BG, I don’t care what the OP or anyone else does. I am not telling people what to do. You are correct that they will probably need help, and in that, I wish them well.The houses you have posted are in a different league from most houses, including mine for that matter.
I started doing my own plans because it took too long and/or cost too much with draftsmen and architects in charge.I may have to use them again in the future, very carefully. I’d never use an architect for a house, except maybe as a consultant. I think you could go pretty far on that basis.
In the various building offices, I can’t get myself to the front of the line, but I can make people do what they should be doing when they don’t do it. When they are acting badly, I can usually catch on and make them stop, by going to the county board of supervisiors or the chief administrative officer when necessary. It does help to know who the good,useful, friendly and knowlegeable employees at the various departments are.
Just so you know, I have been handed really crappy plans done by architects, stamped by engineer and approved by building department that were missing things necessary to actually make the structure stand. I see inpectors pass stuff in new construction and remodeling that I wouldn’t let my dog live in.
My former broker helped tremendously with the learning curve on some of the items related to purchasing and starting the homestead.
When I bought my lot it had nothing but an electrical pole in the easement.It was covered with brush otherwise.I bought it knowing that it was technically landlocked. I knew a thing or two about building and working with the authorities. I had been working from prints by others for a few years.I had once taken over a plan check from an lazy architect to get a project moving. I did all three house plans and plot plans with a pencil and an eraser, plus cut and paste.
The first guy I interviewed to start my septice was full of beand and running up a bid, so I drew the plans and installed the system myself. I don’t think the plan checkers in very many jurisdictions can tell you that you can’t do your prints this way if all the elements are there.
