How should I use your catalogs?
Make notes about what you like in the different designs, then give us a call and let us go to work for you. We have over 2,000 home designs and our catalogs show a basic assortment of homes to help you get started. Our library includes a wide variety of floor plan layouts, styles, and square footages that do not appear in our design catalogs. One common error that people make when searching for a new home design is to limit their choices too early in the process. At Scholz, we encourage you to start by picking exterior and interior features of homes that you like regardless of lot size or square footage constraints. Once you share your likes and dislikes with us, we can go to work for you to find or create the design that meets your needs and requirements.
All of our designs are Copyrighted, so don't copy our designs or use them in ANY way to create a new design. We're very reasonable people and we're very easy to work with. Besides, we do a much better job working with our own designs than someone else does. So if you want to use our design material or photography in any way drop us a line and we'll be able to work something out.
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Can I use someone locally to modify your plans?
After you purchase a set of plans from us and sign a usage agreement, you can have the plans modified by some other company. The modified plans or "derivative" plans as they are called in the trade are still owned by Scholz Design and must retain the Scholz Design copyright notice. However, we normally don't recommend that you have someone else modify our plans and the reason is pretty straightforward. Just as you wouldn't take a precision made vehicle like a BMW or a Mercedes Benz to one of those "local" handyman places or "chain" repair shops, you wouldn't want to take our design to a local designer or architectural firm that hasn't worked with our plans before. What you get back could create more problems than you bargained and could result in a home that is compromised in its architectural integrity. Instead of not running right you might end up with a home not looking right.
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I can't believe you charge a fee to look at your designs. Why?
We get this question sometimes. So we need to point out that we have a significant and continued investment in providing to you the ability to view all of our intellectual property on this site. We also make a significant investment in providing to you the high quality client service to assist you through the design process. If spending a few bucks to view all of our designs and to get the expert advice and service that we provide is too much then don't do it. If saving a bunch of money on your new home design is most important to you, then we may not be a good fit.
We are not an advertising company or 'design broker' like so many firms are these days. We earn our keep and maintain our reputation by providing expert client service, creating exceptionally designed homes of lasting character, and delivering construction documents that you and your builder can trust. Most savvy homeowners and builders understand the difference in value between a 'home plan' ordered online or from a magazine and a complete set of architectural drawings that have been structurally reviewed and ready for permit by your local building department. We try to give you a good idea of what we are all about on this site, our Facebook page, and our newsletters. If that's not enough then give us a call and we'll chat about our services before you register with us.
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I am planning to build on waterfront property, so the rear of the design is very important to me. How can I see what the rear elevation looks like?
We can provide you with any elevation you need; front, rear, left and right sides. Just give us a call or drop us a note.
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I found a plan in your catalog that I like, but I need to make some changes. Can you modify the plans for me?
Absolutely! We encourage you to make all the necessary changes to fit your lifestyle. Many of our plans are available in a variety of styles and sizes. Through Scholz Architectural Services, we can make any modifications you need. If you like an exterior of one home but the floor plan of another, we can blend them together. Or if you find a floor plan you like, but like several elements of another home, we can revise it to meet your needs. We customize your home to meet your needs.
And, since Scholz Architectural Services, LLC is registered as an architectural firm in many different states, we can provide the required architectural seals in many instances. One of the things that separates us from a "plan service" company is that, in most states, we'll work with you to meet the needs of your local building department so you can receive your building permit. We regularly work with clients in some of the most demanding parts of the country, so we're pretty confident that we'll be able to meet your needs. After all, we've been doing this sort of stuff since 1946.
All of our designs are Copyrighted, so don't copy our designs or use them in ANY way to create a new design. We're very reasonable people and we're very easy to work with. Besides, we do a much better job working with our own designs than someone else does. So if you want to use our design material or photography in any way drop us a line and we'll be able to work something out.
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How do you charge for modifications to your designs?
As each home is unique, we give an estimated written quote for all modifications/revisions. Return to Top
How do you calculate the square footage of your home designs?
In our catalogs, the estimated square footage shown on each page is calculated from the outside face of exterior frame walls and includes all interior finished and heated floor areas. This living-area square footage does not include stairwell openings, vaulted or two-story areas above rooms, bonus rooms (which are considered unfinished), garages, unfinished basements/lower levels, attics, porches, and terraces.
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What if I find a design I like in one of your catalogs. Will you provide the construction documents needed to build the home?
Absolutely! Our plans are considered to be some of the most extensive construction drawings on the market today. And, unlike a "plan service" company, Scholz Architectural Services, LLC., is licensed in many states as an architectural firm so in most markets we will be able to provide the architectural seals for our drawings if your local municipality requires it. In addition, many of our plans include beautifully detailed interiors.
