How Much Does a Draftsperson Cost?
You've made one of the biggest decisions of your life by determining that you'll either build the home of your dreams from scratch or add on to the living space of the home you and your family already love and enjoy.
Before you turn those dreams into reality, however, you'll need to hire a draftsperson to draw up blueprints your contractor and builder can use. Many lending institutions will not provide funding for new home builds or home additions until you provide them with an original blueprint denoting the size of the project you are undertaking.
A professional draftsperson, also known as a building designer, will draw up an original blueprint for your new home or home addition that will show not only you but your contractor and builder what the new space will look like when the project is finished. Such blueprints also indicate to contractors and builders what materials they will utilize while working on your project.
It's important to realize, however, that a building designer and an architect are not the same things, and you could easily be forgiven for not knowing the difference.
Hiring an effective AutoCAD draftsperson is simpler and cheaper than you might think, provided that you know exactly what you want. Always ask for a sample of their work, check references, and don't pay them for skills they offer which you don't really need.
Type of Plans
You can save money on your project by simply purchasing already existing blueprints, but if you've decided to build a home of your own, or to add on to the one you already live in, you'll appreciate the benefits when you hire a draftsperson to draw up plans tailored to your family's taste, style and unique way of living.
Consider the type of plans you will require before you hire:
Pre-drawn Plans
There are pre-made home designs available from a draftsperson which are cheaper, though, most of these cannot be modified. If you want to edit the premade plans, expect to spend an additional 20-40% more for them. Plans like these for a 3 bedroom house have become very popular, and on average will cost you anywhere between $800 - $2,000.
Custom Plans
If you would like a fully custom plan created by a draftsperson, you can expect a per hourly rate of $100 - $130. Completing a draft of the average 3 bedroom home generally takes about 10 hours, meaning that custom plans should cost around $1,000 - $1,300 for the first draft. Any additions are usually charged for per hourly too and can add another $800 - $1,400 on the total.
Additional Costs To Consider
The tools your draftsperson uses will also impact your blueprint design bottom line.They may use either traditional drafting tools or computer-aided design (CAD) technology to complete your project. While those who use CAD technology may be cheaper, you may opt for a more traditional approach while having your blueprints drawn up. The choice is yours and is dependent upon your taste and your project's financial constraints.
When your blueprints are complete, make sure you have either your contractor or builder look them over as you will require them to be signed off. And don't forget about permits, which could set you back an additional $300 - $1,200.
Where you live will also impact how much you will pay for a draftsperson's services. Simply put, if you live in a community that enjoys a lower cost of living, you will naturally pay less than in a higher living cost area.
How Much Will It Cost To Hire a Draftsperson
The overall cost to hire a draftsperson is largely dependent upon the scope of your project. You may pay as little as $400 in some instances, but on average, most Americans spend roughly $2,000 for this specialized service. Also, if you think about it, a bigger home will have more interior and exterior features to design. This increases the design time and the overall cost to hire a draftsperson. Don't be surprised, however, if you are quoted $5,000 to draw up more extensive plans for a 5-bedroom house.
On the other hand, if you need a draft completed faster, expect a 15-20% increase in the overall charges.
Get a Free Local Estimate
Are you looking to get your new home or home addition plans drawn up by a draftsperson? Would you like to get in touch with a pro to get a better idea of how much it'll cost you to hire a draftsperson and to draw up original plans for your new home project?
All you have to do is enter your home zip code in the space provided below. It's completely FREE, and there are absolutely no obligations and no contracts.
