America's Best House Plans: Complete Buyer Guide Before Choosing a Stock House Plan

Whenever a homeowner searches for a best house plan, they are either looking for specific answers about what actually makes a good house plan for their property or national marketplace sites like America's Best House Plan. Here, we will cover the former.

When you enter the housing market, it’s filled with stock house plans. Almost every builder prefers them. Stock house plans are ready-made architectural design packages that homeowners across the states use for easy building, low design cost, and high resale value.

But the question is, are stock house plans really meant for you?

This guide gives you a rundown of why stock plans are popular among homeowners, what a typical house package is, and how stock designs compare with custom designs. So, read more and find America’s best house plan that matches your lifestyle and budget.

What Is America's Best House Plan?

The best American house plan depends on your lifestyle, budget, and stylistic preferences. For instance, stock plans are a great choice for homeowners eager to move in and don’t have the finances to hire a designer. These plans are ready-made plans available in various styles, including modern farmhouse, traditional ranch, and so on. However, if you prefer building a home from scratch with personalized style, a custom architecture plan might be better.

Why Do US Homeowners Search for Stock House Plans Online?

The stock house plan trend started in the US back in the late 20th century. By the 20s and 30s, builders used plan books and catalogues featuring hundreds of floor plans and property drawings. Families could pick a desired plan for their style and budget.

The standardization and off-the-shelf availability popularized what we today call “stock house plans”. Now, instead of books, homeowners go online and find what they need. Here are a few reasons why these plans have taken over the construction industry.

Proven Designs

Stock house plans are time-tested. Architects curate, refine, and review these plans every two years. Plus, builders are already familiar with them; they can work out any potential design flaw during construction. Meaning, homeowners can skip design and move to construction with peace of mind.

Speed

With custom plans, the designer and client go back and forth until consensus. This can take months. Stock plans give homeowners a ready-made plan that they can start building immediately.

Affordability without Compromise

Hiring an architect for a personalized house plan can cost thousands of dollars. Thankfully, stock plans are available off-the-shelf, meaning it’s budget-friendly. This allows homeowners to put their investment into the construction and personal touches that truly build the character of a house.

Resale Opportunity

Homes built with stock plans have standard room arrangement and amenities. As most people appreciate them, such houses are easy to sell.

Variety

You can get stock house plans in various styles, from Mediterranean to Craftsman, Cape Cod, and Ranch. So, whatever you want, there is a broad selection.

What a Typical Online House Plan Package Includes?

Whether you go for a stock house plan or custom property design, it all comes down to “what is included in it?” While you plan to build a house, it’s important to know what drawings, documents, designs, and permissions you need in a house plan package.

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For starters, a buildable plan set includes

Foundation Plan shows the support of the house. This plan includes the base components: footings, slabs, crawl space, basement, bearing wall, and other structural elements.

Floor Plans offer an overhead view of each floor in the house. These plans have layout elements, such as room sizes, door and window placements, fixtures, wall locations, dimension lines, and so on.

Roof Plan outlines the area that makes up the roof structure: spacing notation, valleys, roof slopes, vents, chimneys, etc.

Exterior Elevations give homeowners a two-dimensional view of the house, specifying elements like ridge heights, door placements, exterior finishes, roof pitches, etc. These elevations help builders scale with correct measurements.

Building Sections, also known as cross sections, are built over floor plans to explain special conditions. This section helps builders view the home from the side, giving clarity of varying floor heights, framing, and more.

Construction Notes and Details are written instructions, assemblies, and technical drawings that help builders see how things come together.

Different types of house plan packages have different elements, depending on the needs of the homeowners and stages of the building process. For instance,

Study package has plans and elevations, but they are not licensed for construction.

CAD package consists of editable files for local designers to personalize the drawings.

Stock House Plans vs Custom Architectural Plans?

While a great asset for people eager to move in, stock house plans do not always work for you. Anyone who prefers design freedom and has the money to personalize their layout would prefer a custom architectural plan. The question is, stock plan or custom design: which is better for your unique requirements?

How to Evaluate a House Plan Before You Buy?

Already decided whether a custom or stock design is America’s best house plan for you? Here are a few things to review in your desired property design.

Lot Size, Setbacks, Driveway Access, and Garage Placement

The first thing to review is your lot. Verify its buildable width and length match the local codes. Be mindful that some local zoning regulations also require setbacks and driveway access. Setbacks are minimum distances a home must sit away from property lines, and can reduce the space available for the house plan.

Moreover, before building, designers must be careful of utility easements. With easements, utility companies can access certain portions of your property, such as water, sewers, drainage lines, and so on. Homeowners are not allowed to build in these areas.

