Custom homes can take an average of 18 months to build, mainly due to the lengthy design process, and most projects take somewhere between 12 and 24 months. When you work with the right custom home builders near you, they can help you map the road ahead and understand what can speed up or delay the timeline. Choosing locally available materials, for example, can speed things up without losing that customized touch.

It is technically possible to draw your own blueprints, but the process is extremely involved and really demands help from an expert. A professional architect has an understanding of design elements, interior design, the functionality of different rooms in a home, and how everything from furniture, outlets, and light switches should be laid out to serve you and your family best. Hiring an architect for blueprints can get expensive, but it’s the most responsible way to begin a new construction project. If you’re keen on DIYing, you could consider starting the process and then having a professional take over.

Structural engineers draw structural plans, which include detailed drawings of the structural components of a home only. Complete house plans will require additional work from an architect or draftsperson, whose drawings will take the structural drawings into account. They’ll also include more details about the finishing materials and layout of a home, including everything from roofing and flooring materials to the position of furniture, light fixtures, switches, and plumbing fixtures.

The cost to draw house plans typically ranges from $800 to $2,700, with standard blueprints averaging around $1,800. For a custom home, the cost is higher, with blueprints often falling between $5,000 and $20,000, and potentially more for very complex designs. Several factors influence the total price, including the project's size, the number of rooms, the type of drawings required, and the architect's experience level. You may also need to pay a structural engineer to ensure building safety, particularly for custom homes.