It depends on which of three paths you take. Modifying an existing plan costs less than designing from scratch, and bringing finished drawings from your own architect means paying that architect directly. Get the figure in writing before design begins, and ask separately about 3D renderings.

The short version

  • Three paths, three cost levels: your plans, a modified plan, or fully from scratch.
  • 3D renderings are a separate cost. Ask about them specifically.
  • Design fees are sometimes credited back by lenders. Confirm with your bank.
  • Your design decisions move the build price far more than the design fee does.
  • A complex roofline costs more to frame regardless of who drew it.

What actually drives design cost?

How much drawing has to happen. Adapting a plan that already exists is less work than developing one from nothing, and reviewing drawings you already own is less again. The number of revision rounds matters too, since each pass through the architect adds time.

At Anasazi the design stage runs roughly two to six weeks, and the plan typically goes back and forth with the architect two or three times before decisions lock.

Lot complexity adds to it. A hillside parcel with setback constraints and a septic layout to design around takes more work than a flat rectangular subdivision lot.

Do you need an architect to build a custom home?

Finished custom home in Benton County with a metal roof and landscaped garden
The drawing work depends on the starting plan, the site, and the revisions needed to reach the finished design.

Which path costs least?

Bringing your own finished drawings, in terms of what the builder charges, though you have already paid an architect for them. Modifying one of the plans a builder keeps on file is usually the middle option. Designing from scratch costs most and produces the most specific result.

Anasazi keeps more than 500 floor plans on file and works with three long-standing local architects. Those plans are starting points rather than products, so layouts get redrawn, rooms move and exteriors change.

None of the three paths produces a less custom home. They are different amounts of drawing work to reach the same kind of result.

Also in this series: Can a custom home builder work with your own architect?

What about 3D renderings?

They are a separate cost, provided after blueprint approval so you can see the finished home on your specific lot before construction begins. Ask about the price during the design conversation rather than assuming they are included.

They earn their cost when something looks wrong. Adjusting a rendering costs nothing compared with adjusting a framed wall, and that is the entire point of producing them before anyone breaks ground.

Anasazi’s completed work is worth looking at alongside renderings, since photographs show what the finished result actually looks like.

John and Stephen Worlund of Anasazi Builders at a Tri-Cities homesite
Confirm the design scope, revision rounds, and rendering costs with the builder before the work begins.

Can design fees be financed?

Ask your lender. Some banks credit design fees back as a line item on presentation of a paid receipt, though terms vary and you should confirm with your specific lender rather than assuming it applies to you.

The broader financing point matters more. A custom construction loan generally requires about 20 percent down, and the number your lender approves defines the scope of the whole project, design included.

Have the financing conversation before the design conversation, not after.

Custom home financing and how much you can borrow

What costs more than the design fee?

The decisions inside the design. A roofline with many planes and corners costs more to frame than a simple one. Ceiling height changes affect framing, mechanical and drywall. Where the kitchen sits affects plumbing runs. None of that shows up as a design fee and all of it shows up in the build price.

This is why Anasazi discusses pricing implications at design decisions rather than saving the conversation for the end.

For scale on how far finishes alone can move a number: cabinetry has ranged from about $24,000 to $50,000 for the same kitchen on past projects, and appliances from about $8,000 to $30,000. Past examples, not quotes.

How much does it cost to build a custom home in the Tri-Cities?

Completed open-concept kitchen and living space built by Anasazi Builders in the Tri-Cities
Layout, cabinetry, appliances, and other finish choices affect the construction budget separately from the design fee.

Common questions about design budgets

Should I buy a stock plan online?

You can, and a builder can construct it on your lot. It still needs adapting to your specific site and jurisdiction, so factor that in.

How many revisions are included?

Ask before starting. Anasazi’s design stage typically runs two or three rounds with the architect.

Do I pay for design separately or is it in the build?

Ask your builder to spell out which, in writing, before design begins.

Is design cheaper if I know exactly what I want?

Usually, since fewer rounds are needed. Arriving with clear priorities shortens the process.

What if I change my mind after blueprints are approved?

Changes during design cost far less than changes after construction starts, when the work has to be paid for twice.

Design cost is one of the easiest things to get in writing early and one of the most common things people leave vague. Ask for the number before you start, read how the design stage fits into the process, or see what a fully custom home includes.

Related: Do you need an architect to build a custom home? · How to avoid cost overruns on a custom home build