The garage is another frequently used section of homes in the US. Its placement can influence your everyday convenience. For instance, its path from the kitchen or pantry determines whether you can carry groceries easily.

Bedroom Layout, Bathroom Count, and Daily Traffic Flow

Once the lot is reviewed, the next step is the floor plan. A successful house plan is built on your everyday lifestyle; whether natural light enters the bedroom? How many bathrooms does the layout support? Does the layout support daily traffic flow?

For instance, a well-designed layout has the main living area creating a strong visual path from the entry to the rear end of the home. This makes the house appear open, and the interior feel more connected.

Likewise, the bedroom placement matters a lot in determining your comfort and privacy. Some buyers prefer a split-bedroom layout with separated secondary and primary bedrooms for a quieter experience, while others prefer connected rooms for familiarity.

Foundation Type, Roof Complexity, and Build-Cost Risk

Beyond the layout of your house, the foundation matters a lot. The foundation you choose influences the overall design and functionality of your space. Usually, coastal areas require piling foundations and piers to resist tides, whereas other properties work well with suit basements and crawl spaces. If your lot allows basements, it’s better to go for extra storage.

While doing so, you must not forget the broader appeal of the layout. Buyers usually tend toward standard property layouts with minimal roof complexity. So, go for basic gables, valleys, and minimal intersecting planes. Moreover, a well-connected kitchen space, living space, and bedrooms have high resale value.

Permit-Ready Drawings vs Conceptual Floor Plans

Another thing you need is to have both the permit drawings and conceptual floor plans. Each has a different purpose and level of detail. For starters, conceptual drawings are detailed technical diagrams that contractors and builders use to facilitate the construction process. In comparison, permit drawings are simplified floor plans and documents local authorities require before construction.

A typical conceptual floor plan includes

Elevations and sections with exact heights and levels

Structural reinforcement plans.

Detailed information on dimensions, layout, and materials.

Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing layouts.

Whereas, an average permit drawing has

Simplified presentation of the house plan.

Focus on code compliance and legal requirements.

Floor plans with overall dimensions.

Site plans that show the position of the building.

Questions to Ask Before Ordering Plans Online

Here are a few things to ask and make sure you get the best American house plan online.

Can the Plan Be Modified for Local Codes and Climate?

Of course. No stock house plan is perfect for your lifestyle right out of the box. They are not flawed; it’s the nature of these house plans. Stock house plans are built for a broader market. And hence, they can be modified for your local code and climate. However, only a local engineer and architect can make these changes.

To transform your stock plans to permit-ready house plans, here are a few steps to follow.

Pick a desired house plan design and review the included drawings and specifications.

Consult a local architect and see if there is scope for modifications against the local building department requirements.

Next, get a licensed engineer on board to make sure the plan meets local structural protocols, state energy efficiency standards, property-specific site drawings, and utility easements.

Once verified, obtain the architect seals from the local authority.

Finally, submit your complete plan package and receive your building permit approval.

Are CAD Files, Foundation Plans, and Material Lists Included?

Foundation plans are a staple in an American best house plan. This page in your house package includes footings, pads, concrete walls, dimensions, bearing walls, and beams. A foundation plan also has a wall section for your home.

However, CAD files and material lists are extra pages you get in some house plans, depending on the purpose of the plan. CAD files are typically the digital editing files you buy separately. Typical standard sets usually have these files in PDF and paper formats. Likewise, designers sometimes include material lists in custom house plans. In stock plans, material lists are purchased separately.

Some other things you might consider having in a house plan are

License agreement that grants you building permission from a purchased design.

Plumbing layouts outlining locations for sinks, toilets, and other fixtures.

Electrical plan that suggests placement of outlets, switches, and lights.

Print copies contractors and builders use for building.

Study pages for estimating costs and reviewing layouts.

Will a Local Builder or Engineer Need to Redraw Anything?

Yes, a local engineer or architect often makes changes to your house plan, depending on the local building codes, climate, terrain conditions, and design preferences. Some common reasons why these redraws happen are

Local Building Codes - usable lot space changes to meet the national standards.

Site Conditions - earthquake zones, coastal areas, high snow load zones, and other locations with different soil conditions.

Permit-Ready Requirements/ Professional Stamps - municipalities, counties, and states requiring an architect’s seal on the construction drawing for local licensing.

Foundation Adjustments - structural changes depending on the local soil-bearing capability, basement needs, and driveway space.

Best Use Cases for Online Stock House Plans

Here are a few cases where an online house plan fits perfectly.

