Custom Design Fees
Custom-Designed House Plans
If your needs are not met by one of our new stock plans, then a custom design is the way to meet those special needs and vision for your new home. Those special needs may be because of unusual lot location, size and/or slope. Or perhaps your lifestyle calls for an unusual design. We will create a custom design that meets those special needs. Your custom design will result in a home that is beautiful, a healthy place to live, and a source of pride for you and your family. The Schematic Design Plan is the critical creative part of your design. It includes the floor plan, the heart of your new home. It also includes the creation of the architectural style for the facade or "Front Elevation", which reflects the designer’s creativity and your aesthetic vision.
The production of the “Architectural Construction Drawings Set” is the computerized drafting phase. This phase produces the detailed architectural construction drawings necessary for the construction of your new home and for the application for a permit to build from your locale.
COST
Cost for SCHEMATIC DESIGN (Floor Plans and Facade Elevation Design):
Our Standard Quality Design Service gives you a completed Schematic Design in 4 weeks.
Size of House* and Cost per Square Foot of Covered Area
5,000 square feet & above: $1.25 USD per square foot
3,000 to 4,999 square feet: $1.50 USD per square foot
2,000 to 2,999 square feet: $1.75 USD per square foot
*The per square foot cost of designing a smaller house is higher due to the increased effort necessary to create an efficient design in a constrained area. Our fees (per square foot) are lowest for homes that are greater than 5,000 square feet.
All area calculations are 'under roof'—including air-conditioned/ heated space and all covered porches, covered balconies, garages, gazebos, storage areas, etc. but not including open patios, open decks, and attic.
CHANGE REQUESTS
After we have gone through two major revisions, and you decide to make further major revisions, there will be a fee based on how extensive the revision is and how far we are along in producing the final plans and elevations. A major revision typically comprises more than 20% change in the design. There will never be additional charges or work without your written approval of this work. There are no charges for minor revisions as long as they occur before the creation of the Construction Drawings.
PAYMENT TERMS
Unlike many designers, we believe that we should not receive the total amount of the design fees until the client has seen significant progress. Accordingly, we ask fifty percent (50%) of the quoted fees in advance, with the final payment of fifty percent due upon receipt of the approved floor plan layout. After receipt of the 2nd half payment, we will proceed to complete and deliver the facade elevation design.
ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS SET: These are the construction drawings needed when applying for a building permit.
Fees for Standard Service production of Architectural Construction Drawings: $ 2.00 USD per square foot of covered area. Estimated time to completion is 6 weeks.
OPTIONAL
SERVICES
Example of computer-generated 3D rendering.
For REMAINING 3 ELEVATIONS (3 NEW DRAWINGS--Rear, Left, and Right Sides) PLUS ROOF PLAN DESIGN:
The remaining 3 Elevations and the Roof Design are included in the production of the Construction Drawings Set. However, in instances where we will not be the design service preparing the Construction Drawings Set, we can create the remaining 3 Elevations and Roof Design in order to complete the Design Development. The cost for this service is $0.50 per square foot 'under roof'.
For SLOPING LOTS or IRREGULAR LOTS: Cost is $0.55 per square foot 'under roof' when ordering side and rear elevations package.
COMPUTER-GENERATED 3D PERSPECTIVE RENDERINGS (OPTIONAL)
-photo-realistic images:
From 2D Cad files: starts at $600 USD
From Hand-rendered drawings: starts at $1200 USD
(plus you get the 2D files as well)
EXTERIOR ANIMATIONS or INTERIOR WALK-THROUGHS (OPTIONAL):
From 2D Cad files: starts at $1800 USD
Special orders such as computer generated perspectives, fly-overs and walk-throughs require payment in advance. We subcontract this work to Third parties.
FOR CRITIQUE OF EXISTING PLANS, please call for consultation or email us at cynthia@ultramodernhomes.com.
IMPORTANT
NOTE
If such services are necessary, there is a fee for Structural Engineering computations and the signing of the plans by a Structural Engineer licensed in your State. This may be required due to sloping terrain, soil conditions, seismic environment, snow, rain or wind loading environment or by the use of non-standard structural design, e.g. cantilever, pre and post-tensioned structural elements for long unsupported spans. There may also be other conditions that make it advisable or mandatory to use a structural engineer for the structural design. These fees are typically $1.00 to $3.00 per square foot of covered area.