark Homes, to draft your home plan. Their expertise is invaluable, and they‘ll offer great advice. The Ark staff has gained a structural awareness of what works in home construction and also has the financial background to determine if your plan will fit your budget.
Ark Homes has over 10 years of drafting experience. The use of the CADD system, plotter and blueprint machine, all in-house, allows for better accuracy and detail on each print, plus faster turn-around time for the customer.
One of Ark Homes’ draftsmen, Mike Athey, has the advantage of a dual role at Ark Homes. Besides helping to design and draw homes with the CADD system, he assists with the framing and finishing of homes at the construction sites. His hands-on field experience contributes to a better understanding of the design of a home. Mike began working part-time with the Ark Homes crew seven years ago, earned an Associate Degree in Architectural Technology from NWTC in 2002, and has worked full-time with Ark Homes since.
Blueprint prices range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the architect chosen. Ark Homes’ blueprints cost approximately $350, which also includes an on-site evaluation of the property on which you’re building. An onsite evaluation, done before or during the drawing of a blueprint, allows Ark Homes to better analyze the home site and understand what the customer has envisioned.
An on-site inspection focuses on the best location to build the home, keeping in mind:
-the sunlight available
-topography of the soil, which could allow for a walk-out or daylight basement
-northerly and southerly directions
-size, type and position of trees
-special features that would lend to a better design of the plan
Ark Homes offers a
blueprint at a lower cost than many services, for the opportunity to present ideas and demonstrate the services they offer. It also gives the customer a chance to get to know the staff better, and decide if Ark Homes is the best choice for building the home.
So take your ideas and hopes to Ark Homes, where they create beautiful and functional new homes.