First-Time Custom Home Planning on Owned Land

Stock plans work best for homeowners needing a custom build without having to pay extra or hire an architect. These designs help you control budget and time. Plus, the contractors are already familiar with the house plan, so permitting is easier.

Retirement Homes and Single-Level Living

Retirement homes emphasize easy accessibility, open design, low maintenance, and a dedicated storage space. To support this, builders have multiple stock house plans, including open-concept ranch, dual master suite, and lofted cozy cottage.

Vacation Cabins, Lake Houses, and Rental Properties

Stock houses have low initial investment, a faster building time, and ideal layouts for remote locations. This is all you need for lake houses, rental properties, and vacation homes. What’s even better is that they are tried-and-tested layouts, so zero risk factor.

How to Visualize a House Plan Before Purchase?

Now that we have covered everything about purchasing America’s best house plan, here is how you can visualize a house plan before purchasing.

Redraw the Layout to Test Room Flow

Before you jump directly into the floor layout, set your parameters.

How many floors do you want in the house?

What should be the wall thickness, both exterior and interior?

What dimensions to use for measurements (metric system, imperial units, etc)?

What is the ideal space for a garage, driveway, utilities, and so on?

Once you’ve decided the foundation of the layout, it’s time to plot it. You can use any advanced floor plan toolkit (with symbols, dimensions, and an intuitive UI) for this step.

Start by sketching out your home’s exterior and interior walls. Likewise, apply dimensions to each wall, so it’s easier to scale later on.

Once the layout is in place, label different areas of your property: kitchen, garage, bedroom, bathroom, etc. This will help you organize your plan and place design elements.

Add doors and windows to your initial layout. Focus on natural lighting, width, height, and so on.

Note: Do not skip this step, as it spots all the issues a paper-based floor plan hides. It can help you catch whether a door is blocking the walkway or the kitchen island is attracting traffic.

Compare Kitchen, Garage, Porch, and Primary Suite Options

Stock plans have swappable elements. This could be a reversed layout, a side vs front-load garage, or a wraparound vs deeper porch. You have to compare them and see what works best for your house.

However, while doing so, always look at the plan in a set rather than isolation. This is because changing one thing will disturb the entire trajectory of the house. For instance, a bigger garage can easily shrink your backyard, and a relocated bedroom can shift the entire layout.

To make the most of the property’s layout, you can ask the plan provider to give you a modification list from past uses. This way, you are not doing guesswork but rather comparing real implementation. At this stage, most modifications happen.

Use a Floor Plan Tool Before Talking to a Builder

Before you get a builder on board and do not have the budget to hire a designer, it’s a good idea to invest in a floor planner tool like CAD or EdrawMax. As a beginner, EdrawMax is a good option for its intuitive no-code UI, drag-and-drop elements, scalable symbols, and so on.

This platform also has a massive template gallery with editable house plan examples. So, whatever style or layout you need for a project, import it onto the canvas space and start editing. Getting started on this software is free, so give it a shot and see how it works for you.

Wrapping Up!

When buying America’s best house plan for your unique lifestyle, it’s ideal to make a checklist. Focus on key steps. It can be choosing the right stock house style for the space, reviewing the house package, verifying your local licensing requirements, and so on.

Moreover, if you are on a budget, do not go for a designer. Instead, buy a desired stock plan and get yourself an advanced floor plan tool to modify it. See how other homeowners have made changes to the structure and implement them to your functionality and style preferences.

America’s Best House Plan FAQs

What are the features of America’s best house Plans?

A good American house plan depends on your unique lifestyle requirements. Some basic features that create a comfortable home include connected living spaces, optimal use of storage, flexible room layouts, and a functional basement.

Is $200,000 enough to build a house?

Yes, $200,000 is a reasonable amount to build a home in the US. However, with this budget, homeowners must be mindful of certain things, such as keeping the footprint small, opting for stock house plans, or choosing modular builds.

What are the best house plans for a 2000 square foot house?

The 2000 sq ft is a standard house plan for many US States. For this space, homeowners prefer modern farmhouse, ranch-style, 3- to 4-bedroom style, and craftsman designs with open concepts.

Which house style is the cheapest to build?

A few of the cheapest house styles in America are ranch-style, simple rectangular box style, and a barndominium design. All these house styles usually cost between $50 and $160 per sq ft. According to , the construction cost of a single-family home is around $114 per sq ft.

What raises property value most in America?

Some structural changes, such as adding physical sq ft (for a basement or garage), can raise a property value. In addition, standard layouts and minor kitchen remodels also give homeowners a high ROI (return on investment).