Vol. 32Designing Michigan homes since 1994
See your home before you build it.
Custom home plans and lifelike 3D models from Saginaw County designers who have been putting families in their dream homes for 32 years.
What are you planning?
- 1994Designing homes since
- 3DEvery design, every angle
- $1.25Plans from, per sq ft
- LocalSaginaw County since 1994
The cover story
“It's like we've seen our house even before workers turned the first shovel of dirt.”
— Bill & Sue Smith, Homescape 3D clients
Building a home is the biggest purchase most families ever make, and most of them are asked to make it by squinting at lines on paper. Since 1994, HomeScape 3D Drafting & Design has done it differently. We start with what you want and need, design a plan that fits your life and your budget, and then show it to you in 3D from every angle before a single board is cut.
That means fewer surprises, fewer expensive changes on the job site, and a build that feels exciting instead of stressful. It's why families across the Great Lakes Bay Region keep sending their friends our way.
Read our storyInside this issue
Everything you need to design it right.
From a first sketch to a home you can walk through in 3D, all with one designer.
Our work, start to finish
From lines on paper to a home you can see.
Plan, model and design by Homescape 3D.
Recent designs
Homes our clients saw before they built.
Lifelike 3D designs from our recent projects.
Watch
See how we design a home.
A short look at how Homescape 3D turns your ideas into a home you can see before it's built.
Schedule a free consultNo guessing
Published pricing. Imagine that.
Most designers make you call for a number. We publish ours, because you deserve to know what your plans will cost before the first meeting. New home plans run $1.25 to $2.50 per square foot of living space, and additions, garages and decks are quoted per job after a free consultation.
| Package | Per sq ft | Living space | 2,000 sq ft example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | $1.25 | Up to 2,999 sq ft | $2,500 |
| Better | $2.00 | Up to 2,999 sq ft | $4,000 |
| Best | $2.50 | 3,000+ sq ft | 3,000+ sq ft only |
Estimate your design fee
Drag to your home's approximate living space.
Current published rates. Your exact fee is confirmed at your consultation.
Book a consult to confirm your quoteHow it works
Four steps. No pressure.
- 01
Talk it through
A relaxed conversation about what you want, what you need, your lot and your budget. Nothing to prepare; bring ideas, photos or a sketch if you have them.
- 02
Design in 3D
We turn your ideas into a plan and model it in 3D, so you can see the home from every angle, outside and in.
- 03
Refine together
Move a wall, raise a ceiling, swap the stone for brick. We adjust until it feels exactly right.
- 04
Plans for your builder
Permit and construction ready plans, delivered digitally, that your builder can bid and build from. Typically 2 to 3 months from start to finish.
Letters to the editor
What our clients say.
“Homescape provided considerable value in the design of our home and we highly recommend their services. While we started with a solid vision, Brent provided many suggestions, some of which significantly improved the final look and functionality of our home beyond our expectations. Their practical approach in getting an understanding of our family, our budget, our intended use of the home in terms of entertaining, and the physical setting was welcome. The additional time spent designing, and having a virtual rendering of the house, has reduced the stress and uncertainty involved with the building process.”
“He took our ideas and made them better, delivering a final product we absolutely love.”
“It's like we've seen our house even before workers turned the first shovel of dirt.”
“Thank you for your patience with all the changes, again and again.”
“I wanted to know how big the room was, so they stuck me in there.”
Where our plans are built
Designed across Michigan.
Every pin is a place we've designed a home, addition or outbuilding. Most of our clients are right here in mid-Michigan, and Homescape plans have been built from Mackinaw City to the Detroit suburbs.
- 80+pins on our project map
- 1994designing since
- 1designer, start to finish
Michigan build season
Breaking ground in spring? Design starts now.
Design, revisions, builder bids and permits all take time. Homeowners who start planning in fall and winter are the ones ready when the ground thaws. We're currently booking new projects about 3 to 4 months out, so getting on the calendar early holds your spot.
Reserve a design consultDesigned in Saginaw County for Michigan winters
Serving the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Snow loads, frost-protected foundations, lake views and acreage: we know what Michigan homes need. Plans are reviewed by your local building department under the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes rules.
Free for you
The "Before You Build" planning checklist.
Must-haves, lot questions, budget items and timeline: the same list we walk through with every client. Print it, fill it in, and bring it to your consult. No email required.
Open the checklist
Good to know
Plans drawn for Michigan code.
Michigan homes are permitted under the Michigan Residential Code, which is administered by the state's Bureau of Construction Codes and based on the International Residential Code. The building department that covers your township, city or county reviews the drawings before it issues a permit. Homescape 3D prepares every plan set with that review in mind, drawn the way builders and inspectors expect to read floor plans, elevations, sections and details.
Further reading
FAQ
Quick answers
Answers to the questions homeowners ask most about custom home plans and 3D design, from cost and timing to what you receive at the end. Anything not covered here is easy to ask at a free consultation, by phone at 989-781-9299, or through the chat on this page. Every project is a little different, so we'll give you a clear, specific answer for yours.
How much do house plans cost?
New home plans are $1.25 per square foot (Good) or $2.00 per square foot (Better) for homes up to 2,999 square feet of living space, and $2.50 per square foot (Best) for homes of 3,000 square feet or more. Other projects are priced per job: smaller projects typically run $500 to $1,500, large additions and whole-house remodels start around $2,000, and barndominiums run $800 to $3,500.
How long does it take?
Typically 2 to 3 months from start to finish, depending on the size of the project and the current workload.
What's in the final plans?
As needed for your project: plan views, elevations, sections and details, plus 3D views with the Better and Best packages. Plans are permit and construction ready and delivered digitally.
Do I need an architect to design my house?
For most custom homes, additions, garages, pole barns and barndominiums, a residential designer draws the plans. Some larger or more complex buildings may need a sealed plan, and your local building department makes the final call. We'll tell you up front if your project is likely to need one.
Who will I work with?
The owner, every time. One designer handles your project from the first conversation to the final plans, someone who has designed homes with Homescape 3D since 2000 and has owned the company since 2025.
What areas do you serve?
We're based in Saginaw County and work with clients across the Great Lakes Bay Region, including Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Frankenmuth, Freeland, Chesaning, Mount Pleasant and Flint. We've designed homes across Michigan when a project calls for it.
Let's talk
Sit down with your designer.
Our clients' favorite part is seeing their home on the big screen and making changes together, in person, by phone, or over video. Call or send a note.
- Based in Saginaw, MI
Serving the Great Lakes Bay Region - 989-781-9299
- [email protected]
Send us a note