If you haven’t already selected a builder, do that now. It affects the preliminary plan stage; you don’t want to pay for another round of concepts only to switch builders afterward. Preliminary plans are essentially about 50% complete construction documents. They're detailed enough for the log home manufacturer to price the package (house, lumber, logs, etc.). Typical cost for preliminary drawings is ½% to 1% of the total building cost.
When the preliminary set is ready in draft form, your designer will provide two or three sets of blueprints for you and your builder to review. Go through them carefully and mark in red any mistakes or items you’re not satisfied with. The most important goal here is simple: make sure the plans accurately reflect what you want to build. That way, you can build with confidence, knowing the manufacturer’s cost is based on the plans you approved.
The key is to ensure the blueprint matches the house you intend to build. If not, correct it now. Changes after deposits are made are typically handled as change orders. They’re more difficult and more expensive at this stage.
Note: It is very difficult to get an apples-to-apples quote for materials. Building code requirements can add cost and/or trigger substitutions. Your designer should compare the final plans to verify your concept hasn’t been altered in ways that create unintended consequences.
The components and completeness of packages can vary substantially from one manufacturer to another. One may supply top-quality, free-of-heart #1 structural Douglas fir for exposed joists and rafters, while another substitutes Yellow Pine or a lesser Douglas fir. Windows can create large pricing swings, too. The solution is to specify the quality you want in the plans and then insist on it. If comparing packages feels murky, ask a trusted, knowledgeable person to help you evaluate them..
Don’t pay for final construction documents until you’ve:
Most log home manufacturers include final construction documents in the package price and won’t produce them until you order. If you’re working with an independent architect, many will continue through final documents; manufacturers, by contrast, don’t want to design something you can’t afford or won’t build.
Your architectural designer can draw final construction documents as basic or thorough as you desire. They can include:
All of this adds cost. A practical approach is to have the designer complete the core plan and structural specifications, then handle colors and small cabinet details yourself, through your cabinet maker, or with an interior decorator.
Bottom line: Lock the plan, pick the builder, and verify the prelim set reflects exactly what you intend to build. Specify materials clearly so bids are comparable, then proceed to final construction documents with financing in place. That sequence keeps surprises—and costly change orders—to a minimum.
