It’s Not So Simple

If you’ve ever thought, “picking house plans should be the easy part,” let me stop you right there, I thought the same thing. It’s not that simple. In fact, choosing house plans became one of the most frustrating, time-consuming, and expensive parts of building my custom home.

The good news? I am hoping my experience will save you both time and money.

I Knew What I Wanted… Or So I Thought

From the beginning, I had a pretty clear vision. I didn’t want a huge house. I wanted everything on one level so it could truly be my forever home. I wanted something that felt warm, cozy, timeless, and inspired by the European cottages I’ve fallen in love with during my travels. Think English countryside, Cotswolds charm, a touch of Tudor, but designed to fit beautifully in the woods of rural Pennsylvania. Simple enough, right? Not exactly.

Finding the “Perfect” Plan

I spent countless hours searching online. My property is just over four wooded acres, but it’s long, narrow, and sloped. That meant I wasn’t just looking for a floor plan I loved, I needed one that would actually work on the lot. Every plan seemed to check some of the boxes, but never all of them. I would find an exterior I loved but hate the layout. Or I would love the interior and dislike the curb appeal. I quickly realized that finding the “perfect” house plan was much harder than I expected.

My Biggest Mistake: Hiring the Wrong Architect

Since purchasing house plans and modifying them can cost several thousand dollars, I decided to hire a local architect instead. I thought, I’d rather support a local business. It seemed like the obvious choice. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the biggest mistakes I made during this entire process. I met with the architect in July 2025 and was told the design would take about three days of work.

Weeks turned into months and I found myself repeating the same requests over and over again. By the time everything was said and done, I had spent more than twice the original quote estimate and ended up with a house plan I’m not even using. It was an expensive lesson.

Looking back, I wish I had asked for more references, viewed completed projects, and spoken with previous clients before hiring anyone. If there’s one piece of advice I can give you, it’s this: Get recommendations. Read reviews. Ask questions. It could save you thousands of dollars and months of frustration.

Starting Over

As painful as it was, I knew I couldn’t keep trying to force a plan that didn’t feel right. So I started over. I went back online and searched through what felt like hundreds of house plans. I found several I liked and requested modification quotes from multiple companies. At times, it felt like I’d never find the right fit.

Then, I found Advanced House Plans. I honestly wish I had found them from the very beginning.Their website immediately stood out from every other company I had looked at. You can:

• Reverse floor plans
• View realistic interior renderings
• Experiment with furniture placement
• Submit modification requests online
• Track your project’s progress through an online portal

The entire process was modern, organized, and transparent. When I requested modifications, I received a quick response. My questions were answered, the pricing was clear, and the communication was excellent. I could log into my portal at any time to review progress, submit revisions, and stay informed. After everything I had already been through, it was such a refreshing experience. I honestly cannot recommend them enough.

Did I End Up With My Dream Cottage?

Not exactly. At least not the one I originally imagined. The cozy European Tudor cottage I had pictured evolved into something different. But you know what? I think it turned out exactly the way it was supposed to. The design fits my property and the surrounding landscape. And now that construction has officially begun, I cannot wait to watch it come to life.

My Advice If You’re Building

If you’re just starting your custom home building journey, here are a few things I’d do differently:

• Don’t rush into hiring an architect or designer.
• Ask for recommendations and references.
• Talk to previous clients.
• Make sure your house plan fits your lot, not just your Pinterest board.
• Be prepared to compromise. The “perfect” plan probably doesn’t exist.
• Find professionals who communicate well. It makes all the difference.

Most importantly, don’t be discouraged if your first plan isn’t the right one. Sometimes the house you’re meant to build isn’t the one you imagined on day one.

Follow Along

This is just the beginning. Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing every step of this journey from more details on the floor plans and design selections to construction updates, budget surprises, decorating decisions, and everything in between.

If you’ve ever dreamed about building a home or you’re in the middle of the process yourself, I hope you’ll follow along.

Hopefully, I can help you avoid a few of the mistakes I made along the way.

When I am not @athomewithheidik, you can find me @awaywithheidi!