Quick Answer: How do you find original house plans?

Are house blueprints public record?

Once the blueprints have been filed by the contractor with the municipality building department, these building plans are public records and technically attainable by anyone wanting to view them. … In situations like those, the blueprints of the original structure are necessary.

How do I find the architect of my house?

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1. Take a trip to your county recorder’s office. …
2. Conduct a sticker search. …
3. Head to the library. …
4. Check out your state’s historical society, museums, or history center. …
5. Call your real estate agent. …
6. Talk to your neighbors. …
7. Meet previous owners.

How do I pick a new floor plan for my house?

Tips for Choosing the Right Floor Plan

1. Make sure it measures up. You might have a certain square footage figure in mind as you look at homes. …
2. Follow the flow. …
3. Level it out. …
4. Consider the wide, open spaces. …
5. Don’t underemphasize the functional places. …
6. Explore the undiscovered needs.

How do I get blueprints to my house?

There are a few basic steps to creating a floor plan:

1. Choose an area. Determine the area to be drawn. …
2. Take measurements. If the building exists, measure the walls, doors, and pertinent furniture so that the floor plan will be accurate. …
3. Draw walls. …
4. Add architectural features. …
5. Add furniture.

Do blueprints show plumbing?

Do the plans/blueprints include plumbing and electrical? … The rough plumbing is included on the plans showing the kitchen and bath fixture symbols and their locations. However, the location of where the pipes come into the house is site specific and not included on the plans.

Where can I find the history of my house for free?

Here are seven websites you can tap to trace the history of your house.

1. Trace My House.
2. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
3. Family Search.
4. Cyndi’s List.
5. Old House Web.
6. Building History.
7. The National Archives.

How much does it cost to have house plans drawn?

The average cost of drawing and drafting services is approximately $50/hr. Depending on the complexity of the work, prices can range from as low as $48/hr to as high as $60.75/hr.

How do I find old pictures of my house?

The Top 10 Places to Find Old Photos of Your House

1. Your Local Historical Society. …
2. Images of America books. …
3. Neighbors. …
4. Former Owners. …
5. The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) …
6. Local History Books. …
7. Local Library History Room. …
8. Old Newspapers.

What is the best layout for a house?

How to Pick the Best House Layout for Your Family

1. Make Sure You Have Enough Bedrooms. How many family members do you expect to live at the home? …
2. Don’t Overlook the Bathroom Situation. …
3. Select an Open Floor Plan. …
4. Have a Convenient Laundry Room. …
5. Have Adequate Storage Space. …
6. Designate a Playroom. …
7. Consider Your Outdoor Space.

What makes a good floor plan?

Look for efficient circulation and storage. Walk through the plan from foyer to kitchen and bedrooms. Follow the path from garage through mud room to the kitchen: coming in with groceries or other items should be as convenient as possible. …

How do I find the best house plans?

6 of the Best Websites For Home Plans

1. Architectural Designs. This award-winning company has been, “selling quality house plans for over 40 years,” and it shows in the variety and quality of house plans that are available. …
2. Builder House Plans. …
3. Dream Home Source. …
4. House Plan Shop. …
5. The House Plans Guide. …
6. Floorplanner.

Is it illegal to copy house plans?

Federal law protects the design of a house, not just architectural plans. If you create blueprints copying the design of an existing building built after 1990, you are liable for copyright infringement.

Can I draw my own blueprints?

It is easy to draw blueprints with a few special materials, and hand-drawing allows you the freedom to create your house any way you want it to be. However, there are also some computer blueprint programs available. Choose a program that is easy to use and that will run on your device.

Is there an app where you can design your own house?

MagicPlan

MagicPlan is a room design app for iOS and Android that creates floor plans from user-scanned photos. This makes creating a room design a snap, with “No need to measure or draw.” It’s the perfect app for those new to designing floor plans. … Download MagicPlan on the App Store or on Google Play.