Michael Hall Designs - Luxury House Plan

Design Services


Do you need Design Services?

If the your new home is simple . . . . . and you have done some preplanning - and you know what you want - and you can adequately convey that to your Drafting Service, you may not want to pay extra for a Designer.

However, you may still benefit from hiring an experienced imaginative designer.

Consider: A second generation builder, Larry Cagle told us his old-time builder father Pat Cagle, told him that if he build a home six times, he could improve it every time. You will have only one opportunity to get it right, but an option is available to you that was unavailable to him. You can get it right the first time because of the CADD (Computer Assisted Design & Drafting) program we use.

What we do in the Design Phase is build and rebuild the home on the computer until we are satisfied with the design and that it will meet our clients' requirements. Then in a meeting we review it with them on the computer, viewing any and all areas in full color and texture, 'walking thru the home'. so they can clearly see improvements that we can make. they actively interacting with their suggestions.

Our objective is a 'No Regrets' dream home when it is built by the builder (the final time). The option to re-build it even more times on the computer until a full level of comfort and excitement is obtained.

Construction Change Orders - are sometimes necessary, always expensive, always upset the momentum of the construction and as a consequence, extends the construction time of the job; hated by most contractors, and sometimes not completed because of cost. It is our intention that the Design Process available here eliminates or greatly reduces the horrors and cost of change orders.

Our Design Clients are usually blown away with the amazing, exciting process and the final results.

The Following Schedule is streamlined to be the most efficient use of time to reach a superb, satisfactory design, exceeding what is usually possible or expected. However, some projects are so complex, or have so many options to review that more time will be needed.

  • Initial Consultation. In this meeting we will discuss: The Project: the site, materials, specifications, building size, features, etc.


  • Your Expectations: our relationship - cooperation between us - timeline - final results.


  • Personalities: Can we work together well? Do we want to go forward?


  • Fees: Our proposal and payment schedule. An initial deposit to start. Review the Design before our next meeting. It is best if you take time to review the preliminary design before our next meeting. You can make notes of what changes to make, options to consider, etc. We will make prints for you prior to Meeting #2. You may prefer to download electronic files we can prepare for you, including 3-D views, to printout and review. Another option if you have a fast computer is to install a software viewer we can supply, to review the plans and actually view interior and exteriors, or walk through the plan, in 3-D Color.


  • Web Site Access: You will be able to access your design periodically as it progresses by logging into Your Account on our web site. These sheets can be copied and printed, and marked up for Meeting #2.


  • Email: We provide you with software to install and then email the plan files directly to you. You will have full control of 3-D viewing and print 3-D views and floor plans for revisions and annotation. You can bring these to Meeting #2 to incorporate into the Design.


  • Printed Sheets: We can make prints for you prior to Meeting #2 if you prefer, for you to review and mark up.


  • Preliminary Design. The process: Preliminary Floor Plan(s). We incorporate all your many ideas and parts of the various plans you like, photos, etc. into a preliminary design of the floor plan only. We may add the roof design at this stage if it will be helpful.


  • Floor Plan Review.
    • You review the initial design on prints from your computer or prints before we have Meeting #2, so you can mark them for changes you would like to make.

  • Meeting #2. We update the design and model to show the revisions you are considering, while viewing on the 3-D screen to see the changes as they are made. If you like the changes, we will move to the next change, or revise or remove the latest change.


You become co-designers at this stage by communicating any possibilities you see, tell us your ideas on how to improve the design, in most cases see us make the changes, and immediately see the changes in the 3-D Model. Some changes take more consideration and time; time better spent after the meeting. The roof is usually added at this stage, and other items to complete the design. By now your excitement is apparent if the design meets all your desires and dreams, and even goes beyond your prior expectations. Final Design.

Any changes not completed in Meeting #2 will now be completed. Final design prints are printed.

This is the completion of the Design Contract.

Additional design development/revisions is available on an hourly basis. Preliminary Construction Estimates.

These preliminary plans are complete enough that most contractors will be able to give you a preliminary estimate for your project. We highly recommended this because if it is above your budget, you need to know it earlier rather than later. Reality Check.

Some times budget and construction cost becomes a factor at this time. We are available for any design revision to stay within your revised construction budget on an hourly basis.

Plan Services. Drafting the full set of plans only starts after the satisfactory completion of the design and review of your construction budget, and is a separate contract.
Please refer to the Plan Services tab for details.
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