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What is included in your plans?
When you order home designs from Scholz, you will not be serviced by a broker or plan service. You will work directly with your personal Scholz Home Design Expert and our team of architects and designers. The approximate number of full size sheets (22" x 34" and larger) in each set of plans generally varies from 10 to 40, depending on the square footage and other factors in each design. Included in all Scholz Design plans are elevations of the front, rear and sides of the home, extensive detail sheets and dimensioned floor plans, a foundation plan, a variety of cross-sections, details, general specifications, and roof and framing layouts and general specifications. Our structurally engineered, extensive construction drawings are very high quality. In fact, builders tell us that the quality of our blueprints help them provide more accurate quotes and are easier to build than most.
In fact, here's a quote from Zeitlin Builders in Tennessee:
We completed the framing of the Templeton house today. The house looks great. I wanted to thank you for all you did to make the architectural process so smooth. The Scholz plans were excellent. I have used my framer for over fifteen years and he said these plans were the best set of plans he had ever seen. The surveyor said that it was the most accurate foundation plan he has ever staked in. The plans were by far the most complete and comprehensive set of plans I have ever used. The Scholz Design staff was always helpful when I had any questions and very quick to respond. I would recommend Scholz plans and design team to any homeowner and builder. I look forward to building my next Scholz home. The homeowners are very happy. Don't hesitate to have someone call me if you need a reference.
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I have difficulty visualizing the house from the black and white rendering in the catalog. Is there a better way to see the house I am considering?
Certainly. Just give us a call. Our homes are built across the country and around the world. And we maintain a large library of color photos of our homes. In some situations, past clients have graciously opened their Scholz homes for private viewings that were arranged by a Scholz Home Design Expert. Return to Top
Can I purchase the designs directly from Scholz, or do I have to go through the builder?
You can purchase plans directly from Scholz or you can purchase them through one of our Registered Builders, but we strongly recommend that you discuss budgets, lot constraints and local requirements with a qualified contractor. Our web site features a listing by city/state of some of our independently owned and operated Scholz Registered Builders around the country. Check it out. Return to Top
Do I need to use a builder registered with Scholz to build my Scholz Design home?
You can use any builder of your choice to build your Scholz Design home. We encourage you to consider working with a Scholz Design Registered Builder. Many of the independently owned and operated builders registered with Scholz have experience building homes of our caliber and are knowledgeable of our drawings. This experience can benefit you during the estimating and construction phases. However, we realize that this may not always be the best solution for you. You are responsible for determining the quality, integrity and financial strength of your builder. Return to Top
I would like some help with decorating and furniture placement in my new home. I would also like to purchase some new furnishings and accessories. Can Scholz help me with that?
Yes, through Scholz Interiors! Many of our clients appreciate the benefit of working with our talented Interior Designers. We can get you started with a preliminary furniture layout that will help you identify your needs and desires in terms of style and function. Once your layout is fine-tuned, we can assist you with selecting fine furniture, accessories, fabrics, floors, window treatments and help you with all the details of making your new house a home. Through our years of experience, we have built relationships with brand-name manufacturers around the world and have access to an extensive line of luxury products at substantial savings. Our experience designing the interiors of our nationally publicized show homes is the very reason clients and builders trust us to create beauty and order in their new homes. Our ability to enhance the architectural elements of your Scholz Design home is one reason national magazines such asUnique Homes, duPont Registry, Home, Better Homes & Gardens,among others, continue to feature Scholz homes in their magazines. Return to Top
How do you determine the pricing for your plans and services?
In general, our home design pricing is based on the square foot of the home and ranges from $0.45 per square foot to $2.00 per square foot depending on the size of the home. If we perform modifications to the home and/or update the home to meet your local building codes then we provide you a quote to perform the work that is needed. Our quotes are typically done on a time and materials basis. Return to Top
Why do you not post your pricing on the website?
Because we don't want to provide you inaccurate information. Since the majority of our clients have us modify their design to meet their lifestyle and building code requirements we will, under some instances, be able to give the client some form of a price break on the copyright usage fee associated with our designs. We call this a "bundled" price and it takes into account the copyright use fee and the modifications fee. Also, each municipality has its own building code requirements prior to approving a set of blueprints for permit, so if we are involved in submitting the plans to the building department for plan approval our fee's will vary according to the requirements of the local building department.
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Scholz Design Inc., 6546 Weatherfield Court, C-1, Maumee, OH 43537
419-531-1601 · 800-627-6115 ext. 277 · 419-531-6902 (fax)
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