Frequently
Asked Questions

Are material lists included?

Material lists are not included with our plans. Your builder or a local building supply company can create a material list for you from our plans.

Are plans stamped by an engineer?

Our house plans do not come stamped by an architect or engineer. Check with your local building department for engineering requirements. You may need to have your plan reviewed by an engineer for structural details and code standards before construction begins.

Do your house plans meet building codes?

The plans on our website are designed in accordance with the International Residential Code (IRC) and the Minnesota Residential Code. Modifications to the plan may be needed due to certain counties, municipalities and developments having their own additional building codes, covenants, and requirements. Determining and complying with all codes is the responsibility of the builder/homeowner. If changes are needed to plans to comply with any additional requirements after payment is received and final plan is sent there will be additional costs for plan changes, determined on a plan to plan basis.

What are certain requirements that may not be included in the house plan?

Building permits from your municipality may require one or more of the following items that are not included with our plans: Engineering or Architectural Stamp: If you are required to have a professional stamp on your house plans, you must take those plans to a licensed local engineer or architect to review and either stamp with approval or propose changes. Foundation Soil Testing: Depending on where you decide to build your home, soil samples might need to be taken by a local soil laboratory in order to solidify your foundation plan. The results of the soil testing might require modifications to the foundation plan. Site Plan: You may also need your home builder or surveyor to create a site plan that displays where the house will be built on the land. Framing Plan: If your county requires framing plans, take your house plan to a local building supply company or engineer and they can create framing plans that fit the city and county. These may include beam sizes, locations, etc. Mechanical Plan: These drawings display the location of heating and air equipment and the associated duct work. Plumbing Plan: These drawings show the exact location of plumbing and include pipe sizes.

Can I build the same house more than once?

Purchasing a plan will grant you the right to build one home from that plan. If you plan to build the same home more than once we offer discounted rates for multiple uses, contact us with any questions.

Can I modify a house plan?

Many modifications are possible but need to be reviewed in order to know if they will work while maintaining the integrity of the plan and complying with all building codes. Plan modifications are priced on a plan-to-plan basis and can vary based on the extent of changes requested. We will prepare a free quote generally within 1-2 business days. Some examples of changes are: finished basement, changing number of garage stalls, changing from slab on grade to crawl space, increasing or decreasing room sizes/sq ft of plan, redesigning floor plans, changing stairs, revising exterior elevations, roof pitches, changing ceiling heights, ICF foundation, changing window sizes/styles, changing exterior siding/stone etc., adding a deck or screen porch. Choose the plan you would like modified and send us your changes and questions through our contact us form and we will prepare and email you a free quote. If you agree to the quote for your plan changes we require a 25% non-re-fundable down payment to begin the changes.

Do plans come with heating, mechanical or plumbing layouts?

Plumbing layouts, heating and air conditioning layouts and electrical layouts are not included in our plans. You will need to consult a local contractor for those layouts for your plans.

Do you offer bid plan sets?

We offer construction bid plan sets for sale for $100. You will receive a complete plan set stamped with a watermark that you will be able to use to collect construction bids from contractors. If you purchase the full plan set after purchasing a bid set, we will take the $100 off of the final price.

Do your plans have a copyright?

Yes, our plans are protected by copyright laws. All floor plans and renderings on this site are the property of Minnesota’s Best House Plans. Purchasing a set of blueprints or construction drawings transfers no right of ownership of the plan to the purchaser. Instead, the purchaser is purchasing a limited license to use that house plan to construct a single home. The blueprints or construction drawings may not be lent or sold by the purchaser. Reproducing blueprints, plans or renderings in any form without the consent of the creator is in violation of the law. House plans are intellectual property of the designer and protected under Federal Copyright Laws. We strive for accurate representation of renderings and house plans and will not be responsible for errors or omissions on this site.

How do I order a house plan?

Choose which house plan you would like to order and submit it through our contact form. Include your contact information and plan choices including: Plan name Garage left or right If the plan has a basement, choose between full basement, lookout or walkout Choose poured concrete or concrete block foundation Frost footing depth, which will be 42” or 60” depending on the county you are building in. We will respond to you with a no obligation quote, answers to any questions and give you a timeline of when your house plan can be complete. A preliminary plan will then be drawn and emailed to confirm your order along with an invoice. When the invoice is paid we will complete your plan and email you a completed PDF plan set. Printed plan copies can also be purchased and mailed. If changes are needed to final plans after payment is received and final plan is sent there will be additional costs for plan changes, determined on a plan to plan basis.

How do you calculate the square footage of a plan?

Finished square footage of house plans are taken from the exterior perimeter of frame wall and include only heated living spaces. Staircases and 2 story areas are only included once in the calculations of the first floor. Calculations do include open walkways in the heated space. The total finished square foot calculation does not include unfinished basements, porches, garages, decks or attic spaces.

What is included in a house plan order?

You will receive a full plan set that is drawn in accordance with common national codes and Minnesota building codes. Additional modifications to the plan may be needed due to certain counties, municipalities and developments having their own additional building codes, covenants, and requirements. Determining and complying with all codes is the responsibility of the builder/homeowner. Contact us with any questions and plan modifications. Once you purchase your plan, a final construction set is emailed in PDF format to you and allows you to reproduce plans as needed for obtaining bids, permits, and for the construction of the home. You can take this electronic file to a local print shop and have your blueprints printed in various sizes to suit your needs. Printed plan copies can be purchased for $3 per sheet plus postage and mailed if requested. Included pages are front, rear and side elevations, detailed foundation plan, detailed floor plans, typical wall sections and details, general details and specifications per house plan. Also included in your plan order: Garage left or right, if plan has a basement, choose between full basement, lookout or walkout. Choose poured concrete or concrete block foundation and frost footing depth.