Resources for Homeowners, Builders, and Contractors
Drafting a house or an ADU comes with a hundred small decisions before a single wall gets framed. This is where we break those decisions down: what things cost, how long they take, what "permit-ready" actually means, and how to avoid the mistakes that stall a project at the plan review counter. No sales pitch, just the information you need before you start.
The Library
How Much Do Custom House Plans Cost in 2026?
A breakdown of what drives custom house plan pricing, from square footage to revision rounds, plus general industry cost ranges.
Stock vs Custom House Plans
How to decide between a ready-made plan and a fully custom design based on your lot, budget, and timeline.
ADU Plans 101
The basics of accessory dwelling unit design, from zoning rules to typical timelines, before you draw a single wall.
What Makes a House Plan Permit-Ready
The specific drawings, notes, and details a plan set needs to clear your local building department without a redline pile.
Adding On vs Building New
A practical framework for deciding whether to expand your current home or start over on a new lot.
How to Read a Set of House Plans
A plain-English walkthrough of floor plans, elevations, sections, and schedules so you can actually understand your own drawings.
ADU Laws by State: TX vs FL vs NY vs CA
How accessory dwelling unit rules differ across Texas, Florida, New York, and California, and why state law is only half the story.
3D Renderings vs Blueprints
What each document is actually for, and why most projects eventually need both.
10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Drafter
The practical vetting questions to ask any drafting provider, on permits, revisions, ownership, and pricing, before you sign.
9 Common ADU Mistakes Homeowners Make
The zoning, utility, and design pitfalls that trip up ADU projects, and how to avoid them before you design.
7 Must-Have Rooms in a Multigenerational Home
The real design features that make a multigenerational floor plan actually work for every generation under one roof.
12 Energy-Efficient Design Features Worth Adding
From passive solar orientation to envelope performance, the features worth drafting in from day one.
8 Signs Your Addition Needs a Full Permit Set
The real signals that your project needs proper permit-ready drawings, not just an informal sketch.
6 Things That Make House Plans Builder-Friendly
What contractors actually want to see in a plan set to build from it without constant clarification calls.
10 ADU Design Ideas for Rental, Family, or Office Use
Real ADU layout approaches for maximizing rental income, housing family nearby, or building a home office.
5 Reasons House Plans Get Rejected at Plan Check
The most common plan-check rejection causes, and why permit-readiness has to start on day one of drafting.
Draftsperson vs Architect: What's the Difference?
An honest, neutral breakdown of when you need a licensed architect and when a drafting service is the right fit.
How Long Does Permit Approval Really Take?
The honest factors that drive permit timelines, and the one thing you actually control to avoid delays.
Universal Design vs Aging in Place
Two overlapping but distinct concepts, and why building universal features in early beats retrofitting later.
A Homeowner's Guide to Working With a Remote Drafting Team
How the remote drafting process actually works, step by step, and what to have ready before you start.
Have a Project in Mind?
If you already know what you're building, skip the research and talk to a drafter directly. We work with homeowners, builders, and contractors nationwide, remotely, with a focus in Texas, Florida, New York, and California.
Browse by Topic
Planning & Budgeting
Start here if you're still deciding what kind of plan you need and what it's likely to cost.
Permitting
Start here if you're navigating your local building department.
ADUs
Everything on accessory dwelling units, from the basics to state-by-state law to design ideas.
Accessibility & Multigenerational Living
Design considerations for households with multiple generations or long-term accessibility needs.
Reading & Understanding Your Plans
Start here if you have a plan set in hand and want to understand what you're looking at.
For Builders & Contractors
What makes a plan set easy (or painful) to actually build from.
Working With Apex
How our remote drafting process actually works.
Our Services
See the full range of drafting and design services we offer, from custom plans to as-builts.
Ready to Start Your Plans?
Stock plans start at $799. Custom projects get a quote based on scope. Either way, the first step is the same conversation.